But that does not mean that you should not give them access to outdoors. This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Guinea Pig Vomit: Everything You Need To Know. Check to see that the guinea pig is eating and drinking; extra vitamin C may also be helpful. Guinea pigs are certainly cute. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. If they do mate, I will now. Maybe in the woods, they can take care of themselves. I would start looking up local guinea pig rescues so they can take some babies and help getting all the pigs fixed before she gets pregnant again (this can happen very fast after she gives birth). They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. An ultrasound scan can visualize exactly what the bumps are and confirm a pregnancy. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. Rough handling may cause miscarriage. Since guinea pigs attain sexual maturity as early as 6 weeks in their life, even young guinea pigs are bound to get pregnant. 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. Gently press inwards and see if you feel any lumps or bumps inside her tummy. Rodent and rabbit medicine. The mothers weight will vary for a few days whilst she re-adjusts but should settle within five days. Then I followed the steps that say how to take, "My guinea pig was acting strange. We had no idea of when Theo would have become pregnant, so we just counted the days from when we brought her home. Normally, it wouldnt. They can begin breeding as young as two months in some cases. o [ canine influenza] 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. 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. 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. You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. 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. But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. Reduce handling to a minimum and don't handle her within two weeks of the birth. Not always is it ensured that the mother will deliver her litter by natural means. If there is a likelihood any of the pups are born with this condition you must decide what action you will take. 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! 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. By this time, your pet's pelvic bones will have widened enough to make way for the pups . That is exactly why you need to cautiously read all the following so that you can make the hard and painful process of pregnancy easier on your guinea pig! This article has 20 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4','ezslot_12',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4-0');For how long is a guinea pig pregnant? Most pregnant guinea pigs do not move as actively as their normal days. Then, the ultrasound probe is placed on skin and emits a high-frequency sound that is inaudible to human ears. Place it in a sheltered part of the hutch, away from draughts. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. 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. Of course, much much cuter! Cesarean sections are rarely successful in guinea pigs even when performed by a veterinarian who has experience with guinea pigs. This period starts from the first day of the last period before your baby is born. Research source A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). 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). Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. A small, clean cage with towels for bedding works well. But believe me, it does. 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 ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. How can I tell? The average guinea pig gestation is 59 - 72 days. Yeah, tests are very very important to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Since they no longer eat just for them, but also for the baby piggies inside, they eat more than the usual amount. Then they started to do an unusual sound, which I suspected was a mating call. While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. Though it is usually closer to 3-4 months. So do not be surprised if a young little guinea pig you just brought home is already pregnant! They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity early in their life- as early as six weeks!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-1','ezslot_6',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-1-0'); So, remember that when you are wondering about the probable pregnancy of your guinea pigs. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. Menu Clubul de antreprenoriat. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. 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. I love animals! Is she pregnant? Maturing guinea pigs. If you are not certain that the pups are weaned at 21 days, the males should be removed anyway to prevent pregnancy. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. The entire span of 40 weeks of the pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. 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. 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. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. 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. Although, guinea pigs tend to eat extra in cold weather too. Of course, as you probably already know, a break between two consecutive estrus cycles can be caused only by a pregnancy. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. How Can You Know How Far Along Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy is? Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. So how about the baby guinea pigs? Which Can Include: Being vigilant about their activities is vital to their well-being. 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. Feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she gets more protein and calcium. Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. So follow a routine. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. Because yeah, more the number, more the time to nourish them, sounds logical. "I took my guinea pig to the vet and found out she will have babies. Absolutely pregnant. And the babies? A local breeder may also be willing to help. And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. With your non-dominant hand hold her steady around the shoulders, with her head facing away from you. During the last two weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. The temperature outside or in a garage/shed usually becomes too cold at night for a pregnant guinea pig. Last Updated: November 26, 2022 Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. Keep a watchful eye on her eating habits. Only hold her if necessary. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 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. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. 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. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! In long-haired breeds, it gets even worse. Other adverse effects include a loss of appetite out of fear, which could also result in fatal effects. The vitamin C required by a pregnant female is obviously more than that required by one that isnt pregnant. This is an emergency situation requiring an immediate c-section. This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. Guinea pigs are typically considered adults from 6 months to about 5 years of age. My guinea pig's quite fat, but when we went to the vet, she wasn't pregnant. 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. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. AmberCalzone Well-known Member. Another weird yet interesting way to find out pregnancy in guinea pigs is their smell! Do not handle her all the time like before. In Summary. This may cause dizzy spells, especially . Laber-Laird & Flecknell. Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! 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. Zealotstim 4 mo. The towels should be changed at least twice a day. If the other sow eats it, their own pregnancy may be induced. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. It is not recommended to breed guinea pigs. So, even a male who was neutered only a few weeks before could cause pregnancy in females. If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the age requirements, talk to your vet about a pregnancy plan. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. Does anybody have like weekly signs of guinea pig pregnancy like week one no sights week two they eat more something like that thanks . ", Scary after reading all this. 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. 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. In addition, you may want to increase your guinea pig's fiber intake. Another sign is a hike in food intake. [1] We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 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. Neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. They eat solid food right after being born, unlike human babies. Offer fresh vegetables every day. 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. Birth can sometimes be more complicated because of several medical reasons. So having their cagemates with them could be a good choice. 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. 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). 2 Observe her eating habits. I told my mom and took her to the vet, and they said she was pregnant. 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. The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. If your sow is carrying more pups rather than less, her length of pregnancy will more likely be closer to 60 days than 70. Publisher: Pergamon, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid711031-v4-728px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"