Is your guinea pig pregnant? There’s rather a lot to think about in the case of caring for younger guinea pigs.
Child guinea pigs want a heat enclosure, vet care, fixed entry to recent hay, and small quantities of every day pellets and greens. Their moms usually take care of them as long as you present the necessities, although orphaned or uncared for infants will want extra care.
On this article, we’ll talk about tips on how to put together for a litter of child guinea pigs and tips on how to take care of them after their start.
Getting ready for Child Guinea Pigs
In case your guinea pig is pregnant, the very first thing you’ll have to do is see a veterinarian. It’s essential that they monitor her and the infants all through her being pregnant.
If a guinea pig reaches six months with no being pregnant, her hips develop shut collectively, making future pregnancies unsafe. In case your guinea pig is over six months outdated and also you’re uncertain whether or not she’s been pregnant earlier than, your veterinarian will doubtless suggest a C-section. Pure start at this age is prone to kill each your guinea pig and her offspring.
Your vet can clear up any questions you’ve gotten about guinea pig being pregnant as properly. However should you’re curious earlier than your appointment, listed below are some fast info:
- Guinea pig pregnancies final 59-72 days, which can appear brief to us, however is a very long time for a rodent of their measurement!
- Most litters include two to 4 child guinea pigs.
- If the mom and father are housed collectively, they should be separated. He could harm her by making an attempt to mate whereas she’s pregnant. As soon as the infants are born, he can impregnate her once more instantly–which isn’t secure for her well being.
One other technique to put together on your new child guinea pigs is to make sure the cage is in a secure, temperature-controlled area. You could need to improve your cage to make room for brand new piggies or add comfortable fleece objects for mama and infants to snuggle up in.
Whereas child guinea pigs don’t usually want supplemental heating, they do want heat to outlive. They’ll get this by cuddling their mom or one another, by sleeping in heat fleece objects, and thru being housed in a heat, indoor area.
What Do Child Guinea Pigs Eat?
Child guinea pigs will be supplied strong meals instantly. Additionally they nurse from their mom. Present fixed entry to recent hay and water and a small quantity of pellets and greens every day.
Child guinea pigs profit from alfalfa hay of their weight loss program. Although this isn’t needed, it offers much-needed calcium and protein to assist their progress. It’s additionally useful for pregnant and nursing piggies.
If you happen to don’t have alfalfa available or are nervous about cagemates consuming it, you may also stick with timothy hay. You could need to complement calcium by greens like kale or spinach, however solely carefully–whereas they want greater than your common grownup piggy, it’s nonetheless not good for them to get an excessive amount of calcium of their weight loss program.
Decrease one water bottle to child guinea pig top in order that they don’t need to stretch to drink it, however hold one other at a great top for his or her mom and another grownup guinea pigs within the enclosure.
You shouldn’t want to show your child guinea pigs to eat or drink. They be taught by watching different guinea pigs and may catch on shortly!
Take care of Child Guinea Pigs
Mom guinea pigs usually do many of the work in the case of elevating their infants. All you must want to offer is meals, water, vet care, and a clear, secure enclosure.
Discuss to your veterinarian about how quickly to deliver your guinea pigs for his or her first appointment. A check-up quickly after start is essential to make sure the well being of the mama pig and her infants.
You’ll additionally need to weigh the infants usually. Whereas weights can range, the essential factor is that they proceed to develop. If the infants don’t proceed to steadily achieve weight, and particularly in the event that they drop pounds, name your veterinarian instantly.
Wholesome infants are heat to the contact, energetic, and have spherical bellies. In the event that they’re chilly, nonetheless, or have skinny stomachs, you and your vet could have to step in to hand-raise them.
Increase Orphaned Guinea Pigs
In case your child guinea pigs’ mom isn’t caring for them for any motive, name your veterinarian for recommendation. You could have to step in and lift the infants your self. This implies maintaining them heat, feeding them with a bottle or syringe, and stimulating them to make use of the toilet.
Room temperature is nice for child guinea pigs. They’ll additionally cuddle with one another to remain hotter and can take pleasure in cozy fleece objects. You’ll be able to present a scorching water bottle too, so long as they’ve area to get away from the warmth if wanted. Warmth lamps and plug-in heating pads will be harmful as they might get too scorching and are additionally fireplace hazards.
In the case of feeding, you’ll by no means need to force-feed your guinea pigs. Fill a bottle or syringe with formulation made for child guinea pigs–not cow’s milk or human child formulation. Some vets recommend using Critical Care fairly than milk, so seek the advice of along with your veterinarian to get the most effective recommendation on your state of affairs.
Hold your child guinea pig upright with all 4 paws on the ground. Allow them to latch onto the bottle or syringe and drip it into their mouths very slowly. This prevents them from inhaling or choking on the milk or Vital Care. Feed them 4-6 instances every day.
Lastly, child guinea pigs can’t potty on their very own. Their mom helps them by licking their privates, which stimulates them to go. You’ll be able to replicate this by rubbing a moist cotton pad across the genitals for round 15-20 seconds or till they pee and poop.
Setting Up a Cage for Child Guinea Pigs
Child guinea pigs don’t want many particular lodging apart from weight loss program and a lowered water bottle, as we mentioned above. You could need to broaden the cage to make room for the brand new additions or add extra tunnels, hides, and different enrichment objects. Cozy objects are additionally good for maintaining infants heat throughout their first weeks of life.
Different piggy housemates don’t must be faraway from the cage however watch them to make sure they get together with the infants. Some adults will attempt to bully infants and should you see this habits, you’ll have to separate them till the infants are rehomed or rebond them once they’re older.
Take away all unneutered grownup males from the cage instantly to forestall them from hurting pregnant mamas or inflicting additional pregnancies.
Child Guinea Pig Milestones
Guinea pigs are born capable of run round and may eat solids simply a few days after they’re born. They’re not fully self-sufficient, however can do extra for themselves than human infants and even puppies!
Weaning
Child piggies will depend on their mom for milk till they’re weaned at round three to 4 weeks outdated. Throughout this time, they’ll additionally eat strong meals like hay, greens, and pellets.
Separating From Mama Piggy
At three weeks outdated, you’ll have to intercourse your guinea pig’s infants and take away all males from the cage. They might appear too little, however they’ll already impregnate their mom and sisters at this age!
If you happen to’re not assured in sexing child guinea pigs, ask a veterinarian or different guinea pig skilled for assist. In spite of everything, you don’t need any extra unintended litters!
You’ll be able to place the males collectively in a separate cage or put single males with their father in order that they’ll hold one another firm. Please take into account that bonds with three or extra males not often work out long-term, although they’ll doubtless be okay till they grow old.
An alternative choice for long-term housing is to neuter the daddy or one of many males and home them individually with a number of females.
Child guinea pigs will be adopted into their endlessly properties at round eight weeks outdated.
Dealing with and Socialization
Other than shortly weighing and looking out them over, you must deal with child guinea pigs minimally for the primary two to three weeks. After three weeks, they’ll spend small quantities of time away from mother and littermates, and start to bond with their human caretakers.
At this age, you solely need to deal with them briefly a number of instances a day. Wash your fingers first to keep away from spreading germs, as guinea pigs at this age are fragile.
Method them from the aspect (not from the highest!) and carry gently, supporting their whole physique along with your fingers.
You’ll be able to maintain them in your lap for a couple of minutes, pet their heads, and contact their ft to start desensitizing them to nail trims. Start to get longhaired piggies used to the comb as properly.
The extra you deal with them after they flip three weeks, the extra well-socialized they’ll be as adults. You may as well sit close to or within the cage, or deliver mama and infants out for ground time and sit with them exterior of the enclosure.
Discuss to them gently and feed them small bits of greens. Allow them to strategy you and get used to your presence. Keep away from sudden actions and towering over them, as this may be startling.
General, caring for a litter of child guinea pigs is fairly simple, particularly if their mom does a great job at offering for them. You’ll doubtless want to watch their well being, clear their cage, and supply meals and water. Don’t neglect to socialize the infants to people as they age and to separate males from females as soon as they’re three weeks outdated!
