This is especially true if pet parents have not given their pregnant sow enough food. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Getting guinea pigs used to handling from an early age is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. And that means that in a mixed litter of boys and girls, its time for the boys to be relocated to a new home, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. However, they will continue to feed on their mothers milk as well. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Spinach Or Is It Bad For Them? Stress can cause guinea pigs to eat their babies, and stress-induced cannibalism is also very common in guinea pigs, and unfortunately, quite unavoidable at times.Do your best to keep them well fed and give them plenty of rest so they can stay calm. Ask your vet for advice if this isnt the case. There are several major ideas about why would a guinea pig eat the babies: When they are small and weak, its much easier to keep baby guinea pigs away from male guinea pigs. If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. Even then, they must be handled very gently. of 2-4. At worst, it can cause her to reject them. You cannot do any harm by touching your adult guinea pig or its babies. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. Here is how to tell if your baby guinea pig is a boy or girl: RELATED: CLICK HERE for more information on how to determine the sex of a guinea pig. Guinea pig babies can walk, see, and hear, as soon as they are born, and most start nibbling on solid foods within a few days. You need to know if you should reduce the amount of time you spend away from your pet. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. (And How? If you are a new guinea pig parent or have an unexpected pregnancy like we did, you too may have lots of questions about newborn baby guinea pigs. At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. Pregnant and lactating guinea pigs also need alfalfa hay to sustain their babies. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. To most people, guinea pigs are cute pets, and having just one will suffice. Kind, K.L., Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, American Journal of Physiology, 2005. To help you, weve written more about how to tame a guinea pig here. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. What Should I Do if My Guinea Pig Eats (Or Kills) Her Babies? But, fruit should only be given as an occasional treat. And if you push very gently, the penis might appear. Its easy to achieve in the first two weeks by keeping the whole litter together with their mom, but next week its time to start thinking about separating them. The causes are different for each species. But, can guinea pigs eat them? Ive wondered it myself. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? It was fascinating to watch our new mom clean up after her newborn baby guinea pigs. For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. 11811 Shaker Blvd, #204, PMB 289Cleveland, Ohio 44120(216) 912-6291. Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. When we discovered that our guinea pig was pregnant we had so many questions about newborn baby guinea pigs and what to expect once they were born. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. Before making this assumption, consider the following possibilities: Unfortunately, the evidence of your sow eating her babies might be obvious. This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". If a guinea pig mother cannot nurse her babies due to illness or death, keep the orphans with as many pet guinea pigs as possible. If your guinea pig becomes restless or starts to squeak loudly it is a sign that he is ready to go back to his cage. Regarding animal parents, there is no greater love than that of a mother for her young. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. It is fine to carefully handle your new guinea pig pups during their first week, but be sure to allow them plenty of time with their mother as well. (2014, March 28). The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. You don't have to be a professional breeder . Guinea pigs definitely can eat clementines. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. Orphans should be fed by an eyedropper or pet nurse within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. If you are just considering the idea of owning guinea pigs, ensure that you already have the capacity to take care of them and also provide them with quality interplay. Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. If it is found that they experience sadness after their young have been weaned, it would suggest that we take extra care in handling this process. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In most cases, guinea pigs won't miss you if you decide to leave them in the home instead of taking them with you for camping. She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. "Wheek" City. How To Stop Guinea Pigs Chewing On Cage Bars, Baby Chicken What To Expect From Egg To 8 Weeks Old, Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, The effect of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea pig placenta, Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. When your guinea pig is pregnant her Vitamin C requirements double to around 20mg per day. Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. This is a question that many guinea pig owners have. 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. The surprising truth is that it happens more often than youd think. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. Soak guinea pig pellets in water from the first day of life. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. We noticed our guinea pig babies began to eat mamas food within a few days of birth. Hold your guinea pig securely and gently turn him / her over. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. 11. Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. Walter or Bob These guinea pigs sound like they should be wearing business suits on Wall Street. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! (Find Out Now)Continue, Choosing the right materials to use a as a cage liner for your guinea pigs cage can seem daunting especially when youre a new pet parent. Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. Guinea pig litters can contain up to eight pups, but two, three or four is more usual. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. Baby guinea pigs are much smaller than their parents, so they can escape from the cage. Guinea pigs dont hibernate, but they will slow down their metabolism and activity in order to stay warm, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. The answer to this question is not entirely clear. In situations where one of your guinea pigs crosses the rainbow bridge leaving one behind, the guinea pig left behind might not be so receptive to a new cage mate. (2020, May 5). How long before you can handle baby guinea pigs? Of course, every guinea pig is different, and some individual animals may indeed experience some sadness or loneliness after being separated from their babies if you are concerned that your guinea pig may miss its young, it. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. Sufficient nutrition, a mixture of alfalfa and timothy grass, keeps female guinea pigs hydrated and can prevent guinea pigs from eating their babies. So the remaining milestones left to look for relate to growth, feeding, behavior and sexual maturity. Here are some things we had to think about when we found out our guinea pig was pregnant: We adhered to the following recommended feeding guidelines for pregnant guinea pigs: RELATED: CLICK HERE to read about our unexpected guinea pig pregnancy and how to tell if your guinea pig is pregnant. If you are unsure if the guinea pig is missing its baby, you may not be able to know if it is ill and needs to see a veterinarian. And all the behaviors theyll need to carry out for themselves instead of having performed for them by mom like grooming will be well established. Just keep your little friend with other females only. This is pretty rare. Talk to him with a soft voice and pet his head. Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. These small pets need a lot of food and nutrition. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . They can impregnate mom and sisters! Newborn guinea pigs should be kept with their mom for at least 3 weeks. If possible, you should be present during the birth to provide support and comfort to the mother. On the other hand, if it turns out that they don't form any attachment to their young, then we can . Once labor is established, all the pups usually arrive within half an hour. New Plymouth Vet Group. While the baby boars can be separated in just three weeks once they are fully weaned, the baby sows can remain with the mother for up to 4 weeks from the time of birth. How Can I Prevent Guinea Pigs From Eating Their Babies? This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. If the litter is too large, the mama . This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. Garner-Richardson, V., Guinea Pig Nutrition, The Veterinary Nurse, 2013. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. How do you tell if a baby guinea pig is a boy or girl? When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, Guinea lynx :: Reproduction. Guinea pig babies are born very quickly. Provide Your Sow with a Stress-Free Environment, Remain Vigilant During the First Twenty Four Hours, Keep The Babies With Their Mom As Much As Possible, Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! If this is the case, you obviously dont need to take these steps.

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