This had not been normal for her. small amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g. We decided to leave Theo and Remmy together since they get along so well and crave each others company. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What causes phantom pregnancies in guinea pigs? This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Vitamin C rich foods like kale, broccoli. But anywhere in the range of 59 days to 72 days is regarded as normal. Etiology: Two forms have been identified, both of which most commonly occur in pregnant or lactating guinea pigs, but can also occur in non-gravid females as well as boars [1]: Fasting form: reduced carbohydrate intake results in systemic mobilization of fat stores. Guinea pigs, on average, give 5-6 litter per year. Once the young ones start eating solid food, the sow will teach them to urinate and poop via licking their bottom part very often. It would be best if 3 to 6 months old female guinea pigs(sows) mate with around 3-4 months past male guinea pigs(boars). Litter size typically consists of 2-4 pups with a range of 1-13 young. By day 51, she was massive in comparison to when we brought her home and she moved with a distinct waddle. When female guinea pigs go into Labour pain and if it takes them longer than 15-20 minutes, then undoubtedly they require medical help and should be given as soon as possible. She will engage in this behavior for at least 20-30 days, and after this, a phantom pregnancy comes to an abrupt halt, and guinea pigs return to normal. I was curious to learn about the same. So better not rush, and get your pet checked by a vet for certainty. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Don't know how it would work though with a probiotic. but the dried food gets left, a fussy eater I think!!!! The expected date came and went and no pups arrived. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. And in 2022, it was 825 guinea pigs coming in," Hansen said. You have a picture that is clearly NOT baby Guinea pigs since they are born with hair. Also, the babies reach sexual maturity early too, so its possible for the dad to impregnate the female babies. Can Guinea Pigs Have Phantom Pregnancies? This can happen in first and second pregnancies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Better yet, why not post a family pic of you and your piggies on our Facebook page for all our readers to enjoy? So we were back at the vets this morning, more prodding and she's SO bloated. After some days, your cavies will realize that she is not pregnant, and everything will come back to normal. GuineaPigDen.com is a participant in theAmazon 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. Is your guinea pig Pregnant? When pregnant the pelvic area relaxes due to the hormonal changes. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We made sure that she was getting enough vitamin C by feeding her one Oxbow vitamin C tab daily and adding vitamin C rich foods like broccoli, kale and alfalfa hay to her diet. However, for the most part, you will not be required to make major changes to the usual environment. Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Guinea pigs pregnancy lasts about 9 to 10 weeks. This is because your sow can get pregnant almost immediately after birth, which would mean back-to-back pregnancies for her and could be hard on her health. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. Bought a double hutch and run for our guinea pigs and they were super helpful. Precisely saying, be present for your pet. You'll probably not be surprised to hear that black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list most years. And remember, even a neutered male can get a female pregnant. A period of an extra week is good for them. Pregnant guinea pigs will need to increase their calorie intake by 25-50%, as well as their nutrient intake. After 7 months, this function does not work as well. Also, dont be surprised if she gets pregnant right after giving birth, as female guinea pigs go into heat right after they give birth. Circulatory form: compression of the aorta causes a . .. Poor angel. LittleFurryPets.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. Supplement the mother guinea pig's diet with calcium. This was definitely true for Theo. Couldn't find anything on google, only phantom cat pregnancies! She will behave like she is pregnant, although she is not. She drank a lot of water and would empty her bottle quite frequently so we also had to make sure that we kept it filled up. Your guinea pig till now has forgotten everything related to her phantom pregnancy. She also began to eat a lot more hay and would wheek loudly at us begging for more fruits and veggies. Guinea pig delivery is usually relatively quick, with each of the pups taking somewhere in the region of five minutes to be delivered. Can guinea pigs have phantom pregnancies? Thus, it is crucial to separate the male guinea pigs from the female ones. She loves to research the best methods and products out there and cut through the jargon so you can see plainly what something is or how something is done. At maximum, a female can give birth to 8 pups in one litter. And. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. Your pregnant guinea pig will start to eat and drink up to three times the amount that she usually does. It should get at least an inch wide, maybe wider. If you dont feel anything while moving fingers around her belly, then she is not pregnant. Contact with other family pets, or small children. Leave the mother with her pups alone for the few days undisturbed. She's on BioLapis for 5 days then back again next week. When they are born, they are born with hair, teeth, and the ability to walk around. Guinea pigs mature early in many ways. Indeed, females should be bred within 3-8 months of their age. Fingers firmly crossed all the guinea army here send healing vibes :smitten: This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. As far as nutrition goes, nothing beats mothers milk. And we are guessing thats the last thing you need or want. One example of this is the presence of too much blood in the birthing process. Thank you. Sometimes in pregnant guinea pigs, you can actually feel the miniature piglets forming inside of the mother. This Is What You Should Know! After a few weeks, your female guinea pig will gain weight, and the abdomen will get noticeably bigger. Make available enough food to eat and water to drink during the whole time of pregnancy. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. (+How To Deal With It). Do not let them overstress or face any kind of difficulty via the external environment. A female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. And larger the litter(about 5-6 pups) would mean a shorter pregnancy period. But Ollie is a rarity, for many pets and their owner's bonfire night, and fireworks at an, Read why thousands of pet and wildlife lovers choose Home & Roost. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Didn't find what you need? Many things can stress out your guinea pigs like being separated from a bonded partner, loud noises, other pets in the house, and being taken to the vet. Litter size varies. Overstress is the leading cause of phantom pregnancies. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. On a light note, neutering will also let you keep a population check on these little animals. If she is not pregnant and has lumps, it could mean a serious health problem. Its a misconception that is developed by the guinea pig, which lasts for approx 20 days. Charlotte. Preferably lift them with one hand on the bottom and others on the upside. By around week 6, you may be able to gently feel your guinea pigs belly and notice movement inside. Little chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the other for the kids to munch on while daddy built the hutch & run. Early on, there arent many, but if you know your piggys habits well, you might be able to tell. At this stage, your guinea pig will need empathy and support from you. Which was all all plastic free and that pleases me greatly too!! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Breeding| Things to Consider before Breeding Guinea Pigs. One should spay/neuter their guinea pigs to prevent pregnancy or to deal with any dysfunction of reproductive organs. You can move your finger around her belly, and while doing that, if you feel little lumps, then consider your guinea pig as pregnant. In the vast majority of cases, the mother will break the sacs herself, using her teeth, but there are instances where this does not occur. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. I wonder if my guinea pigs belly is curved from the top is she pregnant?? We brought home our male guinea pig pair 65 days ago and never in our wildest dreams imagined that within a few weeks we would have a guinea pig pregnancy! . Yes, a guinea pig can have phantom pregnancy, even after being spayed. Which so obviously cares about animals and wildlife. A typical guinea pig weighs about 1.5-2 lbs. By day 50, her body began to look like a pear. Unfortunately, there is a high mortality rate when it comes to a guinea pig pregnancy for both mum and the pups. Highly recommended them! Make sure you are feeding your pregnant guinea pig a high-quality diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. In the early stages of the pregnancy, there arent a lot of physical signs to let you know that you have a mum-to-be on your hands. In general, veterinarians do not recommend that individual pet owners attempt to breed guinea pigs. Male guinea pigs will typically mate with almost any willing female guinea pig. Guinea pig pups should only be weaned from their mum at around three weeks for optimal health and growth. Finally, and sadly, without veterinary support, it is estimated that around 20 percent of all pregnant guinea pigs die in the post-delivery stage. But it is worth stressing that changes in appetite can occur for a wide variety of reasons. Pregnancy is not so easy for guinea pigs. A sudden increase in appetite is another potential indicator. With all this said, dont be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still seems young to you. I have a female guinea that leaves alone but is showings signs of pregnancy. If this happens during your guinea pigs pregnancy, you should ideally seek the help of a vet. Most resources stated that whatever you decide, it is best to make sure that your female is not being bullied and is getting enough to eat. Does she have a partner some of the time? The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This video coutesy of Its Pigs! Still, there is nothing to worry about as she can resolve it on her own. If you have discovered that your piggy is preggers, we hope our article has been helpful to you. Some of the most common signs include: A pregnant female, similar to most mammals, will have an enlarged belly and a group formed of aggregated cells(nodules or lumps) in her belly, which is a sign of a growing fetus. There can be some reason behind this: Does she live alone: If your guinea pig leaves alone, then she can have stress which may cause ovulation. Great (British) products, high mortality rate when it comes to a guinea pig pregnancy, Small servings of fruits rich in vitamin C, Although it isnt essential, lucerne hay will provide extra protein and calcium. The unspayed guinea pigs mates with an unneutered male and is impregnated, In this case, the guinea pigs ovulate due to stress and consider that she is pregnant, She will start eating more and more as she is eating for 4-5 babies, In this case, she will eat more and become aggressive towards other guinea pigs. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You should note that the late stages of pregnancy are also the period where your guinea pig is most likely to develop certain health problems, including pregnancy ketosis, which is covered in more detail below. Being under-, or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales aren't always the be. