When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. Can a Guinea Pig Baby Live Without the Mother? Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. In our research, we could not find a definitive age when guinea pigs are declared adults; however, they reach sexual maturity by four weeks of age. After giving birth, the mother guinea pig is likely to eat the placenta but can end up eating her babies by mistake. Lake Shore Veterinary Hospital offers the following helpful advice: If you touch her belly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. So, what is the answer? Other causes of hair loss due to underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts may occur as a result of hormonal distress. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. "Wheek" City. If your guinea pig consistently has enough extra food, the chances of her needing to eat her pups drop to near zero. Its important to know what signs to look out for so you can keep your piggies happy and healthy. If guinea, Read More What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? mypetguineapig.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If possible, you should be present during the birth to provide support and comfort to the mother. Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Do Chickens Get Lonely? This is necessary to prevent pregnancy. Now, if you have a dog or even a cat, you are sure it misses you when you have to go to work but do guinea pigs miss their owners? Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. Guinea pigs form close bonds with their families and can be very attached to their parents. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. In this article weve answered some frequently asked questions about newborn baby guinea pigs like: Whether you have a surprise guinea pig pregnancy or a planned one, there are a few things you will want to prepare in advance to make sure you are ready when your newborn baby guinea pigs arrive. Baby guinea pigs are able to digest solid food soon after birth; however, the majority of their required nutrients will come from their mothers milk. It is famously difficult to sex baby rodents, so the easiest way to be sure which of your pups are girls and which are boys is to ask a more experienced mentor, or a vet, to help you. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are not the best choice to raise other female guinea pigs babies. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. If it has not happened within the first 24 hours, it is very unlikely she will attempt to do it later on. I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. To most people, guinea pigs are cute pets, and having just one will suffice. Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. mypetguineapig.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. I personally dont recommend it and neither do vets and most responsible rescues and shelters.Accidents happen. Baby guinea pigs typically stay with their mother for about three weeks, but this can vary depending on the situation. Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Foreign bodies in the eye of a guinea pig result in tearing, and corneal ulcers, which, in some cases, form a translucent film over the eyes. (700 to 1,100 grams), according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). One under his chest and one under his bottom. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? 4. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. (What You Need To Know), Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? It can be hard to tell when your pregnant guinea pig is going to deliver her babies because unlike dogs and cats, they do not prepare a nest. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a865a53297bca918d5b51d234266ee3f");document.getElementById("e1b86b387e").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. https://lakeshorepethospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Guinea_Pig_Pregnancy.pdf, If you know anything about guinea pigs, you know they love to play. Explain to them that they have not been replaced or that their babies have replaced your guinea pig. (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. Baby guinea pigs for adoption are usually a little cheaper than guinea pigs for sale, and often come with a clean bill of health from a vet. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. The answer to this question is not entirely clear. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). Yet, the mother guinea pig will take care of them during the first few weeks, so dont separate them from her. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. Every few hours for the first few days, you should hand-feed the baby guinea pig: mesh pellets or supplement powder, and if you have grown guinea pigs, also add a fecal . This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. If The Male Doesn't Believe the Babies Are His. The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Spinach Or Is It Bad For Them? Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. Even then, they must be handled very gently. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. 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. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. But, theres some things you can do to help your fur baby return to a comfortable atmosphere, and to prevent this from happening again in the future. Check out these most popular guinea pig products on the market: Last update on 2023-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. (2014, March 28). Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Guinea pig babies are born quickly. Guinea pig pregnancies are dangerous and the mortality rate is high both among guinea pig mothers and babies. If you have decided youre ready to take the plunge and welcome a new baby guinea pig into your life, take a look at our article Where To Buy Guinea Pigs to start your journey. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. What about baby guinea pigs for adoption? However, some people have asked whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies after they have been separated. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is provide your guinea pig with plenty of love and attention, so it doesnt feel lonely. Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. More research must be conducted to determine whether or not guinea pigs truly miss their babies when they are apart. Continue to give milk to puppies for 21 days even when they start eating solid food. The pups will learn a lot from how to form social bonds, to which foods are safe to eat from the adults they live with. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. You just have to note that bringing mature guinea pigs together can sometimes be difficult, even if it is done in a slow and measured manner. This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. That way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of more pregnancies. For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. You can certainly handle a little, because it wont make their mother reject them. Guineapigden.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. Baby guinea pigs are called pups just like baby dogs. Aggression between two newly introduced guinea pigs is very common and If your guinea pig is finding it hard to deal with the change of a new cage mate, try engaging him in more interaction with you than ever before. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. To understand why a guinea pig mother killing and gobbling up her offspring is so rare and why its still a possibility (although it is a long shot), you need to know a little bit about the dynamics of. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. Make sure your pig has a lot of food. In a pet situation, the male may be in the same guinea pig cage as the female and her newborns, and there is no way for the mother to move the pups away from . Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long untilbirth.. If you want some more information on guinea pig interactions, check out these posts: The Truth About Single Guinea Pigs (Is It Okay To Just Have One?) Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they start vocalising from babyhood. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. The name pup calls to mind baby dogs, but guinea pigs actually belong to a family of rodent species called cavies. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. The Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat is the recommended size (minimum of 8 square feet) and has deep sides around the edges that make it difficult for the baby guinea pigs to crawl out of. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Guinea pigs may be Darwinian in their process toward motherhood, meaning only strong individuals can survive and reproduce more, To eliminate competition, guinea pigs are reluctant to share their enclave, especially when other male guinea pigs are around. It is important to make sure that the pups begin nursing within the first few hours of birth. Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. Coming up with a cute guinea pig name is a lot of fun, but can be tough. By six weeks of age baby guinea pigs are self-sufficient and fully weaned. Baby boars must be separated from mama at three weeks. But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. They use them to form social bonds and initiate mating, attract the attention of herd members over great distances, communicate sadness, and sound the alarm. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). Youre gonna want to read this. They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. Here you'll find the juicy goods to care for your little friends WITHOUT making your brain short-circuit. We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! Ask your vet for advice if this isnt the case. Any guinea pig lover would approve. (What You Need To Know)Continue. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. At those moments, the guinea pig mother can be very protective and you can be mistaken for a potential predator. Guinea pig babies are born very quickly. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: This was one question that had me really worried. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. They can impregnate mom and sisters! Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. Change the water daily. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. An adult guinea pig will never deliberately harm or eat a newborn guinea pig. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Do guinea pigs miss their babies? What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. Yet, sometimes, guinea pigs can eat their babies. Ive wondered it myself. 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. In the next section weve assembled some of the most commonly asked questions our readers have about their baby guinea pigs. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. After your guinea pig has given birth, shell clean up the evidence left behind to stop predators from tracking down their scent. Make sure she always has enough food. Their compact, cylindrical bodies range from 8 to 10 inches . Raising an orphaned guinea pig is not very difficult because mothers feed guinea pig pups only a few times per day and then leave them alone. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. (Benefits, Risks, Servings & FAQs), Baytril For Guinea Pigs (Side Effects, Efficacy, Dosage & FAQs), Signs Your Guinea Pig Hates You (Top 7 & And How to Fix It). Guinea pigs are not only kept as family pets, but like dogs, cats and rabbits, they are also bred for show. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. Once labor is established, all the pups usually arrive within half an hour. This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies, guinea pigs can get attached to their owners. Your guinea pig will be frustrated if their youngsters are upset or stressed. Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. 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. He may also help to nurse the babies. In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. and Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? What Should I Do if My Guinea Pig Eats (Or Kills) Her Babies? For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. Its unwise to create more. It is rare, but it does happen. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made by my readers, but it doesn't cost you anything at all. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! A human can serve as a surrogate mom if there are no other guinea pigs available, but it is best if the baby can be raised by its kind. When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. As herbivores, they dont eat meat at all. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. This can happen if the guinea pig is not being fed enough timothy hay, pellets, vitamin C supplements, etc. Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. Never again hear the dreaded sounds of your guinea pigs angry squeaks because you forgot to clean out their cage or feed them on timefor the fourth day in a row. As they grow, baby guinea pigs will require extra calcium to help their bones develop properly.