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. Shortly after giving birth, guinea pigs begin a fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a day. 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. X ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. Males are territorial. Offer fresh vegetables every day. Guinea Pig Pregnancy Stages - YouTube 0:00 / 2:14 Guinea Pig Pregnancy Stages 64,851 views Jul 6, 2014 550 Dislike Share Save Squishy Bubbles 5.62K subscribers Are you wondering if your. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Zealotstim 4 mo. But as blissful as it is for a mother to give birth to children, it is also stressful and painful.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-box-4','ezslot_3',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-box-4-0'); So, as your guinea pigs are part of your family, you should take care of them just as well as you would take care of a pregnant sister or wife or mother! If you have any concerns regarding your guinea pig's health or well-being, contact us today at 407-286 . However, guinea pigs often do not react well to surgery, anesthesia, or being kept in unfamiliar surroundings. If you are a woman reading this I bet that you are thinking thank god there aint anything like that in humans!. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. It breaks my heart because she squeaks at me to pet her & I can't pregnancy hormones make me cry. Only hold her if necessary. While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. % of people told us that this article helped them. If the weight does not pick up, or a pup does not improve with additional feeding, consult the vet. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. Here, we investigated the effects of parental age, parity, and . wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. The vitamin C required by a pregnant female is obviously more than that required by one that isnt pregnant. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Menu Clubul de antreprenoriat. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_15',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-1-0');The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) can be a helpful natural contraceptive in case of humans for a brief period after the birth of a child. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. After about two or three weeks of pregnancy, the baby guinea pigs can be physically felt. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! But pregnancy is far from straightforward for guinea pigs. Starting from how to know if your guinea pig is pregnant, to how to care for a pregnant guinea pig, to all characteristics of the gestation period, to the birth of the litter, I will lead you through every little detail of guinea pig pregnancy in the upcoming sections of this post! The normal pregnancy period of a woman is 40 weeks. A pregnant guinea will start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy propels. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 - 72 days. However, be aware that other things can feel like bumps in the abdomen. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. This information is then translated into an image. Because yeah, more the number, more the time to nourish them, sounds logical. 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. Its just the same in guinea pigs. Thanks for helping me realize that she is pregnant after all! Any one else has pets that you can't pet or hold ? If the other sow eats it, their own pregnancy may be induced. So you have to be cautious enough to prevent another pregnancy in your guinea pig. Pregnancy Symptoms Week 14. 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. Enter search terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more. Well, I guess this is the most important section of this post. Guinea pigs are brilliantly expressive creatures. Things to Watch Out for During Guinea Pig Pregnancy If you suspect that your guinea pig is experiencing any of these during gestation, try to take them to a veterinarian to get diagnosed properly. Moreover, neutering does not take immediate effect. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-2','ezslot_21',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-2-0');After birth, the recovery is pretty speedy in guinea pigs. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. Use to remove results with certain terms This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3','ezslot_10',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_11',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. % of people told us that this article helped them. As a general rule, guinea pigs do not respond well to anaesthetic so if it is possible, separating the sexes is a safer option. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. Immediate veterinary care is required, but the prognosis is usually very poor. ", care of my guinea pig and I am so sure that she is healthy and will have my little baby friends soon! Despre Club; Echipa; FRESHconsult Now they are about the normal size of an adult guinea pig like the first ones you see if you google. Female guinea pigs can become pregnant as early as two months of age. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. So they wont fight with each other. Even at such a small size, they have hair and are able to see and run. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. As early as six weeks of age. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Vet Manual outside of North America. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. Thats right, they have a distinction between emotions and the mind, just like humans, even though both are processed and caused by the same brain! If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. The optimal maintenance of guinea pig colonies, commercially and in research settings, relies on robust informed breeding programs, however, breeding data on specialized inbred strains are limited. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA(known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is dedicated to using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. How many babies do guinea pigs get per litter? You should be able to implement it. Avoid making changes to a pregnant sow's cage, like removing toys or putting the cage in a totally new location. Do not cage them. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). 