Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. If you carefully run a finger over the area, you should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. Guinea pigs definitely can eat clementines. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! It is important to make sure that the pups begin nursing within the first few hours of birth. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Increase the protein content in your pregnant guinea pigs diet. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. Keep your little friend calm. I've always been an animal lover, and I've worked in the pet industry. How Few Is Too Few? It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! 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. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? But, can guinea pigs eat them? We knew for sure that we had one male and two females, but it was still hard for us to tell with the fourth guinea pig. Here you'll find the juicy goods to care for your little friends WITHOUT making your brain short-circuit. Guinea pigs make the best mothers and give puppies the best chance of survival. It is rare, but it does happen. 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. 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. Even their own children. Six or seven weeks old is the age at which most breeders will let their pups go to their new homes. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. They are cheerful and love to run around, squeak, eat, play, and poop. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. 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. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. You should increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables given daily and also consider pet-friendly supplements. Guinea pigs are peaceful creatures. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. National Geographic. How Can I Prevent Guinea Pigs From Eating Their Babies? Like babies of all species, cute baby guinea pigs are tiny and winsome. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. 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. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? The average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. 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. Just keep your little friend with other females only. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. 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. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. If you look after the guinea pig mother regularly, she will allow you to touch her baby guinea pigs. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. The name pup calls to mind baby dogs, but guinea pigs actually belong to a family of rodent species called cavies. 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. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. How do you tell if a baby guinea pig is a boy or girl? Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. Filial cannibalism is when animals eat their own offspring. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. Approach them face-on, so they can see you coming. If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a veterinarian to help determine the sex of the pups. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. 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. Bartesaghi, R., Severi, S., Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Neuroscience, 2004. This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. On the other hand, if it turns out that they dont form any attachment to their young, then we can rest assured knowing that there isnt anything we need to worry about. Unlike many other animals in the animal kingdom, guinea pigs are not self-sufficient. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! 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. Guinea pig pregnancy seems short to us, but in fact it lasts a remarkably long time for their size. Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. 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. Wheek: The shrill noise a guinea pig or other small rodent makes. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. Female guinea pigs dont intentionally eat their babies nor do they kill them to eat them. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. 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. He may also help to nurse the babies. (Find Out Now). At three weeks of age it was still hard for us to tell the difference between the males and females. Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. i've been keeping this a secret for over a week now!! Guinea pigs can recognize their owners and other people they know and trust. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. (n.d.). (Such as blood and remaining body parts). The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. 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. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. If guinea, Read More What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. Guinea pigs should be kept indoors. You can also give them a comfortable place to sleep, like a bed or hammock. And of course, when you run a finger over the area, you wont feel a penis! But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! Before making this assumption, consider the following possibilities: Unfortunately, the evidence of your sow eating her babies might be obvious. But, if one or more of her litter is stillborn, she may eat it. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. the babies are doing so well and are so healthy.#guineapig #babies #cuteSong: Sapphe. Its important to remember that guinea pigs are prey animals and they can get intimidated very easily. In this article, we will focus on some important aspects of caring for guinea pig babies. Caring for a guinea pig can be challenging if you are unsure whether it is missing its baby. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. Any guinea pig lover would approve. One under his chest and one under his bottom. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. 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. Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they start vocalising from babyhood. But, fruit should only be given as an occasional treat. (700 to 1,100 grams), according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). And within a few hours nursing should be established. And that means that in a mixed litter of boys and girls, its time for the boys to be relocated to a new home, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Babies grow fast. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Squeaks and Nibbles is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Squeaks and Nibbles is also 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. We try to conform to the same standards and expectations when it comes to animal interactions and instincts. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. Baby guinea pigs typically stay with their mother for about three weeks, but this can vary depending on the situation. 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. By six weeks of age baby guinea pigs are self-sufficient and fully weaned. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. New Plymouth Vet Group. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. The Best Pet Health & Care Advice from Real Vets | PetMD. This was the most surprising thing to me! Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. Thats what they do while also making your life a much brighter place. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. 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. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . Some guinea pigs even put up great resistance to this. When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. The mother may eat her babies if one or more of her litter dies, or she is under a lot of stress. Do not over-handle the mother or you could cause her stress which will lead . Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. Many people believe that guinea pigs get attached to their owners and that they miss their parents when they are separated. This little interaction will enable him warm to the introduction of a new cage mate better. All rights reserved. There is a chance that your sow will only partially eat her offspring, particularly if she killed them by accident. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. Likely she has forgotten all about them, and is instead planning to to escape and start her next litter. 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). Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. Feed the guinea pig pups for the first 5 days around the clock every 4 to 5 hours. Any sudden movement or noise can scare them. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. For instance, most rats eat their babies. Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. 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. If the mother is experiencing starvation , she may eat her offspring as an ultimate last resort. Guinea Pigs May Lick as a Sign of Affection or Grooming. There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. We used fleece bedding which we spot cleaned throughout the day by removing poop and leftover food. (What You Need To Know)Continue. If her diet doesnt contain enough vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving enough calories to maintain her body weight. Significantly, this is the age when pups will start to reach sexual maturity. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Extreme Stress -. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. Once they die, she might eat them. A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. Some guinea pig moms have their maternity care kicked in as they give birth while others take some time . Common diseases in domestic guinea pigs include respiratory infections, diarrhea, itching, and boils due to infection (often the neck, throat, or external scratches). Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. 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. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are not the best choice to raise other female guinea pigs babies. 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. Piglet Okay, so it's not that clever. This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. 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. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. 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. Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. Read More Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? (n.d.). Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. Almost the only reason why a female guinea pig can kill her babies is that she is so stressed that her mind cannot handle the strain. When we discovered that our guinea pig was pregnant we had so many questions about newborn baby guinea pigs and what to expect once they were born. of 2-4. 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. Pets. So, I took some time to do some research on it for you. Its also the age of the youngest baby guinea pigs in pet stores. Although pet guinea pigs eating their pups is a very rare incident, it does happen sometimes. 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. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. (And How? Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. This is pretty rare. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. It will also well as putting her at risk for developing diseases like toxaemia. We read that the bedding needs to be changed daily. We hope youve enjoyed this in depth article about cute baby guinea pigs!Guinea pig pups are quite unlike most other baby animals. A single guinea pig living by themselves often become gloomy, confused, and spiritless. Lets explain why guinea pigs may eat their babies. A fully grown guinea pig is between 20 and 25 cm long. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. 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. Why Guinea Pigs Are Less Likely To Eat Their Babies? (Fun Facts). Do guinea pigs remember their parents? 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. 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. Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. At those moments, the guinea pig mother can be very protective and you can be mistaken for a potential predator. 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. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies, guinea pigs can get attached to their owners. Dwyer, C.M., et al, The effect of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea pig placenta, Journal of Developmental Physiology, 1992. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. This usually happens when pups are stillborn, or born to ill to survive. Medical Disclaimer. You cannot do any harm by touching your adult guinea pig or its babies. You can certainly handle a little, because it wont make their mother reject them. Guinea pigs have a good sense of hearing, so they will potentially even be able to hear you coming from down the hall. Here are some reasons why animals eat their offspring. Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. Hold your guinea pig securely and gently turn him / her over. 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. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Theyve learned all the skills they need for independence, and theyre ready to leave the nest. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. Also, they should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water all the time. [9] They will still need to nurse, though, for three weeks before they are ready to be removed from their mother. Spaying a female guinea pig can be a risky procedure that not all veterinarians are willing to attempt. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. 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. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? It is important to consider the space between the bars of your guinea pig cage. Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Guinea pigs are cute and quite intelligent pets. In almost all species, males are inherently territorial. Most guinea pigs cages are designed for adult guinea pigs with a one inch space between the bars. After giving birth, the mother guinea pig is likely to eat the placenta but can end up eating her babies by mistake. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. This can hurt their health and well-being. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Hamsters and rats are famous for such practice. CLICK HERE to check the price. Baby guinea pigs are much smaller than their parents, so they can escape from the cage. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. Calcium is very important for baby piggies as they are growing and developing. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. 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. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. Adult guinea pigs eat timothy hay, orchard hay, or any other hay thats high in fiber. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed.
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