Do it every day at the same time routinely. To prevent high stress levels, which can lead to disease, keep your guinea pig away from direct sunlight. If you are changing the feed, make a gradual change providing a bit of both to start with as otherwise she may not eat the feed at all. Fleece bedding comes in many styles, looks great, and is comfortable on guinea pigs feet. Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone? Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. Toxemia is another risk for pregnant guineas, though the exact cause of it is uncertain. Updated 18.12.19. [1] . Once cavies mate, there is a noticeable quiet period afterwards. Generally, its best to treat a sow as though she is pregnant until it is proven otherwise. He is an exotic vet. 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. Discovered how versatile a. Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. The baby guinea pigs can be physically felt 2 to 4 weeks into pregnancy. 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. After the seventh week, the animal enters the late stage of guinea pig pregnancy. During this time the sow needs to be weighed weekly. In the presence of a male, the female changes her back (spine) which she arches downwards. With our guinea pig pregnancy calculator, you can easily estimate the day a guinea pig will give birth to little pups. Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. Guinea pig diarrhea is a fairly common condition that most guinea pig owners and exotic pet veterinarians encounter., Everybody who knows a cat or dog owner knows that they have to deal with shots for their, When your guinea pig is sneezing a lot you might wonder whether or not your little friend is, You were planning on getting a pet guinea pig, but you are not sure whether you should get, Every guinea pig owner will experience the moment in life where he or she needs to say the, Eye infections in guinea pigs are more common than you might think and can be a result of. 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 is common for them to double in weight during this time. ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Answer by Guinea P lover! wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Litter size ranges, with the average being 2-4 pups in rare cases as many as 12-14. This type is rich both in protein in calcium, two things she needs a lot at the moment. Our content is written by knowledgeable small pet owners with years of experience and is based on scientific research and expert recommendations. Sows older than 2 years that werent bred before are most at risk. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. 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 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. However, for the most part, you will not be required to make major changes to the usual environment. (Complete Setup), Do Guinea Pigs Eat Carrots? You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Vitamin C supplements should be given orally at a regiment of 10 mg a day. 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. 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. Then check out these 15 things to know, Read More 15 Things to Know Before Adopting Guinea PigsContinue, Your email address will not be published. If not, the female guinea pig will most likely bite or urinate on the male. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. . Mares that have been bred during the first quarter of the year will often carry their foals for . As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. You should observe the behavior of the other guinea pigs as well. Make the introductions gradual as the adults will be a lot larger and could do them serious harm. Females will typically reach full sexual maturity at approximately 4 to 6 weeks of age. 2 Observe her eating habits. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. Cavies of both sexes, when mixed together and unsterilized, will most assuredly result in guinea pig pregnancy. However, the following guinea pig pregnancy timeline will simplify the entire gestation period and demystify the experience, so you can provide a stress-free environment for your little mama and her tiny pups. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. I for one was never able to see Emma's babies move from the outside. Thats why the best age for a guinea pig to get pregnant is between 4 and 7 months of age. 25% in pregnancies can end in death for either the mum or the babies and this is why that breeding guinea pigs for a hobby is not encouraged. What a surprise this was. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. Whether it was planned or not, this post will inform you on what to expect during guinea pig pregnancy, the potential problems, and post-natal care. How can I tell? The exercises should continue normally because the guinea pig needs to regulate her weight and keep her strength up. Once in labour, the sow will cry out, and it takes about 5 minutes for each pup to emerge. In fact, you may even wonder if your cavy is actually pregnant. This means that we may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase something through an affiliate link. Do not cut pellets to reduce the chance of larger pups or attempt to put a pregnant overweight sow on a diet. Even still, it's important to keep a very clean cage or hutch. it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. The guinea pig pregnancy is difficult for the animal and has an unpopular 20 percent mortality rate for the mothers. At this stage, the sow will appear quite swollen in the midsection. Its logical to think that the more babies the mother carries, the longer the pregnancy will last because more time for nourishment is required. The early stage consists of the first few days after mating. If the female approves of the male, she will signal her acceptance to mate with loud squeaks. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). 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. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Though it may sound hard to believe, the fact is, its true! Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. Thats because those tiny, adorable feet are just so tiny! The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. Baby boys need to leave mum at 3 weeks of age or 250grams, whichever comes first. The length of the estrous cycle is 16 days. Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? A local breeder may also be willing to help. I have been given an 8 week old guinea pig that is pregnant, and her half-sister. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. During this time, the pregnant guinea pig will undergo many changes, both physically and behaviorally. Mother strains for 15 minutes without producing a pup. Publisher: Pergamon. Implement patterned feeding, drinking, and outdoor regiments. Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years? A new estrous cycle in saws can begin very shortly after giving birth. Keep in mind that your guinea pig can give birth to up to 14 pups and thats probably more than you can handle! The first week of a guinea pig's . Are you wondering if your guinea pig is pregnant? Those fertile periods can occur during any time of the year, but most frequently during spring. Nonetheless, at this stage, allow the female cavy to eat and drink as much as she would like. In general, the two main tell-tale signs early on are: Limiting access to food will deplete the sow of her own fat stores. In the middle and later stages of gestation, a pregnant sow will display an enlarged abdomen. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. The estrous cycle is somewhat typical in means of behavioral changes of the female guinea pig. 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. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space. A cesarian section surgery will likely be necessary. They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? ", Scary after reading all this. Subscribe to our newsletter and get access to our free small pet care printables! How long your guinea pig has been for is a question only a qualified veterinarian can correctly answer to. Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old. Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. 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. Enjoy! Duration of guinea pig pregnancy depends on the number of pups: the larger the litter the shorter the pregnancy. Do not bath the sow during pregnancy. Get an experienced vet to check the sex of all your other guinea pigs. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Pups will each have their own amniotic sac, which the sow normally removes and ingests. In time, it will be a bit harder for them to move, but this is of little or no significance. "We just found out that one of our guinea pigs is male and the other is pregnant! Well with guinea pigs its the opposite. Remember that Omni's guinea . This article made the information I, "This helped a lot. If you hold her carefully by the shoulders when she's on . Season: A mare's gestation period can be impacted by the season. The canal is fully fused by the 7-8thmonth of age both in unbred female and male guinea pigs. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. 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. The ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. 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. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. The temperature outside or in a garage/shed usually becomes too cold at night for a pregnant guinea pig. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. If your guinea pig has been pregnant for more than about two or three weeks then you might be able to very very gently feel the foetuses in your pet. Like we said, if you plan to keep the babies, you should keep them separate. . Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. Adding a soft, fleece blanket to her sleeping area. Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. The mothers weight will vary for a few days whilst she re-adjusts but should settle within five days. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. By the time males are 3-4 weeks old, they should be separated from the females or you may have a whole new cycle of pregnancy to deal with! Guinea Pig Eye Infection What You Should Do? While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. 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. 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. These images range from super small baby bumps to plus-size pregnancy belly bump pictures showing the week-by-week pregnancy development. The male on, the other hand, will put on his manly display but will still approach the saw with a lowered head. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to get to a vet. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day rather than overnight. 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. If you are not certain that the pups are weaned at 21 days, the males should be removed anyway to prevent pregnancy. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. However, most guinea pigs have a pregnancy that lasts from 59 to 72 days. Depression Incoming! The pups will be able to eat solid food from day one, and the mother will introduce them to new food herself. Doing otherwise can cause pregnancy complications or miscarriage. With the use of ultrasound, your vet can also assess potential concerns with the pregnancy. Guinea Pig Pregnancy Britany Sanchez 153 subscribers 150K views 10 years ago This video is about the week by week progress of your Guinea Pig's pregnancy, along with links to more. Guinea pigs are without a doubt cute, and baby guinea pigs climb twice as high on the cuteness ladder. Some may happen sooner, later, or not at all. At the end of the process, the placenta emerges and the mother eats it as well. What Can Guinea Pigs Chew On? Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. Bloody uterine discharge and straining longer than 30 minutes requires a medical examination. Even though you can assist the birthing by yourself, its always better to leave it to licensed professionals. Examine the shape of the cavy's genital opening. I know there are so many groups out there that don't and its okay. Their shapes are very cylindrical-like and can be compared to tangerines in body appearance. Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. The least expensive, easiest, and safest breeding prevention is to house sows and boars separately. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. 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. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. 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. % of people told us that this article helped them. Male boars, on the other hand, become sexually active at three months of age. . 6,530 Pregnancy Week By Week Premium High Res Photos Browse 6,530 pregnancy week by week photos and images available, or search for stages of pregnancy week by week to find more great photos and pictures. As in humans, this happens when pups grow and take up more space. Interesting Fact: The shorter the pregnancy is, the larger the litter size is. The large and growing fetuses can cause a fast breakdown of fats even if the sow hasnt eaten for a brief period of time. The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. Female guinea pigs sexually mature as early as 2 months of age. Any apparent change of behavior in means of lethargy, anorexia, or depression can be a sign of sickness. Stillbirth isnt totally uncommon and you should remain calm. Otherwise, a c-section may be necessary. Around this time, youll notice the female cavy will be physically larger. However, with the proper care, this risk can be significantly reduced and your pregnant guinea pig can be kept in good health. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Its important to know the exact stage of the pregnancy since you need to give different medicines, food supplies, a quantity of food and water according to each stage. Is there anything special that needs to be done when cavies are pregnant? Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? Naturally bald areas. However, even without the mothers milk baby guinea pigs can survive feeding only on solid food. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. ), Will Guinea Pigs Kill Each Other? Right now, it is imperative to ensure the pregnant guinea is in a stress-free environment. Female guinea pigs usually have a smooth swelling over their genital area. Negligence and ignorance can prove to be fatal for the mother and the babies. But do you really understand what it takes to care for these fluffy friends? Again, if you need to handle your cavy, do so in a gentle manner, grasping her securely yet comfortably, to ensure full support of her body. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If any of the pups is definitely alive, but is not alert or able to see or walk then contact your vet immediately. If your pet has too much of this, it can build up in urine and cause bladder stones. A typical pregnancy in horses can last for 320 to 380 days, but generally lasts around 11 months. 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. Daily touch-up cleaning of her habitat to keep it as clean as possible without removing her. But taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can suspect pregnancy if any one of them is present. Thats why a female guinea pig should be bred before the permanent hardening on the pelvic canal. This article has been viewed 326,562 times. She may, if he persists, even urinate on him. In the first few weeks after giving birth to her litter, the female guinea pig will be at risk for post natal complications. 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