do guinea pigs miss their babies

When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. Some guinea pigs even put up great resistance to this. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. And within a few hours nursing should be established. This process includes eating the placenta and, while she does this, there is a chance that she will mistake one of her babies for the placenta. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. 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. Here is how to tell if your baby guinea pig is a boy or girl: RELATED: CLICK HERE for more information on how to determine the sex of a guinea pig. Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. This is an essential process as it helps to ensure that the young guinea pigs can develop properly. However, some people have asked whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies after they have been separated. How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth? If this is the case, you obviously dont need to take these steps. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. A fully grown guinea pig is between 20 and 25 cm long. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. But, stick with me. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). (Fun Facts). When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. Can the male guinea pig stay with the mother and babies? Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? 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. This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. Explain to them that they have not been replaced or that their babies have replaced your guinea pig. He may also help to nurse the babies. It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? Your guinea pig wont eat its babies if you touch them. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. To help you, weve written more about how to tame a guinea pig here. But, when a pet parent has makes an intentional choice to breed, its really not worth the risk in most cases. She checked each one of them and licked them clean immediately following their birth. Want to know more? Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Eat Their Young? 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. Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. 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. (n.d.). A male guinea pig might seriously injure his babies because he is territorial and feels intimidated. They will nurse every two hours for the first three weeks. Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. The good news is that its unlikely for your pregnant pet to eat her offspring. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. If your guinea pig becomes restless or starts to squeak loudly it is a sign that he is ready to go back to his cage. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. The act of cannibalism in guinea pigs is usually the mother trying to protect the rest of her litter from predators. They will weigh as much as 2 kilos; most reside between 5 and 6 years, however some notably wholesome pets can reside 10 years or longer. This page is stuffed full of information about how to care for your baby guinea pig. We spent some time coming up with cute guinea pig names for our babies and decided upon the following; Moose, Aspen, Moon and Finn! Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. They also live for several years, longer than most other rodents, so you can enjoy them longer than other pet rodents. Approach them face-on, so they can see you coming. If you push gently on their lower abdomen the penis may appear. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. The average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? 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. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long untilbirth.. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. An adult guinea pig will never deliberately harm or eat a newborn guinea pig. 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. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. This is especially true if pet parents have not given their pregnant sow enough food. If a baby guinea pig is orphaned, it is essential to find a surrogate mom as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. You have entered an incorrect email address! Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. Guinea pigs can be aggressive towards each other if they are not adequately trained. For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. This little interaction will enable him warm to the introduction of a new cage mate better. Guinea pig pregnancies are dangerous and the mortality rate is high both among guinea pig mothers and babies. Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. 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. Theyre sweet, juicy, and tasty. Having a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. Guinea pigs are peaceful creatures. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. 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. That is a common myth and is not true. Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. 10. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. You don't have to be a professional breeder . On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. When female guinea pigs eat their babies, they can do so because they are excessively hungry and because they are under a lot of stress that they cannot handle. A particular substance comes from the eyes of a guinea pig; they rub it on their hair when they are grooming. How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this is true. male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies, guinea pigs can get attached to their owners. Their paws and head are comically outsized in proportion to their body, and they already have a full coat of fur. Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. Once the pups arrive, monitor them closely to make sure nursing is established within 12 hours. Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. On the other hand if youll be helping a sow to raise a litter of pups from birth, theres rather more to think about. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. Guinea pig babies are born quickly. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Pregnant and lactating guinea pigs also need alfalfa hay to sustain their babies. A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. This can lead to health problems. (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. You might even have witnessed them start to join in with social grooming by this point. Preview / Show more . Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. Baby guinea pigs are called pups just like baby dogs. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. We read that the bedding needs to be changed daily. If you have a pregnant guinea pig, consider giving the her cage an upgrade, so she can take care of her pups comfortably. Female guinea pigs have a Y-shaped opening close to their anus. Its better to have a cage that is much larger than a cage that is too small. Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. i am so excited!!! Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. However, you should err on the side of caution. Also, they should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water all the time. Once labor is established, all the pups usually arrive within half an hour. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. Medical Disclaimer. Other guinea pig owners would like to breed their piggies. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. 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. 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. In a pet situation, the male may be in the same guinea pig cage as the female and her newborns, and there is no way for the mother to move the pups away from . 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. I personally dont recommend it and neither do vets and most responsible rescues and shelters.Accidents happen. An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. (n.d.). Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals?