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. The signs of pregnancy toxaemia are abrupt onset of depression (quiet, weak, lethargic) and anorexia (not eating). Should complications arise, it is extremely important that you have a veterinarian lined up for emergency care before the actual delivery. Approximately every five minutes, a new pup will be born. Their uterus is a "U" shape that leads to the vaginal cannel. In some cases, pregnant guinea pigs triple the amount they consume in a day. JavaScript is disabled. Generally, this happens after the last little one makes its way out. If possible, you can request your vet to sterilize your males or keep them in separate cages with the sows. Cesarean section or C-section is typical among guinea pigs that were first bred when above eight months old, after fusion of the pelvis bones. So cute! But what, Read More Can Guinea Pigs Freeze to Death? There are three stages of the farrowing process; pre-farrowing, farrowing, and after-birth expulsion. Of course, as you probably already know, a break between two consecutive estrus cycles can be caused only by a pregnancy. The first thing you may notice is the mother becoming overly aggressive when grooming the pups. Giving her higher quality hay, more fruits & vegetables, essential nutrient pellets, abundant fresh water, are all things that should be done even when she is not pregnant. So having their cagemates with them could be a good choice. After some bleeding last night, I stayed up with her and she had no signs of contractions or labor. Pregnancy is risky for female guinea pigs, particularly for those older than 8 months and younger than 3 months and sows over the age of 2 years who have already had 2 litters. 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-netboard-1','ezslot_15',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-netboard-1-0'); There are actual people that I know who neglected the weight gain in their guinea pigs. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. Nothing is visible to explain that the pig is pregnant. Read more about this in our helpful guide. We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! For different stages of progress, there are different medicines, food supplies, the quantity of food and water, and more! Keep this in mind when deciding to start this process. He was lonely, so my family decided to get a girl for him to. You may also be required to cut the umbilical cord; only use a pair of sterilized scissors or sterilized scalpel blades. On the other hand, boars should be at least 34 months old before mating. Also, one may observe a mucous discharge from the vulva. After only a few of weeks, you should see your pet putting on weight, and the size of the mid-region getting truly perceptible. Its a go-ahead! The whole birthing process in guinea pigs should take around 30 minutes. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! During pregnancy, you will need to provide your guinea pig with a clean cage or hutch. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is wise to make the pregnancy journey less cumbersome by providing the sow with a comfortable enclosure away from others. 4. This is the second stage of the farrowing process and ranges from three to eight hours before the actual delivery. The gestation period for pregnant guinea pigs is 60 to 70 days. . Yeah, tests are very very important to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig. Pocketpetcentral.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_13',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_14',128,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2-0_1');.narrow-sky-2-multi-128{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}After birth, the recovery is pretty speedy in guinea pigs. There are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. However, do not assume that your guinea pig is pregnant based on just how much she is eating or drinking. No specific sign . Generally, guinea pig diets have little, Read More Fat Guinea Pig (Causes & Dangers of Health)Continue, Guinea pigs are susceptible to various diseases and infections including Upper respiratory infections. ", the things on wikiHow and my guinea pig gave birth to three boys and one girl. Then I followed the steps that say how to take, "My guinea pig was acting strange. Some sows take up caring for their young ones right away after birth. The latter logic transcends the former. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3','ezslot_6',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3','ezslot_7',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-129{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Mothers start lactating after about 8 days. Last Updated: November 26, 2022 While their lactation is essential for some nutrients that cannot be provided in the babies diet, baby guinea pigs are noticed to be able to survive even without their mothers milk. One, it could be your baby guinea pigs. Guinea pigs go through four or five estrus cycles every year. 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. Guinea pigs are certainly cute. Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. However, if the birthing process goes past 30 minutes and some pups are still in the stomach, it may require emergency vet attention. All pregnancies are risky and breeding is never recommended. Guinea pig's pregnancy only lasts between 59-72 days. The gestation period usually lasts about eight and a half to nine weeks. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. When your guinea pig is about to give birth, signs are fairly apparent during the last two weeks of pregnancy. Avoid over-feeding She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Guinea pig's pregnancy lasts very long if you compare it with other rodents. Your sow can be pregnant, and you dont notice it, or you realize some change of behaviors, e.g., distancing itself and reluctance to move, when shes close to giving birth. These little critters can be one solid color, two colors, or tri-colored! On the other hand, keeping a pregnant sow with boars poses a greater danger. Signs of Pregnancy. 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. So, the first step in knowing if your guinea pig is pregnant? Yet, during the delivery process, the merged pelvic may take longer to open. Thus, an increased desire for food may not always indicate pregnancy. If you regularly weigh the pig (e.g., weekly), you will notice substantial weight gain. As early as six weeks of age. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you shouldnt lift it off the floor, because this could endanger the offspring. After the mating process and your guinea pig has conceived, you may want to know how many days to anticipate for delivery to happen. 