However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. 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. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. This can hurt their health and well-being. (n.d.). Lets explain why guinea pigs may eat their babies. Start offering them shredded lettuce from the day their born. Common diseases in domestic guinea pigs include respiratory infections, diarrhea, itching, and boils due to infection (often the neck, throat, or external scratches). 11. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. 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. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. 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. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? National Geographic. (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. I've always been an animal lover, and I've worked in the pet industry. 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. However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. We hope youve enjoyed this in depth article about cute baby guinea pigs!Guinea pig pups are quite unlike most other baby animals. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? How long does it take for a baby guinea pig to walk? Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. So, if youve been wanting to know if guinea pigs usually miss their owners, we hope you have the answer now. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Kill Their Young? Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. Do guinea pigs remember their parents? https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, Why do animals sometimes kill their babies? Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. It was fascinating to watch our new mom clean up after her newborn baby guinea pigs. So, pet parents should be cautious and prepared when dealing with pregnant sows. At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? As mentioned already, increased stress will make it much more likely that your guinea pig will eat her offspring. Newborn guinea pigs should be kept with their mom for at least 3 weeks. If it has not happened within the first 24 hours, it is very unlikely she will attempt to do it later on. Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. (n.d.). I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. No. Do Chickens Get Lonely? It will also well as putting her at risk for developing diseases like toxaemia. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Do guinea pigs get attached to their babies? Other genetic diseases include vaulting disease, stroke, and seizures. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? Many people believe that male guinea pigs eat their babies as well. Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. Pregnant and lactating guinea pigs also need alfalfa hay to sustain their babies. 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. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. Now, lets begin at the beginning. So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? Baby guinea pigs feed on their mothers milk but soon they will need lots of alfalfa hay thats rich in calcium. After giving birth, the mother guinea pig is likely to eat the placenta but can end up eating her babies by mistake. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! How long do baby guinea pigs stay with Mom? This is called precociality. Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? This Is What You Should Know! Kind, K.L., Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, American Journal of Physiology, 2005. Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. This is a question that has long been debated when it comes to guinea pigs. of 2-4. They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. Why would a pet guinea pig eat its own babies? There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. Regarding animal parents, there is no greater love than that of a mother for her young. One under his chest and one under his bottom. 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. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? So, its possible for their mother (especially if shes inexperienced with babies) to kill them with too much force. Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. the babies are doing so well and are so healthy.#guineapig #babies #cuteSong: Sapphe. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: This was one question that had me really worried. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. 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. 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. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. 25 Sweet & Silly Guinea Pig Names - wideopenspaces.com When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. If her diet doesnt contain enough vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving enough calories to maintain her body weight. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, Guinea lynx :: Reproduction. For instance, most rats eat their babies. The mother may eat her babies if one or more of her litter dies, or she is under a lot of stress. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. That is a common myth and is not true. 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. B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978. Significantly, this is the age when pups will start to reach sexual maturity. Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. https://lakeshorepethospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Guinea_Pig_Pregnancy.pdf, If you know anything about guinea pigs, you know they love to play. New Plymouth Vet Group. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. 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. Keep the male guinea pig separate from his female partner to keep her safe and reduce the stress. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. Baby guinea pigs are able to digest solid food soon after birth; however, the majority of their required nutrients will come from their mothers milk. After your guinea pig has given birth, shell clean up the evidence left behind to stop predators from tracking down their scent. She checked each one of them and licked them clean immediately following their birth. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. Preview / Show more . The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. Theyre filled with Vitamin C and other essential nutrients that guinea pigs need. From the moment they are born they are unusually mature and capable of looking after themselves. 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. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. This can be startling and upsetting. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. Between then and reaching their full adult weight several months later, you might hear them being described as juniors. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. But, if one or more of her litter is stillborn, she may eat it. Guinea pigs are cute and quite intelligent pets. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Make sure she always has enough food. Explain to them that they have not been replaced or that their babies have replaced your guinea pig.