6 new baby guinea pigs tonight... *It's been a bad week. UPDATE*

[gaited horse]

Quote:
Thanks, I wondered about that. When I went shopping for wood chips last time, there were no pine shavings so I bought the cedar. I'll go shopping for pine tomorrow...

Wally world has this cool bedding i like it's called critter care.

 

[shelleyd2008]

So many babies!! And they are so BIG! I had no idea baby guinea pigs were so big at birth, I bet mama was huge!!

I've thought about breeding mine, but my son thinks that every baby animal born or hatched here is supposed to stay here

So we'll just keep his two girls and let that be that

Congrats on the new babies!!

 

[verlaj]

There are a couple of types of bedding that are made from recycled paper - best to avoid the vapors from both cedar and pine shavings.

Love the GP babies!

 

[texasgal]

Nothing like baby pigs .. I always said that mamma opens up and little mini pigs come marching out .. ready to eat and enjoy life.. not like little nekkid rabbit babies ..

 

[jossanne]

Update on the babies. Three are pretty big, and three are smaller. One of the smaller babies is not doing well tonight. I wonder if it's not getting enough food. It was moving around when I left for work, but when I got home this evening, it was laying on its side and not doing anything. My DD tried putting it up to the mama's nipple, but it wouldn't even try to eat. We got out the kitten formula, and tried feeding it with a medicine dropper, and it got a few drops down. Now I've got the baby down in my bra so it will stay warm.

Any advice?

 

[Bec]

I have never had new born guinea pigs before, but I would just try to keep it warm and keep offering the milk. I am not sure of they are like kitten or not, but make sure it is going to the bathroom.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I second this, at least try to get the little guy to eat something. You should call your vet and see what kind of milk replacement to give it, guinea pigs are herbivores, cats are omnivores, so kitten milk replacement might not be the best choice.
I would think you could give it some baby vitamins, have you tried that? Maybe a bit of electrolytes, like Pedialyte?

ETA: Here's one link on replacement milk for baby pigs: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_there_a_milk_substitue_to_feed_newborn_guinea_pigs_if_the_mother_won't_feed_them
And another: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080926154338AAu6qTv <---this one says not to use any type of dairy as a replacement.
And another: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guinea-Pigs-1574/Water-newborn-guinea-pigs.htm
And another: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080924164202AAm1h73


It seems there are 2 different lines of thinking, either mashed pellets or evaporated milk. I have heard that guinea pigs don't nurse that much, so I would go with the pellets myself. You can always use the dropper to give some water and vitamins, but I'd try to give it a pellet mash first and foremost.

Good luck with it, I hope it comes around

 

[jossanne]

Quote:
I second this, at least try to get the little guy to eat something. You should call your vet and see what kind of milk replacement to give it, guinea pigs are herbivores, cats are omnivores, so kitten milk replacement might not be the best choice.
I would think you could give it some baby vitamins, have you tried that? Maybe a bit of electrolytes, like Pedialyte?

I live 45 minutes from town, and the only store out here closed before I came home from work (in town). So no baby vitamins or pedialyte tonight. I had kitten formula in the cupboard, and it was the only thing I could think of for the baby.

My vet doesn't do "exotic" animals, and I haven't found one in town that does. "Town" only has about 10,000 people. But surely they would be able to answer that question. I'll find out tomorrow, if I can keep the little guy going through the night.

Thanks!

 

[Wildsky]

Awwww I've never seen them so little!!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I second this, at least try to get the little guy to eat something. You should call your vet and see what kind of milk replacement to give it, guinea pigs are herbivores, cats are omnivores, so kitten milk replacement might not be the best choice.
I would think you could give it some baby vitamins, have you tried that? Maybe a bit of electrolytes, like Pedialyte?

I live 45 minutes from town, and the only store out here closed before I came home from work (in town). So no baby vitamins or pedialyte tonight. I had kitten formula in the cupboard, and it was the only thing I could think of for the baby.

My vet doesn't do "exotic" animals, and I haven't found one in town that does. "Town" only has about 10,000 people. But surely they would be able to answer that question. I'll find out tomorrow, if I can keep the little guy going through the night.

Thanks!

I edited my post above first off

Do a search on here, there is a recipe somewhere on how to make your own electrolytes. There are conflicting opinions on what to feed guinea pigs, some say a mix of evaporated milk and (something else, they're on my other post), then some say mashed guinea pig pellets.