Begin by making a "C" shape with your thumb and first finger, and then sliding the thumb over the top of her tummy and the forefinger underneath her belly. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. Again, it could also be because of fat. We took her to vet for check up.. 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). How long is a guinea pig pregnant for? Your vet will instruct you with all the necessary tests to be taken. To learn more about what to expect during the pregnancy, read on! She could also become pregnancy just two hours after she gives birth. Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. 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. "I had a male guinea pig for about a year and a half. You may think that personal hygiene of your guinea pig is important during pregnancy. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. References Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 324,740 times. Most pregnant guinea pigs do not move as actively as their normal days. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. We read that the more babies she is carrying will result in a shorter pregnancy. Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. Any one else has pets that you can't pet or hold ? For example, carrots contain lots of oxalate. Neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. Every trimester of the pregnancy in humans, there are differences in the methods of taking care, right? Note that the gestation period is usually 66 - 72 days. While their lactation is essential for some nutrients that cannot be provided in the babies diet, baby guinea pigs are noticed to be able to survive even without their mothers milk. Guinea pigs are certainly cute. If it is pregnancy, your veterinarian will give you an appraisal of the progress and give you advice on how to care for your piggy. Rodent and rabbit medicine. A few weeks later I noticed she was getting bigger, I was curious to see if she was pregnant. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. I guess it is not too difficult to believe that hormone levels go crazy during pregnancy irrespective of which animal it is. ", 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. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Due to several factors including age, weight, other diseases, nutritive health, etc., females could be inefficient of nourishing and/or delivering the litter. But it is better if you take her to the vet just to be sure. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. This may cause dizzy spells, especially . The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. At this stage, you have to feed your developing guinea pigs with pellets specially formulated for them. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. 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. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Menu Clubul de antreprenoriat. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Breeding a female guinea pig for the first time after she reaches 8 months of age can be very dangerous because of the normal stiffening of the pubic symphysis (a joint of tough fibrous cartilage between the 2 pubic bones of the pelvis) that occurs when the female reaches adulthood. Pregnancy is risky for female guinea pigs, particularly for those older than 8 months and younger than 3 months and sows over the age of 2 years who have already had 2 litters. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. So, the first step in knowing if your guinea pig is pregnant? This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Since they no longer eat just for them, but also for the baby piggies inside, they eat more than the usual amount. 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. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. Cavy . At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. X It's important to remember you have The Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando in your corner if you feel like your guinea pig is unwell at any point during her pregnancy. My guinea pig is a female American guinea pig. Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-2','ezslot_21',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-2-0');After birth, the recovery is pretty speedy in guinea pigs. Never provide a multi-vitamin. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. But to a pregnant guinea pig, it does! Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). As weeks go by, the mother's belly will become tighter and bulkier. As early as six weeks of age. But consult with your vet first, just to be on the safer side. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. When they reach about 6 ounces (170 g), the offspring will stop nursing and eat the same foods as their parents. This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. Being wrong about the pregnancy couldnt hurt more than the consequences of neglecting it!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4','ezslot_23',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4-0'); There are actual people that I know who neglected the weight gain in their guinea pigs. So, even a male who was neutered only a few weeks before could cause pregnancy in females. I didnt know whether to hit him in the face for the negligence or to feel sorry for his loss. . Males are territorial. Excess vitamin C is passed in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but other vitamins can build up and create problems. A local breeder may also be willing to help. The pups will be able to eat solid food from day one, and the mother will introduce them to new food herself. 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. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. 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. Birth can sometimes be more complicated because of several medical reasons. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. Yeah, tests are very very important to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig. I did all, "I think that it was great help. If I felt my pregnant guinea pig's belly and caused her a miscarriage, what would the signs be? So, it is vital that you know which stage of pregnancy your guinea pig is. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. So I am morally obligated to answer it. If they do mate, I will now. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. In Summary. Use OR to account for alternate terms These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. Make the introductions gradual as the adults will be a lot larger and could do them serious harm. But still, to be on the safer side, having boundaries to the free space she runs is advised. If you are not certain that the pups are weaned at 21 days, the males should be removed anyway to prevent pregnancy. Even though having a vet all the time is not convenient. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This is a common occurrence; roughly 1 in 5 guinea pigs will die as a direct result of pregnancy or birth. So be sure to consult fair- minded veterinarians, and a second opinion could never hurt. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced breeder. X % of people told us that this article helped them. If it declines every day or continues to change after 5 days, consult the vet. 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. There will come a time when you'll be able to clearly see the babies moving inside the mother, and even the different parts of their anatomy. And the babies? Do not keep pregnant guinea pigs in multi-level cages/hutches as their balance will be impaired by pregnancy, and in the later stages of pregnancy they may not be able to get up to the higher tiers. Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. Shortly after giving birth, guinea pigs begin a fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a day. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. unlocking this expert answer. This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. Cesarean sections are rarely successful in guinea pigs even when performed by a veterinarian who has experience with guinea pigs. :)", understand just in case for the future as well, thanks so much for the info. ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. This happens not only in human pregnancy but also in the case of animals. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? By gently running your hand on your guinea pig, you can feel bumps and lumps, which could be because of one of two reasons. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. After about two or three weeks of pregnancy, the baby guinea pigs can be physically felt. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. Diseases such as toxemia are caused easily in pregnant females. By using our site, you agree to our. Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. You can also touch her abdomen gently to feel for piglets in the womb. Even though having a vet all the information for your furry little pals pregnancy your guinea pig & # ;. Females can mature and be fertile even earlier normal days ; roughly 1 in guinea. Young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy irrespective of animal. Fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a day box on its side 21,! Is hard work for a female guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy BVMS MRCVS... 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After about two or three weeks of pregnancy your guinea pig is a female guinea.