), Will Guinea Pigs Kill Each Other? Male piglets must be separated by four weeks old or breeding between littermates may occur. There is no need to remove other sows, they may even help with the pups. The rapid dissolving of fat results in metabolic disorders and the accumulation of ketones in the bloodstream. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. Daily touch-up cleaning of her habitat to keep it as clean as possible without removing her. Continuous breeding is dangerous for female guinea pigs, increasing health issues and shortening. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. Well with guinea pigs its the opposite. Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. Baby boys need to leave mum at 3 weeks of age or 250grams, whichever comes first. After the commotion of a mating ritual, keep a close eye on the sow. Pregnant guinea pigs arent accustomed to building nests, yet any type of clean soft bedding will do just fine. Much like other Rodentia and those of the Lagomorpha species, guinea pigs have pearly whites that will grow without end in sight something that can be a serious health problem, Read More What Can Guinea Pigs Chew On? Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space. Their eyes will open quickly and, within a few hours of birth, will search for solid food to eat. Sometimes even surgery must be performed to save the mothers life. In addition, he is a proud owner of two guinea pigs. This mechanism works in other species of animals as well and very fortunately humans arent accustomed to it. Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this isnt medical advice and if you assume there might be a health-related issue, you should contact your vet. Guinea pigs are without a doubt cute, and baby guinea pigs climb twice as high on the cuteness ladder. How much depends on the size of the litter, but her weight should never begin fall. During this time the sow needs to be weighed weekly. During the last two weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. Hence, when housed together, a guinea pig pregnancy can occur very early and very often. ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. This allows you to gauge what is normal, so that if she becomes unwell and stops eating, or becomes very thirsty, you will pick up clues early on. What most people dont know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. In time, it will be a bit harder for them to move, but this is of little or no significance. Guinea pups, once born, will be completely furry. As the pregnancy develops, carefully check the guinea pig twice a week for signs of illness, like crusty eyes or a patchy coat. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 326,562 times. It is essential to make certain this does not happen, thus free access to food and water is vital. Nonetheless, here are a few subtle signs to look out for that point to a successful pregnancy: Should you suspect the sow to be expecting pups at any point, be mindful to handle her with the utmost care. There is, however, a thin line between sounding heartwarming and scary when people say the words guinea pig pregnancy. I for one was never able to see Emma's babies move from the outside. Guinea Pig Pregnancy and Baby Chat, Advice, and Support Join group About this group This group is not anti breeder and we do support ethical breeding. It tends to affect overweight sows delivering their first and second litter. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Is your female guinea pig getting more chubby lately, leaving you wondering if youll soon have a bunch of fluff balls running around? Lets go over the main points of this ritual to help you determine if your guinea pig might be pregnant. Week 1. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. Adult Guinea Pig Embryos from the guinea pigor guinea-pig(Cavia porcellus) have been used in various tetragenic studies, including the effects of elevated body temperature on embryonic development. Discovered how versatile a. Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. At the end of the process, the placenta emerges and the mother eats it as well. With the use of ultrasound, your vet can also assess potential concerns with the pregnancy. A List of Safe, Healthy Chewables for your CaviesContinue, It can be intimidating for first-time guinea pig parents to clip their cavys nails. 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. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. If the food has been stored for a while at the retail outlet, the chances are the vitamin C content is already negligible by the time you open the bag. Signs of toxemia typically appear from 2 weeks before birth to 1 week after delivery and include: Unfortunately, in some cases, toxemia is fatal. Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. Over-feeding her will result in extra fat and moving difficulties in the later stages. % of people told us that this article helped them. The sow starts to prefer fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content. Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Below is a detailed description of what to expect during each week of a guinea pig's pregnancy. Our fuzzy pets have a relatively long lifespan compared to other small pets, and they stay our loyal companions through a significant part of our lives. A female may accidentally injure the babies by squashing them and babies are prone to escaping cages, so check up on them regularly. Thats why a female guinea pig should be bred before the permanent hardening on the pelvic canal. Welcome to Animallama, a place where experienced small pet owners share all the tips they learned over the years of caring for their fur friends. Once cavies mate, there is a noticeable quiet period afterwards. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. What a surprise this was. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. 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. [1] On rare occasions, it means that the guinea pig is suffering from a sickness. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity very early, around 2-4 months of age. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. 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. Are you wondering if your guinea pig is pregnant? If you think that the mating was successful you should start with extra care as soon as possible. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. During pregnancy, you will notice your guinea pig will be more reluctant to interact with you, so avoid too much petting or lifting. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. The mothers weight will vary for a few days whilst she re-adjusts but should settle within five days. Ideally, relocate cagemates elsewhere rather than removing the pregnant sow, so she can remain in familiar surroundings. ", Scary after reading all this. Guinea Pig Pregnancy Week By Week Pictures. Phone: 06 758 4006. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? The duration of pregnancy is inversely proportional to the litter size. Duration of guinea pig pregnancy depends on the number of pups: the larger the litter the shorter the pregnancy. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged. How do you know if your cavy is actually carrying pups? "Just found out our rescued pig was pregnant even after two exams and one ultrasound. When the metabolic product reaches harmful concentration in the blood most obvious symptoms are: Commercial urine strips can help you measure the presence of ketones in her urine in the last few weeks of the pregnancy. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. The guinea pigs won't need to make a nest to give birth. Guinea pig pregnancy is relatively short, lasting only between 59 and 72 days. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. However, most guinea pigs have a pregnancy that lasts from 59 to 72 days. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. At around 4 weeks into a guinea pig's pregnancy the sow's abdomen and lower sides will become more firm than usual. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. Males take a little longer and are typically sexually mature by 8 to 9 weeks of age. Speak to your vet to make sure you provide the right quantity of pellets. If you were unaware of it before, guinea pigs mate early and often which means different genders should be separated when kept as pets. Guinea pigs have naturally bald patches on two areas of the body that owners may not be aware of and, as a result, become worried about: an area of 1cm-1.5cm behind the ears; and The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. :)", understand just in case for the future as well, thanks so much for the info. Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. Answer by Guinea P lover! Medical intervention, such as a c-section, is often required for older sows with no previous prior pregnancies. What any professional on the matter will tell you is not to breed your guinea if you are still in the process of making the final decision. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. If there are any signs that the pregnant sow is not getting on with another guinea pig, do not hesitate to remove the other guinea pig, but leave the pregnant sow in the hutch/cage she is in. Required fields are marked *. This is because sperm can survive in his tubes for this length of time. Research source 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. ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. If youd like to have more piggies in your guinea pig family, adopting a few from a rescue is a better choice and it doesnt put your sow at risk. At this time you will be even able to distinguish the body parts of the moving babies by gently touching the belly. Publisher: Pergamon, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid711031-v4-728px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"