Feeding Babies

[starr84]

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hi there, MY name is Jackie and i need some answers. This morning i woke up to my mummy guinea pig dead. She had 2 babies about 2 weeks ago and am very saddend by it. Anyway rang up the pet shop and got some all round feeder and some bottles, the lady explained that i have to feed them 30 mls each, 4 times a day. Have so far been only able to give them about 5 mls each. I assume it will take them a little bit to get used to the new supply of milk, just wanting to know if i should be worried about them not getting the 30 mls each 4 times a day? thanks in advance.

 

[Laure]

Hi there,

I am very sorry for your loss. I don't know much about babies but I am sure someone will be along to help very soon.

Lx

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

I usually find full fat goat's milk the best thing for new borns - it is the closest thing to piggy milk and I have used it with success many times. What milk are you using? If they are two weeks old they are likely to be eating some solids for themselves, have you seen them eat? They should be able to take the goat's milk (warmed and cooled to luke warm) by lapping from a teaspoon or you can feed it with bread soaked in it and they eat from that. It's important NOT to syringe feed such young babies as it is too easy to get fluid in their lungs by mistake.

Pop them on the scales now to get your starting weight and then monitor any weight gain / loss closely over the next week or more.

You may also need to wipe their bottoms after they have fed to stimulate wee and poo, using a damp cotton bud.

Sorry about mum pig. Good luck with the babies

Sophie
x

 

[Suzygpr]

Hello

I'm very sorry to hear of the babies losing their mum. At 2 weeks of age the babies should be eating solid food well - small amount of veg chopped up, pellets softened in a little water as well as dry pellets and hay. There is no need to feed using bottles, there is a real problem of choking if they take too much. Instead you can give the milk in a water bottle - they should be drinking well from one by now. Alternatively make up a smalll bowl of porridge using the formula milk, the oats are great for helping to add a bit of weight.

If the babies are big and healthy then there isn't a huge need to give them the milk at all - I would give it if they are a bit on the small and weak side. Have you been able to weigh them? If they are around 200g they should be fine.

HTH

Suzy

 

[starr84]

Hi there, thankyou for all your suggestions. I tried the porridge and the bread, no success as yet. They are eating their veges and their pellets, but arent touching the water bottle or any bowl/plate that has fluid in it. I weighed them this morning one is 178 and the other is 180.

The bottles i got from the pet shop are like a tiny water bottle with a rubber teat on them, i cut the bulb off the teat and it is very slow flowing, to the point of they actually have to sort of nibble on the teat to get 1 small drop out of it. I was going to try and hang the bottles on the side of their house and see if they will have some out of them like that. They are eating very well but just not the fluids

 

[starr84]

Update - They still will not touch the water bottle or any fluids, wont eat anything soaked in anything. They are eating there veges still. Should i be not concerned they arent drinking? Kind of a bit worried about it. Thanks in advance

 

[4piggiepigs]

I don't know about babie's but i have 5 pigs and two water bottles one bottle they just don't like (so could be the bottle) and the other water line don't got down much at all they may be getting alot of water from their veggie's is their poo normal?