If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. When the pregnant guinea pig is about to give birth, the male guinea pig must be separated from her because, within 12 hours after giving birth, she can become pregnant again. It is rare, but it does happen. Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. If her diet doesnt contain enough vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving enough calories to maintain her body weight. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. 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. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. Baby guinea pigs for adoption are usually a little cheaper than guinea pigs for sale, and often come with a clean bill of health from a vet. (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. 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. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. It will also well as putting her at risk for developing diseases like toxaemia. 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. How To Prevent a New Mother from Eating Her Babies? Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. Keep the male guinea pig separate from his female partner to keep her safe and reduce the stress. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. Pregnant and lactating guinea pigs also need alfalfa hay to sustain their babies. 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. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. (2014, March 28). 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. You can find a mentor by asking your local cavy club to put you in touch with suitable experienced breeders. Besides, guinea pigs should eat about 1/8 of pellets, and about a cup of a mixture of herbs, vegetables, and fruits, but all in moderate amounts. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. So, what is the answer? Its important to remember that guinea pigs are prey animals and they can get intimidated very easily. Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. 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. Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. Adult guinea pigs eat timothy hay, orchard hay, or any other hay thats high in fiber. Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. Make sure to separate your male guinea pigs from females in their litter too. Place one hand under their tummy and one behind their bottom, and hold the little guy close to you. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is provide your guinea pig with plenty of love and attention, so it doesnt feel lonely. 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. You can also give them a comfortable place to sleep, like a bed or hammock. A male guinea pig eats the babies only by a strange occurrence. But, give them time to bond with their mother so they can nurse. However, separate male guinea pig babies from their mothers when they turn about two months old. At worst, it can cause her to reject them. Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Name? (How to Teach Them) Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. Sufficient nutrition, a mixture of alfalfa and timothy grass, keeps female guinea pigs hydrated and can prevent guinea pigs from eating their babies. (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? Other guinea pig owners would like to breed their piggies. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. Weve already covered the reproductive cycle of guinea pigs and pregnancy and how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant, so you can learn much more about these topics in our articles. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. 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. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. 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?) 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. It may take some time for him to become comfortable with you. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. How long before you can handle baby guinea pigs? So your guinea pig is pregnant. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. mypetguineapig.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. This usually happens when pups are stillborn, or born to ill to survive. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Weaning age depends on several factors including the pups weight, the mothers milk supply, and the number of siblings. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. At those moments, the guinea pig mother can be very protective and you can be mistaken for a potential predator. I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. How long does it take for guinea pigs to be born? Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. 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. Here are some reasons why animals eat their offspring. This page is stuffed full of information about how to care for your baby guinea pig. Kind, K.L., Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, American Journal of Physiology, 2005. A particular substance comes from the eyes of a guinea pig; they rub it on their hair when they are grooming. Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. Other causes of hair loss due to underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts may occur as a result of hormonal distress. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. What Should I Do if My Guinea Pig Eats (Or Kills) Her Babies? 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. It is essential for guinea pigs to have social contact with other guinea pigs. Although guinea pigs occasionally sneeze, frequent sneezing is a sign of pneumonia, especially in response to climate change. How Few Is Too Few? A single guinea pig living by themselves often become gloomy, confused, and spiritless. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? If you carefully run a finger over the area, you should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. Its also the age of the youngest baby guinea pigs in pet stores. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. 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. Wheek: The shrill noise a guinea pig or other small rodent makes. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Guinea pigs form close bonds with their families and can be very attached to their parents. 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. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. The mother may eat her babies if one or more of her litter dies, or she is under a lot of stress. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Clements, M. and Kelly, J. Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment?
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