Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. 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. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape the enclosure? Make sure she always has enough food. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Keeping your guinea pig healthy and happy is an ongoing process that will require lots of dedication and effort from you. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. It was fascinating to watch our new mom clean up after her newborn baby guinea pigs. 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. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are not the best choice to raise other female guinea pigs babies. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! Here you'll find the juicy goods to care for your little friends WITHOUT making your brain short-circuit. Guinea pigs are cute and quite intelligent pets. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? 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. 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. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. 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. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. 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. 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. One under his chest and one under his bottom. An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. Newborn Baby Guinea Pigs: What to expect? (it's not what you think) This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. 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? Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. 10. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. Genetic abnormalities have been reported in guinea pigs, similar to those found in other breeds of animals (such as hip dysplasia in dogs). We used fleece bedding which we spot cleaned throughout the day by removing poop and leftover food. It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. The reason is that male guinea pigs mature sexually very soon and can impregnate their mother as young as 2-3 months of age or even earlier. To most people, guinea pigs are cute pets, and having just one will suffice. Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. If you push gently on their lower abdomen the penis may appear. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Babies - Midnight Pets Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. Newborn guinea pigs should be kept with their mom for at least 3 weeks. 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). (And How? At worst, it can cause her to reject them. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. (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. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. By giving them enough time with their mother, you reduce the risk that she will reject them. Guinea pigs eat their babies not because they want to kill them for food but for other reasons. 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. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. However, in captivity that shouldnt happen at all because responsible pet owners keep them separate from pregnant and lactating sows and their babies. You need to know if you should reduce the amount of time you spend away from your pet. Hey there, I'm Angela. This can be startling and upsetting. 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. Wed love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below! This way they can easily confuse their predator and a group of guinea pigs doing this is known as a stampede.. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. The first twenty four hours are when the babies are at greatest risk for being eaten, so remain close during this period. Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. 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 largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. If that happens in captivity, thats extremely rare. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. Baby guinea pigs feed on their mothers milk but soon they will need lots of alfalfa hay thats rich in calcium. A fully grown guinea pig is between 20 and 25 cm long. Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. If a baby guinea pig is orphaned, it is essential to find a surrogate mom as soon as possible. (And Other Key Terms), How Often Should You Clean a Guinea Pigs Cage? At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. Guinea Pig Lifespan How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. There is a chance that your sow will only partially eat her offspring, particularly if she killed them by accident. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. Between then and reaching their full adult weight several months later, you might hear them being described as juniors. Guinea pigs definitely can eat clementines. 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. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. GuineaPigDen.com is a participant in theAmazon 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. Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. So the remaining milestones left to look for relate to growth, feeding, behavior and sexual maturity. Its natural for you and me to humanize the behavior of animals. This was the most surprising thing to me! 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. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. They Talk to You A.K.A. Baby guinea pigs typically stay with their mother for about three weeks, but this can vary depending on the situation. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. (What You Need To Know), Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? But, if one or more of her litter is stillborn, she may eat it. We spent some time coming up with cute guinea pig names for our babies and decided upon the following; Moose, Aspen, Moon and Finn! Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Some guinea pig moms have their maternity care kicked in as they give birth while others take some time . Its also the age of the youngest baby guinea pigs in pet stores. We found the following cage on Amazon that worked really well. Start offering them shredded lettuce from the day their born. Place one hand under their tummy and one behind their bottom, and hold the little guy close to you. Caring for baby guinea pigs can be a rewarding experience if you know what to expect. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. While it is a hard thing to think about, it can happen. It is important to consider the space between the bars of your guinea pig cage. (2014, March 28). Will Your Guinea Pig Eat Her Babies? (What You Need To Know) First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies if You Touch Them? 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 instance, most rats eat their babies. If it has not happened within the first 24 hours, it is very unlikely she will attempt to do it later on. Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. Additionally, when her babies are born she may eat them in order to prevent them from taking up the little space she has. The information on this website should not be take as a substitute for professional advice. Guinea pig babies are born quickly. 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. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Yet, sometimes, guinea pigs can eat their babies. National Geographic. Guinea pig babies are actually called pups. From the moment they are born they are unusually mature and capable of looking after themselves. In captivity, they cannot run away, which increases the stress. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long untilbirth..

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