Facts to Consider. Its a wise choice to breed these cavies before they are seven months old to widen their pelvis right before birth. The mother will wash down the pups and chew off their umbilical cord. Is she pregnant? An unneutered male guinea pig! Shedding pounds may indicate health problems with your guinea pig, but with careful attention, Read More How to Help a Guinea Pig Gain WeightContinue, Guinea pigs are one of the most adorable and fascinating animals you will fall in love with once you set your eyes on them. Under normal conditions, the birthing process in guinea pigs is relatively quick. She may have doubled her weight when about to give birth. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. Hello,Normal guinea pig labor is short with few signs that it is going on. But as blissful as it is for a mother to give birth to children, it is also stressful and painful.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-box-4','ezslot_4',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-box-4-0'); So, as your guinea pigs are part of your family, you should take care of them just as well as you would take care of a pregnant sister or wife or mother! Good care keeps your pet happy and increases its lifespan. you can check this by having her on a table facing you. I just want to share that I am spending the night watching my one of my rescued sows, who appears to be starting labor. Its important to determine with your cavy vet when your piggy is likely to give birth and monitor her closely in case of any problem. awww. Guinea pigs are brilliantly expressive creatures. However, pregnancy preparation begins even before the pig is bred. Babies are so cute! Performing a C-section will be the only solution to remove the babies. Male guinea pigs (also called boars) are sexually active at 3 weeks of age, but they are not able to go through a neutering procedure until 4 months old. If you see your sow bleeding, more than a tablespoon, dripping blood, or many pieces of bloody bedding with no babies, you are best advised to get to a vet. Note that your guinea requires a balanced diet more than ever. Guinea pig's pregnancy lasts very long if you compare it with other rodents. Its a go-ahead! She has been eating non-stopveggiesthen pelletsnow hay. Guinea pigs have on occasional been pregnant on one side of the "U" or are pregnant at different times in . Cesarean section or C-section is typical among guinea pigs that were first bred when above eight months old, after fusion of the pelvis bones. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Around 12 hours before delivery the mammary glands start to produce milk. An expectant guinea pig is one source of concern even to experienced pet owners. This is when the single-celled zygote develops into full baby guinea pigs by cell division. Its a stage after fertilization, and the zygote is in its early stage of development. From early on, though, your guinea pig will eat and drink more than usual. Cavy Slave. So, better to be overly cautious than to be negligent.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',111,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0_1');.mobile-leaderboard-2-multi-111{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Shivering and tail twitching is an indication that a piglet is on the way. Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. The new Mom will not act sick. This way you can keep track of her weight in order to determine any patterns of weight gain that may be indicative of a pregnancy. Youve may have decided to adopt a litter of guinea pigs, and want to know how to take care of the mother the best you can. They usually emit a series of characteristic squeaks which will alert you that labor has begun. During the process, the sow squats on all its limbs. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you shouldnt lift it off the floor, because this could endanger the offspring. The mothers lactation period lasts for about two or three weeks. Toxemia is the result of a metabolic imbalance, which causes the guinea pig to become gravely ill. Calcium deficiency often displays similar symptoms, but it is the result of a calcium imbalance, whereas toxemia happens due to internal complications associated with impaired blood supply to the uterus. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Then she will start to clean off the sac from the face, then the body of the baby. She has has a very small amount of blood, and she will not come out of the kitchen area. Not knowing how to care for your furry pal when shes pregnant makes the whole thing scary, while knowing all about it makes the news heartening. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. Guinea pigs, even when not pregnant, are vulnerable to mood swings. You can also hold the guinea pig gently on the shoulders with one hand and the other hand feeling the pregnant belly. Usually, the mother delivers her pups, wash them down, chew their umbilical cord off, and nurses them. Which Can Include: Being vigilant about their activities is vital to their well-being. Even if your pet has completed the farrowing process, there are vital signs you should observe. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. I do have a personal connection to use if necessary, but hoping all goes well. In long-haired breeds, it gets even worse. Then, the ultrasound probe is placed on skin and emits a high-frequency sound that is inaudible to human ears. I have had sows deliver at night, and by morning you would never know she had babies except there are little pigs in the cage! Guinea pigs show affection to their newborn pups and nurse them immediately. Neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. This is because the strain and pressure implicated puts at risk the life of a female guinea pig. After delivering, the mother needs nutritional assistance. If they do mate, I will now. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! Every trimester of the pregnancy in humans, there are differences in the methods of taking care, right? The guinea pig pregnancy duration is long - approximately 59- 72 days (the average is 65 days) - the duration decreases with litter size (i.e. What are the Similarities and Differences Beetwen Humans and Guinea Pigs in Pregnancy? Immediately before pushing some sows lie on their side and lift the upper hind leg. If she is fluffed up, or has any signs of illness, get her to a vet immediately. For the first week, the babies do not actually rely on the mother for food. Such a piggy turns out to be defensive or territorial towards others. You are likely to have such an experience if you house your male and female guinea pigs together. Usually, a guinea pig's pregnancy lasts from 59-72 days. Your email address will not be published. However, there are some signs you can watch for at home. Giving her higher quality hay, more fruits & vegetables, essential nutrient pellets, abundant fresh water, are all things that should be done even when she is not pregnant. This is how I could tell.https://youtu.be/dj6tfzZu1cYemail: guinafilms1@gmail.comFaceb. Feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she gets more protein and calcium. But its not possible; she has to breed with a boar to conceive. Because guinea pigs have a high infant mortality rate. Therefore, feed them with enough fresh hay, commercialized pellets, and clean water. But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. Unless you are a qualified veterinarian, the only other way to know is to go to someone who is an actual veterinarian.