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. Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. So I am morally obligated to answer it. I would start looking up local guinea pig rescues so they can take some babies and help getting all the pigs fixed before she gets pregnant again (this can happen very fast after she gives birth). Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. The period of time between getting pregnant and the birth is called the gestation period. So, better to be overly cautious than to be negligent.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-sky-3','ezslot_22',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-sky-3-0'); Make sure you monitor your guinea pigs weight every week. The intercourse with an unneutered male guinea pig causes pregnancy in a female obviously. Guinea pigs are important animal models for human disease, and both outbred and inbred lines are utilized in biomedical research. Your body: During both the first and second trimester, your blood pressure may decrease slightly from its pre-pregnancy number. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Make the introductions gradual as the adults will be a lot larger and could do them serious harm. Publisher: Pergamon. By this time, your pet's pelvic bones will have widened enough to make way for the pups . We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 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. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. The temperature outside or in a garage/shed usually becomes too cold at night for a pregnant guinea pig. The expected duration of a pregnancy is at least 65 days, but it still relies on the number of offspring she is carrying. Avoid over-feeding Spaying or neutering of pet guinea pigs can be done by a veterinarian experienced in dealing with small animals, but the surgery can be expensive and does carry risks. When your guinea pigs reach 16 weeks of age, it is the time that they mature significantly. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Again, it could also be because of fat. Right? Male guinea pigs (also called boars) are sexually active at 3 weeks of age, but they are not able to go through a neutering procedure until 4 months old. Once, I had a friend who didnt care about a drastic weight change in his female guinea pig. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. Birth can sometimes be more complicated because of several medical reasons. All animals, for example, tend to eat more when it's cold, when they're having a growth spurt, and when they're suffering from certain illnesses. 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. It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. I guess it is not too difficult to believe that hormone levels go crazy during pregnancy irrespective of which animal it is. The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. Adults are no longer growing but still require macro-nutrients like fiber and protein, as well as micro-nutrients like the vitamins and minerals that are found in a timothy hay-based, uniform fortified food. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. Keep a watchful eye on her eating habits. So it is well over 3 months since the operation. Neutering a male is generally easier than spaying a female. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. The mothers lactation period lasts for about two or three weeks. Antreprenoriat BT. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. This article made the information I, "This helped a lot. For the first week, the babies do not actually rely on the mother for food. "I took my guinea pig to the vet and found out she will have babies. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. Even though the birthing can be handled by yourself, it is better to leave it to licensed veterinarians to avoid last minute complications. Some of you might think of this question as absurd. If the water bottle is usually placed high-up, provide a second water bottle lower down so that the sow does not have to stretch if she does not want to. And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. With your non-dominant hand hold her steady around the shoulders, with her head facing away from you. Try to find a vet who specializes in rodents and other small animals, rather than just a generic vet. Though it depends on the size of the litter, a guinea pig pregnancy lasts 59-72 days. What a surprise this was. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4','ezslot_12',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4-0');For how long is a guinea pig pregnant? Just because they are the pups of a familiar guinea pig, this does not mean that they will be accepted immediately. Neutered boars should be kept separate from sows for four weeks after surgery. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. An ultrasound scan can visualize exactly what the bumps are and confirm a pregnancy. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. But now that they are arrested in your home, you must be ready to step up and take responsibility. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. I love animals! You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). This way you can keep track of her weight in order to determine any patterns of weight gain that may be indicative of a pregnancy. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. So, in this article, let's see how a fetus will change week by week to become a baby. However, there are some signs you can watch for at home. But it contains more than necessary amounts for a regular guinea pig. So, it is vital that you know which stage of pregnancy your guinea pig is. 2 Observe her eating habits. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. Approved. If they do mate, I will now. You'll need to encourage her into a transport cage through treats or her favourite vegetables/fruit. But what I was certain about, is that no other guinea pig should face the same fate. 4. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. ago. If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the age requirements, talk to your vet about a pregnancy plan. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7c\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7c\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid666376-v4-728px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"