Note that she may chew the cardboard, so have extra boxes or use a wicker or thick-plastic box. 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. It will be too stressful for her. 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 you feel something and you're not certain what it is, then consult your veterinarian. 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). Please confirm that you are a health care professional. Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. Due to several factors including age, weight, other diseases, nutritive health, etc., females could be inefficient of nourishing and/or delivering the litter. o [pig guinea] The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. 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! But it is better if you take her to the vet just to be sure. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. Not only does it scare her, but also causes pain due to the pressure put by our arms. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. A pregnant guinea will start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy propels. This will keep your guinea pig from slipping. It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. They eat solid food right after being born, unlike human babies. "I took my guinea pig to the vet and found out she will have babies. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. References He is an exotic vet. they were both female and have been living together. We read that the more babies she is carrying will result in a shorter pregnancy. Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. So, in this article, let's see how a fetus will change week by week to become a baby. As weeks go by, the mother's belly will become tighter and bulkier. X A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. The entire span of 40 weeks of the pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Facultatea Business si Turism. Safety from injury should take precedence over hygiene. Guinea Pig Foot Spurs {Everything You Need To Know Here}, Basic QuestionsAbout Guinea Pig Pregnancy. Despre Club; Echipa; FRESHconsult 2 Observe her eating habits. Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. Your vet will instruct you with all the necessary tests to be taken. You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. ", care of my guinea pig and I am so sure that she is healthy and will have my little baby friends soon! This is when the single-celled zygote develops into full baby guinea pigs by cell division. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-netboard-2','ezslot_18',122,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-netboard-2-0');Well, not too many similarities are shared by guinea pigs and humans in their pregnancy. If it declines every day or continues to change after 5 days, consult the vet. 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. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. 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. In addition, you may want to increase your guinea pig's fiber intake. During the last two weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. By this time, your pet's pelvic bones will have widened enough to make way for the pups . A few weeks later I noticed she was getting bigger, I was curious to see if she was pregnant. Guinea pigs are typically considered adults from 6 months to about 5 years of age. Males born in the same litter are brothers, right? But consult with your vet first, just to be on the safer side. 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. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! Again, it could also be because of fat. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. My guinea pig's quite fat, but when we went to the vet, she wasn't pregnant. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. That's right, in many cases guinea pigs are pregnant for less than two months before they give birth to their litter. Regardless of how pregnancy occurs, the average guinea pig gestation period is 65 days. "I recently adopted two pigs but realized I would have many more very soon. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. The minute you are sure your guinea pig is pregnant, make sure you get it to your vets attention. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Stress is one of the most common reasons for death in guinea pigs, during pregnancy no less! Offer fresh vegetables every day. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. Next, check your guinea pig's weight, since her weight will almost double during 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. 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. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Our professionals are qualified to care for your guinea pig. Research source However, a caesarean surgery may be required. Not always is it ensured that the mother will deliver her litter by natural means. 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. :)", understand just in case for the future as well, thanks so much for the info. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. 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. Use OR to account for alternate terms Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. It is important to begin to carefully handle young guinea pigs when they are only 2 or 3 weeks old. 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. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). When your guinea pigs reach 16 weeks of age, it is the time that they mature significantly. Approved. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. Make note of all the foods that you offer her, with the quantity and time. HappyPiggies14 Well-known Member. Last Updated: November 26, 2022 Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. So how long are guinea pigs pregnant? At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. 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. But make sure your handling of her is minimal. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. But what I was certain about, is that no other guinea pig should face the same fate. This period starts from the first day of the last period before your baby is born. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. To learn more about what to expect during the pregnancy, read on! WRONG! 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). A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. To feel for fetuses, place the sow on a towel on a firm surface. 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. Of course, all these are high school zoology concepts. To tell if your guinea pig is pregnant, start by observing her eating habits to gauge whether she's eating and drinking more than usual. Even though having a vet all the time is not convenient. Do not bath the sow during pregnancy. After the surgery, keep your pet quiet and separated from other guinea pigs while recovering. They can begin breeding as young as two months in some cases. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. Zealotstim 4 mo. If the water bottle is usually placed high-up, provide a second water bottle lower down so that the sow does not have to stretch if she does not want to. Vitamin C is highly unstable and breaks down within 8 weeks of the manufacturing date. Then I followed the steps that say how to take, "My guinea pig was acting strange. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. 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. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Shortly after giving birth, guinea pigs begin a fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a day. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. 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. 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. No relationship can survive without understanding. A local breeder may also be willing to help. Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. So be sure to consult fair- minded veterinarians, and a second opinion could never hurt. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. AmberCalzone Well-known Member. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. For example, carrots contain lots of oxalate. An unneutered male guinea pig! You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. 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. Of course, as you probably already know, a break between two consecutive estrus cycles can be caused only by a pregnancy. So you may think that grooming them with regular attention, or even more during pregnancy, is needed. There is no need to remove other sows, they may even help with the pups. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! But thats wrong! Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. Absolutely pregnant. 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. Diseases such as toxemia are caused easily in pregnant females. This is because sperm can survive in his tubes for this length of time. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. 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. unlocking this expert answer. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. Every trimester of the pregnancy in humans, there are differences in the methods of taking care, right? Finally, have the pregnancy confirmed by a veterinarian, who can perform an ultrasound and give you information about caring for a pregnant guinea pig. This causes mineral deficiency. The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. Here, we investigated the effects of parental age, parity, and . Guinea pigs go through four or five estrus cycles every year. Stage #2. What are the Similarities and Differences Beetwen Humans and Guinea Pigs in Pregnancy? Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. 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. If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. But that should be done only when you are present to monitor. If they do mate, I will now. At this stage, you have to feed your developing guinea pigs with pellets specially formulated for them. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Well, I guess this is the most important section of this post. Outdoor time, again, with your availability to monitor. "I had a male guinea pig for about a year and a half. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born. The normal pregnancy period of a woman is 40 weeks. Get an experienced vet to check the sex of all your other guinea pigs. Pregnancy Symptoms Week 14. Another weird yet interesting way to find out pregnancy in guinea pigs is their smell! Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. Find out the Stages Of Pregnancy By Week. This information is then translated into an image. Never provide a multi-vitamin. Have a visiting vet every once in a while. Read more about this in our helpful guide. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. If you have any concerns regarding your guinea pig's health or well-being, contact us today at 407-286 . To Avoid Stress, You Need to Take Several Measures Obviously. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. Since guinea pigs attain sexual maturity as early as 6 weeks in their life, even young guinea pigs are bound to get pregnant. A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! Which Can Include: Being vigilant about their activities is vital to their well-being. Research source ", 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. 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