do guinea pigs miss their babies

If your guinea pig becomes acquainted with someone they don't trust, they may become quiet or hide when that person is nearby. So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. So your guinea pig is pregnant. 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. Caring for a guinea pig can be challenging if you are unsure whether it is missing its baby. But recognising the biological reasons why it occurs makes it easier to avoid. However, in captivity that shouldnt happen at all because responsible pet owners keep them separate from pregnant and lactating sows and their babies. When I'm not writing, I enjoy kickboxing and work as an animal trainer. At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. Well be discussing more about this in todays article. 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. Extreme Stress -. Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Owners?: 10 Tips You Need Now When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. If you carefully run a finger over the area, you should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. Getting guinea pigs used to handling from an early age is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets. Guinea pigs are docile small animals. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? 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. Guinea pigs love to communicate. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. Newborn Guinea Pig Babies 10 Minutes Old! - YouTube It was fascinating to watch our new mom clean up after her newborn baby guinea pigs. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. Guinea pig pups are essentially born ready to go: their eyes are open, they have hair and a full set of teeth, and they can run around on their own. Newborn Baby Guinea Pig Care - family-medical.net Firstly, please provide them with plenty of toys and treats to keep them occupied. When baby guinea pigs grow up the males are called boars and the females are called sows. 11811 Shaker Blvd, #204, PMB 289Cleveland, Ohio 44120(216) 912-6291. To most people, guinea pigs are cute pets, and having just one will suffice. Guinea Pigs do best when living with at least one similar companion, and pets that live without another Guinea pig sometimes become lonely and depressed. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. 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). The best items to put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage are absorbent,, Read More 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know)Continue, Pet parents who consider housing their guinea pigs outside often wonder whether or not their pet guinea pigs can hibernate. In almost all species, males are inherently territorial. 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. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. But, stick with me. He may also help to nurse the babies. Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. Ive wondered it myself. Before making this assumption, consider the following possibilities: Unfortunately, the evidence of your sow eating her babies might be obvious. Change the water daily. 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. 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. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. Once they die, she might eat them. Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. It is also quite normal for baby guinea pigs to whine when approached by a much bigger and older guinea pig. To pick up your guinea pig move slowly and gently pick him up with two hands. You need to know if you should reduce the amount of time you spend away from your pet. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. 4. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? If one or two guinea pig pups suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten, especially if its been more than twenty four hours. MY GUINEA PIG HAD BABIES - YouTube 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. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. New Plymouth Vet Group. 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? When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. Where can I find baby guinea pigs for sale? Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? 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. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. As you find a toy for your little fur baby, you might be asking, do guinea pigs like stuffed animals? There's nothing quite like getting away from it all in nature. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig. Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. Newborn Guinea Pigs - What You Should Avoid - Guinea Pig Site 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. Guinea pig babies are actually called pups. Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Male guinea pigs have a donut-shaped opening. Want to know more? And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! From the moment they are born they are unusually mature and capable of looking after themselves. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. If the mother is experiencing starvation , she may eat her offspring as an ultimate last resort. What about baby guinea pigs for adoption? Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. The information on this website should not be take as a substitute for professional advice. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape the enclosure? How long before you can handle baby guinea pigs? Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around. It is famously difficult to sex baby rodents, so the easiest way to be sure which of your pups are girls and which are boys is to ask a more experienced mentor, or a vet, to help you. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. i've been keeping this a secret for over a week now!! How To Stop Guinea Pigs Chewing On Cage Bars, Baby Chicken What To Expect From Egg To 8 Weeks Old, Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, The effect of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea pig placenta, Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry. The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. You should increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables given daily and also consider pet-friendly supplements. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Kill Their Young? New guinea pig breeds are formalised by the American Cavy Breeders Association, who also oversee breed standards and competitions in the United States. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. 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. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. As mentioned already, increased stress will make it much more likely that your guinea pig will eat her offspring. When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. 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. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. A guinea pig baby can show mating behaviors at about three to four weeks of age. You don't have to be a professional breeder . This blog will give you some helpful tips on how to make this a wonderful experience. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. At those moments, the guinea pig mother can be very protective and you can be mistaken for a potential predator. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. Witkowska, A. et al, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science, 2017. Newborn Baby Guinea Pigs: What to expect? (it's not what you think) If you look after the guinea pig mother regularly, she will allow you to touch her baby guinea pigs. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. If a baby guinea pig is orphaned, it is essential to find a surrogate mom as soon as possible. If the litter is too large, the mama . 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. (And How? Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. This is a question that has long been debated when it comes to guinea pigs. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Sometimes, male Guinea pigs will eat pups if they were fathered by another cavy. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. So as long as the enclosure is secure and the bars are tight, you should be fine. Most experts believe that guinea pigs are relatively emotionally resilient creatures and are unlikely to suffer significant emotional distress due to being separated from their young. Medical Disclaimer. (2010, July 22). Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. (Find Out Now). Hold your guinea pig securely and gently turn him / her over. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Newborn guinea pigs can open their eyes after they are born. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. Filial cannibalism is when animals eat their own offspring. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. It is rare, but it does happen. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. The average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. Make sure your pig has a lot of food. Although pet guinea pigs eating their pups is a very rare incident, it does happen sometimes. 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. This usually happens when pups are stillborn, or born to ill to survive. If you are unsure if the guinea pig is missing its baby, you may not be able to know if it is ill and needs to see a veterinarian. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. Any guinea pig lover would approve. Equally, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their babies because they dont eat meat. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: This was one question that had me really worried. 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. This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. And if you push very gently, the penis might appear. This article has been extensively revised for 2019. Copyright 2021 - 2023 Guinea Pig Den | Jennifer Franklin Media LLCThis site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. You just have to note that bringing mature guinea pigs together can sometimes be difficult, even if it is done in a slow and measured manner. Check out these most popular guinea pig products on the market: Last update on 2023-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. 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. RSPCA Knowledgebase Let Australias most trusted animal welfare charity help you answer the big questions. 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. 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. 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. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. Your Baby Guinea Pig What To Expect And How To Look How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. Put him back with his mother if he becomes vocal or squirmy. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. Do Guinea Pigs Remember Their Siblings, Names, Owners & More Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. The Best Pet Health & Care Advice from Real Vets | PetMD. This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. (n.d.). They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. A male guinea pig eats the babies only by a strange occurrence. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. 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. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. 10. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! Although guinea pigs occasionally sneeze, frequent sneezing is a sign of pneumonia, especially in response to climate change. A mother guinea pig can eat her babies if one of the babies is born dead. How do you tell if a baby guinea pig is a boy or girl? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. Do guinea pigs get attached to their babies? (n.d.). What to Do If Your Guinea Pig Had Babies - YouTube B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978. Keep your little friend calm. If The Male Doesn't Believe the Babies Are His. 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. (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. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. Their compact, cylindrical bodies range from 8 to 10 inches . Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com and other affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. They also live for several years, longer than most other rodents, so you can enjoy them longer than other pet rodents. By doing this you can prevent accidental killings, as well as promptly remove any still born pups from the cage. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. Dont be surprised if your pup lets out a little chirp as a means of asking for food! We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. They need supervised time out of their cages each day to run around and exercise. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. (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). Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. 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. How to Take Care of a Female Guinea Pig With Babies - wikiHow You have to remember that these babies are coming out of the womb ready to run around the cage and have fun very quickly. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. Guinea pig litters can contain up to eight pups, but two, three or four is more usual. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth.