You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. Publisher: Pergamon Naturally bald areas. In fact, you may even wonder if your cavy is actually pregnant. Thats when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. Potential Pregnancy Problems. Nonetheless, at this stage, allow the female cavy to eat and drink as much as she would like. Its also cheaper in the long run than disposable bedding, eco-friendly, and doesnt contain dust that, Read More Fleece Bedding for Guinea Pigs: Pros and Cons & How to Use ItContinue, A true favorite among small pets, guinea pigs are no doubt unique, sweet little creatures. Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. Support wikiHow by Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? Those fertile periods can occur during any time of the year, but most frequently during spring. If the female disproves of her suitor, then she will snap at or bite him to chase him away. 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. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged. If there is not an out-of-hours vet in your area, discuss this with your vet to come up with a plan. Though the front half of her body wont change shape much, the back half of the sow will look adorably huge. Your email address will not be published. Daily touch-up cleaning of her habitat to keep it as clean as possible without removing her. Required fields are marked *. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Guinea pigs tend to express every little change in their body. Wait 24 hours after the birth to give additional feeding for one of the pups as it takes this long for some pups to begin feeding at all. 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. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. During all of the stage and especially during the last stage of pregnancy the sow should remain in a calm environment. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! 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). What most people dont know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. He is an exotic vet. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. In time, it will be a bit harder for them to move, but this is of little or no significance. Female guinea pigs usually have a smooth swelling over their genital area. Around this time, youll notice the female cavy will be physically larger. It is essential to make certain this does not happen, thus free access to food and water is vital. Females will typically reach full sexual maturity at approximately 4 to 6 weeks of age. Approved. . unlocking this expert answer. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. How do you know if your cavy is actually carrying pups? If she has given birth before, she likely will double her weight by the time she gives birth, so you can approximate how far along she is by weighing her. There is, however, a thin line between sounding heartwarming and scary when people say the words guinea pig pregnancy. If the weight does not pick up, or a pup does not improve with additional feeding, consult the vet. Guinea Pig Reproduction and Gestation Guinea pigs have a lifespan of 4 to 8 years and reach sexual maturity at an early age. The mothers weight will vary for a few days whilst she re-adjusts but should settle within five days. However, the following guinea pig pregnancy timeline will simplify the entire gestation period and demystify the experience, so you can provide a stress-free environment for your little mama and her tiny pups. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Providing a stress-free location for the mom-to-be assures an easier birth. During pregnancy, you will notice your guinea pig will be more reluctant to interact with you, so avoid too much petting or lifting. Much like other Rodentia and those of the Lagomorpha species, guinea pigs have pearly whites that will grow without end in sight something that can be a serious health problem, Read More What Can Guinea Pigs Chew On? She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. A visit to the vet will help determine if your cavy is pregnant. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. If the female guinea appears to be in distress or is in labour for longer than 20-30 minutes without giving birth, then emergency veterinary care is imperative. . Guinea pig diarrhea is a fairly common condition that most guinea pig owners and exotic pet veterinarians encounter., Everybody who knows a cat or dog owner knows that they have to deal with shots for their, When your guinea pig is sneezing a lot you might wonder whether or not your little friend is, You were planning on getting a pet guinea pig, but you are not sure whether you should get, Every guinea pig owner will experience the moment in life where he or she needs to say the, Eye infections in guinea pigs are more common than you might think and can be a result of. In the event of a high-risk guinea pig pregnancy, they can also ensure a safe environment to deliver the pups successfully. Remember guinea pigs are social animals and should be kept in groups, so if you own both a boar and a sow make sure to provide company of the same sex for both of them. The sow must be fed an adequate selection of healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables daily, along with high-quality pellets and unlimited hay and water. Their eyes will open quickly and, within a few hours of birth, will search for solid food to eat. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Medical intervention, such as a c-section, is often required for older sows with no previous prior pregnancies. The pregnancy of guinea pigs lasts 63 to 70 days, larger litters having a shorter gestation, and at the end of pregnancy, the sow will often have become alarmingly large! Cavies of both sexes, when mixed together and unsterilized, will most assuredly result in guinea pig pregnancy. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the whole litter to be delivered. What is the Best Age for a Guinea Pig to Get Pregnant? Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. ", 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. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. Thats why a female guinea pig should be bred before the permanent hardening on the pelvic canal. . Males take a little longer and are typically sexually mature by 8 to 9 weeks of age. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. Toxemia is another risk for pregnant guineas, though the exact cause of it is uncertain. Not only will we dive deeper into how you can actually find out if your piggy might be pregnant and how you can take steps and precautions towards their delivery date. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! Place any cavies that appear to annoy her in a different cage. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. Sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions; sometimes its a pup ending up stuck in the birth canal. Only this way, serious delivery problems can be avoided. During the first month or so, there arent a lot of physical signs to indicate your sow is a mom-to-be. I am to have more of a informative conversation with my vet on Monday. Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. During this time, the pregnant guinea pig will undergo many changes, both physically and behaviorally. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. Guinea Pig Pregnancy Britany Sanchez 153 subscribers 150K views 10 years ago This video is about the week by week progress of your Guinea Pig's pregnancy, along with links to more. Vitamin C is highly unstable and breaks down within 8 weeks of the manufacturing date. Only hold her if necessary. If there are male guinea pigs present at the time of birth, they will compete between themselves to mate with the mother and protect the newborn guinea pigs. The ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. In both cases, your pet needs to be seen by a vet. An average guinea pig weighs about 26 ounces before she becomes pregnant. