Be very careful if you need to hold or handle a pregnant guinea pig. . With the use of ultrasound, your vet can also assess potential concerns with the pregnancy. But taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can suspect pregnancy if any one of them is present. The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. As a guinea pig lover myself, I created a list of cute and funny gifts for guinea pig lovers that will surely be appreciated by the receiving party. My guinea pig's quite fat, but when we went to the vet, she wasn't pregnant. 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. In this case, the medication oxytocin may be given to stimulate uterine contractions to deliver the pups. Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged. Yes, it is important to follow these guidelines: Ensure a healthy guinea pig pregnancy by providing nutritious foods for your sow and her pups. As a species, they also increase their food intake in the winter. Thats because they dont want other males to approach her. . Guinea pig pregnancy is relatively short, lasting only between 59 and 72 days. Negligence and ignorance can prove to be fatal for the mother and the babies. The sow should gradually put on weight. Do it every day at the same time routinely. Examine the shape of the cavy's genital opening. Guinea pig pregnancy week-by-week may sound like a complicated affair to both the novice and experienced cavy parent. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. Guinea pig newborns are fully covered with hair, have open eyes and ears and have teeth present. It will be too stressful for her. 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 average duration of a pregnancy is 65 days, but it depends on how many pups she is carrying -- her pregnancy will be shorter if she's carrying more pups. Feeling the abdomen needs to be done by a professional because it is easy to mistake the bladder, kidney, or even an enlarged ovary for a foetus. Only this way, serious delivery problems can be avoided. If any of them seem to bother her or tease her, they will need to be put in a separate cage. Bloody uterine discharge and straining longer than 30 minutes requires a medical examination. Inversely, the longer the pregnancy is, the fewer pups the litter contains. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. Loud squeals are a sign that she accepted him. Week 1. Look closely at the cavy's genital opening. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. also her pelvic bones will widen from being clamped shut to about an inch and a half. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. Note that she may chew the cardboard, so have extra boxes or use a wicker or thick-plastic box. Make the habit of repeatedly measuring your pets weight, at least twice a month. If you are not certain that the pups are weaned at 21 days, the males should be removed anyway to prevent pregnancy. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. Doing so can lead to pregnancy. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. There are numerous medical reasons why giving birth can go wrong. Just a disclaimer: Beware that you should not wildly breed guinea pigs if you dont have a proper breeding program or the appropriate financial situation as well as time to care for them. Sows older than 2 years that werent bred before are most at risk. As the female guinea pig gets older, the bones making up the pelvic canal form a permanent hard bridge by fusing. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. Many females who survive experience complications, which are painful to the sow and costly to the pet parent. This helped me, "Glad we got educated early. At birth, baby guinea pigs can weigh between 2.1 and 4.2 oz (60 and 120 grams) and have an average size of 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). During the last two weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. To prevent high stress levels, which can lead to disease, keep your guinea pig away from direct sunlight. Discovered how versatile a. Never provide a multi-vitamin. They interact with voices and gestures to show you everything they feel. The milk provides some very important nutrients for the babies. Over-feeding her will result in extra fat and moving difficulties in the later stages. At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. So, if you're collecting items in preparation for the guinea pig babies, you may have only two months to get it all done! If you have not removed males yet, do so at this point. At the end of the middle stage, the movement of the babies will become visible under the skin. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. If any of the pups is definitely alive, but is not alert or able to see or walk then contact your vet immediately. 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. Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? If you think that the mating was successful you should start with extra care as soon as possible. Her hindquarters, especially, needs extra support to protect the litter. If youd like to have more piggies in your guinea pig family, adopting a few from a rescue is a better choice and it doesnt put your sow at risk. A new estrous cycle in saws can begin very shortly after giving birth. Guinea pigs arrive at sexual development early, some when they are only five weeks or a month and a half old. 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. guinea pigs concerned are given unlimited access to plenty of fresh, green meadow hay to keep them occupied - this will often stop the problem. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. Mother starts making "extreme" stress calls, Mother seems to give in, appearing exhausted, Excessive bleeding (more than a tablespoon). As mentioned above, you should make sure you have the knowledge, time, financials to properly guide your guinea pig through that and consider not breeding at all if any one of these requirements isnt fulfilled. Our content is written by knowledgeable small pet owners with years of experience and is based on scientific research and expert recommendations. Support wikiHow by Sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions; sometimes its a pup ending up stuck in the birth canal. Pregnancy for Guinea Pigs is very high risk, both for the mum and the babies. Daily touch-up cleaning of her habitat to keep it as clean as possible without removing her. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Guinea pigs tend to express every little change in their body. I am to have more of a informative conversation with my vet on Monday. They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. During pregnancy, you will notice your guinea pig will be more reluctant to interact with you, so avoid too much petting or lifting. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. Season: A mare's gestation period can be impacted by the season. 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. How do you know if your cavy is actually carrying pups? Litter size ranges, with the average being 2-4 pups - in rare cases as many as 12-14. Pups will each have their own amniotic sac, which the sow normally removes and ingests. "Just found out our rescued pig was pregnant even after two exams and one ultrasound. These images range from super small baby bumps to plus-size pregnancy belly bump pictures showing the week-by-week pregnancy development. The pups will be able to eat solid food from day one, and the mother will introduce them to new food herself. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. The sow starts to prefer fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content. Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. Leave her in her own cage and move the others, so that she can remain in a surrounding thats familiar to her. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. The canal is fully fused by the 7-8thmonth of age both in unbred female and male guinea pigs. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced. Since their gestation lasts just 59-73 days, a female guinea pig is capable in theory of bearing five or even six litters a year. If she has given birth before, she likely will double her weight by the time she gives birth, so you can approximate how far along she is by weighing her. 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. However, most guinea pigs have a pregnancy that lasts from 59 to 72 days. At around 4 weeks into a guinea pig's pregnancy the sow's abdomen and lower sides will become more firm than usual. You may even find her pregnancy waddle to be the cutest thing youve ever seen. Neutered boars should be kept separate from sows for four weeks after surgery. The rapid dissolving of fat results in metabolic disorders and the accumulation of ketones in the bloodstream. Female guinea pigs usually have a smooth swelling over their genital area. Approved. Again, if you need to handle your cavy, do so in a gentle manner, grasping her securely yet comfortably, to ensure full support of her body. The duration of pregnancy is 60 to 70 days, because of this guinea pigs give birth to well developed young. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. Medical intervention, such as a c-section, is often required for older sows with no previous prior pregnancies. Rough handling may cause miscarriage. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. Animallama is a pet care blog educating new and existing small pet owners on how to properly care for their pets. [1] . Place any cavies that appear to annoy her in a different cage. Some may happen sooner, later, or not at all. Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone? Updated 18.12.19. Ideally, relocate cagemates elsewhere rather than removing the pregnant sow, so she can remain in familiar surroundings. Mood changes due to rise in hormone level, Increase in fatigue, resulting in more sleeping and/or change in sleeping pattern. The middle stage is up until the seventh week of pregnancy. If they do survive the first week they have a shorter than normal life expectancy and will require large amounts of medical care throughout their lives. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). How Long Are Guinea Pigs Pregnant? How Big of a Cage for Two Guinea Pigs? 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. 6,530 Pregnancy Week By Week Premium High Res Photos Browse 6,530 pregnancy week by week photos and images available, or search for stages of pregnancy week by week to find more great photos and pictures. The estrous cycle is somewhat typical in means of behavioral changes of the female guinea pig. Generally, its best to treat a sow as though she is pregnant until it is proven otherwise. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. X A typical pregnancy in horses can last for 320 to 380 days, but generally lasts around 11 months. Pregnant guinea pigs arent accustomed to building nests, yet any type of clean soft bedding will do just fine. If the weight does not pick up, or a pup does not improve with additional feeding, consult the vet. And, truth be told, it can certainly be a tricky, stress-ridden adventure for experienced cavy owners as well. 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. Female guinea pigs sexually mature as early as 2 months of age. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to get to a vet. 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. New Plymouth Vet Group. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. when they are this wide you will know she will give birth in the next 48 hours. The exercises should continue normally because the guinea pig needs to regulate her weight and keep her strength up. She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 - 73 days. Will know she will give birth to was 14 the males should be kept from! 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