They should be kept in tranquil surroundings and fed plenty of vegetables. You'll also see that the sides of her belly become wider, with swelling and stretching breasts. If you're unsure how to care for pregnant guinea pigs and newborn pups, read on. Over-feeding her will result in extra fat and moving difficulties in the later stages. Fruit is high in sugar and can contribute to diabetes. The person I got her from lied to me about her being with a male. Make the habit of repeatedly measuring your pets weight, at least twice a month. To limit hazard, empower practice and forestall weight while guaranteeing satisfactory sustenance and water is promptly accessible. It's your body's way of protecting your baby . The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. 2. Although the guinea pig gestation period varies, the guinea pig gestation period typically lasts between 59-72 days. And post pictures of the babies. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. Jane is an experienced animal care specialist with a focus on rodents and small mammals, with over 10 years of experience in the pet industry. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days . Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. Not only will we dive deeper into how you can actually find out if your piggy might be pregnant and how you can take steps and precautions towards their delivery date. One of the clear signs that your guinea pig is pregnant is if she starts to take on the shape of a pear. Legitimate consideration and cautious observing are basic to improve the chances of an effective conveyance. It doesnt take more than a few hours for them to start eating solid food, just like any other adult guinea pig. It will take from nine to ten weeks before you are remunerated with young ones. Remember that typical is comparative with your guinea pigs standard propensities. Your vet may confirm the pregnancy through physical examination, and if required, may suggest getting an ultrasound done. If there are large quantities of blood, or gooey bloody stuff after 2-3 days, or the sow is not acting normally, she might have retained a placenta or a baby. Is your sow pregnant? Guinea pigs, additionally called cavies, are individuals from the Caviidae family, a gathering that incorporates a few types of rodents from South America. Polar fleece is perfect. Bear in mind that for pups less than eight old, weight gain is a normal sign of growth. Bumps can also refer to ovarian cysts or tumors. Doing so can lead to pregnancy, The cavy is eating and/or drinking more than usual.. It's important to make sure how many babies does sow has in her tummy before delivery and make sure she delivers all of them. Labor: . If you witness any of the signs listed below, get the sow to a cavy knowledgeable vet immediately. Try and make sure that the afterbirths have been delivered. A pregnant guinea will start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy propels. Guinea Pig Pregnancy 101: Signs and Care Guide (2023) by Michelle Dees; January 6, 2021; 5 shares . Cessation of this agitated behavior indicates labor has begun. The next number will be the earliest your guinea pig will potentially go into labor. The male on, the other hand, will put on his manly display but will still approach the saw with a lowered head. An ultrasound check is the best quality level for pregnancy conclusion among guinea pigs. In the middle and later stages of gestation, a pregnant sow will display an enlarged abdomen. As you get closer to labor, your water may break and you may have back pain or . If you have not removed males yet, do so at this point., Ideally, relocate cagemates elsewhere rather than removing the pregnant sow, so she can remain in familiar surroundings., Adding a soft, fleece blanket to her sleeping area., Covering the sleep section of the cage with a towel so she feels cozy and safe.. Changes in the Estrous Cycle. Begin by creating a C shape with your thumb and first finger, and then rolling the thumb over the top of her tummy and the forefinger beneath her belly. By choice and sometimes by accident, a pregnant guinea pig comes under our care. Weight Gain. Sometimes, small particles of fecal matter or meconium appear in the discharge. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. The milk provides some very important nutrients for the babies. She. Nesting is common for many pregnant animals, but guinea pigs don't display + Read More Here. You notice a mucusy discharge or "bloody show". She may also show behavioral changes, have very erect ears, and be more vocal than usual. They will lick and lick till you think she is trying to remove their fur. Contractions that range from mild (during early labor) to strong (during active labor) Effacementthinning of the cervix. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. The period during which the female is receptive to the male and will allow breeding lasts about 8 hours. Right now she is munching her Timothy hay, so I just keep an eye on herI just want to know if I can get a full nights sleep tonightlol. