of 2-4. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. 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. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. and Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? How many babies do guinea pigs have in their first litter? I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. But, can guinea pigs eat them? When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. 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. This can lead to health problems. You might also notice they squeak in distress when you take them away from their mom. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. It will also well as putting her at risk for developing diseases like toxaemia. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. Paying lots of brief visits to your litter with mother, and getting them used to gentle handling without worrying them are going to be a vital foundation of good socialization. Getting guinea pigs used to handling from an early age is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets. Even if guinea pigs cannot express emotions the way other pets like dogs or cats do, it doesnt mean they dont miss their owners when left alone for long. When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. But, fruit should only be given as an occasional treat. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. Hamsters and rats are famous for such practice. This usually happens when pups are stillborn, or born to ill to survive. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. 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. Giving birth is very stressful for guinea pigs and the mortality rate of pregnant guinea pigs is quite high due to complications that occur during the delivery process. Calcium is very important for baby piggies as they are growing and developing. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape the enclosure? RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. Many people believe that guinea pigs get attached to their owners and that they miss their parents when they are separated. Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. 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. Although pet guinea pigs eating their pups is a very rare incident, it does happen sometimes. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. Baby guinea pigs typically stay with their mother for about three weeks, but this can vary depending on the situation. If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. Place the cage in a quiet, draft-free area your home that is out of direct sunlight. New Plymouth Vet Group. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. Caring for baby guinea pigs can be a rewarding experience if you know what to expect. You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. Our goal is to make Guinea Pig Den the ultimate resource for learning about your new guinea pig and helpful information before you bring one home as a pet. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. A single guinea pig living by themselves often become gloomy, confused, and spiritless. Once they die, she might eat them. Put him back with his mother if he becomes vocal or squirmy. 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. This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. Diet What should our pregnant guinea pig eat? Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! Hey there, I'm Angela. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. The Best Pet Health & Care Advice from Real Vets | PetMD. Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. There's nothing quite like getting away from it all in nature. Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. A mother guinea pig can eat her babies if one of the babies is born dead. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies if You Touch Them? The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. So, consider getting a cage large enough for them to play around. When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. How Can I Prevent Guinea Pigs From Eating Their Babies? Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. Additionally, when her babies are born she may eat them in order to prevent them from taking up the little space she has. 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. 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. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. RSPCA Knowledgebase Let Australias most trusted animal welfare charity help you answer the big questions. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. (2014, March 28). If her diet doesnt contain enough vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving enough calories to maintain her body weight. 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. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. However, new guinea pig owners should be prepared for a long-term commitment. It is essential for guinea pigs to have social contact with other guinea pigs. We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. Guinea pigs can be aggressive towards each other if they are not adequately trained. 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. But, if one or more of her litter is stillborn, she may eat it. However, you should err on the side of caution. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. (2020, May 5). Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. Since males can get any female guinea pig pregnant once they reach maturity - including their mothers - they're weaned and taken from their mother at three weeks old. This can be startling and upsetting. 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 average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. And within a few hours nursing should be established. As they grow, baby guinea pigs will require extra calcium to help their bones develop properly. Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. Any sudden movement or noise can scare them. The good news is that its unlikely for your pregnant pet to eat her offspring. Guinea pigs can recognize their owners and other people they know and trust. If you have an affectionate male guinea pig, you can introduce the babies when they are in the same cage. Guinea pigs eating babies is a rare but possible occurrence. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. The size of the pups is often relative to how many pups there are in the litter. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. 11. Sometimes it happens accidentally. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? Guinea pigs can jump over obstacles but these, When they recognize they are in danger, guinea pigs stand in one place for a long time then suddenly run very fast with a darting movement. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. They can impregnate mom and sisters! 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. Copyright 2021 - 2023 Guinea Pig Den | Jennifer Franklin Media LLCThis site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. A mix of alfalfa and timothy hay could keep the mother full and prevent this from happening. Sufficient nutrition, a mixture of alfalfa and timothy grass, keeps female guinea pigs hydrated and can prevent guinea pigs from eating their babies. To do this, we learned it is best to wean the males by removing them from their mom and sisters cage at three weeks and moving them to a separate cage. (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. That way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of more pregnancies. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. 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. Popcorning is an incredibly descriptive term to describe the frenzied bursts of energetic jumping, bumping and hopping about that guinea pigs engage in. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. 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. Clements, M. and Kelly, J. (700 to 1,100 grams), according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. Thats what they do while also making your life a much brighter place. [9] They will still need to nurse, though, for three weeks before they are ready to be removed from their mother. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. In general, the color of Abyssinian guinea pigs is associated with congenital eye defects and digestive problems. Wiki User 2008-10-08 02:35:56 This. Sometimes, male Guinea pigs will eat pups if they were fathered by another cavy. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. 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. Male guinea pigs have a donut-shaped opening. Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. Also, they should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water all the time. As you find a toy for your little fur baby, you might be asking, do guinea pigs like stuffed animals? Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. Individuals will be starting to show their own distinct personalities too. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Kill Their Young? If you bring home your baby guinea pig at seven weeks old, youll find all the information you need to raise them in our guide to guinea pigs as pets. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesn't recognize them as his own offspring. Many living creatures eat other members of their species when necessary for survival. This blog will give you some helpful tips on how to make this a wonderful experience. 11811 Shaker Blvd, #204, PMB 289Cleveland, Ohio 44120(216) 912-6291. Guinea pigs are social animals and may begin to experience depression-like symptoms when alone for too long. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. If you carefully run a finger over the area, you should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. When a guinea pig is malnourished, it means that the guinea pig is not getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients that its body needs. All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. (n.d.). Just like with taming older guinea pigs be patient and consistent. On the other hand, if it turns out that they don't form any attachment to their young, then we can . An adult guinea pig will never deliberately harm or eat a newborn guinea pig. Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. How To Prevent a New Mother from Eating Her Babies? Dont be surprised if your pup lets out a little chirp as a means of asking for food! Why would a pet guinea pig eat its own babies? 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. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. Guinea pigs are fragile animals at any age but especially during their early days of life. Significantly, this is the age when pups will start to reach sexual maturity. If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Its just as important that your baby guinea pig also spends most of their time with other guinea pigs. These small pets need a lot of food and nutrition. If the mother is experiencing starvation , she may eat her offspring as an ultimate last resort. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. Guinea pigs should be kept indoors. While it is certainly possible that guinea pigs may experience separation anxiety after their babies have been taken away, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that this is the case. Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. So, what is the answer? But, give them time to bond with their mother so they can nurse. Guinea pigs dont hibernate, but they will slow down their metabolism and activity in order to stay warm, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? Their paws and head are comically outsized in proportion to their body, and they already have a full coat of fur. Before making this assumption, consider the following possibilities: Unfortunately, the evidence of your sow eating her babies might be obvious. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. Your guinea pig will be frustrated if their youngsters are upset or stressed. 10. Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? Briscoe, T.A., et al, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2004. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. This can hurt their health and well-being. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Well chart the milestones of their first days and weeks, and find out what to expect if you discover your female guinea pig is expecting. Guinea pigs definitely can eat clementines. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. Adult guinea pigs eat timothy hay, orchard hay, or any other hay thats high in fiber. At worst, it can cause her to reject them. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. Be prepared to assess them quickly, because they wont like to be held in that position for long! Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. I've always been an animal lover, and I've worked in the pet industry. 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. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. You have entered an incorrect email address! New guinea pig breeds are formalised by the American Cavy Breeders Association, who also oversee breed standards and competitions in the United States. They will weigh as much as 2 kilos; most reside between 5 and 6 years, however some notably wholesome pets can reside 10 years or longer.
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