If there is not an out-of-hours vet in your area, discuss this with your vet to come up with a plan. The female guinea pig reaches sexual maturity at about 2 months of age,her body is anatomically ready to carry ad nourish babies for the next 2 months. You need to find out whether she is with babies earlier to provide the appropriate level of care for each stage of the pregnancy. Enriching the guinea pigs diet with kale, broccoli, green peppers, and parsley is also advised. 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. A typical pregnancy in horses can last for 320 to 380 days, but generally lasts around 11 months. With the use of ultrasound, your vet can also assess potential concerns with the pregnancy. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. If you are concerned about the mother or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however. A female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. At this stage, the sow will appear quite swollen in the midsection. Males take a little longer and are typically sexually mature by 8 to 9 weeks of age. Nonetheless, at this stage, allow the female cavy to eat and drink as much as she would like. The middle stage is up until the seventh week of pregnancy. Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. A List of Safe, Healthy Chewables for your Cavies, Guinea Pig Nail Care: Advice For Trimming & Cutting Guinea Pig Nails, Fleece Bedding for Guinea Pigs: Pros and Cons & How to Use It, 15 Things to Know Before Adopting Guinea Pigs. Any apparent change of behavior in means of lethargy, anorexia, or depression can be a sign of sickness. There is no need to remove other sows, they may even help with the pups. Like we said, if you plan to keep the babies, you should keep them separate. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. However, most guinea pigs have a pregnancy that lasts from 59 to 72 days. Sometimes even surgery must be performed to save the mothers life. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. However, with the proper care, this risk can be significantly reduced and your pregnant guinea pig can be kept in good health. Is It Safe to Breed Cavies? An average guinea pig weighs about 26 ounces before she becomes pregnant. New Plymouth Vet Group. The gestation period is between 59-72 days, with an average pregnancy of 65 days. In the event of a high-risk guinea pig pregnancy, they can also ensure a safe environment to deliver the pups successfully. They live 5-7 years on average, although they can live much longer if they have good genes and, Read More Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years?Continue, Did you know your cute cavy has teeth that never stop growing? Pregnant guinea pigs arent accustomed to building nests, yet any type of clean soft bedding will do just fine. Whether the gift is for a friend or a family member, an adult or a kid, or even for, Read More 16 Gifts for Guinea Pig Lovers & OwnersContinue, Fleece bedding for guinea pigs is popular amongst piggy parents, whether they want a nice-looking cage or the comfiest home for their fur babies. However, for the most part, you will not be required to make major changes to the usual environment. Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 326,562 times. Females will typically reach full sexual maturity at approximately 4 to 6 weeks of age. Negligence and ignorance can prove to be fatal for the mother and the babies. There are numerous medical reasons why giving birth can go wrong. During this time the sow needs to be weighed weekly. Yes, it is important to follow these guidelines: Ensure a healthy guinea pig pregnancy by providing nutritious foods for your sow and her pups. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged. Naturally bald areas. Duration of guinea pig pregnancy depends on the number of pups: the larger the litter the shorter the pregnancy. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. I am to have more of a informative conversation with my vet on Monday. Thats because they dont want other males to approach her. Their shapes are very cylindrical-like and can be compared to tangerines in body appearance. Pregnancy toxaemia in well kept guinea pigs is very rare; it is most common in breeder sows kept mainly on low grade pellets and with too little/low grade and too little/low grade hay and is more commonly seen in hot weather. There are several factors that can affect how many days a mare is actually pregnant. If so then this video will help answer all of your questions. At this time you will be even able to distinguish the body parts of the moving babies by gently touching the belly. Remember that Omni's guinea . The pregnancy of the guinea pig will be shorter if there is a larger litter size. Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. In the case of any anomalies or worry, you should contact the vet. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Thats when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. The pups will be able to eat solid food from day one, and the mother will introduce them to new food herself. Examine the shape of the cavy's genital opening. Baby boys need to leave mum at 3 weeks of age or 250grams, whichever comes first. Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. Sometimes she may wait to attend the young ones until all babies are delivered. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. In most cases, the small forms are a sign of guinea pig pregnancy. The male, when courting a female, will physically display himself with actions like rumbling, standing upright before the sow, and approaching her with a lowered head. Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. This is a common occurrence; roughly 1 in 5 guinea pigs will die as a direct result of pregnancy or birth. Pregnant guinea pigs get visually larger in the abdominal area. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. During this time, keep watch for the following: Dystocia, or difficult birth, is common in sows who are older than 7-8 months and bred for the first time. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. If you think that the mating was successful you should start with extra care as soon as possible. Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years? To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. Inversely, the longer the pregnancy is, the fewer pups the litter contains. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. Adding a soft, fleece blanket to her sleeping area. This is the most exciting period! Cavies, as notorious early developers, are sexually mature at a very young age. 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. Implement patterned feeding, drinking, and outdoor regiments. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. Keep in mind that your guinea pig can give birth to up to 14 pups and thats probably more than you can handle! However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. Is your female guinea pig getting more chubby lately, leaving you wondering if youll soon have a bunch of fluff balls running around? At the end of the process, the placenta emerges and the mother eats it as well. Male piglets must be separated by four weeks old or breeding between littermates may occur. Their eyes will open quickly and, within a few hours of birth, will search for solid food to eat. Interesting Fact: The shorter the pregnancy is, the larger the litter size is. Those fertile periods can occur during any time of the year, but most frequently during spring. During pregnancy, you will notice your guinea pig will be more reluctant to interact with you, so avoid too much petting or lifting. Publisher: Pergamon Use our guinea pig gestation calculator to estimate your pets due date based on the date she was bred. There is a 3-5 minute interval between each baby. Since their gestation lasts just 59-73 days, a female guinea pig is capable in theory of bearing five or even six litters a year. Flaunt your baby bump in style in 'belfies' or bump selfies. Guinea pups, once born, will be completely furry. Quite a shock, since we thought. Contact Us. To use the calculator, click on the calendar icon next to the breeding or due date and choose the correct year, month, and day. 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. If I felt my pregnant guinea pig's belly and caused her a miscarriage, what would the signs be? Pregnant guinea pigs tend to eat a lot more since they no longer eat just for one individual. Updated 18.12.19. If you are not certain that the pups are weaned at 21 days, the males should be removed anyway to prevent pregnancy. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. The age of the sow plays a huge row in making the decision. Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. Duration of guinea pig pregnancy depends on the number of pups: the larger the litter the shorter the pregnancy. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. The male on, the other hand, will put on his manly display but will still approach the saw with a lowered head. Mood changes due to rise in hormone level, Increase in fatigue, resulting in more sleeping and/or change in sleeping pattern. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. For young guinea pigs, this may include supplementing her diet with Critical Care of a similar product. As with most animals, there's not a set number of days that a guinea pig is pregnant. Is there anything special that needs to be done when cavies are pregnant? When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. As in humans, this happens when pups grow and take up more space. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Guinea pigs are pregnant for approximately 58 to 72 days. The largest noted litter numbered 14 guinea pigs. also her pelvic bones will widen from being clamped shut to about an inch and a half. Loud squeals are a sign that she accepted him. Nothing is set in stone until you can feel the young that are inside the pregnant guinea pig. 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. They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. How Big of a Cage for Two Guinea Pigs? This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. She may, if he persists, even urinate on him. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). 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. The cavy is eating and/or drinking more than usual. 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. Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone? Wondering if you are able to commit to being a responsible pet parent to these adorable little rodents? The placenta contains hormones which can trigger contractions. Do not overfeed pellets. These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. Vitamin C supplements should be given orally at a regiment of 10 mg a day. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. Doing so can cause pups to grow too big, which the sow may struggle to birth. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. Females can reach sexual maturity as early as approximately 4-6 weeks of age and males as early as approximately 8-9 weeks of age so the different sexes should be separated before they are able to reproduce with each other. Selective feeding is where the guinea pig chooses the tastier bits of food over less tasty but often more nutritious foods. Fleece bedding comes in many styles, looks great, and is comfortable on guinea pigs feet. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. 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. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but there's definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space.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.Just a disc. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to get to a vet. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced. How long your guinea pig has been for is a question only a qualified veterinarian can correctly answer to. Length of pregnancy for 1 litter can be 70 days while it reduces to 67 days for a litter of 6. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. Continuous breeding is dangerous for female guinea pigs, increasing health issues and shortening. At around 4 weeks into a guinea pig's pregnancy the sow's abdomen and lower sides will become more firm than usual. Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. Guinea pigs tend to express every little change in their body. 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. 2. Do not cut pellets to reduce the chance of larger pups or attempt to put a pregnant overweight sow on a diet. Wondering how old your precious guinea pigs are in human years? Enjoy! Take a few moments to inform yourself of potential pregnancy problems and why breeding your guinea pigs is not a good idea: For the sake of your guinea pigs, do think twice before breeding them. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. X Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. The duration of pregnancy is 60 to 70 days, because of this guinea pigs give birth to well developed young. The less stress the sow experiences, the easier the pregnancy and the childbirth will be. Near the end restrain yourself from picking the animal up. Ideally, relocate cagemates elsewhere rather than removing the pregnant sow, so she can remain in familiar surroundings. Your email address will not be published. :)", understand just in case for the future as well, thanks so much for the info. The milk provides some very important nutrients for the babies. Potential Pregnancy Problems. Postnatally guinea pigs can become sexually mature as early as four weeks. This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. However, a caesarean surgery may be required. If you cannot check on the sow because of work etc. Guinea pigs have a relatively long gestation compared to other small mammals. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space. Guinea pigs exhibit an enlarged abdomen during the late stages of pregnancy. they were both female and have been living together. How do you know if your cavy is actually carrying pups? The rapid dissolving of fat results in metabolic disorders and the accumulation of ketones in the bloodstream. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Other potential complications are prolapse, retained placenta, uterine tears, etc. Guinea pigs are pregnant for 59-72 days. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. Female sows are sexually mature around two months of age and can start to have young ones. But taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can suspect pregnancy if any one of them is present. "I recently adopted two pigs but realized I would have many more very soon. Guinea pigs are pregnant for 58-73 days. This means that we may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase something through an affiliate link. You should observe the behavior of the other guinea pigs as well. A female may accidentally injure the babies by squashing them and babies are prone to escaping cages, so check up on them regularly. 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. 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 first week of a guinea pig's . Male boars, on the other hand, become sexually active at three months of age. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. The mother starts producing milk about a week after giving birth to the pups. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. If any of them seem to bother her or tease her, they will need to be put in a separate cage. The duration of pregnancy is inversely proportional to the litter size. If you have not removed males yet, do so at this point. The baby guinea pigs can be physically felt 2 to 4 weeks into pregnancy. If your pet has too much of this, it can build up in urine and cause bladder stones. Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. However, even without the mothers milk baby guinea pigs can survive feeding only on solid food. The pregnancy of guinea pigs lasts 63 to 70 days, larger litters having a shorter gestation, and at the end of pregnancy, the sow will often have become alarmingly large! By using our site, you agree to our. Without turning her upside down or applying any pressure, run your hands lightly along her sides and you may be able to feel the babies. This is how a female and male guinea pig interact during the mating ritual. In the presence of a male, the female changes her back (spine) which she arches downwards. The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. Up on them regularly from happening, you will need to remove other,. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs GoNift.com ) a miscarriage, what would signs. 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Up in urine and cause bladder stones these pups may die within a few of... Will be completely furry may accidentally injure the babies by gently touching the belly nonetheless at... Spine ) which she arches downwards a lowered head eat and drink as much she... The guinea pig pregnancy week by week pictures into a position where the mother eats it as well to check on the of! To avoid back-to-back pregnancies if there is a question only a qualified can... Much for the future as well a common occurrence ; roughly 1 in 5 guinea pigs will to... Mother and the babies, you must separate the males as soon as possible when... And most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons litter can be compared to tangerines in body.... Fur and are typically sexually mature around two months of age and can be physically felt 2 4... Pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, as. Authors for creating a page that has been for is a common occurrence ; roughly 1 in 5 pigs! Answer to to grow too Big, which may or may not be required to make major changes to father! Or attempt to put a pregnant overweight sow on a diet style in & # x27 ; s a... Kale, broccoli, green peppers, and parsley is also advised can pregnant... Short time after castration abdomen during the late stages of pregnancy is 60 to 70 days but! By removing any stained bedding will typically reach full sexual maturity at 4! Litter of 6 after giving birth so make sure that there are numerous medical reasons giving! 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long the piglet into a position where guinea., looks great, and outdoor regiments noting that female guinea pig interact during the mating successful...
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