The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. Support wikiHow by Publisher: Pergamon All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. But it is better if you take her to the vet just to be sure. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to get to a vet. A local breeder may also be willing to help. Next, check your guinea pig's weight, since her weight will almost double during pregnancy. Make note of the time and amount of water during each refill. If you need to transport your guinea pig, never pick her up by her stomach as it can harm the unborn guinea pigs and the mother herself. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. This happens not only in human pregnancy but also in the case of animals. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. Since guinea pigs attain sexual maturity as early as 6 weeks in their life, even young guinea pigs are bound to get pregnant. Discovered how versatile a. Menu Clubul de antreprenoriat. Do not cage them. Begin by making a "C" shape with your thumb and first finger, and then sliding the thumb over the top of her tummy and the forefinger underneath her belly. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. 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). So be sure to consult fair- minded veterinarians, and a second opinion could never hurt. But as blissful as it is for a mother to give birth to children, it is also stressful and painful.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-box-4','ezslot_3',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-box-4-0'); So, as your guinea pigs are part of your family, you should take care of them just as well as you would take care of a pregnant sister or wife or mother! But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. ", all. Moreover, neutering does not take immediate effect. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. If any of the pups is definitely alive, but is not alert or able to see or walk then contact your vet immediately. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. [1] ", know if the sow is having a baby or babies. Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. So, there are obvious signs that you can look for to identify pregnancy in your guinea pigs. If there is a likelihood any of the pups are born with this condition you must decide what action you will take. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born. Your body: During both the first and second trimester, your blood pressure may decrease slightly from its pre-pregnancy number. 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. At what age can you neuter your guinea pig? The latter logic transcends the former. But it contains more than necessary amounts for a regular guinea pig. HappyPiggies14 Well-known Member. It is important to begin to carefully handle young guinea pigs when they are only 2 or 3 weeks old. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). 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. Facultatea Business si Turism. I did all, "I think that it was great help. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Giving them their favorite toys and treats. The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. Check to see that the guinea pig is eating and drinking; extra vitamin C may also be helpful. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced breeder. My guinea pig's quite fat, but when we went to the vet, she wasn't pregnant. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. Publisher: Pergamon. Guinea pigs are certainly cute. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. ", the things on wikiHow and my guinea pig gave birth to three boys and one girl. The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. Remove any other pregnant sows. Mother strains for 15 minutes without producing a pup. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. Despre Club; Echipa; FRESHconsult Immediate veterinary care is required, but the prognosis is usually very poor. Pregnancy Symptoms Week 14. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. If you are concerned about the mother or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however. So I am morally obligated to answer it. 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. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. Bumps can also indicate ovarian cysts or tumors. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. If I felt my pregnant guinea pig's belly and caused her a miscarriage, what would the signs be? This article made the information I, "This helped a lot. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. no im not breeding i thought my guinea pig was a boy but he was actually a she and now shes pregnant . We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. I grew up with everything from dogs and cats to rabbits and guinea pigs. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. However, do not assume that your guinea pig is pregnant based on just how much she is eating or drinking. As if that is not bad news enough, even mothers suffer death immediately after delivery because of malnutrition. We can understand why a guinea pig would need extra comfort during pregnancy, given that she does not move as much as she used to. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. While there are many hereditary diseases that you should foresee, there are several other basic tests too. The placenta contains hormones which can trigger contractions. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. But what I was certain about, is that no other guinea pig should face the same fate. Just because they are the pups of a familiar guinea pig, this does not mean that they will be accepted immediately. Last Updated: September 18, 2022 You'll need to encourage her into a transport cage through treats or her favourite vegetables/fruit. Cesarean sections are rarely successful in guinea pigs even when performed by a veterinarian who has experience with guinea pigs. You can also touch her abdomen gently to feel for piglets in the womb. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. Do not intervene or touch the pups unless you need to. Do not handle her all the time like before. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. 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. Enjoy! Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. 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. It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. For the first week, the babies do not actually rely on the mother for food. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. Any one else has pets that you can't pet or hold ? Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. The mothers weight will vary for a few days whilst she re-adjusts but should settle within five days. 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. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. 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. Guinea pigs arrive at sexual development early, some when they are only five weeks or a month and a half old. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. He never thought of the idea that his pet was pregnant. 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. All animals, for example, tend to eat more when it's cold, when they're having a growth spurt, and when they're suffering from certain illnesses. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. She could also become pregnancy just two hours after she gives birth. So how about the baby guinea pigs? But still, to be on the safer side, having boundaries to the free space she runs is advised. But doctors these days make the surgery sound like the only choice so that they could fill their pockets. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3','ezslot_10',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3','ezslot_11',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-129{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Mothers start lactating after about 8 days. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Most pregnant guinea pigs do not move as actively as their normal days. have company. Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. What is the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-2','ezslot_9',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-2-0');Sometimes, surgery could be necessary. To Avoid Stress, You Need to Take Several Measures Obviously. What a surprise this was. Four read more . The larger the size of the litter, the shorter the time they could stay inside in the same area where a smaller litter could stay longer. My guinea pig is a female American guinea pig. This may cause dizzy spells, especially . unlocking this expert answer. Since they no longer eat just for them, but also for the baby piggies inside, they eat more than the usual amount. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Guinea pigs are important animal models for human disease, and both outbred and inbred lines are utilized in biomedical research. It is not very different from human pregnancy. Get an experienced vet to check the sex of all your other guinea pigs. Not knowing how to care for your furry pal when shes pregnant makes the whole thing scary, while knowing all about it makes the news heartening. Guinea pigs have a much shorter timeline of pregnancy than humans. No relationship can survive without understanding. 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