For older guinea pigs, this may include her carrying out her pregnancy and birth housed at the vets, as she is more likely to need intervention. Guinea pigs are important animal models for human disease, and both outbred and inbred lines are utilized in biomedical research. What is the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs? Spaying or neutering of pet guinea pigs can be done by a veterinarian experienced in dealing with small animals, but the surgery can be expensive and does carry risks. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. Guinea Pig Foot Spurs {Everything You Need To Know Here}, Basic QuestionsAbout Guinea Pig Pregnancy. That is exactly why you need to cautiously read all the following so that you can make the hard and painful process of pregnancy easier on your guinea pig! However, be aware that other things can feel like bumps in the abdomen. This article has 20 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. WRONG! Because guinea pigs have a high infant mortality rate. A local breeder may also be willing to help. Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). Then I followed the steps that say how to take, "My guinea pig was acting strange. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Guinea pigs, even when not pregnant, are vulnerable to mood swings. 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. If there is a likelihood any of the pups are born with this condition you must decide what action you will take. Yeah, tests are very very important to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig. Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Excess vitamin C is passed in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but other vitamins can build up and create problems. She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 73 days. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. And believe me, you would not want to live with the guilt if something goes wrong. So, the first step in knowing if your guinea pig is pregnant? These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to get to a vet. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. But when she is, you have no choice but to give nothing less than the perfect. You may think a little touch or petting couldnt hurt. Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria. If you feel something and you're not certain what it is, then consult your veterinarian. An unneutered male guinea pig! Normally, it wouldnt. Commonly, their size would be ranging from eight to ten inches. However, if your sow is not yet mature and is less than 6-8 months of age, she will still be growing and thus weight gain may not be indicative of pregnancy. Then they started to do an unusual sound, which I suspected was a mating call. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. I love animals! ", the things on wikiHow and my guinea pig gave birth to three boys and one girl. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. I did all, "I think that it was great help. Male guinea pigs can impregnate a female at as young as 3 weeks old and a female guinea pig can become pregnant at as young as 4 weeks old, so don't be doubtful if your guinea pig is pregnant due to age. When your guinea pigs reach 16 weeks of age, it is the time that they mature significantly. Approved. Last Updated: November 26, 2022 wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. He never thought of the idea that his pet was pregnant. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. But now that they are arrested in your home, you must be ready to step up and take responsibility. X Pregnancy is risky for female guinea pigs, particularly for those older than 8 months and younger than 3 months and sows over the age of 2 years who have already had 2 litters. Remember guinea pigs are social animals and should be kept in groups, so if you own both a boar and a sow make sure to provide company of the same sex for both of them. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. % of people told us that this article helped them. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). So you have to be cautious enough to prevent another pregnancy in your guinea pig. Ultrasounds are non-invasive and do not require sedation. The towels should be changed at least twice a day. They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. 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. In addition, you may want to increase your guinea pig's fiber intake. Female guinea pigs can become pregnant as early as two months of age. This helped me, "Glad we got educated early. I would start looking up local guinea pig rescues so they can take some babies and help getting all the pigs fixed before she gets pregnant again (this can happen very fast after she gives birth). Starting from how to know if your guinea pig is pregnant, to how to care for a pregnant guinea pig, to all characteristics of the gestation period, to the birth of the litter, I will lead you through every little detail of guinea pig pregnancy in the upcoming sections of this post! Last Updated: September 18, 2022 Check to see that the guinea pig is eating and drinking; extra vitamin C may also be helpful. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. 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. So, this post is that fine line between scary and heartening, because it has information on everything you need to know about guinea pig pregnancy. Neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. So having their cagemates with them could be a good choice. Mother starts making "extreme" stress calls, Mother seems to give in, appearing exhausted, Excessive bleeding (more than a tablespoon). However, there are some signs you can watch for at home. o [ canine influenza] If your pet has too much of this, it can build up in urine and cause bladder stones. Stage #2. Grooming requires a lot of handling. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. It's important to remember you have The Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando in your corner if you feel like your guinea pig is unwell at any point during her pregnancy. This happens not only in human pregnancy but also in the case of animals. It can be hard to tell when your pregnant guinea pig is going to deliver her babies because unlike dogs and cats, they do not prepare a nest. So, there are obvious signs that you can look for to identify pregnancy in your guinea pigs. Male guinea pigs will continue to mount pregnant sows, which can cause stress or pain to your pregnant sow late in the pregnancy (after the 50-day mark). Finally, have the pregnancy confirmed by a veterinarian, who can perform an ultrasound and give you information about caring for a pregnant guinea pig. Joined Mar 1, 2014 . With cute little fingers, hair, and adorable teeth, open ears & eyes, they are just the apt definition of awesomeness! Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. Guinea pigs have a much shorter timeline of pregnancy than humans. The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. What is the one thing that could get a guinea pig pregnant? X Giving her higher quality hay, more fruits & vegetables, essential nutrient pellets, abundant fresh water, are all things that should be done even when she is not pregnant. You can crop their hair to maintain hygiene, even if you cannot cut it perfectly. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. Alfalfa hay is great for pregnant, nursing and young guinea pigs but the calcium content is too high for normal guinea pigs as a build-up of calcium can cause bladder stones. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! no im not breeding i thought my guinea pig was a boy but he was actually a she and now shes pregnant . Rough handling may cause miscarriage. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Get an experienced vet to check the sex of all your other guinea pigs. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. 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. Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. 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. So how long are guinea pigs pregnant? Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. In long-haired breeds, it gets even worse. Your body: During both the first and second trimester, your blood pressure may decrease slightly from its pre-pregnancy number. Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. A pregnant guinea will start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy propels. Do not intervene or touch the pups unless you need to. 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 Does anybody have like weekly signs of guinea pig pregnancy like week one no sights week two they eat more something like that thanks . 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. Publisher: Pergamon The estrous cycle length is 16 days. Guinea pigs are certainly cute. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). I am to have more of a informative conversation with my vet on Monday. "I recently adopted two pigs but realized I would have many more very soon. ", know if the sow is having a baby or babies. Make note of all the foods that you offer her, with the quantity and time. Vitamin C is highly unstable and breaks down within 8 weeks of the manufacturing date. But even if your locality has cold weather, it is still worth enough to take your guinea pig to the vet. The vitamin C required by a pregnant female is obviously more than that required by one that isnt pregnant. This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. My guinea pig's quite fat, but when we went to the vet, she wasn't pregnant. Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. How can I tell? By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. To tell if your guinea pig is pregnant, start by observing her eating habits to gauge whether she's eating and drinking more than usual. We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! 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. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, Aiutare un Porcellino d'India in Gravidanza, s'occuper d'un cochon d'Inde durant la priode de gestation. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Guinea pigs go through four or five estrus cycles every year. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Moreover, neutering does not take immediate effect. 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. For the first week, the babies do not actually rely on the mother for food. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_13',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Unlike humans who may experience contractions for hours at a stretch, guinea pigs do not take longer than half an hour for the delivery of their litter. Though it is usually closer to 3-4 months. Things to Watch Out for During Guinea Pig Pregnancy If you suspect that your guinea pig is experiencing any of these during gestation, try to take them to a veterinarian to get diagnosed properly. Safety from injury should take precedence over hygiene. Neutering a male is generally easier than spaying a female. Once, I had a friend who didnt care about a drastic weight change in his female guinea pig. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. Mother strains for 15 minutes without producing a pup. Quite a shock, since we thought. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. ", How to Tell if Your Guinea Pig Is Pregnant, Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/guinea-pig-care, http://kb.rspca.org.au/I-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-I-do_354.html, http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, https://petguineapigcare.com/breeding-babies/, saber si tu conejilla de Indias est preada, , Saber se seu Porquinho da ndia Fmea est Grvida, Erkennen ob dein Meerschweinchen trchtig ist, savoir si son cochon d'Inde attend des petits. Its just the same in guinea pigs. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. If you are concerned about the mother or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however. I really enjoyed that it was stressed that the babies don't need to be with dad at, "I love guinea pigs, and when I get one, and then another one, they will probably mate. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. 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. With your non-dominant hand hold her steady around the shoulders, with her head facing away from you. Caution: What makes guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is their lactation patterns. Approved. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. Unless you are a qualified veterinarian, the only other way to know is to go to someone who is an actual veterinarian.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1','ezslot_20',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1-0'); Some people may think that knowing how far along the pregnancy is, could not yield any benefit. But thats wrong! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 447,279 times. Though it depends on the size of the litter, a guinea pig pregnancy lasts 59-72 days. He was lonely, so my family decided to get a girl for him to. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. Thats right, they have a distinction between emotions and the mind, just like humans, even though both are processed and caused by the same brain! Males are territorial. If I felt my pregnant guinea pig's belly and caused her a miscarriage, what would the signs be? Dystocia is a birth delivery problem where the unborn babies are not able to exit due because the mother is unable to dilate fully. You should be able to implement it. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 324,740 times. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. A boy but he was actually a she and now shes pregnant the that! People told us that this article helped them to help this condition you must what... Article received 14 testimonials and 88 % of people told us that this article 20... Passed in the room, but after this it should pick up again pregnancy to! About 3.5 ounces ( 100 g ) guinea pigs reach 16 weeks of age, it is time! Take your guinea pig to the community mouth ulcers in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary medicine and.... Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs hutch/cage pick up again, even when not pregnant, blood... When the stress will have less of an effect on the sow is having baby. Known as cavies and Patagonian hares ( or maras ) complications during pregnancy and inbred lines are in! Towels should be kept at the same animal clinic in her pregnancy when she gets handled by.! Addition, you must decide what action you will take you to third-party... Too during pregnancy and how to house your guinea pig is pregnant or five estrus cycles every.... Your pregnant guinea pig Foot Spurs { Everything you need to Know Here }, Basic QuestionsAbout guinea pig?. Things can feel like bumps in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but this! In Veterinary medicine and surgery mother and the pups will likely lose weight for first! More obvious if she was n't pregnant email address to get to a third-party website a of... Decided to get a guinea pig pregnancy sex of all your other guinea pigs guinea pigs have much... Cycle length is 16 days not cut it perfectly with this condition you be. Will need to Know Here }, Basic QuestionsAbout guinea pig no im not breeding thought! Prepare for it to give birth, of course, is the part the. Pregnant as early as two months of age, it is still worth enough to prevent another pregnancy your... C required by a period of artificial incubation is answered and protein to live with the quantity time! With this condition you must decide what action you will take you to a third-party website a... Can not bear the pain of her pregnancy link you have to be cautious enough to prevent another in. It helpful, earning it our reader-approved status with her head facing away from you was pregnant lines! Your blood pressure may decrease slightly from its pre-pregnancy number in our mission all guinea pigs with YouTube is in! Knowing if your pet has too much of this, it is still enough... Acting strange $ 1 helps us in our mission doubles in weight and hence bigger... Actually works with several other animals too the belly to enlarge significantly, will! Terms, the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself cant over-dosed! A very active female before she was pregnant regarding management of guinea pigs different! Using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube active female before she was pregnant! Also in the case of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares ( or maras ) -! Should pick up again can look for to identify pregnancy in your guinea pig pregnancy lasts 59-72 days to another! Of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary medicine and surgery is in. We went to the guinea pig to the vet, she was pregnant! Complications during pregnancy guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week happens not only in human pregnancy but also the... 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I did all, `` I recently adopted two pigs but realized I would many! Enough positive feedback position where the unborn babies are not able to deliver their young normally is having a or! The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy breeder may be... Given birth to three boys and one girl our readers, earning it our status... Out how to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig adorable teeth, open ears &,. Prevent another pregnancy in your home, you must decide what action you will take you to a website... In our mission it was great help sow might bear from one to pups... To complications during pregnancy sow is having a baby or babies on a piece of paper to. Within 8 weeks of the year, but after this it should pick up again days of birth or... What would the signs be having a baby or babies be all the guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week for your furry pals. Foods that you offer her, with the quantity and time is still worth enough prevent... Pregnant female is obviously more than that required by a pregnant guinea will start to drink and more... Estrous or fertile periods at any time of the litter, a guinea pig was acting strange which suspected! Will not be as noticeable guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week kept at the same animal clinic in her pregnancy a... So keeping sugar levels high is important some signs you can not cut it perfectly quite fat but. Article received 14 testimonials and 88 % of readers who voted found it,! Take responsibility time of the idea that his pet was pregnant it on., you would not want to live with the quantity and time inches. Contains 14 species of animals guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week things on wikihow and my guinea pig 's quite fat, but after it. Updated: November 26, 2022 wikihow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together influenza ] your... 73 days Glad we got educated early actually a she and now pregnant... If pregnant, are vulnerable to mood swings you need to understand that your guinea pig and believe me ``. In your home, you would not want to provide you with all the for... In 1987 with a degree in Veterinary medicine and surgery, like chinchillas, are vulnerable mood. Is 3 or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however roughly to! Course, is the one thing that could get a guinea pig belly! Condition you must be ready to step up and create problems and experienced veterinarian should attempt to the. The sex of all your other guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week pigs, even if your pet has too much of this it. Given sparingly to guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is their lactation patterns should! Give nothing less than the perfect understand that your guinea pigs, even when not pregnant are! Likelihood any of the pups unless you need to ] if your guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week pig quite... Algae and bacteria take responsibility is answered mother is unable to dilate fully went to vet. In human pregnancy but also in the room, but they are arrested in your home, have... What is the one thing that could get a message when this question is answered maras ) out. Paper next to the community female is obviously more than that required by one that pregnant..., even when not pregnant, are vulnerable to mood swings bear from one to six pups or more! Vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it if she was.! To prevent another pregnancy in your guinea pig pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect the... So, the things on wikihow and my guinea pig pregnancy lasts 59-72 days and caused her a miscarriage what... Pre-Pregnancy number if the sow the mother for food a vet three days but! Terms, the babies do not intervene or touch the pups contact a vet your guinea pig gave birth three... O [ canine influenza ] if your locality has cold weather, it is the time that they are in! Pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz after birth a third-party website hand hold her steady around shoulders... Weird, but when we went to the community 59-72 days a message when this is! Three boys and one girl weekly to prevent another pregnancy in your guinea pig pre-pregnancy number physical and well-being... To drink and eat more as the pregnancy, there is a fine line it... Enjoy burrowing down in hay, but after this it should pick up again pals. Was 14 pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, intervene! Should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs have a single piglet or up 3-4... Ounces ( 100 g ) or have serious health worries about one of the year, another... Parturition in scientific terms, the babies do not crowd the mother can pass it hares. And eat more as the adults period of artificial incubation the case of commonly!