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the whole litter to be delivered. The feeding of a pregnant guinea pig should also include the following modifications: Calcium enriched hay as pregnancy increases guinea pig calcium requirements. Thus she is pregnant. You should also provide the sow with a stress-free environment. This is the second stage of the farrowing process and ranges from three to eight hours before the actual delivery. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space. How to tell if your sow is pregnant. Panting (Fast Breathing) Panting or fast breathing in dogs giving birth occurs due to various reasons. Chris got Tabythas momma from someone who said "no no, she's not pregnant! Additionally, they will gravitate toward diets that are rich in vitamin C. Though both pregnant and overweight guinea pigs can have an increased appetite, only pregnant . As soon as you suspect she has mated successfully, you should replace her usual Timothy hay with alfalfa. Male guinea pigs as young as 3 weeks old can impregnate a female, and a female guinea pig as young as a month old, can get pregnant. If you measure her weight each week then you should be able to see observable contrast, if she is pregnant. Limit pressure and dodge any changes in the eating routine or lodging during late pregnancy. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? This mechanism works in other species of animals as well and very fortunately humans arent accustomed to it. I found out that my marvoulus Marmalade was with the male "Chester" from the end of October until 2 days before I picked her up. In the event of a high-risk guinea pig pregnancy, they can also ensure a safe environment to deliver the pups successfully.. I can feel her pelvis is widening! A pregnant guinea pig's food and water consumption will noticeably increase. The length of the estrous cycle is 16 days. In the event that you notice any of these signs, at that point, our recommendation is to take your guinea pig to the vet. You must log in or register to reply here. They may also have difficulty breathing and exhibit muscle contractions. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. I always try to give her a small piece of fruit so that she has the extra energy to litter (not sure if this is the word for g-pigs, but it is the term for most rodents) if she needs to. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. Signs when my Sow will give birth? The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. Alfalfa has extra calcium and protein, both of which she very much needs. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day. Pregnant Guinea Pig Signs of Labor The majority of guinea pigs give birth during daylight. A female cavy uses a lot of her energy during this time, and thus requires a healthy, balanced diet that is appropriate for her during gestation.. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. The whole process from first contraction to last baby can be as short as 15 minutes, and up to 40 minutes depending on how many babies she has. Handle the sow with care and never treat her roughly. Some factors like body size, breed and number of fetuses affect the pig gestation period or length. That's when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. In most cases, the small forms are a sign of guinea pig pregnancy. During pregnancy, the cervix stays closed and plugged up with mucus (aptly called the "mucus plug"). They usually emit a series of characteristic squeaks which will alert you that labor has begun. But taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can suspect pregnancy if any one of them is present. This is called a "postpartum oestrus," which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time! In some cases, you may also be able to feel guinea pig fetuses inside your pet's stomach. The sow must be fed an adequate selection of healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables daily, along with high-quality pellets and unlimited hay and water. Pregnant guinea pigs arent accustomed to building nests, yet any type of clean soft bedding will do just fine. Loud squeals are a sign that she accepted him. Gaining weight at a regular pace is important. With the use of ultrasound, your vet can also assess potential concerns with the pregnancy. In the event that he endures, shell hose his excitement by peeing on him. The majority of guinea pigs give birth during daylight. Although some pregnant guinea pigs become excessively lazy during the last few days, others behave normally to the last day. She doesn't like the florets (tried them) but I wanna do what is best for her! Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Use our guinea pig gestation calculator to estimate your pets due date based on the date she was bred. As mentioned above, you should make sure you have the knowledge, time, financials to properly guide your guinea pig through that and consider not breeding at all if any one of these requirements isnt fulfilled. It is very helpful and appreciated. It is worth noting that over breeding a guinea pig is dangerous and harmful to her health. Guinea pigs tend to express every little change in their body. If you do not see the birth as it happens, you will most likely not see the placentas, as the Mom will eat the afterbirths and all the bloody wet shavings. An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. How old do guinea pigs have to be to breed? There should be one for every baby. I rescued these guinea pigs that were pregnant when I got them. Just to clarify (as most of you know). Watch this video to recognize if a pig is in labor. If there are male guinea pigs present at the time of birth, they will compete between themselves to mate with the mother and protect the newborn guinea pigs. It breaks my heart because she squeaks at me to pet her & I can't pregnancy hormones make me cry. Otherwise, he will be dragging the placenta around. Your email address will not be published. I'm so excited, she getting so big. If any of them seem to bother her or tease her, they will need to be put in a separate cage. Our content is written by knowledgeable small pet owners with years of experience and is based on scientific research and expert recommendations. Each guinea pig has its own amniotic sac, which the mother will clean and ingest. Cavies were initially brought into Europe during the 1500s. Approximately every five minutes, a new pup will be born. Mostly, it starts with vulva swelling and teat enlargement. You may see a moderate broadening of the pelvis, simply before the outer genitalia, during the week prior to birth. This type of nourishment promotes fetal health and prevents hair loss for the mother to be. Two per week at the most, but one per day is too much. Each pup will have its own amniotic sac, and usually the mother removes it and eats it. Guinea pigs usually weigh about 1.5-2 lbs. Around this time, youll notice the female cavy will be physically larger. As a guinea pig lover myself, I created a list of cute and funny gifts for guinea pig lovers that will surely be appreciated by the receiving party. I am new into guinea pigs and purchased my first one as an impulse buy on May 26. Signs of pregnancy A pregnancy takes on average 10 weeks (58-73 days). Attempt to find a vet who has considerable experience in dealing with rodents and other little creatures, instead of simply a nonexclusive vet. The pups are born with open eyes and covered in fur. If you notice a pup with the sac remaining over its face, break the membrane open with your finger nail. Try not to make changes to a pregnant sows enclosure, such as eliminating toys or placing the confine in an absolutely new area. Some sows take up caring for their young ones right away after birth. Other potential complications are prolapse, retained placenta, uterine tears, etc. We'll discuss all the things you need to know about guinea pig pregnancy. Young female pups reach maturity at around two months and can effectively bear life. Just a disclaimer: Beware that you should not wildly breed guinea pigs if you dont have a proper breeding program or the appropriate financial situation as well as time to care for them. I absolutely will make pics of her before (as long as she doesn't have them tonight) and after with pics of her babies. The pups will be fully furred and have their eyes open. If he persists, shell dampen his enthusiasm by urinating on him! Regardless of whether this is the lone sow you own, you should in any case eliminate the male pig before she arrives 60 days in her pregnancy. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged.. Europeans found these tamed creatures not long after their appearance in South America. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. In general, the two main tell-tale signs early on are: Limiting access to food will deplete the sow of her own fat stores. Due to the limited movement of their pelvic bones, they will strain to give birth. The male guinea pig is called a boar, while the female is known as a sow. How do you know if your cavy is actually carrying pups? She was bred before when she was younger (at 6 months is what I was told) but I am still worried. There is a 3-5 minute interval between each baby. A male guinea pig who can not see or hear his mate may create pressure, making him defenseless to sickness. Shares. Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. If you sense your guinea pigs womb very deliberately, you may be able to detect the unborn if she is pregnant. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. 3. During all of the stage and especially during the last stage of pregnancy the sow should remain in a calm environment. The best clue might be when they stop the mating ritualnatures call has been answered, and they both quiet down. JavaScript is disabled. If you see your sow bleeding, more than a tablespoon, dripping blood, or many pieces of bloody bedding with no babies, you are best advised to get to a vet. The gestation period in pigs is 113 to 115 days from the first day of mating. Try giving her green peppers, more broccoli and kale. 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