If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the age requirements, talk to your vet about a pregnancy plan. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). Cesarean sections are rarely successful in guinea pigs even when performed by a veterinarian who has experience with guinea pigs. My guinea pigs continued to grow (4-5 months when I got them early May, so the new ones are 8 months old now) - to like perfectly normal guinea pigs. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. no im not breeding i thought my guinea pig was a boy but he was actually a she and now shes pregnant . Offer fresh vegetables every day. Publisher: Pergamon. The intercourse with an unneutered male guinea pig causes pregnancy in a female obviously. The probe records the echoes as the sound waves bounce back in order to determine the size, shape, and consistency of internal tissues and organs. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, Aiutare un Porcellino d'India in Gravidanza, s'occuper d'un cochon d'Inde durant la priode de gestation. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. All animals, for example, tend to eat more when it's cold, when they're having a growth spurt, and when they're suffering from certain illnesses. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. Cavy . Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. So do not be surprised if a young little guinea pig you just brought home is already pregnant! Then, the ultrasound probe is placed on skin and emits a high-frequency sound that is inaudible to human ears. To Avoid Stress, You Need to Take Several Measures Obviously. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. The sow should gradually put on weight. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born. Reduce her exposure to loud noises or bright lights, including direct sunlight. Male guinea pigs can impregnate a female at as young as 3 weeks old and a female guinea pig can become pregnant at as young as 4 weeks old, so don't be doubtful if your guinea pig is pregnant due to age. Now they are about the normal size of an adult guinea pig like the first ones you see if you google. So they recover pretty quickly. Their shapes are very cylindrical-like and can be compared to tangerines in body appearance. If you are not prepared to care for them yourself, a more experienced guinea pig owner may be willing to take them or you may make the decision to have them put down. The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. Does anybody have like weekly signs of guinea pig pregnancy like week one no sights week two they eat more something like that thanks . Use for phrases Do not bath the sow during pregnancy. Of course, all these are high school zoology concepts. Alfalfa hay is great for pregnant, nursing and young guinea pigs but the calcium content is too high for normal guinea pigs as a build-up of calcium can cause bladder stones. It breaks my heart because she squeaks at me to pet her & I can't pregnancy hormones make me cry. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. unlocking this expert answer. Pregnancy Symptoms Week 14. have company. Guinea pigs are typically considered adults from 6 months to about 5 years of age. If you wanna make the process of pregnancy easier on your pal, you better read this section with maximum attention. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. But it contains more than necessary amounts for a regular guinea pig. ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! ", know if the sow is having a baby or babies. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. "Just found out our rescued pig was pregnant even after two exams and one ultrasound. Lethal guinea pigs are white in colour (not albino) are born blind, usually in both eyes, have crooked or deformed teeth, are often also deaf and often suffer from internal deformities particularly to the digestive organs. Guinea pigs, even when not pregnant, are vulnerable to mood swings. Even though having a vet all the time is not convenient. Though it is usually closer to 3-4 months. This period starts from the first day of the last period before your baby is born. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. Outdoor time, again, with your availability to monitor. By this time, your pet's pelvic bones will have widened enough to make way for the pups . However, guinea pigs often do not react well to surgery, anesthesia, or being kept in unfamiliar surroundings. Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria. Whilst guinea pigs should never be bred intentionally, coming home from the pet store with a guinea pig who is already pregnant is a common story. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . If you cannot check on the sow because of work etc. Cavy Slave. This article has been viewed 324,740 times. Last Updated: November 26, 2022 This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. If you have any concerns regarding your guinea pig's health or well-being, contact us today at 407-286 . WRONG! Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. How Can You Know How Far Along Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy is? Because yeah, more the number, more the time to nourish them, sounds logical. This site is run by Anna, Niklas and Jesper - three curious, caring and animal-loving people. Your pregnant sow will also need more vitamin C after 4 weeks, about twice as much, so incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C into her diet. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Finally, have the pregnancy confirmed by a veterinarian, who can perform an ultrasound and give you information about caring for a pregnant guinea pig. HappyPiggies14 Well-known Member. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. To learn more about what to expect during the pregnancy, read on! If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Use your dominant hand to feel her belly. This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. If it declines every day or continues to change after 5 days, consult the vet. Read more about this in our helpful guide. Stage #3. You can crop their hair to maintain hygiene, even if you cannot cut it perfectly. Grooming requires a lot of handling. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. The ultrasound exam involves involves clipping a small square of fur and applying gel to the exposed skin. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. Avoid over-feeding If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. If they do survive the first week they have a shorter than normal life expectancy and will require large amounts of medical care throughout their lives. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Pregnancy for guinea pigs or guinea pig gestation period can last anywhere from 59 days to 72 days, though the average is 65 days. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. Ultrasounds are non-invasive and do not require sedation. So, the first step in knowing if your guinea pig is pregnant? While there are many hereditary diseases that you should foresee, there are several other basic tests too. If you show negligence in ensuring that your guinea pig could handle the pregnancy, you are not only putting the mothers life at risk, but also that of the babies in the litter. Any one else has pets that you can't pet or hold ? