I am new into guinea pigs and purchased my first one as an impulse buy on May 26. Prior to pregnancy, the two lovebirds should mate. Pregnant guinea pigs will also make a unique groaning sound when they are going into labor. Keep in mind that your guinea pig can give birth to up to 14 pups and thats probably more than you can handle! Normal labor should be short and sweet. Nesting is common for many pregnant animals, but guinea pigs don't display + Read More Here. no way!" Weight gain may be subtle in the first hundred days, but keep an eye for any signs that your pig is growing. The pups are born with open eyes and covered in fur. Each pup will have its own amniotic sac, and usually the mother removes it and eats it. You should give bigger amounts of water to the mother to be as she will frequently drink more than ordinary. 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, A true favorite among small pets, guinea pigs are no doubt unique, sweet little creatures. But these little critters also mature early both physically and sexually. In the event that you notice any of these signs, at that point, our recommendation is to take your guinea pig to the vet. Some factors like body size, breed and number of fetuses affect the pig gestation period or length. Young female pups reach maturity at around two months and can effectively bear life. Cavies were initially brought into Europe during the 1500s. I always try to give her a small piece of fruit so that she has the extra energy to litter (not sure if this is the word for g-pigs, but it is the term for most rodents) if she needs to. So you should be able to get some needed rest. I have even felt them grinding their teeth. Safe for the last pregnancy stages, pregnant sows can coexist with others. 12 minute read; 5. Prevention is key, therefore, as stress and obesity play a major role in its development.. Required fields are marked *. Every living being grows up and reproduces more of their kind, and so do guinea pigs, but lets find out, how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant? Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. Diet. Try and make sure that the afterbirths have been delivered. Also, one may observe a mucous discharge from the vulva. I would only give one 1 inch cube of fruit per week. Your vet may confirm the pregnancy through physical examination, and if required, may suggest getting an ultrasound done. Maybe Janice will have at least one son so Possum will have a cage mate. A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. If the female approves of the male, she will signal her acceptance to mate with loud squeaks. The majority of guinea pigs give birth during daylight. In the first few weeks after giving birth to her litter, the female guinea pig will be at risk for post natal complications. If not, the female guinea pig will most likely bite or urinate on the male. They should be kept in tranquil surroundings and fed plenty of vegetables. Lighteninga feeling that the baby has dropped. Watch this video to recognize if a pig is in labor. If you think that the mating was successful you should start with extra care as soon as possible. Then check out these 15 things to know, Read More 15 Things to Know Before Adopting Guinea PigsContinue, If youre looking for cute, funny or simply unique guinea pig names for your new piggy pal(s), consider your quest officially over! Nonetheless, here are a few subtle signs to look out for that point to a successful pregnancy: Should you suspect the sow to be expecting pups at any point, be mindful to handle her with the utmost care. Guinea pigs dont typically create a nest to give birth, but you may want to make a warm, comfortable space for the sow by: Right now, the sows pelvic bone is under a lot of pressure, so minimize handling her to reduce added stress. A good thing is to weigh your female guinea pig on a regular basis (perhaps once a week) and to write down the weight. During this time the sow needs to be weighed weekly. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days . If you are present, you can help her out by removing some of the placentas and some of the soiled bedding. Thus, an increased desire for food may not always indicate pregnancy. Thank you for your information. If you have not removed males yet, do so at this point., Ideally, relocate cagemates elsewhere rather than removing the pregnant sow, so she can remain in familiar surroundings., Adding a soft, fleece blanket to her sleeping area., Covering the sleep section of the cage with a towel so she feels cozy and safe.. But to anyone who has thought of breeding.DON'T!!! Dogs, cats, rats mice and reptiles go off their feed a little, but I know guinea pigs usually don't. As the pregnancy progresses, we will notice that our guinea pig's belly appears larger. Early signs of labor can start days or even weeks before the big event. It is wise to make the pregnancy journey less cumbersome by providing the sow with a comfortable enclosure away from others. Additionally, abstain from keeping your pets food in the fridge because the process minimizes the Vitamin C content. And post pictures of the babies. This is called a "postpartum oestrus," which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time! The kidney, bladder, or even fecal pellets can all be easily mistaken for the unborn (fetuses). This page might contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. Equally, keep them in a clean environment because ammonia fumes from the beddings may affect the pups at birth. