How to Care for a Guinea Pig and Her New Baby

This page is stuffed full of information almost how to care for your babe guinea hog. We'll chart the milestones of their first days and weeks, and find out what to expect if y'all discover your female person republic of guinea hog is expecting. We volition assist you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets.

Your Baby Guinea Pig

A baby republic of guinea pig is called a pup. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they tin can see, hear, and movement nigh. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-four, and weigh 70-115g. Pups from small litters are unremarkably bigger than pups from large litters. Like babies of all species, cute baby guinea pigs are tiny and winsome.

Frequently asked questions
Infant guinea pigs week past week
How to care for babe guinea pigs

Infant Guinea Pigs

Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. Guinea pigs are not merely kept equally family unit pets, but like dogs, cats and rabbits, they are also bred for show.

New guinea hog breeds are formalised past the American Cavy Breeders Association, who likewise oversee breed standards and competitions in the United States. Whether you program on rearing your own litter of baby Abysinnian guinea pigs, or you're making plans to buy a babe Peruvian guinea grunter, it'southward valuable to exist able to recognise whether they're growing and developing usually for the species, and their breed.

In the adjacent section we've assembled some of the most commonly asked questions our readers accept about their infant guinea pigs.

From in that location you can jump direct to the answers you demand, or join us for a complete overview of baby guinea hog evolution, week by calendar week.

Baby Guinea Pigs FAQs

What practise you call a babe guinea pig?
How many babies can a guinea sus scrofa take?
Tin can y'all touch a newborn guinea grunter?
What do baby guinea pigs eat?
How do y'all sex baby guinea pigs?
How long practice republic of guinea pig babies stay with mom?
What care do babe republic of guinea pigs demand?
Do guinea pigs swallow their babies?
Where can I find infant guinea pigs for sale?
What nigh infant guinea pigs for adoption?

What Are Baby Guinea Pigs Called?

Now, let's begin at the beginning. Baby guinea pigs are chosen pups. The name pup calls to listen baby dogs, but guinea pigs really vest to a family of rodent species chosen cavies.

When they grow upward, male guinea pigs are chosen boars, and females are called sows. Merely like large farmyard pigs! There's no fixed moment when a guinea hog stops being a pup and becomes an developed. Merely most people think of information technology as existence effectually four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. Between then and reaching their full developed weight several months later, y'all might hear them being described as 'juniors'.

How Many Babies Practice Guinea Pigs Have?

Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. And guinea pigs are quite fertile niggling creatures besides!

Republic of guinea hog litters can contain upward to 8 pups, but two, three or four is more than usual. The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Volume of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups!

How Oftentimes Do Republic of guinea Pigs Have Babies?

Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the pinnacle window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. Later on birth, Republic of guinea squealer sows tin become meaning once more within hours.

Since their gestation lasts merely 59-73 days, a female guinea pig is capable in theory of begetting five or even 6 litters a twelvemonth. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. So it is not good practise by caring breeders.

What Does a Baby Guinea Grunter Look Similar?

Newborn republic of guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. An average sized pup measures around 3 to five inches at nascence, and very cylindrical – roughly the size of a tangerine in fact!

Private size is generally linked to litter size, and then the more siblings there are in a litter, the smaller they are each probable to be. Their paws and head are comically outsized in proportion to their body, and they already have a total coat of fur. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain twenty teeth, which grow continuously.

Baby Guinea Pigs Week by Week

Guinea pig pregnancy seems short to us, only in fact it lasts a remarkably long time for their size. And the effect is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. This is called "precociality".

For instance, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open up, and their ears – which expect huge at the moment – can already hear. And then the remaining milestones left to await for relate to growth, feeding, beliefs and sexual maturity.

Infant Guinea Pigs – Calendar week One

Guinea grunter babies are born very quickly. Once labor is established, all the pups usually arrive within half an 60 minutes.

They will begin to wriggle and movement about as soon every bit they've been licked clean past their mom. And within a few hours nursing should exist established.

But some other remarkable thing almost baby guinea pigs is just how grown upwardly their appetites are!

What Do Baby Republic of guinea Pigs Swallow?

Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours).

Within twenty-four hours they can start to consume grass, produce, hay, and pellet feed just like adults.

Information technology tin be a little surprising to witness, but it'southward completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about.

Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours.

They will proceed to nurse from mom for somewhere between 3 and 6 weeks.

Can You Touch a Newborn Guinea Pig?

It is fine to carefully handle your new guinea pig pups during their commencement week, simply be sure to allow them plenty of time with their mother likewise. Handling them likewise much too soon can disrupt the bond they need with their mother in lodge to nurse from her, and huddle against her for warmth. At worst, it can cause her to reject them.

When you lot exercise arroyo the a baby guinea pig, exist careful to move slowly and gently. Approach them face-on, and then they can encounter you coming. Place 1 hand under their tummy and 1 behind their bottom, and concord the little guy close to yous.

2 Calendar week Onetime Babe Guinea Pigs

By their 2nd week, you won't be able to miss how much your baby guinea pigs have grown already. They might surprise you with how decorated and outgoing they are too.

You can expect your pup to wander curiously well-nigh their globe during this fourth dimension, but their legs are withal a fleck clumsy and they're apt to of a sudden plop down as they explore their environs. Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they showtime vocalising from childhood.

What Do Infant Guinea Pigs Sound Like?

Guinea pigs make eleven different phone call types. They utilise them to form social bonds and initiate mating, attract the attending of herd members over great distances, communicate sadness, and audio the alert. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young historic period.

Don't be surprised if your pup lets out a little chirp as a means of asking for food! You might likewise notice they squeak in distress when you take them away from their mom. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit once again later.

Paying lots of brief visits to your litter with mother, and getting them used to gentle handling without worrying them are going to exist a vital foundation of adept socialization.

Socializing Babe Guinea Pigs

Getting guinea pigs used to treatment from an early historic period is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets.

To assistance you lot, nosotros've written more than about how to tame a republic of guinea pig here.

Information technology's just as important that your baby republic of guinea pig also spends nigh of their time with other republic of guinea pigs. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd.

It's easy to attain in the offset two weeks by keeping the whole litter together with their mom, but next week information technology'due south time to start thinking almost separating them.

Iii Week Sometime Baby Republic of guinea Pigs

Three weeks marks the earliest point at which pups may stop nursing from their mother. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned every bit late as vi weeks.

Weaning age depends on several factors including the pup's weight, the mother'due south milk supply, and the number of siblings.

Just usually, mom will begin to discourage her babies from nursing at well-nigh the third calendar week.

Significantly, this is the age when pups will kickoff to reach sexual maturity.

And that ways that in a mixed litter of boys and girls, it's time for the boys to be relocated to a new habitation, to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

How Practice You lot Sex Baby Guinea Pigs?

No matter how cute babe republic of guinea pigs are, 1 litter at a time should be plenty for most people to think almost.

Allowing siblings to breed as well poses a run a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring.

It is famously hard to sex baby rodents, so the easiest way to exist sure which of your pups are girls and which are boys is to ask a more experienced mentor, or a vet, to help you.

Brainstorm past holding your guinea pig gently on their back. Exist prepared to assess them quickly, because they won't like to be held in that position for long!

Male baby guinea pigs accept a donut-shaped genital opening in forepart of their anus. If y'all advisedly run a finger over the surface area, you lot should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. And if yous push very gently, the penis might appear.

Female baby republic of guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. And of course, when you run a finger over the area, you won't feel a penis!

Infant Republic of guinea Sus scrofa Behavior – Week Iv Onwards

By the time they're a month one-time, baby guinea pigs' body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster.

You volition get a kick out of their eagerness to hunt each other around and play, and mayhap even start popcorning.

Popcorning is an incredibly descriptive term to depict the frenzied bursts of energetic jumping, bumping and hopping most that guinea pigs engage in.

Individuals will be starting to prove their own distinct personalities too.

And all the behaviors they'll need to bear out for themselves instead of having performed for them by mom – like preparation – will be well established.

You lot might even have witnessed them starting time to bring together in with social training by this point.

How Long Do Baby Guinea Pigs Stay With Their Mothers?

At vi weeks old babe guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother.

They've learned all the skills they need for independence, and they're set to leave the nest.

Six or 7 weeks old is the age at which near breeders volition allow their pups go to their new homes.

It's too the age of the youngest baby republic of guinea pigs in pet stores.

How to Care for Baby Guinea Pigs

If you bring home your baby guinea pig at 7 weeks old, you lot'll discover all the information you lot demand to raise them in our guide to guinea pigs every bit pets.

Keep an middle on their weight, and you'll be able to discover them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday.

E'er consult your vet if you lot remember a infant guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive.

Bathing them, if it's something you plan to attempt, should wait until they are at to the lowest degree 8 weeks old.

Baby Guinea Pig Intendance – Raising a Litter of Pups

On the other hand if you'll be helping a sow to raise a litter of pups from nascence, at that place'due south rather more to call up about.

Giving your litter the best start begins earlier your sow is even meaning – make certain she has a clean bill of wellness from a vet before she is mated, and buy a hutch large enough to firm her and her babies until they move out.
During pregnancy your sow volition demand lots of energy and vitamin C, so make certain her hay doesn't run out, and offering a larger helping of fresh fruit and veg every day.
Change her bedding daily in the run upwards to labor and while the pups are small. Ammonia fumes from soiled bedding can harm pups' lungs, and bacteria can infect your sow's nipples while she's nursing.
Once the pups arrive, monitor them closely to make sure nursing is established inside 12 hours. Inquire your vet for advice if this isn't the case.
Start offer them shredded lettuce from the day their born. Remember to remove any they go out, as it volition spoil quickly.
The pups volition learn a lot – from how to course social bonds, to which foods are safe to swallow – from the adults they alive with. Programme in advance how you will brand sure the male child babies still receive this education after they leave their mom and siblings at three weeks old.

Do Republic of guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies?

Sadly aye, guinea pig mothers practice sometimes eat their newborn young.

This can exist startling and upsetting. It's understandable to feel that fashion.

But recognising the biological reasons why it occurs makes it easier to avoid.

It can happen for 2 reasons.

1. Inexperience

An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the nascency.

This usually happens when pups are stillborn, or born to sick to survive.

When they don't respond to her attending, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends upwardly damaging them.

2. Malnourishment

Secondly, even an experienced republic of guinea squealer mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished.

Bear in mind this doesn't necessarily hateful she is dangerously thin.

If her nutrition doesn't incorporate plenty vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving plenty calories to maintain her body weight.

Avoiding Heartache

A great way to get help raising your beginning litter successfully, and in recognising potential bug quickly, is by enlisting the support of a mentor.

Y'all can find a mentor by request your local cavy club to put you in affect with suitable experienced breeders.

You can as well inquire your vet for advice and support.

Choosing a Baby Guinea Pig Name

Once all the serious aspects of baby guinea pig care are in hand, you can turn your mind to more fun tasks, similar picking their names.

Here are some of our top babe republic of guinea pig name lists to assistance y'all feel inspired!

Girl guinea pig names
Boy republic of guinea sus scrofa names
Cute guinea pig names
Cool republic of guinea pig names
Funny guinea pig names

Where Can I Discover Infant Guinea Pigs For Sale?

If you lot have decided yous're ready to take the plunge and welcome a new baby republic of guinea pig into your life, take a await at our article Where To Buy Republic of guinea Pigs to start your journeying.

Information technology might likewise help to read How Much Do Guinea Pigs Cost? and so that you lot're not striking past any nasty surprises!

What About Babe Guinea Pigs For Adoption?

Alternatively, you can contact local modest fauna shelters and ask if they accept any baby republic of guinea pigs for adoption.

This oftentimes happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and aren't able to care for all the babies.

Baby republic of guinea pigs for adoption are usually a little cheaper than guinea pigs for sale, and often come with a make clean bill of health from a vet.

If you're not looking for a specific breed or sex of republic of guinea pig, rescuing one from a shelter is a neat way to come across your new pet.

Baby Guinea Hog Summary

We hope you've enjoyed this in depth article near cute baby guinea pigs!
Republic of guinea pig pups are quite different near other infant animals.

From the moment they are born they are unusually mature and capable of looking after themselves.

Merely whether you're raising a litter from nascency or buying an older baby guinea sus scrofa for sale, getting prepared in advance is the best fashion to brand sure yous provide them with the best start in life.

In the concurrently, if you lot haven't seen plenty sweet pictures of baby republic of guinea pigs withal, then why not visit our compilation of favorite guinea pig videos.

Baby Guinea Pig Care — Have Yous Raised Babe Republic of guinea Pigs?

What were the highlights?

Nosotros'd dear to hear well-nigh your experiences in the comment section below!

Readers Also Liked

How To Stop Guinea Pigs Chewing On Muzzle Confined
Why Do My Guinea Pigs Fight?
Baby Chicken – What To Wait From Egg To 8 Weeks Old

References and Further Reading

American Cavy Breeders Association

Bartesaghi, R., Severi, S., Effects of early on environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Neuroscience, 2004.

Briscoe, T.A., et al, Cardiovascular and renal affliction in the adolescent guinea pig later on chronic placental insufficiency, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2004.

Dwyer, C.Grand., et al, The upshot of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea sus scrofa placenta, Journal of Developmental Physiology, 1992.

Kind, Thou.L., Chronic maternal feed brake impairs growth only increases adiposity of the fetal guinea squealer, American Journal of Physiology, 2005.

Berryman, J. C., Republic of guinea‐pig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Ethology, 1976.

Pettijohn, T. F., Zipper and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979.

Bellinger, South. A. et al, An ecologically relevant republic of guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015.

Clements, M. and Kelly, J. B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978.

Witkowska, A. et al, The Furnishings of Nutrition on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Republic of guinea Grunter, Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science, 2017.

Donnelly, T. K. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004.

Garner-Richardson, 5., Republic of guinea Pig Nutrition, The Veterinary Nurse, 2013.

This article has been extensively revised for 2019.

How to Care for a Guinea Pig and Her New Baby

Source: https://squeaksandnibbles.com/baby-guinea-pig/