Youre gonna want to read this. Three weeks marks the earliest point at which pups may stop nursing from their mother. 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. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . If your guinea pig consistently has enough extra food, the chances of her needing to eat her pups drop to near zero. How long do baby guinea pigs stay with Mom? Guinea pigs form close bonds with their families and can be very attached to their parents. Sometimes it happens accidentally. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. 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. Now, lets begin at the beginning. The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. Thats what they do while also making your life a much brighter place. Besides, always separate baby guinea pigs from male guinea pigs. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. (2020, May 5). Pet owners know that keeping a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. 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. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. Their paws and head are comically outsized in proportion to their body, and they already have a full coat of fur. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. Although piggies are so cute, you cant always be there to have a staring contest with them. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. i am so excited!!! For instance, a guinea pig that was captured individually needs at least one other guinea pig as a cage mate. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. 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. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. Yet, sometimes, guinea pigs can eat their babies. When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. They are basically saying . She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. Just keep your little friend with other females only. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. 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. 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. I'm currently a pet groomer, and I love it. However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. So as long as the enclosure is secure and the bars are tight, you should be fine. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. When your guinea pig is pregnant her Vitamin C requirements double to around 20mg per day. Wed love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below! 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? If you handle a baby bird in a nest, the mother will often abandon them because she'll sense something isn't right (i.e. Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. 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. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! An adult guinea pig will never deliberately harm or eat a newborn guinea pig. 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. And all the behaviors theyll need to carry out for themselves instead of having performed for them by mom like grooming will be well established. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. 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. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can be aggressive towards each other if they are not adequately trained. Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. This can lead to health problems. Like babies of all species, cute baby guinea pigs are tiny and winsome. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. 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. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). 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. Some say that they do not form the same type of attachment as other animals, while others believe that they do experience a certain level of sadness after their young have been weaned. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). 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. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. From there you can jump straight to the answers you need, or join us for a complete overview of baby guinea pig development, week by week. Ahhhh, clementines. 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. Its natural for you and me to humanize the behavior of animals. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? Guinea pigs are peaceful creatures. Weaning age depends on several factors including the pups weight, the mothers milk supply, and the number of siblings. 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. Baby boars must be separated from mama at three weeks. They Talk to You A.K.A. Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! (n.d.). Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. Continue to give milk to puppies for 21 days even when they start eating solid food. Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. Additionally, when her babies are born she may eat them in order to prevent them from taking up the little space she has. We read that the bedding needs to be changed daily. 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. If that happens in captivity, its a rare exception. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. Whats your experience with newborn baby guinea pigs? A great way to get help raising your first litter successfully, and in recognising potential problems quickly, is by enlisting the support of a mentor. Bartesaghi, R., Severi, S., Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Neuroscience, 2004. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. It may take some time for him to become comfortable with you. A particular substance comes from the eyes of a guinea pig; they rub it on their hair when they are grooming. Guinea pigs are cute and quite intelligent pets. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. After three weeks, baby guinea pigs can be separated from their mother and placed with other guinea pigs or their owner. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Change the water daily. They need supervised time out of their cages each day to run around and exercise. Guinea Pig Lifespan How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesn't recognize them as his own offspring. (Fun Facts). Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. 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. Its unwise to create more. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? Keeping your guinea pig healthy and happy is an ongoing process that will require lots of dedication and effort from you. To most people, guinea pigs are cute pets, and having just one will suffice. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! Some guinea pig moms have their maternity care kicked in as they give birth while others take some time . Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they start vocalising from babyhood. Cage size Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape? If you are considering getting a guinea pig, ensure you can provide them with the social interaction they need. Yes, guinea pigs do eat their 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. Popcorning is an incredibly descriptive term to describe the frenzied bursts of energetic jumping, bumping and hopping about that guinea pigs engage in. 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?) It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. Baby guinea pigs are called pups just like baby dogs. Do guinea pigs get attached to their babies? Merck Veterinary Manual. 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. Simon or George More classic goodies. 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. (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. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. Newborn guinea pigs can open their eyes after they are born. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. In most cases, guinea pigs won't miss you if you decide to leave them in the home instead of taking them with you for camping. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". Sufficient nutrition, a mixture of alfalfa and timothy grass, keeps female guinea pigs hydrated and can prevent guinea pigs from eating their babies. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Caring for baby guinea pigs can be a rewarding experience if you know what to expect. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. By doing this you can prevent accidental killings, as well as promptly remove any still born pups from the cage.
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