But, only serve them as an occasional treat, because the high sugar and water content can cause health problems like obesity and diarrhea. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . As noted above; Guinea Pigs are highly vocal and use their voice to express their personality. There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. Aggression between two newly introduced guinea pigs is very common and If your guinea pig is finding it hard to deal with the change of a new cage mate, try engaging him in more interaction with you than ever before. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. All rights reserved. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. If you look after the guinea pig mother regularly, she will allow you to touch her baby guinea pigs. Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! The average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. Theyre sweet, juicy, and tasty. Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! It is important to consider the space between the bars of your guinea pig cage. But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. The information on this website should not be take as a substitute for professional advice. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made by my readers, but it doesn't cost you anything at all. It is also quite normal for baby guinea pigs to whine when approached by a much bigger and older guinea pig. 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. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. The first twenty four hours are when the babies are at greatest risk for being eaten, so remain close during this period. This is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. RSPCA Knowledgebase Let Australias most trusted animal welfare charity help you answer the big questions. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. Soak guinea pig pellets in water from the first day of life. The answer to this question is not entirely clear. Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. You have to remember that these babies are coming out of the womb ready to run around the cage and have fun very quickly. Female guinea pigs dont intentionally eat their babies nor do they kill them to eat them. The Best Pet Health & Care Advice from Real Vets | PetMD. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. 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. This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. Its better to have a cage that is much larger than a cage that is too small. So, I took some time to do some research on it for you. Female guinea pigs have a Y-shaped opening close to their anus. As herbivores, they dont eat meat at all. Theyre filled with Vitamin C and other essential nutrients that guinea pigs need. 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. Before making this assumption, consider the following possibilities: Unfortunately, the evidence of your sow eating her babies might be obvious. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. Even their own children. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. 4. They reach their adult size very quickly. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. If you are just considering the idea of owning guinea pigs, ensure that you already have the capacity to take care of them and also provide them with quality interplay. In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. A single guinea pig living by themselves often become gloomy, confused, and spiritless. After three weeks, baby guinea pigs can be separated from their mother and placed with other guinea pigs or their owner. (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. When your guinea pig is pregnant her Vitamin C requirements double to around 20mg per day. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). 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. Three weeks marks the earliest point at which pups may stop nursing from their mother. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. No matter how cute baby guinea pigs are, one litter at a time should be plenty for most people to think about. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. 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. The reason is that male guinea pigs mature sexually very soon and can impregnate their mother as young as 2-3 months of age or even earlier. Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. 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. Its natural for you and me to humanize the behavior of animals. Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. Some say that they do not form the same type of attachment as other animals, while others believe that they do experience a certain level of sadness after their young have been weaned. Any sudden movement or noise can scare them. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. How Few Is Too Few? Guinea pigs eating babies is a rare but possible occurrence. New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. I'm currently a pet groomer, and I love it. Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. This can hurt their health and well-being. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. (Such as blood and remaining body parts). View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. While the baby boars can be separated in just three weeks once they are fully weaned, the baby sows can remain with the mother for up to 4 weeks from the time of birth. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. Other genetic diseases include vaulting disease, stroke, and seizures. On the other hand, a male guinea pig eats guinea pig babies when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. (What Owners Need To Know)Continue, If you notice drool on your guinea pigs face it can be a sign that somethings wrong. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. As they grow, baby guinea pigs will require extra calcium to help their bones develop properly. Sometimes it happens accidentally. If The Male Doesn't Believe the Babies Are His. (n.d.). Guinea pigs are social animals and do best when kept in pairs or groups. Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. Start offering them shredded lettuce from the day their born. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. Here are some reasons why animals eat their offspring. Guinea pig babies can walk, see, and hear, as soon as they are born, and most start nibbling on solid foods within a few days. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. 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. taylor, tx fatal car accident,