Though rare, guinea pigs sometimes cannibalize their offspring out of hunger or desperation or as part of an evolutionary strategy.
As soon as a newborn guinea pig is born, its mother must continue feeding it for at least three weeks; additionally, vitamin C supplementation will ensure its overall health and strength.
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Hunger
Mother guinea pigs may consume one of their young if they become overly hungry; this may happen if the mother does not receive sufficient amounts of timothy hay, pellets, or vitamin C supplements.
If she’s expecting her first litter or has just given birth to stillborn pups, or wants to protect both herself and them from predators. She will do this so they are safe.
Or she may be eating her placenta to begin producing milk – something not uncommon among pregnant guinea pigs.
As well, she may be suffering from mammary gland infection (mastitis), leading her to consume her own mammary gland. This could potentially prompt the animal to consume itself.
Guinea pigs can sometimes turn to cannibalism when under pressure or are malnourished and overcrowded in their cage. This behavior often stems from poor animal care practices or not understanding what their needs are.
Mistaken Identity
Unless provided with adequate care, pregnant female guinea pigs have an instinctual drive to consume some of their offspring because they may not have enough strength to survive in an environment without predators or threats to survive. Although this behavior could potentially pose a risk in an outdoor setting, such occurrences should not pose as many issues in an enclosed environment such as your own home.
Pregnant female guinea pigs must also take special care with what they eat during gestation in order to produce enough milk to support their babies. Failing to consume sufficient nourishment or experiencing weight loss could cause her to consume her young as food sources instead.
If your guinea pig seems to be losing weight or has stopped eating, this could be an indication of illness or injury and should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will help diagnose what’s ailing your little friend.
Starvation
Guinea pigs require extra nutrition during gestation. Their bodies need energy and nutrition in order to create baby animals inside them – hence why extra calories and nourishment must be provided during this stage.
Therefore, guinea pigs should be fed double their usual daily ration. Furthermore, vitamin c supplementation will keep their bodies strong and healthy.
If you have a pregnant sow, it would be prudent to provide her with a mix of alfalfa and timothy hay in order to keep her full while also protecting the unborn from being consumed by their mother. This will also keep them from eating their young early on in life.
Pregnant pigs require extra vitamin c throughout their pregnancy to stay healthy and strong, either through an added dose via dropper syringe with liquid vitamin c or compressed hay tablets with added vitamin c. Since pregnant pigs cannot make their own Vitamin C, regular supplementation via their diets will ensure strong gestationsal outcomes.
Stress
Under extreme levels of stress, pregnant guinea pigs may resort to puerperal cannibalism: eating their young. This phenomenon is commonly known as puerperal cannibalism.
However, this only occurs in rare instances – usually when starvation sets in and a mother feels she must consume her babies as an last resort.
One reason guinea pig mothers might consume their young is when they’re having difficulty breastfeeding, whether that means not receiving enough milk or being given too much.
Keep in mind, however, that such behaviors aren’t typical for guinea pigs in nature and should only arise under exceptional circumstances such as poor animal care or living in overcrowded conditions.
Once a guinea pig gives birth, the first thing to ensure is that her babies don’t come into contact with any strange smells or debris that might make the mother uncomfortable and cause her to reject them. This will prevent rejection.
