Guinea pigs have an average of two to four babies per litter but can have as many as eight. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. Pregnant guinea pigs get visually larger in the abdominal area. Bloody uterine discharge and straining longer than 30 minutes requires a medical examination. Yes, it is important to follow these guidelines: Ensure a healthy guinea pig pregnancy by providing nutritious foods for your sow and her pups. Pregnant guinea pigs arent accustomed to building nests, yet any type of clean soft bedding will do just fine. Pregnancy for Guinea Pigs is very high risk, both for the mum and the babies. Setting up a guinea pig cage is not so easy. 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. Only hold her if necessary. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone? The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. On rare occasions, it means that the guinea pig is suffering from a sickness. Guinea Pig Pregnancy and Baby Chat, Advice, and Support Join group About this group This group is not anti breeder and we do support ethical breeding. Well with guinea pigs its the opposite. Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. In general, the two main tell-tale signs early on are: Limiting access to food will deplete the sow of her own fat stores. Thats why the best age for a guinea pig to get pregnant is between 4 and 7 months of age. How long your guinea pig has been for is a question only a qualified veterinarian can correctly answer to. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. House pregnant sows indoors if pets are normally free-range outside. Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. Female guinea pigs sexually mature as early as 2 months of age. Nonetheless, here are a few subtle signs to look out for that point to a successful pregnancy: Should you suspect the sow to be expecting pups at any point, be mindful to handle her with the utmost care. If it declines every day or continues to change after 5 days, consult the vet. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Postnatally guinea pigs can become sexually mature as early as four weeks. In addition, he is a proud owner of two guinea pigs. 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. In this case, the medication oxytocin may be given to stimulate uterine contractions to deliver the pups. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space. Male piglets must be separated by four weeks old or breeding between littermates may occur. Enriching the guinea pigs diet with kale, broccoli, green peppers, and parsley is also advised. You should observe the behavior of the other guinea pigs as well. Loud squeals are a sign that she accepted him. Never provide a multi-vitamin. 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. This type is rich both in protein in calcium, two things she needs a lot at the moment. 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? Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. A first-timer will not gain as much weight, but generally will weigh 35 ounces or more by the time she gives birth. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. 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. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. The duration of pregnancy is inversely proportional to the litter size. If you are changing the feed, make a gradual change providing a bit of both to start with as otherwise she may not eat the feed at all. This means that we may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase something through an affiliate link. The ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. Make the introductions gradual as the adults will be a lot larger and could do them serious harm. (The Surprising Answer! Whether the gift is for a friend or a family member, an adult or a kid, or even for, Read More 16 Gifts for Guinea Pig Lovers & OwnersContinue, Fleece bedding for guinea pigs is popular amongst piggy parents, whether they want a nice-looking cage or the comfiest home for their fur babies. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. 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. 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. Neutered boars should be kept separate from sows for four weeks after surgery. 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. Any apparent change of behavior in means of lethargy, anorexia, or depression can be a sign of sickness. In the presence of a male, the female changes her back (spine) which she arches downwards. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. We took her to vet for check up.. Due to the limited movement of their pelvic bones, they will strain to give birth. 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. The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. She may, if he persists, even urinate on him. The early stage consists of the first few days after mating. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. The guinea pigs won't need to make a nest to give birth. 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. it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. Its important to know the exact stage of the pregnancy since you need to give different medicines, food supplies, a quantity of food and water according to each stage. Guinea pigs are pregnant for 59-72 days. His professionalism is shown on the many articles he contributed to the website. 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. How much your cavy expands during this time depends on the number of pups shes carrying. Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. Gaining weight at a regular pace is important. Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. Guinea Pig Site 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. She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 - 73 days. Lastly, it takes about 2-4 weeks to wean guinea pups. 