Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. The large and growing fetuses can cause a fast breakdown of fats even if the sow hasnt eaten for a brief period of time. Male piglets must be separated by four weeks old or breeding between littermates may occur. The middle stage is up until the seventh week of pregnancy. 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out these 15 things to know, Read More 15 Things to Know Before Adopting Guinea PigsContinue, Your email address will not be published. This is the most exciting period! Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. We begin with week 4, which is when the pregnancy is most likely to be confirmed. Be very careful if you need to hold or handle a pregnant guinea pig. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. Around this time, youll notice the female cavy will be physically larger. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. Lindsay Pereira is a pet-lovin Montral-based writer whos a mommy to Muffy, a grumpy guinea pig with a serious attitude problem, the recently departed Miss Lilly, who is happily nibbling hay in guinea pig heaven. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. Place any cavies that appear to annoy her in a different cage. 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. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day rather than overnight. 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. The duration of pregnancy is inversely proportional to the litter size. Is there anything special that needs to be done when cavies are pregnant? The sow starts to prefer fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content. 2. Remove any other pregnant sows. Even though you can assist the birthing by yourself, its always better to leave it to licensed professionals. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you still decide to breed your guinea pig you shouldnt do it if the pet is more than 7 months of age. Pregnant guinea pigs tend to eat a lot more since they no longer eat just for one individual. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. A List of Safe, Healthy Chewables for your CaviesContinue, It can be intimidating for first-time guinea pig parents to clip their cavys nails. Thats why a female guinea pig should be bred before the permanent hardening on the pelvic canal. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. Length of pregnancy for 1 litter can be 70 days while it reduces to 67 days for a litter of 6. Signs of toxemia typically appear from 2 weeks before birth to 1 week after delivery and include: Unfortunately, in some cases, toxemia is fatal. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). Males take a little longer and are typically sexually mature by 8 to 9 weeks of age. Male guinea pigs are very territorial so when they mate they spray the female with their urine. The birth canals of these animals are very narrow. As in humans, this happens when pups grow and take up more space. Pregnant guinea pigs arent accustomed to building nests, yet any type of clean soft bedding will do just fine. Females will typically reach full sexual maturity at approximately 4 to 6 weeks of age. It tends to affect overweight sows delivering their first and second litter. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. 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. So, if you're collecting items in preparation for the guinea pig babies, you may have only two months to get it all done! Female guinea pigs usually have a smooth swelling over their genital area. Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity very early, around 2-4 months of age. During the early stage change the usual hay with Alfalfa hay. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. 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. A first-timer will not gain as much weight, but generally will weigh 35 ounces or more by the time she gives birth. You can even see his guinea pigs feature here and there in some articles. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. You should observe the behavior of the other guinea pigs as well. It will be too stressful for her. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. guinea pigs are pregnant for 67-73 days and you will know she will have babies in 3-4 weeks when you can feel her babies moving. Excess vitamin C is passed in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but other vitamins can build up and create problems. What most people dont know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. The average gestation period is 65 days. A local breeder may also be willing to help. If the sow becomes uninterested in food contact your veterinarian immediately. This is a common occurrence; roughly 1 in 5 guinea pigs will die as a direct result of pregnancy or birth. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. 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. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. 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. 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. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. If they do survive the first week they have a shorter than normal life expectancy and will require large amounts of medical care throughout their lives. The pups will be able to eat solid food from day one, and the mother will introduce them to new food herself. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. This type is rich both in protein in calcium, two things she needs a lot at the moment. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. The typical gestation period (the time that the guinea pig is pregnant) is 59 - 72 days, with the average pregnancy lasting around two months, or 63 days. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Wondering if you are able to commit to being a responsible pet parent to these adorable little rodents? Much like other Rodentia and those of the Lagomorpha species, guinea pigs have pearly whites that will grow without end in sight something that can be a serious health problem, Read More What Can Guinea Pigs Chew On? Guinea pigs are without a doubt cute, and baby guinea pigs climb twice as high on the cuteness ladder. 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. Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years? Inversely, the longer the pregnancy is, the fewer pups the litter contains. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the whole litter to be delivered. Even though there have been situations of guinea pigs giving birth to as much as 8 offspring, the average litter size is 4 baby guinea pigs. Pet stores also often house both sexes together, and some breeders do not separate the sexes early enough so it is possible the sow was already pregnant when you bought her. The early stage consists of the first few days after mating. 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 it declines every day or continues to change after 5 days, consult the vet. ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. This prevents an excess of one particular mineral that might be contained in that vegetable. Interesting Fact: The shorter the pregnancy is, the larger the litter size is. Male boars, on the other hand, become sexually active at three months of age. The exercises should continue normally because the guinea pig needs to regulate her weight and keep her strength up. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. We encourage people to be informed and ask questions before they start breeding. A new estrous cycle in saws can begin very shortly after giving birth. The sow should gradually put on weight. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged. In the middle and later stages of gestation, a pregnant sow will display an enlarged abdomen. Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. House pregnant sows indoors if pets are normally free-range outside. 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. Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? However, most guinea pigs have a pregnancy that lasts from 59 to 72 days. Neutered boars should be kept separate from sows for four weeks after surgery. With our guinea pig pregnancy calculator, you can easily estimate the day a guinea pig will give birth to little pups. Research source Guinea pig newborns are fully covered with hair, have open eyes and ears and have teeth present. This mechanism works in other species of animals as well and very fortunately humans arent accustomed to it. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. During this time the sow needs to be weighed weekly. Make the habit of repeatedly measuring your pets weight, at least twice a month. Speak to your vet to make sure you provide the right quantity of pellets. If you cannot check on the sow because of work etc. The least expensive, easiest, and safest breeding prevention is to house sows and boars separately. Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. 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. Though it may sound hard to believe, the fact is, its true! Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. Below is a detailed description of what to expect during each week of a guinea pig's pregnancy. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. Only hold her if necessary. Nonetheless, at this stage, allow the female cavy to eat and drink as much as she would like. 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. 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!
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