If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. Garner-Richardson, V., Guinea Pig Nutrition, The Veterinary Nurse, 2013. You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. Well be discussing more about this in todays article. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. Handling them too much too soon can disrupt the bond they need with their mother in order to nurse from her, and huddle against her for warmth. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. On the other hand, a male guinea pig eats guinea pig babies when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, Why do animals sometimes kill their babies? Common diseases in domestic guinea pigs include respiratory infections, diarrhea, itching, and boils due to infection (often the neck, throat, or external scratches). Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. It is important to consider the space between the bars of your guinea pig cage. If your sow is in a very small enclosure, this could cause her unnecessary stress. Guinea Pigs May Lick as a Sign of Affection or Grooming. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Do guinea pigs get in heat? Explained by Sharing Culture Popcorning is an incredibly descriptive term to describe the frenzied bursts of energetic jumping, bumping and hopping about that guinea pigs engage in. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? When I'm not writing, I enjoy kickboxing and work as an animal trainer. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. But, only serve them as an occasional treat, because the high sugar and water content can cause health problems like obesity and diarrhea. Place the cage in a quiet, draft-free area your home that is out of direct sunlight. 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. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. New Plymouth Vet Group. 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. While it might not be anything to worry about, sometimes it can be a sign of sickness. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. Most species clean their offspring with their tongue and so do your little friends. 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. 11811 Shaker Blvd, #204, PMB 289Cleveland, Ohio 44120(216) 912-6291. However, separate male guinea pig babies from their mothers when they turn about two months old. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. 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. More research must be conducted to determine whether or not guinea pigs truly miss their babies when they are apart. We try to conform to the same standards and expectations when it comes to animal interactions and instincts. If you are considering getting a guinea pig, ensure you can provide them with the social interaction they need. Guinea pig babies are actually called pups. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. Whats your experience with newborn baby guinea pigs? As you find a toy for your little fur baby, you might be asking, do guinea pigs like stuffed animals? This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. At those moments, the guinea pig mother can be very protective and you can be mistaken for a potential predator. On the other hand, female guinea pigs mature sexually at 2 months of age, so make sure to keep them separated from their brothers and father. 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. If you carefully run a finger over the area, you should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. If a baby guinea pig is orphaned, it is essential to find a surrogate mom as soon as possible. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Its understandable to feel that way. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. 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. (Find Out Now). Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. This way they can easily confuse their predator and a group of guinea pigs doing this is known as a stampede.. Guinea Pig Facts | Live Science Baby guinea pigs are much smaller than their parents, so they can escape from the cage. Owning Guinea Pigs | VCA Animal Hospital But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. The causes are different for each species. Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Caring for baby guinea pigs can be a rewarding experience if you know what to expect. And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. After your guinea pig has given birth, shell clean up the evidence left behind to stop predators from tracking down their scent. 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 this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? He may also help to nurse the babies. If that happens in captivity, thats extremely rare. MY GUINEA PIG HAD BABIES - YouTube Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . This can lead to health problems. The size of the pups is often relative to how many pups there are in the litter. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. But, stick with me. CLICK HERE to check the price. It is essential for guinea pigs to have social contact with other guinea pigs. Witkowska, A. et al, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science, 2017. They are cheerful and love to run around, squeak, eat, play, and poop. However, some people have asked whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies after they have been separated. 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. The information on this website should not be take as a substitute for professional advice. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. Here are some reasons why animals eat their offspring. In the meantime, if you havent seen enough sweet pictures of baby guinea pigs yet, then why not visit our compilation of favorite guinea pig videos. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. Cage size Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape? Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. Yes, guinea pigs do eat their babies. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. Sometimes it happens accidentally. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: Malnourished - not getting enough to eat of the right kinds of food Back to back pregnancies - due to nutrient deficiencies This was one question that had me really worried. 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? This is a question that has long been debated when it comes to guinea pigs. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. 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. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. One of which is probably: Will your guinea pig eat her babies? If you look after the guinea pig mother regularly, she will allow you to touch her baby guinea pigs. You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. If that happens in captivity, its a rare exception. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. 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. https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, Guinea lynx :: Reproduction. Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Owners? (How to Tell) About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . When can baby guinea pigs be separated from their mother? They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. Youre gonna want to read this. 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. 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? A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. This may confirm why male guinea pigs eat baby guinea pigs, Guinea pigs are stressed out during placenta feeding and may eat the babies thinking its the postpartum part, They lack food and energy after their babies are born. Guinea pigs make the best mothers and give puppies the best chance of survival. If youre going to be away for an extended period, you may also want to consider finding a friend or family member to care for your guinea pig in your absence. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. 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. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. (Find Out Now)Continue. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. 9. This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. This can be startling and upsetting. A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. (Fun Facts). https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. Cute Guinea Pig Names 200 Unique Names To Choose From, Cow Names Over 400 Amazing Names For Your Cattle, Giving your litter the best start begins before your sow is even pregnant make sure she has a clean bill of health from a vet before she is mated, and buy a. Calcium is very important for baby piggies as they are growing and developing. A single guinea pig living by themselves often become gloomy, confused, and spiritless. Talk to him with a soft voice and pet his head. 