Orphaned Babies

Question
Hi- My guinea pig gave birth to three babies about 2 days ago.  Last night a dog broke in to their cage and got the mother and one baby.  I now have two 2 day old babies without a mother- how do i raise them, and what do they eat? I dont have any other guinea pigs so I cant find another mum for them to nurse from.  I need help!

Answer
Hello Karina,

I'm so sorry about your loss. That's a terrible thing to have happen! I'm going to send you the information a dear friend sent to me when I started breeding as it has proved very useful in the past.
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You can hand rear babies easily.  But it will require feedings from you every 2 - 3 hours for a few days.  Yes, even at night.

Now, for the emergency kit you should have on hand for babies in trouble:

Clean towels.  You can wash them, if you are squeamish about reusing them, use older towels you can sacrifice.
Lizard or Iguana Heat Rock, Heating Pad, or some sort of heat source.  Even a small heater will work.  I have even used a desk lamp with sucess before.
Baby Kitten Formula, please don't try to feed them the mush, they usually don't like it and they can choke on it when they are weak.
face clothes, you will have to sacrifice these unless you wash them.  4 or 5 should be good.  You probably won't use them.  But keep them handy.
Eye dropper.  Syringes are not good to feed baby formula because it is easy for them to get to much and choke on it.  It could get inhaled and actually drown them.
Container for the mixed baby formula.  
Spoon for mixing baby formula.
Small cat carrier, plastic box with hole cut in, or container to place babies if you need to keep them warm.
If you notice that a baby is not being cleaned you will have to take a wash cloth and dampen it with warm water and wash it yourself.  Make sure the wash cloth is not to wet.  You might even still see a sack on them, just pinch it and remove it.  It's rolls off rather easy.  Be sure to clean their notrils.  You want to be sure they can breath.  If the baby seems rather weak, rub it some more with the wash cloth.  Not hard, just gently wipe him.  This seems to stimulate them and revive them a bit. Be sure you are holding them securly in a towel on your belly for warmth, or like I do, under my shirt.

Any baby that you feel that is not warm enough, you need to get them warm.  Don't let them go more than 10 minutes without getting them to a warm spot.  I use a heat rock under a towel and plug it in.  I place the towel in a box  (plastic is best) or a cat carrier.  The carrier works well because you can cover the cord with the towel and string the end out of the cage door so piggies are not able to chew on it.  If you use a plastic box,  you may have to tape the cord or cut a hole in it for the cord so the piggies can not chew it.  You can also hold the piggy under your shirt to keep it warm while you are setting it up, or have a helper to hold the baby.  You can also use a heating pad, but be sure it isn't to hot and you put plenty of padding on top to keep piggies from getting to hot or burnt.  I have also used a desk lamp.  Place above the box about 15 inches away.  Feel with your hand to be sure it is delivering enough heat.  Or you can use a small heater.  But be sure it is not to close and that the towels they are on do not feel hot.  I find that the heat rock works the best and has the right amount of heat under one layer of towel.

Once you have the baby warm, you can make the formula.  Use the side of the can for directions making sure you do not make up more than 1/2 cup at a time.  If you can figure out how to make just a few teaspoons, that would be great.  Use warm water or warm the formula in the container in a bowl of hot water.  Don't microwave, it get's to hot and changes the composition of the formula some.  Be sure the formula doesn't get to hot.  It only needs to feel a little warm.  Use the dropper and squeeze it to fill it up.  

Take the baby carefully in your lap with a towel wrapped around them.  Try to get the baby to face you so you can be careful and watch to be sure he doesn't choke on the formula.  Carefully place the dropper end to the baby.  Most piggies will readily suckle.  With some you have to place a little formula on your finger and touch their mouths and get a taste in before they will eat.  The baby should suckle at this point.  If not, have patience and try a few more times.  Some babies are slower learners and it just takes them a bit to figure out you are trying to feed them.  Only feed them if they feel warm.  They will not eat if they are cold.  If they are cold leave them in the box with the heat source until they start to feel warm.  Don't squeeze the dropper.  Allow them to suckle it out.  It helps them not to inhale formula.

In the first feeding they will take just a small amount.  Usually less than 2 ml.  Which is about 1 inch on a dropper.  If they take more, that is fine too.

After feeding, take a warm damp cloth and rub their belly and butt area.  Be sure you get all the poop out.  It may take a few stroke gently with the damp cloth.  Do this everytime you are finished feeding them.

Feed them every 3 hours at a minimum.  They may be hungry before that and wheek for food from you.  You only have to do this for 5 - 7 days.  Unless it's premie you may have to go a few days longer than that.  The time in between feedings will gradually lengthen has the pups get a few days older.  Babies will often get you trained and try to get you to feed them longer.  But the danger is over.  You should have pellets and fresh veggies available on the day they are born.  If you find your piggie is not eating, he may need a piggie teacher to teach him.  If you don't have one, you will have to be patient with him.

When you hand rear a pup, I find that the pup bonds with you very well.  So at least your hard work will pay off in a loving piggy who thinks you are mom.
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I hope this helps and that you can save the remaining pups successfully. I wish you the very best of luck.

-kkat
www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs