When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. 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. So do not be surprised if a young little guinea pig you just brought home is already pregnant! Zealotstim 4 mo. They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. This causes mineral deficiency. Then, the ultrasound probe is placed on skin and emits a high-frequency sound that is inaudible to human ears. 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. Rodent and rabbit medicine. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This article has been viewed 324,740 times. Pet stores often keep both sexes together, resulting in many people being sold sows which are already pregnant. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. This could increase her stress and affect her eating and drinking habits. 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. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. Avoid putting any pressure on her body. Moreover, neutering does not take immediate effect. If you feel something and you're not certain what it is, then consult your veterinarian. When they reach about 6 ounces (170 g), the offspring will stop nursing and eat the same foods as their parents. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). Of course, as you probably already know, a break between two consecutive estrus cycles can be caused only by a pregnancy. These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. However, do not assume that your guinea pig is pregnant based on just how much she is eating or drinking. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4','ezslot_12',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4-0');For how long is a guinea pig pregnant? they were both female and have been living together. . Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. 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. 2 Observe her eating habits. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). Gently press inwards and see if you feel any lumps or bumps inside her tummy. Absolutely pregnant. Between 1 and 8 guinea pig babies with 4 being the most common number of guinea pigs per litter. Vitamin C is highly unstable and breaks down within 8 weeks of the manufacturing date. So obviously he didnt provide the level of care needed for a pregnant guinea pig. Maturing guinea pigs. The vitamin C required by a pregnant female is obviously more than that required by one that isnt pregnant. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This is because sperm can survive in his tubes for this length of time. 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. So you should. Males are territorial. 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. What are the Similarities and Differences Beetwen Humans and Guinea Pigs in Pregnancy? A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. The whole pregnancy period. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. The probe records the echoes as the sound waves bounce back in order to determine the size, shape, and consistency of internal tissues and organs. Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. 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. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. By using our site, you agree to our. It is not recommended to breed guinea pigs. The sow should gradually put on weight. But to a pregnant guinea pig, it does! if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_15',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-1-0');The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) can be a helpful natural contraceptive in case of humans for a brief period after the birth of a child. ", Scary after reading all this. Dystocia is a birth delivery problem where the unborn babies are not able to exit due because the mother is unable to dilate fully. And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. Then I followed the steps that say how to take, "My guinea pig was acting strange. By gently running your hand on your guinea pig, you can feel bumps and lumps, which could be because of one of two reasons. She died along with the litter. The mothers lactation period lasts for about two or three weeks. ago. Do not handle her all the time like before. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. Neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. To learn more about what to expect during the pregnancy, read on! 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. So they recover pretty quickly. 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. Feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she gets more protein and calcium. The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. As early as six weeks of age. A good idea is to weigh your female guinea pig regularly (perhaps weekly) and to record the weight. Safety from injury should take precedence over hygiene. But thats wrong! 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. 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. The intercourse with an unneutered male guinea pig causes pregnancy in a female obviously. So it is well over 3 months since the operation. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Well, I guess this is the most important section of this post. X Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. 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. At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. 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. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). To learn more about what to expect during the pregnancy, read on! By this time, your pet's pelvic bones will have widened enough to make way for the pups . To feel for fetuses, place the sow on a towel on a firm surface. If the other sow eats it, their own pregnancy may be induced. 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! Every trimester of the pregnancy in humans, there are differences in the methods of taking care, right? Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria. Rough handling may cause miscarriage. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-2','ezslot_21',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-2-0');After birth, the recovery is pretty speedy in guinea pigs. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. 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. However, a caesarean surgery may be required. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. In Summary. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. Excess vitamin C is passed in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but other vitamins can build up and create problems. Regardless of how pregnancy occurs, the average guinea pig gestation period is 65 days. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. 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! For young guinea pigs, this may include supplementing her diet with Critical Care of a similar product. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. He is an exotic vet. Note that the gestation period is usually 66 - 72 days. Reduce handling to a minimum and don't handle her within two weeks of the birth. 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). The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. A few weeks later I noticed she was getting bigger, I was curious to see if she was pregnant. So having their cagemates with them could be a good choice. If you are thinking that your few weeks old female guinea pigs cannot be pregnant, youre wrong! With your non-dominant hand hold her steady around the shoulders, with her head facing away from you. 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. Publisher: Pergamon. 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. Even a slight mishandling could lead to enormous amounts of pain. While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. Grooming requires a lot of handling. If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. Giving them their favorite toys and treats. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. Being wrong about the pregnancy couldnt hurt more than the consequences of neglecting it!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4','ezslot_23',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4-0'); There are actual people that I know who neglected the weight gain in their guinea pigs. have company. For different stages of progress, there are different medicines, food supplies, the quantity of food and water, and more! A local breeder may also be willing to help. 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. Facultatea Business si Turism. The placenta contains hormones which can trigger contractions. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. Right? Then the male started trying to jump over the female. The latter logic transcends the former. It could be a disease causing the accumulation of excess metabolic products.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Either way, one thing is pretty clear: You have to take your guinea pig to the vet. Even though the birthing can be handled by yourself, it is better to leave it to licensed veterinarians to avoid last minute complications. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Cavy Slave. Antreprenoriat BT. How long is a guinea pig pregnant for? 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