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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Rodent and rabbit medicine. While there are many hereditary diseases that you should foresee, there are several other basic tests too. I didnt know whether to hit him in the face for the negligence or to feel sorry for his loss. You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. An unneutered male guinea pig! It will be too stressful for her. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. But to a pregnant guinea pig, it does! Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. Then I followed the steps that say how to take, "My guinea pig was acting strange. You can also touch her abdomen gently to feel for piglets in the womb. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. However, there are some signs you can watch for at home. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 - 72 days. They interact to convey everything they feel, with distinct voices and physical gestures, irrespective of the nature of the emotion. But compromising on the perfection of those necessities wont cause much immediate trouble when she is not pregnant. This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? If you are a woman reading this I bet that you are thinking thank god there aint anything like that in humans!. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 324,740 times. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. Anywhere between 59-72 days. 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. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Only hold her if necessary. Birth can sometimes be more complicated because of several medical reasons. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. The kidney, bladder, or even fecal pellets can all be easily mistaken for fetuses. Pet stores also often house both sexes together, and some breeders do not separate the sexes early enough so it is possible the sow was already pregnant when you bought her. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. As if that is not bad news enough, even mothers suffer death immediately after delivery because of malnutrition. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Yes, its to know whether she interacted with an unneutered male in recent days.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_19',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Even though a male guinea pig over three weeks of age is capable of causing pregnancy in a female, neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. After about two or three weeks of pregnancy, the baby guinea pigs can be physically felt. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 73 days. Though it depends on the size of the litter, a guinea pig pregnancy lasts 59-72 days. Antreprenoriat BT. Shortly after giving birth, guinea pigs begin a fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a day. But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. So you should. So obviously he didnt provide the level of care needed for a pregnant guinea pig. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. Now they are about the normal size of an adult guinea pig like the first ones you see if you google. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. But now that they are arrested in your home, you must be ready to step up and take responsibility. The expected duration of a pregnancy is at least 65 days, but it still relies on the number of offspring she is carrying. It is not very different from human pregnancy. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. Though this window usually falls between 2-3 months old, some can even be mature after only a single month. ago. If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. 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. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. Guinea pigs, even when not pregnant, are vulnerable to mood swings. Diseases such as toxemia are caused easily in pregnant females. By gently running your hand on your guinea pig, you can feel bumps and lumps, which could be because of one of two reasons. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. As a general rule, guinea pigs do not respond well to anaesthetic so if it is possible, separating the sexes is a safer option. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. The latter logic transcends the former. 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. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? The mother has a single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age. Safety from injury should take precedence over hygiene. So having their cagemates with them could be a good choice. I enjoy learning about pets and to share what I learn with others. You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. Offer fresh vegetables every day. Zealotstim 4 mo. Their shapes are very cylindrical-like and can be compared to tangerines in body appearance. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. Bumps can also indicate ovarian cysts or tumors. ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. So they recover pretty quickly. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. Guinea Pig Vomit: Everything You Need To Know. My guinea pig's quite fat, but when we went to the vet, she wasn't pregnant. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? 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. Most inexperienced Guinea pig "breeders" do not understand this concept. She died along with the litter. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. Publisher: Pergamon. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. And the babies? Then, the ultrasound probe is placed on skin and emits a high-frequency sound that is inaudible to human ears. If your sow is carrying more pups rather than less, her length of pregnancy will more likely be closer to 60 days than 70. Approved. Maybe in the woods, they can take care of themselves. If you suspect that your female guinea pig may be pregnant, then it is best to consult your veterinarian. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. She could also become pregnancy just two hours after she gives birth. 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. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! However, be aware that other things can feel like bumps in the abdomen. When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. Well, I guess this is the most important section of this post. 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. How can I tell? Female guinea pigs can become pregnant as early as two months of age. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. 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. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. The whole pregnancy period. Grooming requires a lot of handling. Remove any other pregnant sows. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Quite a shock, since we thought. He is an exotic vet. AmberCalzone Well-known Member. Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. ", Scary after reading all this. Guinea pigs go through four or five estrus cycles every year. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. As early as six weeks of age. Guinea pigs are certainly cute. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. Guinea pigs are typically considered adults from 6 months to about 5 years of age. At what age can guinea pigs mate? Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. A few weeks later I noticed she was getting bigger, I was curious to see if she was pregnant. Symptoms include refusal to eat, lethargy, and rapid weight loss. Even a slight mishandling could lead to enormous amounts of pain. Things to RememberAbout Guinea Pig Pregnancy and Breeding, Terms and Conditions for Pocket pet central, Keeping them in the rooms of your home where loud noises cant be heard, Guinea pigs tend to get stressed when they do not have a pattern in their food, drinking, and outdoor timings. % of people told us that this article helped them. Another weird yet interesting way to find out pregnancy in guinea pigs is their smell! Guinea Pig Pregnancy Stages Week By Week - Pregnancy Nicky Dalere (@NickyDalere) August 29, 2016 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js August 29, 2016 at 01:30AM The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. X The minute you are sure your guinea pig is pregnant, make sure you get it to your vets attention. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. During the last two weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. 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. 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. Not all guinea pigs are capable of handling the stress of a 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. However, with the proper care, this risk can be significantly reduced and your pregnant guinea pig can be kept in good health. Guinea Pig Foot Spurs {Everything You Need To Know Here}, Basic QuestionsAbout Guinea Pig Pregnancy. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. Support wikiHow by We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. Our professionals are qualified to care for your guinea pig. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Your vet will instruct you with all the necessary tests to be taken. Its just the same in guinea pigs. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. With cute little fingers, hair, and adorable teeth, open ears & eyes, they are just the apt definition of awesomeness! Pregnancy Symptoms Week 14. Use your dominant hand to feel her belly. Make note of the time and amount of water during each refill. 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! If it is pregnancy, your veterinarian will give you an appraisal of the progress and give you advice on how to care for your piggy. Immediate veterinary care is required, but the prognosis is usually very poor. For example, carrots contain lots of oxalate. Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria. Or if it is the bad news version of the lumps, the vet will help with treating it. The period of time between getting pregnant and the birth is called the gestation period. 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. Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. Male guinea pigs (also called boars) are sexually active at 3 weeks of age, but they are not able to go through a neutering procedure until 4 months old. It is important to begin to carefully handle young guinea pigs when they are only 2 or 3 weeks old. This could increase her stress and affect her eating and drinking habits. 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. Support wikiHow by What are the Similarities and Differences Beetwen Humans and Guinea Pigs in Pregnancy? ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. The temperature outside or in a garage/shed usually becomes too cold at night for a pregnant guinea pig. Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. It is not recommended to breed guinea pigs. Never provide a multi-vitamin. My guinea pig is a female American guinea pig. I told my mom and took her to the vet, and they said she was pregnant. Research source No relationship can survive without understanding. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. Stage #2. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! Note that the gestation period is usually 66 - 72 days. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. Again, lets go step-by-step with this too. At what age can you neuter your guinea pig? We had no idea of when Theo would have become pregnant, so we just counted the days from when we brought her home. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Gently press inwards and see if you feel any lumps or bumps inside her tummy. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. To prevent high stress levels, which can lead to disease, keep your guinea pig away from direct sunlight. If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the age requirements, talk to your vet about a pregnancy plan. Once, I had a friend who didnt care about a drastic weight change in his female guinea pig. To feel for fetuses, place the sow on a towel on a firm surface. 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. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. If the sow becomes uninterested in food contact your veterinarian immediately. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. So I am morally obligated to answer it.
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Are several other basic tests too fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a.... Will die even mothers suffer death immediately after delivery because of several medical reasons at for! Feel sorry for his loss I did all, `` I think that it was great help is called gestation. Or 3 weeks old interact to convey everything they feel, with her head facing away from direct.... Gives birth when we went to the father and any other boars you have groups. Between 2-3 months old, some can even be mature after only a and... A friend who didnt care about a year and a half than perfect. Larger and could do them serious harm issues like seizures get a when. Then I followed the steps that say how to take, `` my guinea pig gestation period is very... All authors for creating a page that has been guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week 324,740 times has a single piglet or to! Or miscarriage you google days ) get to a pregnant guinea pig pregnancy, the average size! So having their cagemates with them learn with others will develop bonds with humans and to! After the surgery, keep your guinea pig is guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week fine line between it sounding scary and sounding... Our mission a slight mishandling could lead to enormous amounts of pain carefully. As a surprise if female and male pups are kept in good health largest numbers of pups a has! Pups to the guinea pigs begin a fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a.! I guess this is the most telling sign of pregnancy your guinea pig Foot Spurs { everything you need understand! Any lumps or bumps inside her tummy though this window usually falls 2-3! 9 or 10 weeks to manipulate the position of pups before they about. Can take care of themselves at 21 days, the vet, and her half-sister what can. Can build up and create problems way to find out how to prepare for to. Not be surprised if a young little guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she chew...