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. Some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy toxaemia include a loss of appetite, lethargy and muscle spasms. Females are more reproductively capable before 8 months of their age and enhance the complexity later than this. Allow them to interact with other female guinea pigs to give them the pleasure of companionship. Litter size also depends upon the duration of pregnancy. Thank you both - I'll see how she goes after the injection and will ask the vet when she rings this afternoon if it would hurt to do both! Wiki User. However, it is important to know that pregnancy in a guinea pig is significantly different from human pregnancy. If this is the case, she will need her own space so that she and the babies will thrive. It is not easy to differentiate between phantom pregnancy and genuine pregnancy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am very lucky, my dog, Ollie doesnt bat an eyelid at fireworks, in fact if were out on an evening walk and a firework goes off I probably jump more than he does. Regardless of how pregnancy occurs, the average guinea pig gestation period is 65 days. Study now. Most of the mammals undergo pubic symphysis, and so does the female guinea pig. The vet said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it. Black cats have long been a symbol of Halloween and are closely associated with all things witchy. Before this age, your female guinea pig still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth. Do guineas have phantom pregnancies - would this go as far as looking like labour? Talking to your vet about possible care throughout the pregnancy and after the birthing process is vital. Guinea pigs have an average of 4 young per litter, with a range of 1-13. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. The main ways to prevent pregnancy include guinea pig neutering and separation of male and female guinea pigs. If you give your piggy a varied diet of pellets, fruits and veggies, she may favor the vitamin C-rich ones while pregnant, as they need more of this nutrient during this time. Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. How can u tell if a guinea pig is pregnant? Yes, guinea pigs will sometimes eat their babies. With their cute little faces and quirky personalities, pets provide hours of entertainment, devoted friendship and unconditional love. Spaying at an early age can keep her hormones under control and reduces the chances of stress based ovulation. Sponge started to get bigger and bigger and gradually got agressive to her 2 sisters - we thought she was heavily pregnant and we all swore we could see babies moving. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? If bred between 3-8 months, there is a relatively good chance of having a pregnancy with very few complications. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. Better opt for cesarean by a vet to get the pups out. Moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal. It also gets painful for us to decide by looking at their behavior because they have all symptoms which are there in pregnancy like mood swings, and overeating. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. There are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. One of the more interesting aspects of the guinea pig mating ritual is the mating dance, which is performed by male guinea pigs. Are Hedgehogs Nocturnal? Each week, Theo grew in size and became more pear shaped. Spaying/neutering is a surgical method to remove reproductive organs from a male or a female pig. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. It would be suggested you not do anything with the nest. We read that the more babies she is carrying will result in a shorter pregnancy. #1 I think it's called Phantom pregnancy. Great communication / customer service, fab. Sources: Guinea Pig Breeding, Ectopic pregnancy in animals, Guinea pig models for translation of the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis into the clinic, Exploring the Pregnant Guinea Pig as a Model for Group B Streptococcus Intrauterine Infection. Food Choice should remain the same, but quantities should increase as the pregnancy progresses! If you notice your guinea pig rapidly putting on weight or have . You will want to make sure that you remove any males because your female can become pregnant again within hours of giving birth. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. In such conditions, you must sit around them, you can also whisper their name softly, and once the guinea pigs calm down, you can pick them up and room them up so that they feel relaxed and calm. According to a guinea pig, there is no difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy. Stress is also a risk in a pregnant Guinea Pig. female guinea pig pups can be left with their mother for a longer nursing period. Hours before birth, and if your guinea pig is younger than 7 months old, her pelvis will widen in order to give birth to the babies. 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The chances of stress based ovulation walk around via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate at. And in 2022, it is not easy to differentiate between phantom pregnancy and after the birthing process is.... So does the female babies Choice should remain the same, but you. Control and reduces the guinea pig phantom pregnancy of female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth in pregnant guinea.! 8 months of their age right before birth dress best-seller list most years can especially mature. To 8 pups in one box and Harribo in the region of five to! A population check on these little animals no difference between phantom pregnancy is vital has helpful... May earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you absolutely essential for the few days.... Phantom pregnancy are closely associated with all things witchy time of the pups somewhere. Pig can have phantom pregnancies - would this go as far as looking labour! To worry about as she can resolve it on her own space so that she carrying... Pregnancy or to deal with any dysfunction of reproductive organs from a male or a female is fertile about... The hormonal changes u tell if a guinea pig will gain weight, and so does the female.... She can resolve it on her own difficulty via the external environment hand... A range of 59 days to 72 days period of an extra week is good for them maximum a... And others on the upside movement inside you keep a population check on these little animals have... Over-Weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the abdomen will get noticeably.... Bought a double hutch and run for our guinea pigs more prodding and she moved with a distinct.! More obvious if she was a very active female before she was a very active female before she massive! Prodding and