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4-0'); Some people may think that knowing how far along the pregnancy is, could not yield any benefit. Dystocia is a birth delivery problem where the unborn babies are not able to exit due because the mother is unable to dilate fully. Pregnant guinea pigs may also be at risk of mastitis, uterine prolapse, and hypocalcemia. Try to provide a welcoming and stress-free environment for your pet during these final weeks. But doctors these days make the surgery sound like the only choice so that they could fill their pockets. A female guinea pig is pregnant for 59-72 days. Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. A female guinea pig is pregnant for 59-72 days. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. That's when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. I have seen all four pups nursing, and beginning to popcorn and play. Its just the same in guinea pigs. All in all, if you notice extreme weight gain on your female pets, feel the tummy gently to detect any pregnancy signs. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day. If you are reading this article then most likely the answer is, Yes! Guineas are not for everyone, but those who have them love their pets dearly. Signs of Pregnancy. This will keep your guinea pig from slipping. It supplies extra calcium to the mother, and babies need it too. The duration of the pregnancy depends on the litter size. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. There are a few ways you can tell if they are expecting. Some things will go unnoticed, e.g., your guinea pig eating a lot of food, drinking a lot of water, and adding more weight. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Yes, its to know whether she interacted with an unneutered male in recent days.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_20',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Even though a male guinea pig over three weeks of age is capable of causing pregnancy in a female, neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. However, they are more prone to health problems in the latter stages of pregnancy. Soon you will be welcoming innocent newborns into the world. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. X Moreover, neutered males can live together with female guinea pigs. So you wouldnt have to worry about them running away to places they are not supposed to go. Try to find a vet who specializes in rodents and other small animals, rather than just a generic vet. It is also an indication that the first stage of labor is happening. She eats those to keep predators from discovering the babies. Of course, much much cuter! There should be one for every baby. What is the one thing that could get a guinea pig pregnant? Pregnancy ketosis is something to worry about with pregnant guinea pigs. The vitamin C required by a pregnant female is obviously more than that required by one that isnt pregnant. An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. Give the female time to raise her young ones alone. Most pups emerge heads first, although a few make the grand entry from behind. So they recover pretty quickly. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. To be able to keep guinea pigs healthy, happy and alive for the full length of their lifespans, it is important to know every critical aspect there is to guinea pig constipation. I have had her for three years and she has never been around any males but my family and I think she is pregnant because she has a pear shape and she isn't fat. Their heat cycle lasts for an average of 16 days, meaning they can come in and out of heat after every 1-2 weeks. I guess it is not too difficult to believe that hormone levels go crazy during pregnancy irrespective of which animal it is. Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. Jane is an experienced animal care specialist with a focus on rodents and small mammals, with over 10 years of experience in the pet industry. If you are a woman reading this I bet that you are thinking thank god there aint anything like that in humans!. The pups will also benefit from eating solid food. Joined Jun 13, 2010 Posts 178. . Thanks for helping me realize that she is pregnant after all! After 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, your piggy should give you young ones. Have a visiting vet every once in a while. The pups will freely move around on their own soon after birth. A good idea is to weigh your female guinea pig regularly (perhaps weekly) and to record the weight. The average number of pups per litter is 3, but litters of up to 14 have been seen. If you let your guard down after one litter being born, without watching the females interaction with un-neutered males, the mother who just delivered a litter could get knocked up once again! The whole process should take no more than 40 minutes. Bear in mind that for pups less than eight old, weight gain is a normal sign of growth. Being able to feel the babies. NEVER try and pull anything out of the Mom. For instance, the mean pregnancy length for one guinea pig litter is 70 days, while a litter of six guinea pigs can take 67 days. Its also another way of controlling breeding. Has the shivering and leg movement ceased? You are using an out of date browser. So, even a male who was neutered only a few weeks before could cause pregnancy in females. The duration of a normal birthing process is 30 minutes. Beautiful mama, glad all went well with both sows! It is not recommended to breed guinea pigs. At eight months of age, the pelvis of a guinea pig female (sow) starts to fuse, and if she hasnt farrowed before, delivering her pups can be more difficult. Another way to tell is if the guinea pig starts to gain weight - this usually happens towards the end of the pregnancy. Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. A pregnant guinea pig is also at a higher risk of pregnancy ketosis resulting from appetite loss, large litter size, or underdeveloped blood vessels in the uterus (mostly inherited). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4','ezslot_23',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4-0');For how long is a guinea pig pregnant? Immediate veterinary care is required, but the prognosis is usually very poor. So you should. I researched, stressed, slept . Report any suspected problem right away. It was difficult to assess if there is a 3rd, because of size. She occasionally reaches under to lick at herself. Has She Interacted With an Unneutered Male? But it is quite the opposite. This article has 20 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. You dont know when the pig got pregnant and still have no clue of its delivery date. Now that you have a pregnant guinea pig lets deep-dive into the four best steps to care for the cavy. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. A pregnant female skinny guinea pig on a wooden table. After you dry it off, put it back down beside the Mom. Theres a protocol to minimize these risks, as much as possible. Newborn pups and chew off their umbilical cord off, and hypocalcemia make the surgery sound the! At home and stress-free environment for your pet during these final weeks she have! Weekly ) and to record the weight first stage of development down beside the Mom of data processed. Is vital to their newborn pups and chew off their umbilical cord off, put it back down beside Mom! Down beside the Mom requires a balanced diet more than ever well with sows! A similar size surgery sound like the only solution to remove the babies not... Never try and pull anything out of the curve usually, a guinea pig rodents and other animals! 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