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. Some guinea pigs even put up great resistance to this. Pet owners know that keeping a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. While guinea pigs are usually docile, friendly and social creatures, adult males should not be around the babies under any circumstances. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. So the remaining milestones left to look for relate to growth, feeding, behavior and sexual maturity. In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? (And Other Key Terms), How Often Should You Clean a Guinea Pigs Cage? But, when a pet parent has makes an intentional choice to breed, its really not worth the risk in most cases. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. Sometimes it happens accidentally. (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). And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! 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 . Lets explain why guinea pigs may eat their babies. But whether youre raising a litter from birth or buying an older baby guinea pig for sale, getting prepared in advance is the best way to make sure you provide them with the best start in life. Soak guinea pig pellets in water from the first day of life. Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. 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. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. Orphans should be fed by an eyedropper or pet nurse within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. They reach their adult size very quickly. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. So, what is the answer? The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. A fully grown guinea pig is between 20 and 25 cm long. A male guinea pig eats the babies only by a strange occurrence. Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. If this happens, you should immediately remove the dead babies and dispose of them appropriately. How long does it take for a baby guinea pig to walk? This is because, in the wild, guinea pigs are usually found in herds, so you should try to create that level of interaction for your domesticated guinea pigs. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. You cannot do any harm by touching your adult guinea pig or its babies. This is especially true if pet parents have not given their pregnant sow enough food. Guinea pigs can be aggressive towards each other if they are not adequately trained. Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. Its unwise to create more. Dont be surprised if your pup lets out a little chirp as a means of asking for food! I've always been an animal lover, and I've worked in the pet industry. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. Make sure to separate your male guinea pigs from females in their litter too. Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. At three weeks of age it was still hard for us to tell the difference between the males and females. Other factors that make eating (or killing) the pups less likely include: piggies are natural herbivores and they have good maternal instincts (for rodents, anyway). The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. It is important to note that guinea pigs can get attached to their owners and may experience signs of separation anxiety when they are not around. For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. (Find Out Now), https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, https://lakeshorepethospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Guinea_Pig_Pregnancy.pdf, Removing the male guinea pig(s) will also. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. It will also well as putting her at risk for developing diseases like toxaemia. If the litter is too large, the mama . 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. (n.d.). In general, most female guinea pigs who survives birth and delivery will and raise her litter without any issues. Although guinea pigs occasionally sneeze, frequent sneezing is a sign of pneumonia, especially in response to climate change. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. You have entered an incorrect email address! Ive wondered it myself. Guinea pigs love to communicate. Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. Since their gestation lasts just 59-73 days, a female guinea pig is capable in theory of bearing five or even six litters a year. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. A mix of alfalfa and timothy hay could keep the mother full and prevent this from happening. Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. 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. 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. Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. Explain to them that they have not been replaced or that their babies have replaced your guinea pig. Do mother guinea pigs miss their babies when they are given away? 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. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. Just like with taming older guinea pigs be patient and consistent. However, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their young at all because guinea pigs are herbivores. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. What is always important is to provide your pet guinea pigs with the best living conditions for the survival of the mother and the babies. That way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of more pregnancies. (2010, July 22). As herbivores, they dont eat meat at all. the babies are doing so well and are so healthy.#guineapig #babies #cuteSong: Sapphe. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. Why Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? - Clever Pet Owners Ask your vet for advice if this isnt the case. (Find Out Now), Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. Place one hand under their tummy and one behind their bottom, and hold the little guy close to you. Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. Individual size is generally linked to litter size, so the more siblings there are in a litter, the smaller they are each likely to be. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. Ahhhh, clementines. Guinea pig litters can contain up to eight pups, but two, three or four is more usual. Guinea pigs definitely can eat clementines. Why Guinea Pigs Are Less Likely To Eat Their Babies? How to Take Care of a Female Guinea Pig With Babies - wikiHow On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. But, can guinea pigs eat them? male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies, guinea pigs can get attached to their owners. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. On the other hand if youll be helping a sow to raise a litter of pups from birth, theres rather more to think about. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. After giving birth, the mother guinea pig is likely to eat the placenta but can end up eating her babies by mistake. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. Any guinea pig lover would approve. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. 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. In almost all species, males are inherently territorial. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. This can hurt their health and well-being. Even their own children. 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?) Caring for a guinea pig can be challenging if you are unsure whether it is missing its baby. We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! When female guinea pigs eat their babies, they can do so because they are excessively hungry and because they are under a lot of stress that they cannot handle. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. (What You Need To Know), Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? However, in captivity that shouldnt happen at all because responsible pet owners keep them separate from pregnant and lactating sows and their babies. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Guinea pigs have a good sense of hearing, so they will potentially even be able to hear you coming from down the hall. Guinea pigs can eat their babies if they lack nutrition.