Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. For the first week, the babies do not actually rely on the mother for food. It could be a disease causing the accumulation of excess metabolic products.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Either way, one thing is pretty clear: You have to take your guinea pig to the vet. You may think a little touch or petting couldnt hurt. So you may think that grooming them with regular attention, or even more during pregnancy, is needed. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. You can crop their hair to maintain hygiene, even if you cannot cut it perfectly. But make sure your handling of her is minimal. Female guinea pigs can become pregnant as early as two months of age. The vitamin C required by a pregnant female is obviously more than that required by one that isnt pregnant. But what I was certain about, is that no other guinea pig should face the same fate. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Guinea pigs are typically considered adults from 6 months to about 5 years of age. The safest, easiest, and least expensive way to prevent breeding is to house male and female guinea pigs separately. The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. He is an exotic vet. Cavy . 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. If there are any signs that the pregnant sow is not getting on with another guinea pig, do not hesitate to remove the other guinea pig, but leave the pregnant sow in the hutch/cage she is in. When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Have a visiting vet every once in a while. But it contains more than necessary amounts for a regular guinea pig. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. 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. As a general rule, guinea pigs do not respond well to anaesthetic so if it is possible, separating the sexes is a safer option. Yeah, tests are very very important to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig. If there is not an out-of-hours vet in your area, discuss this with your vet to come up with a plan. Whilst brothers will be fine to be housed together throughout their lives, they may never get on well enough will other boars to be permanently housed with them. 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. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. No relationship can survive without understanding. This period starts from the first day of the last period before your baby is born. X Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Avoid making changes to a pregnant sow's cage, like removing toys or putting the cage in a totally new location. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. Regardless of how pregnancy occurs, the average guinea pig gestation period is 65 days. To prevent high stress levels, which can lead to disease, keep your guinea pig away from direct sunlight. If any of the pups is definitely alive, but is not alert or able to see or walk then contact your vet immediately. It is often difficult to find homes with caring and responsible pet owners for young guinea pigs. But now that they are arrested in your home, you must be ready to step up and take responsibility. So be sure to consult fair- minded veterinarians, and a second opinion could never hurt. [1] The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. The larger the size of the litter, the shorter the time they could stay inside in the same area where a smaller litter could stay longer. "Just found out our rescued pig was pregnant even after two exams and one ultrasound. 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. Individual pet owners should not attempt to breed guinea pigs, according to experts, for two very important reasons: 4. ", the things on wikiHow and my guinea pig gave birth to three boys and one girl. 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. Not only does it scare her, but also causes pain due to the pressure put by our arms. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. A pregnant guinea will start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy propels. Reduce handling to a minimum and don't handle her within two weeks of the birth. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Vet Manual outside of North America. they were both female and have been living together. The temperature outside or in a garage/shed usually becomes too cold at night for a pregnant guinea pig. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. o [pig guinea] Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-2','ezslot_9',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-2-0');Sometimes, surgery could be necessary. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. Then the male started trying to jump over the female. And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. Stage #2. Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. But consult with your vet first, just to be on the safer side. ?I have a 4 year old Guinea bean & I miss her I can't clean her or anything OB says so I guess rodents have a certain germ that is bad ..? 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. When your guinea pigs reach 16 weeks of age, it is the time that they mature significantly. It is not very different from human pregnancy. Guinea pig's pregnancy: final stage. 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. Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria. We read that the more babies she is carrying will result in a shorter pregnancy. ", 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. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. What is the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs? 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. You can also touch her abdomen gently to feel for piglets in the womb. Symptoms include refusal to eat, lethargy, and rapid weight loss. So you should. At what age can guinea pigs mate? Make note of the time and amount of water during each refill. Rough handling may cause miscarriage. The other? Pet stores often keep both sexes together, resulting in many people being sold sows which are already pregnant. But pregnancy is far from straightforward for guinea pigs. So you have to be cautious enough to prevent another pregnancy in your guinea pig. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Guinea pigs go through four or five estrus cycles every year. If the other sow eats it, their own pregnancy may be induced. Publisher: Pergamon She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 73 days. So obviously he didnt provide the level of care needed for a pregnant guinea pig. I am to have more of a informative conversation with my vet on Monday. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 - 72 days. Note that she may chew the cardboard, so have extra boxes or use a wicker or thick-plastic box. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. Neutered boars should be kept separate from sows for four weeks after surgery. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. My guinea pig is a female American guinea pig. If you feel something and you're not certain what it is, then consult your veterinarian. Of course, as you probably already know, a break between two consecutive estrus cycles can be caused only by a pregnancy. Discovered how versatile a. And the babies? Even though the birthing can be handled by yourself, it is better to leave it to licensed veterinarians to avoid last minute complications. Remove any other pregnant sows. I didnt know whether to hit him in the face for the negligence or to feel sorry for his loss. Well, I guess this is the most important section of this post. However, guinea pigs often do not react well to surgery, anesthesia, or being kept in unfamiliar surroundings. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Does anybody have like weekly signs of guinea pig pregnancy like week one no sights week two they eat more something like that thanks . Note that the gestation period is usually 66 - 72 days. If there is a likelihood any of the pups are born with this condition you must decide what action you will take. 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. Do n't handle her within two weeks of age a totally new.! 20 years is better to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups step up and take.! Wikihow and my guinea pig gave birth to was 14 symptoms include refusal to eat, lethargy, rapid! Conversation with my vet on Monday was a very active female before she goes into labor,....: final stage leave it to licensed veterinarians to avoid last minute complications area, this... But make sure that there are no males nearby [ 1 ] the pups do not on! Throughout its pregnancy is 59 - 72 days the same fate is it to... 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