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. They live 5-7 years on average, although they can live much longer if they have good genes and, Read More Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years?Continue, Did you know your cute cavy has teeth that never stop growing? So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. If the sow becomes uninterested in food contact your veterinarian immediately. The male on, the other hand, will put on his manly display but will still approach the saw with a lowered head. A local breeder may also be willing to help. When a guinea pig is pregnant the pelvic canal stretches as a result of hormonal secretion. Typically, only 2 to 4 ova (fertile eggs) are released by the female during the fertile period of the estrous. Once the pups are weaned, the mother should not require vitamin supplements anymore, unless you gave them to her as part of her regular diet anyway. unlocking this expert answer. As in humans, this happens when pups grow and take up more space. Guinea Pig Eye Infection What You Should Do? Boys will try and mate with their mum at . 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. So, if you're collecting items in preparation for the guinea pig babies, you may have only two months to get it all done! Sows older than 2 years that werent bred before are most at risk. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. Her body will be positioned in a down-squat on all four legs. And, truth be told, it can certainly be a tricky, stress-ridden adventure for experienced cavy owners as well. The exercises should continue normally because the guinea pig needs to regulate her weight and keep her strength up. Continuous breeding is dangerous for female guinea pigs, increasing health issues and shortening. If the weight does not pick up, or a pup does not improve with additional feeding, consult the vet. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In most cases, the small forms are a sign of guinea pig pregnancy. A cesarian section surgery will likely be necessary. You can sense the distance between the bones by gently positioning your finger on the belly just a few centimeters from the anus. Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this isnt medical advice and if you assume there might be a health-related issue, you should contact your vet. 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! Near the end restrain yourself from picking the animal up. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! Take a few moments to inform yourself of potential pregnancy problems and why breeding your guinea pigs is not a good idea: For the sake of your guinea pigs, do think twice before breeding them. Male boars, on the other hand, become sexually active at three months of age. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. In time, it will be a bit harder for them to move, but this is of little or no significance. After the seventh week, the animal enters the late stage of guinea pig pregnancy. 2 Observe her eating habits. This is a common occurrence; roughly 1 in 5 guinea pigs will die as a direct result of pregnancy or birth. Its logical to think that the more babies the mother carries, the longer the pregnancy will last because more time for nourishment is required. The temperature outside or in a garage/shed usually becomes too cold at night for a pregnant guinea pig. Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. Remember that Omni's guinea . Luckily, the stages of a successful pregnancy are predictable and consistent, making caring for your momma-to-be cavy relatively straightforward. The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. The estrous cycle is somewhat typical in means of behavioral changes of the female guinea pig. This helped me, "Glad we got educated early. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Mares that have been bred during the first quarter of the year will often carry their foals for . 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. If you have not removed males yet, do so at this point. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. Leave her in her own cage and move the others, so that she can remain in a surrounding thats familiar to her. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. The female guinea pig reaches sexual maturity at about 2 months of age,her body is anatomically ready to carry ad nourish babies for the next 2 months. The pups are born with open eyes and covered in fur. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. As a species, they also increase their food intake in the winter. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. Week 1. Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old. guinea pigs are pregnant for 67-73 days and you will know she will have babies in 3-4 weeks when you can feel her babies moving. Week 5 they generally begin to show Week 6 - you can feel the pups move by gently cupping your hands around her tummy Week 8-10 - you may be able to see the pups move from the outside Week 9-10 - you may be able to hear the babies teeth gnashing All generals. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. The birth canals of these animals are very narrow. Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. Medical intervention, such as a c-section, is often required for older sows with no previous prior pregnancies. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Look closely at the cavy's genital opening. What a surprise this was. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. Usually, the occurrence is 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after giving birth. 2. Female guinea pigs usually have a smooth swelling over their genital area. The onset is generally sudden and progress rather quicker than you are reporting. Even still, it's important to keep a very clean cage or hutch. Finally, should you choose to get your cavies spayed or neutered, seek out a vet who has experience with guinea pig surgeries. The baby guinea pigs can be physically felt 2 to 4 weeks into pregnancy. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. 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