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_13',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Unlike humans who may experience contractions for hours at a stretch, guinea pigs do not take longer than half an hour for the delivery of their litter. Moreover, neutering does not take immediate effect. Joined Mar 1, 2014 . o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. References At what age can guinea pigs mate? If you do decide to have your guinea pig spayed or neutered, seek out a veterinarian who has successfully done a large number of these surgeries. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. Note that the gestation period is usually 66 - 72 days. Two consecutive weeks with a noticeable hike in weight should probably mean that the piggy is pregnant. [1] This prevents an excess of one particular mineral that might be contained in that vegetable. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA(known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is dedicated to using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. ago. Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. Only hold her if necessary. They eat solid food right after being born, unlike human babies. Selective feeding is where the guinea pig chooses the tastier bits of food over less tasty but often more nutritious foods. A few weeks later I noticed she was getting bigger, I was curious to see if she was pregnant. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! The female has a short postpartum estrus that will last for only about half a day and, without a dominant male, all of the males will try to mate with the new mother. They will nurse from their mother but are able to nibble at solid food (such as moistened pellets) within 2 days. Just because they can get pregnant again, doesnt mean that it wont have adverse effects on their well being, not just physically but also emotionally. So you have to be cautious enough to prevent another pregnancy in your guinea pig. It can be hard to tell when your pregnant guinea pig is going to deliver her babies because unlike dogs and cats, they do not prepare a nest. The entire span of 40 weeks of the pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. You may think that personal hygiene of your guinea pig is important during pregnancy. 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. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! There is no need to remove other sows, they may even help with the pups. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. At birth, baby guinea pigs can weigh between 2.1 and 4.2 oz (60 and 120 grams) and have an average size of 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). It will be too stressful for her. Menu Clubul de antreprenoriat. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 447,279 times. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. ", How to Tell if Your Guinea Pig Is Pregnant, Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/guinea-pig-care, http://kb.rspca.org.au/I-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-I-do_354.html, http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, https://petguineapigcare.com/breeding-babies/, saber si tu conejilla de Indias est preada, , Saber se seu Porquinho da ndia Fmea est Grvida, Erkennen ob dein Meerschweinchen trchtig ist, savoir si son cochon d'Inde attend des petits. When your guinea pigs reach 16 weeks of age, it is the time that they mature significantly. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Between 1 and 8 guinea pig babies with 4 being the most common number of guinea pigs per litter. These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. But consult with your vet first, just to be on the safer side. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. Since guinea pigs attain sexual maturity as early as 6 weeks in their life, even young guinea pigs are bound to get pregnant. Place it in a sheltered part of the hutch, away from draughts. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. I grew up with everything from dogs and cats to rabbits and guinea pigs. So follow a routine. Then I followed the steps that say how to take, "My guinea pig was acting strange. The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. Do not handle her all the time like before. But now that they are arrested in your home, you must be ready to step up and take responsibility. Guinea pig's pregnancy: final stage. This is an emergency situation requiring an immediate c-section. Some of you might think of this question as absurd. o [pig guinea] 2 Observe her eating habits. Once, I had a friend who didnt care about a drastic weight change in his female guinea pig. How Can You Know if Your Guinea Pig is Pregnant? Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. The normal pregnancy period of a woman is 40 weeks. We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). He is an exotic vet. Pocketpetcentral.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Though this window usually falls between 2-3 months old, some can even be mature after only a single month. But what I was certain about, is that no other guinea pig should face the same fate. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Fun Fact: You may think that the more the number of babies, the longer it takes for them to get born. If they do mate, I will now. For different stages of progress, there are different medicines, food supplies, the quantity of food and water, and more! However, do not assume that your guinea pig is pregnant based on just how much she is eating or drinking. unlocking this expert answer. Once the pups are weaned, the mother should not require vitamin supplements anymore, unless you gave them to her as part of her regular diet anyway. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced breeder. I love animals! For young guinea pigs, this may include supplementing her diet with Critical Care of a similar product. The placenta contains hormones which can trigger contractions. Do not intervene or touch the pups unless you need to. Guinea pigs are important animal models for human disease, and both outbred and inbred lines are utilized in biomedical research. Quite a shock, since we thought. As the pregnancy develops, carefully check the guinea pig twice a week for signs of illness, like crusty eyes or a patchy coat. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Maturing guinea pigs. Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. Male guinea pigs can impregnate a female at as young as 3 weeks old and a female guinea pig can become pregnant at as young as 4 weeks old, so don't be doubtful if your guinea pig is pregnant due to age. Even though the birthing can be handled by yourself, it is better to leave it to licensed veterinarians to avoid last minute complications. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). And believe me, you would not want to live with the guilt if something goes wrong. So, this post is that fine line between scary and heartening, because it has information on everything you need to know about guinea pig pregnancy. Use to remove results with certain terms I have been given an 8 week old guinea pig that is pregnant, and her half-sister. This could increase her stress and affect her eating and drinking habits. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. We had no idea of when Theo would have become pregnant, so we just counted the days from when we brought her home. Rodent and rabbit medicine. If you've found out that your guinea pig is pregnant, check on it several times a day to monitor its drinking and eating habits so you know what is normal and can react to changes. Recovery from neutering could take as long as 6 weeks. If you need to transport your guinea pig, never pick her up by her stomach as it can harm the unborn guinea pigs and the mother herself. At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. So, it is vital that you know which stage of pregnancy your guinea pig is. Reduce handling to a minimum and don't handle her within two weeks of the birth. Excess vitamin C is passed in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but other vitamins can build up and create problems. Male guinea pigs will continue to mount pregnant sows, which can cause stress or pain to your pregnant sow late in the pregnancy (after the 50-day mark). Males are territorial. Guinea pigs have a much shorter timeline of pregnancy than humans. My guinea pig is a female American guinea pig. In addition, you may want to increase your guinea pig's fiber intake. However, if your sow is not yet mature and is less than 6-8 months of age, she will still be growing and thus weight gain may not be indicative of pregnancy. So you should. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. The expected duration of a pregnancy is at least 65 days, but it still relies on the number of offspring she is carrying. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Neutering a male is generally easier than spaying a female. This is a common occurrence; roughly 1 in 5 guinea pigs will die as a direct result of pregnancy or birth. This helped me, "Glad we got educated early. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. Despre Club; Echipa; FRESHconsult Antreprenoriat BT. But when she is, you have no choice but to give nothing less than the perfect. Not all guinea pigs are capable of handling the stress of a pregnancy. The mothers weight will vary for a few days whilst she re-adjusts but should settle within five days. With your non-dominant hand hold her steady around the shoulders, with her head facing away from you. So how about the baby guinea pigs? 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([[468,60],'pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1','ezslot_20',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1-0'); Some people may think that knowing how far along the pregnancy is, could not yield any benefit. Is she pregnant? "I took my guinea pig to the vet and found out she will have babies. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. One, it could be your baby guinea pigs. Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. I did all, "I think that it was great help. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. So how long are guinea pigs pregnant? Pregnancy can have a number of complications for the sow, the female guinea pig, including toxaemia (metabolic imbalance), dystocia (difficulty giving birth), and post-partum difficulties (such as seizures due to low calcium levels). Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. Publisher: Pergamon. While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. Make note of all the foods that you offer her, with the quantity and time. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. 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. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. A female may accidentally injure the babies by squashing them and babies are prone to escaping cages, so check up on them regularly. Enter search terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. Males born in the same litter are brothers, right? I enjoy learning about pets and to share what I learn with others. Thats right, they have a distinction between emotions and the mind, just like humans, even though both are processed and caused by the same brain! If your sow is carrying more pups rather than less, her length of pregnancy will more likely be closer to 60 days than 70. Doing otherwise can cause pregnancy complications or miscarriage. And the babies? Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. We can understand why a guinea pig would need extra comfort during pregnancy, given that she does not move as much as she used to. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. Which Can Include: Being vigilant about their activities is vital to their well-being. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. The boar must be removed by 50 days as he may continue to mount her which can be stressful or painful in later pregnancy, and she could become pregnant again as early as two hours after the birth. The mother has a single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age. It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. By using our site, you agree to our. How much depends on the size of the litter, but her weight should never begin fall. 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. ", the things on wikiHow and my guinea pig gave birth to three boys and one girl. Though it depends on the size of the litter, a guinea pig pregnancy lasts 59-72 days. But doctors these days make the surgery sound like the only choice so that they could fill their pockets. So be sure to consult fair- minded veterinarians, and a second opinion could never hurt. Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Avoid making changes to a pregnant sow's cage, like removing toys or putting the cage in a totally new location. Giving them their favorite toys and treats. Make the introductions gradual as the adults will be a lot larger and could do them serious harm. This information is then translated into an image. Diseases such as toxemia are caused easily in pregnant females. If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. Guinea pigs are brilliantly expressive creatures. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. Keep a watchful eye on her eating habits. Its just the same in guinea pigs. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. Get an experienced vet to check the sex of all your other guinea pigs. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. This is because sperm can survive in his tubes for this length of time. This will keep your guinea pig from slipping. If you are concerned about the mother or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. 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! Adults are no longer growing but still require macro-nutrients like fiber and protein, as well as micro-nutrients like the vitamins and minerals that are found in a timothy hay-based, uniform fortified food. The other? 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