They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. As you find a toy for your little fur baby, you might be asking, do guinea pigs like stuffed animals? Firstly, please provide them with plenty of toys and treats to keep them occupied. 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). 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! Coming up with a cute guinea pig name is a lot of fun, but can be tough. Guinea pigs are cute and quite intelligent pets. 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. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are not the best choice to raise other female guinea pigs babies. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. Guinea pigs love to communicate. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this is true. A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. It is fine to carefully handle your new guinea pig pups during their first week, but be sure to allow them plenty of time with their mother as well. 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. 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. How To Prevent a New Mother from Eating Her Babies? 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. The name pup calls to mind baby dogs, but guinea pigs actually belong to a family of rodent species called cavies. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. They need it in unlimited amounts, as it helps them keep their teeth trimmed and ensures the proper functioning of their sensitive digestive system. Want to know more? If the litter is too large, the mama . However, new guinea pig owners should be prepared for a long-term commitment. Watch this video to learn more about guinea pig. Although piggies are so cute, you cant always be there to have a staring contest with them. If this happens, you should immediately remove the dead babies and dispose of them appropriately. So as long as the enclosure is secure and the bars are tight, you should be fine. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. Can the male guinea pig stay with the mother and babies? But, give them time to bond with their mother so they can nurse. 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. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can eat their babies if they lack nutrition. Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. 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. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. 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. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. Their compact, cylindrical bodies range from 8 to 10 inches . (Find Out Now). Guinea pigs make the best mothers and give puppies the best chance of survival. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. 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. There is a chance that your sow will only partially eat her offspring, particularly if she killed them by accident. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesn't recognize them as his own offspring. Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. To understand why a guinea pig mother killing and gobbling up her offspring is so rare and why its still a possibility (although it is a long shot), you need to know a little bit about the dynamics of. of 2-4. So the remaining milestones left to look for relate to growth, feeding, behavior and sexual maturity. 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. This can happen if the guinea pig is not being fed enough timothy hay, pellets, vitamin C supplements, etc. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. Once all the serious aspects of baby guinea pig care are in hand, you can turn your mind to more fun tasks, like picking their names. First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. Simon or George More classic goodies. "Wheek" City. Provide Your Sow with a Stress-Free Environment, Remain Vigilant During the First Twenty Four Hours, Keep The Babies With Their Mom As Much As Possible, Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? Besides, always separate baby guinea pigs from male guinea pigs. This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. (Find Out Now). 4. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! The earlier and more regularly you handle them, the more likely they are to accept you. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? (n.d.). Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long untilbirth.. This should reduce their spatial and jealous tendency. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. Three weeks marks the earliest point at which pups may stop nursing from their mother. Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around. If her diet doesnt contain enough vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving enough calories to maintain her body weight. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? 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. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. 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?) Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. As they grow, baby guinea pigs will require extra calcium to help their bones develop properly. Why would a pet guinea pig eat its own babies? Guinea pigs may be Darwinian in their process toward motherhood, meaning only strong individuals can survive and reproduce more, To eliminate competition, guinea pigs are reluctant to share their enclave, especially when other male guinea pigs are around. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Guinea pigs do not share a similar parent-child bond like that of their siblings with their parents. 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. 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). https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. Pets. When your guinea pig is pregnant they need more food than usual, and its surprisingly easy to give them less than what they need. In captivity, they cannot run away, which increases the stress. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. They can impregnate mom and sisters! The surprising truth is that it happens more often than youd think. Will Your Guinea Pig Eat Her Babies? (What You Need To Know) And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! He may also help to nurse the babies. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? (Fun Facts) - Own Your Pet Feed the guinea pig pups for the first 5 days around the clock every 4 to 5 hours. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. If that happens in captivity, thats extremely rare. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. A particular substance comes from the eyes of a guinea pig; they rub it on their hair when they are grooming. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) Many people believe that male guinea pigs eat their babies as well. Sometimes it happens accidentally. (Benefits, Risks, Servings & FAQs), Baytril For Guinea Pigs (Side Effects, Efficacy, Dosage & FAQs), Signs Your Guinea Pig Hates You (Top 7 & And How to Fix It). Here you'll find the juicy goods to care for your little friends WITHOUT making your brain short-circuit. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. Extreme Stress -. How to Take Care of a Female Guinea Pig With Babies - wikiHow Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. 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. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. To most people, guinea pigs are cute pets, and having just one will suffice. Merck Veterinary Manual. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. This is why you should do everything in your power to make your female piggy feel at ease. Do guinea pigs get in heat? Explained by Sharing Culture