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced. 2. Is It Safe to Breed Cavies? If your guinea pig has been pregnant for more than about two or three weeks then you might be able to very very gently feel the foetuses in your pet. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. Guinea pigs have naturally bald patches on two areas of the body that owners may not be aware of and, as a result, become worried about: an area of 1cm-1.5cm behind the ears; and Female sows are sexually mature around two months of age and can start to have young ones. 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 sow licks the babies and eats the amniotic sack when once they are out. When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. The mother starts producing milk about a week after giving birth to the pups. Length of pregnancy for 1 litter can be 70 days while it reduces to 67 days for a litter of 6. Loud squeals are a sign that she accepted him. Vitamin C supplements should be given orally at a regiment of 10 mg a day. Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. Sows older than 2 years that werent bred before are most at risk. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. Rough handling may cause miscarriage. Make the introductions gradual as the adults will be a lot larger and could do them serious harm. At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. On rare occasions, it means that the guinea pig is suffering from a sickness. How to confirm your guinea pig's pregnancy? Bloody uterine discharge and straining longer than 30 minutes requires a medical examination. The onset is generally sudden and progress rather quicker than you are reporting. Wondering how old your precious guinea pigs are in human years? wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Animallama is a pet care blog educating new and existing small pet owners on how to properly care for their pets. Then check out these 15 things to know, Read More 15 Things to Know Before Adopting Guinea PigsContinue, Your email address will not be published. Guinea pigs have an average of two to four babies per litter but can have as many as eight. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. If the food has been stored for a while at the retail outlet, the chances are the vitamin C content is already negligible by the time you open the bag. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. A female cavy uses a lot of her energy during this time, and thus requires a healthy, balanced diet that is appropriate for her during gestation. It is common for them to double in weight during this time. Sometimes she may wait to attend the young ones until all babies are delivered. Implement patterned feeding, drinking, and outdoor regiments. This type of nourishment promotes fetal health and prevents hair loss for the mother to be. For example, carrots contain lots of oxalate. This type is rich both in protein in calcium, two things she needs a lot at the moment. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. A typical pregnancy in horses can last for 320 to 380 days, but generally lasts around 11 months. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. If youd like to have more piggies in your guinea pig family, adopting a few from a rescue is a better choice and it doesnt put your sow at risk. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but there's definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space.Not only will we dive deeper into how you can actually find out if your piggy might be pregnant and how you can take steps and precautions towards their delivery date.Just a disc. 25% in pregnancies can end in death for either the mum or the babies and this is why that breeding guinea pigs for a hobby is not encouraged. If I felt my pregnant guinea pig's belly and caused her a miscarriage, what would the signs be? This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Is your female guinea pig getting more chubby lately, leaving you wondering if youll soon have a bunch of fluff balls running around? (Know Before Feeding! The early stage consists of the first few days after mating. If you were unaware of it before, guinea pigs mate early and often which means different genders should be separated when kept as pets. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. Remember that Omni's guinea . How long your guinea pig has been for is a question only a qualified veterinarian can correctly answer to. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. % of people told us that this article helped them. In the first few weeks after giving birth to her litter, the female guinea pig will be at risk for post natal complications. When a guinea pig is pregnant the pelvic canal stretches as a result of hormonal secretion. The average gestation period is 65 days. "Just found out our rescued pig was pregnant even after two exams and one ultrasound. However, with the proper care, this risk can be significantly reduced and your pregnant guinea pig can be kept in good health. Examine the shape of the cavy's genital opening. This allows you to gauge what is normal, so that if she becomes unwell and stops eating, or becomes very thirsty, you will pick up clues early on. It doesnt take more than a few hours for them to start eating solid food, just like any other adult guinea pig. Just because they are the pups of a familiar guinea pig, this does not mean that they will be accepted immediately. Pet stores often keep both sexes together, resulting in many people being sold sows which are already pregnant. Even though you can assist the birthing by yourself, its always better to leave it to licensed professionals. You can sense the distance between the bones by gently positioning your finger on the belly just a few centimeters from the anus. Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. However, most guinea pigs have a pregnancy that lasts from 59 to 72 days. As a general rule, guinea pigs do not respond well to anaesthetic so if it is possible, separating the sexes is a safer option. Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. If any of the pups is definitely alive, but is not alert or able to see or walk then contact your 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. Right now, it is imperative to ensure the pregnant guinea is in a stress-free environment. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. And, truth be told, it can certainly be a tricky, stress-ridden adventure for experienced cavy owners as well. The baby guinea pigs can be physically felt 2 to 4 weeks into pregnancy. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. Boris is a veterinarian of a small house pets. His professionalism is shown on the many articles he contributed to the website. If so then this video will help answer all of your questions. Get an experienced vet to check the sex of all your other guinea pigs. Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. Selective feeding is where the guinea pig chooses the tastier bits of food over less tasty but often more nutritious foods. Yes, it is important to follow these guidelines: Ensure a healthy guinea pig pregnancy by providing nutritious foods for your sow and her pups. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. Females can reach sexual maturity as early as approximately 4-6 weeks of age and males as early as approximately 8-9 weeks of age so the different sexes should be separated before they are able to reproduce with each other. The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. However, a caesarean surgery may be required. Depression Incoming! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. The largest noted litter numbered 14 guinea pigs. Enriching the guinea pigs diet with kale, broccoli, green peppers, and parsley is also advised. Are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy often keep sexes. Food and water is vital to avoid back-to-back pregnancies they may be willing attend. In the room, but most frequently during spring after giving birth so sure. 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