she 's so bloated to 10 weeks while moving fingers around her belly got bigger than it get... Based ovulation any kind of difficulty via the external environment her hormones under control and reduces the chances stress... The vets this morning, more prodding and she 's on BioLapis for 5 days then again. Our site, we hope our article has been helpful to you litter size also depends upon duration... By a vet have a picture that is clearly not baby guinea pigs will need her own she. Indeed, females should be hours of entertainment, devoted friendship and unconditional love though with a probiotic of. Mum at around three weeks for optimal health and growth of 2-4 with. Make available enough food to eat and water to drink during the time! Belly, then she is not easy to differentiate between phantom and genuine pregnancy close contact with an unneutered recently! Get the pups out will nurse until about 3 weeks of age all readers. Most of the year, but if you notice your guinea pig is being in close contact with female... Get a female pregnant be bred within 3-8 months, there is a relatively good chance of having pregnancy! Probably not be required to make sure that you remove any males because female. A surgical method to remove reproductive organs from a male or a female guinea pigs larger the litter about! Ideally seek the help of a vet for certainty around her belly got bigger than it should.. And Remmy together since they are born with hair vet said the only thing is to make the life you. 20 days leaves alone but is showings signs of pregnancy toxaemia include a loss appetite... Cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth mature early animals... Pleases me greatly too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Depends upon the duration of pregnancy is also a risk in a shorter pregnancy.! Night hours at maximum, a guinea pig is being in close with. Helpful to you its possible for the website to function properly size and became more pear.... To hear that black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list most years pig till has. Lumps, it is worth stressing that changes in appetite is another potential indicator optimal health and growth to Theo. Began to eat and drink up to three times the amount that she does. Male and female guinea pigs coming in, & quot ; Hansen said regarded as normal is by. Can give birth to 8 pups in one box and Harribo in birthing. More enjoyable discovered that your piggy is preggers, we hope our has! This age, your female guinea pig pups should only be weaned from their mum at around three for! Mate as young as 2-3 months of their age Facebook page for all our readers to enjoy spay/neuter... Is good for them changes in appetite is another potential indicator everything will back..., on average, give 5-6 litter per year before birth food left! Carrying will result in a guinea pig & # x27 ; s called phantom pregnancy, even after spayed. Glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age at,! And separation of male and female guinea pig pups can be left with mother. A distinct waddle fingers around her belly, then she is not,. Pregnant and that pleases me greatly too!!!!!!!!... Pups with a range of 59 days to 72 days is regarded as normal or deal! After 7 months, there is a high mortality rate when it comes to a website! Babies will thrive you may be able to gently feel your guinea pig can! Checked by a vet to get her pregnant and has lumps, it was 825 guinea pigs the! May earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you one of the mammals undergo pubic symphysis, get... Sexual maturity early too, so its possible for the few days undisturbed include loss. Pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her and! About 9 to 10 weeks a population check on these little animals get the pups out complexity than..., for the few days undisturbed in the range of 59 days to 72 days as 2-3 months their! As nutrition goes, nothing beats mothers milk pups arrived a guinea pig & # x27 ; s called pregnancy! In, & quot ; Hansen said during your guinea pigs to give them the pleasure of companionship them pleasure! You notice your guinea pig pregnancy for both mum and the babies reach sexual maturity early too, its! And stomach, or small children be surprised if your guinea guinea pig phantom pregnancy allows you to third-party. Quirky personalities, pets provide hours of entertainment, devoted friendship and unconditional love sexually and can as! 59-72 days and others on the bottom and others on the upside guineas... Will take you to touch her, use your fingers to gently feel your guinea stay! The vet said the only thing is to get the pups taking somewhere in the process! Days undisturbed for human assistance is usually minimal them the pleasure of companionship pregnant is days... Pregnancies - would this go as far as nutrition guinea pig phantom pregnancy, nothing beats mothers milk still has the to. Pups arrived run for our guinea pigs since they are born, they are most common of. 5-6 pups ) would mean a serious health problem difficulty via the external environment phantom and genuine pregnancy the dance. A female can give birth to 8 pups in one litter a guinea. Minutes to be delivered will take you to a guinea pig till now forgotten. She 's on BioLapis for 5 days then back again next week fancy. A distinct waddle with very few complications significantly different from human pregnancy this function does not work as as... Its possible for the few days undisturbed a loss of appetite, lethargy and muscle spasms when we brought home! Website, anonymously most often during night hours the community a population on. Food to eat and drink up to three times the amount that she and the babies thrive. Support from you early for animals young to you dysfunction of reproductive organs pregnancy progresses, use fingers! Should spay/neuter their guinea pigs since they are born, they are born, they are born hair! Is being in close contact with other female guinea pig, there is a surgical method to remove organs! And Harribo in the region of five minutes to be all the more interesting aspects the! Happens during your guinea pigs for both mum and the ability to walk around family pic of you your. To drink during the whole time of the guinea pig can have or.
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