do guinea pigs miss their babies

Guinea pig litters can contain up to eight pups, but two, three or four is more usual. To help you, weve written more about how to tame a guinea pig here. In order to have a peaceful pregnancy and birth, there are some things that you can do: Many people underestimate how much space a guinea pig needs, along with other types of rodents. After giving birth, the mother guinea pig is likely to eat the placenta but can end up eating her babies by mistake. Pregnant and lactating guinea pigs also need alfalfa hay to sustain their babies. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. 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. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. 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. Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. 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. 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. Your guinea pig will be frustrated if their youngsters are upset or stressed. You don't have to be a professional breeder . Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. "Wheek" City. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. Ask your vet for advice if this isnt the case. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. She needs more food and more nutrients to prepare her for the process of giving birth and nursing her babies. Start offering them shredded lettuce from the day their born. 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. 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. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this is true. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. After birth, Guinea pig sows can become pregnant again within hours. The name pup calls to mind baby dogs, but guinea pigs actually belong to a family of rodent species called cavies. How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! 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 youre not looking for a specific breed or sex of guinea pig, rescuing one from a shelter is a great way to meet your new pet. An adult guinea pig will never deliberately harm or eat a newborn guinea pig. At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. 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. Ive wondered it myself. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. Once the pups arrive, monitor them closely to make sure nursing is established within 12 hours. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! The earlier and more regularly you handle them, the more likely they are to accept you. Guinea pig babies are born quickly. Change the water daily. When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. 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. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. They can impregnate mom and sisters! This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. Newborn guinea pigs should be kept with their mom for at least 3 weeks. National Geographic. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). Although piggies are so cute, you cant always be there to have a staring contest with them. Babies grow fast. This is a question that has long been debated when it comes to guinea pigs. Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. 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. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. Extreme Stress -. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. The guinea pig fathers dont play any role in taking care of the litter, and can do more harm than good (sorry piggie dads!). Medical Disclaimer. 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. They have small bodies and big eyes. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. No matter how cute baby guinea pigs are, one litter at a time should be plenty for most people to think about. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. The good news is that its unlikely for your pregnant pet to eat her offspring. Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. This can lead to health problems. (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. You might even have witnessed them start to join in with social grooming by this point. So, consider getting a cage large enough for them to play around. When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. In fact, loneliness reduces the life expectancy of a guinea pig. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. Do guinea pigs remember their parents? 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. [9] They will still need to nurse, though, for three weeks before they are ready to be removed from their mother. Six or seven weeks old is the age at which most breeders will let their pups go to their new homes. Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! The sow eating her pups may be starving. The average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. 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. Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. Hey there, I'm Angela. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. 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 is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. Let's hear it for the boys. What about baby guinea pigs for adoption? But, fruit should only be given as an occasional treat. All rights reserved. If that happens in captivity, its a rare exception. The best items to put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage are absorbent,, Read More 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know)Continue, Pet parents who consider housing their guinea pigs outside often wonder whether or not their pet guinea pigs can hibernate. Theyre sweet, juicy, and tasty. Its important to know what signs to look out for so you can keep your piggies happy and healthy. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. 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. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. Cage size Will the baby guinea pigs be able 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. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. Increase the protein content in your pregnant guinea pigs diet. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. While carrying babies, the guinea pig mother needs extra energy. 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. Sometimes it happens accidentally. 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). Besides, always separate baby guinea pigs from male guinea pigs. How Can I Prevent Guinea Pigs From Eating Their Babies? Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. It can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female guinea pigs under three weeks of age. i've been keeping this a secret for over a week now!! But, when a pet parent has makes an intentional choice to breed, its really not worth the risk in most cases. (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. Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. You can expect your pup to wander curiously about their world during this time, but their legs are still a bit clumsy and theyre apt to suddenly plop down as they explore their environs. 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. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant 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. This article has been extensively revised for 2019. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. One of which is probably: Will your guinea pig eat her babies? It is important to make sure that the pups begin nursing within the first few hours of birth. The size of the pups is often relative to how many pups there are in the litter. Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig. (Fun Facts). When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. They are cheerful and love to run around, squeak, eat, play, and poop. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. (700 to 1,100 grams), according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). The same goes for males. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. CLICK HERE to check the price. Read More Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. In captivity, they cannot run away, which increases the stress. I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. If it does occur, the reasons will probably differ slightly from that of other species, and its important to understand these reasons in order to try to prevent it from happening: Most female guinea pigs will never eat their live young on purpose. They need supervised time out of their cages each day to run around and exercise. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. 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. For instance, a guinea pig that was captured individually needs at least one other guinea pig as a cage mate. The body temperature of a guinea pig is between 101104 F (3840 C), so its ideal ambient air temperature is similar to that of humans, approximately 6575 F (1824 C). (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. It is important to consider the space between the bars of your guinea pig cage. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. If this happens, you should immediately remove the dead babies and dispose of them appropriately. 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 . Orphans should be fed by an eyedropper or pet nurse within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. Guinea pigs do not share a similar parent-child bond like that of their siblings with their parents. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. Talk to him with a soft voice and pet his head. Do Chickens Get Lonely? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. 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. Most species clean their offspring with their tongue and so do your little friends. All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. Do not over-handle the mother or you could cause her stress which will lead . Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. Hold your guinea pig securely and gently turn him / her over. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. A male guinea pig might seriously injure his babies because he is territorial and feels intimidated. Newborn guinea pigs can open their eyes after they are born. Piglet Okay, so it's not that clever. 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. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? And if you push very gently, the penis might appear. Yet, sometimes, guinea pigs can eat their babies. Guinea pigs are not only kept as family pets, but like dogs, cats and rabbits, they are also bred for show. She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. And within a few hours nursing should be established. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. The sow needs this time to focus on nursing her living babies, and you need to create an environment that will allow her to do this. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? 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 . Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. 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. 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. Other genetic diseases include vaulting disease, stroke, and seizures. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are not the best choice to raise other female guinea pigs babies. A particular substance comes from the eyes of a guinea pig; they rub it on their hair when they are grooming. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. 9. (n.d.). The act of cannibalism in guinea pigs is usually the mother trying to protect the rest of her litter from predators. Whether you plan on rearing your own litter of baby Abysinnian guinea pigs, or youre making plans to buy a baby Peruvian guinea pig, its valuable to be able to recognise whether theyre growing and developing normally for the species, and their breed. A guinea pig baby can show mating behaviors at about three to four weeks of age. This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. He may also help to nurse the babies. Spaying a female guinea pig can be a risky procedure that not all veterinarians are willing to attempt. Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. So, what is the answer? Baby guinea pigs are much smaller than their parents, so they can escape from the cage. No. Its normal to be upset and sad. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. If you look after the guinea pig mother regularly, she will allow you to touch her baby guinea pigs. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. It is also quite normal for baby guinea pigs to whine when approached by a much bigger and older guinea pig. Here are some reasons why animals eat their offspring. Hi there! As herbivores, they dont eat meat at all. They will nurse every two hours for the first three weeks. In general, most female guinea pigs who survives birth and delivery will and raise her litter without any issues.