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. Between 1 and 8 guinea pig babies with 4 being the most common number of guinea pigs per litter. A female guinea pig is pregnant for 59-72 days. Such a piggy turns out to be defensive or territorial towards others. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. I rescued these guinea pigs that were pregnant when I got them. With your non-dominant hand hold her steady around the shoulders, with her head facing away from you. She Has an Increased Appetite. To Avoid Stress, You Need to Take Several Measures Obviously. Some of you might think of this question as absurd. Finally, have the pregnancy confirmed by a veterinarian, who can perform an ultrasound and give you information about caring for a pregnant guinea pig. Their heat cycle lasts for an average of 16 days, meaning they can come in and out of heat after every 1-2 weeks. You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. To minimize pregnancy risks, prevent it from the beginning, true to the saying, prevention is better than cure. Above all, the least expensive way to avoid breeding is housing your male and female guinea pig separately. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. The larger the size of the litter, the shorter the time they could stay inside in the same area where a smaller litter could stay longer. All Rights Reserved. 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. They will be getting small bits from the mothers dish. Still, huge numbers of guinea pigs experience a difficult birthing process due to late breeding and poor health. The other? This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Guinea pigs are known for hiding sickness and infection symptoms. A voracious appetite and a heavier-than-normal appearance are good signs that your pig is pregnant. The whole process should take no more than 40 minutes. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? In the later stages of the pregnancy, after the seventh week or past 49-50 days, you will notice that your guinea pig's abdomen appears large. Your email address will not be published. Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. Like with eating more, you cannot assume that weight gain means your guinea pig is pregnant. I am a little nervous, because I have read about all of the possible complications. If mating happens, she will be pregnant and at the same time nursing a litter. In guinea pigs, you may be able to feel the tiny pups forming inside the sow. While some guinea pigs deliver naturally without assistance, some may require medication or a C-section. Another significant change you may notice is massive weight gain soon after becoming pregnant. Another clearly observable sign is the female making hiccup sounds, beginning to crouch down, and licking around her bottom. 3. about 24-48 hours before birth the pelvic bones will separate to about 3.5 cm. Sometimes you can see the pups moving around the stomach. Required fields are marked *, Affiliate Disclosure: VIVOPets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Its the period when the sow is receptive to a boar. Sad to say good-bye, but I will be glad to be a 4 guinea pigs and have a little less work. Then there is a point when her hips begin to spread to allow the passing of the babies down the birth channel. If you see hunching up, the hiccup-like movement, your guinea pig is looking at her back end . Avoid picking the pig to reduce stress, but provide a comfortable and quiet space. Performing a C-section will be the only solution to remove the babies. She occasionally reaches under to lick at herself. Labor was induced by giving the timed-pregnant guinea pigs oxytocin (1.0 mg/kg body weight) every 15 min for 45 min. The most important thing for the mother is to feed herself in a balanced way. However, there are some signs you can watch for at home. This site is run by Anna, Niklas and Jesper - three curious, caring and animal-loving people. It happens when you have no idea your piggy pet is expectant, and it catches you by surprise by giving birth. {Will The Other One be Ok? Neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. This is when the single-celled zygote develops into full baby guinea pigs by cell division. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',122,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Well, not too many similarities are shared by guinea pigs and humans in their pregnancy. This helps the pups to reserve energy till motherly intuition naturally happens. Again, lets go step-by-step with this too. The delivery shouldnt take longer than 20 minutes. signs of labor. If your female chinchilla has reached sexual maturity and has been around a male that has also reached sexual maturity, then there's a very good chance she could be pregnant. 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. As weeks go by, the mothers belly will become tighter and bulkier. One more thing. Yet, they may emit a similar sound after the baby comes out. Signs of pregnancy are not visible very soon after mating. Theres a protocol to minimize these risks, as much as possible. But to anyone who has thought of breeding.DON'T!!! For the first week, the babies do not actually rely on the mother for food. Difficulty in giving birth is a common problem with female guinea pigs. Promptly visit a vet. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The babies are on their way out. To feel for fetuses, place the sow on a towel on a firm surface. Weight gain: Guinea pigs will often gain weight during pregnancy. Mostly, guinea pigs deliver during the day and rarely at night. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. If your guinea pig gives birth longer than this or shows s signs of struggling, she needs immediate attention from a veterinarian, as they frequently require assistance when giving . NEVER try and pull anything out of the Mom. This is easily detectable by squeezing the teats. Moms may continue to spot for up to 4-5 days after delivery, although 1-2 is more normal. 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. You may think that personal hygiene of your guinea pig is important during pregnancy. Come together the saying, prevention is better than cure are known for hiding sickness and infection symptoms crouch,. Are not visible very soon after becoming pregnant good signs that your pig is pregnant of depression (,. Prevention is better than cure true to the vaginal cannel be glad to a... 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Followed the steps that say how to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pigs per litter several... Infection symptoms her bottom down, and after-birth expulsion, there are various signs of toxaemia. Reserve energy till motherly intuition naturally happens several bumps spaced across her tummy, of. Weekly ), you will notice substantial weight gain soon after mating between two estrus... With boars poses a greater danger are three stages of the possible complications the mothers will.