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. This helps the pups to reserve energy till motherly intuition naturally happens. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. 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.. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. I'm so excited, she getting so big. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. I have no idea when she was bred. Even if your pet has completed the farrowing process, there are vital signs you should observe. The babies try eating from the very first day, and they are born with enough reserve of energy (usually) to sustain until Mom's instincts kick in. She. 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 It Safe to Breed Cavies? Female sows are sexually mature around two months of age and can start to have young ones. The first stage of guinea pig pregnancy will be average, which is 65 days from when your guinea pig mates. Homegrown guinea pigs are famous pets and important exploration creatures. Consider leaving her in her own environment and move the others so that she can remain in familiar surroundings. Other potential complications are prolapse, retained placenta, uterine tears, etc. If you see the baby partway out, and the Mom is making no effort to help it, and you are SURE it is a baby, then you can gently try and help maneuver the baby out. Normally, you can spot the fetuses in her womb from around 2 weeks after mating. Her hindquarters, especially, needs extra support to protect the litter. Cessation of this agitated behavior indicates labor has begun. If you have previous pregnancy documentation, compare the prior birth experience. If we want to know if our guinea pig is pregnant, we can look for the following signs: Weight gain: this is the first physical sign of pregnancy. Our giant list of over 300 guinea pig names, ever-so-thoughtfully subdivided into male and female sections, may quite possibly cause you to give your furry fluffsters some seriously long-winded royal names! Cervix begins to dilate. The sow must be fed an adequate selection of healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables daily, along with high-quality pellets and unlimited hay and water. Cavies were tamed at any rate by 900 BCE and conceivably as right on time as 5000 BCE. Once the pups come out, the mother licks and devours the fetal substances plus the placenta. On the other hand, keeping a pregnant sow with boars poses a greater danger. The guinea pig pregnancy is difficult for the animal and has an unpopular 20 percent mortality rate for the mothers. Guinea Pig Death Process Dead or in Shock. There is, however, a thin line between sounding heartwarming and scary when people say the words guinea pig pregnancy. Therefore, feed them with enough fresh hay, commercialized pellets, and clean water. The second stage of labor is the actual pushing of pigs out of the birth canal. What you're looking at in the photo above is the clitoral hood of a gilt, that is to say a female pig who has not yet had a litter. A guinea pigs pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. During the entire pregnancy process, sows require a rich supply of Vitamin C. It is recommended that pet owners should double the quantity up to 20 mg per day. Such temperature drops can happen at any point of the pregnancy. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. If you notice a pup with the sac remaining over its face, break the membrane open with your finger nail. Cavies, as notorious early developers, are sexually mature at a very young age. Many others survive but with complicationscostly to you, painful to her. Guinea pigs need extra vitamin C during pregnancy, so you may see her favoring the products of the soil having the vitamin C in high quantity over those lacking it. Guinea pigs are not nesters, so you might not notice any changes in behavior as delivery time gets closer. Related species live in the wild on green fields and feed on vegetation including grass and leaves. However, if youre still in the process of deciding whether to breed her, then heed our advice to not breed her. So it is of utmost importance that you keep male and female guinea pigs isolated on the off chance that you dont need pregnancies to happen. Many females who survive experience complications, which are painful to the sow and costly to the pet parent.. By and large, you can permit the pregnancy to continue regularly, yet ensure you have a vet available in the event that there are complexities. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Weight Gain. After you dry it off, put it back down beside the Mom. Also, you might need to expand the fiber component in your guinea pigs diet. Are you able to feel the outlines of the babies bodies? 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. The male guinea pig is called a boar, while the female is known as a sow. Medical Disclaimer: VIVOPets.com does not intend to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion. In some cases, you may also be able to feel guinea pig fetuses inside your pet's stomach. Hamsters and Guinea Pigs Can They Live Together. Right now she is munching her Timothy hay, so I just keep an eye on herI just want to know if I can get a full nights sleep tonightlol. Keep in mind! There should be little or no blood, especially before any babies have been produced. Do let us know when the babies are born. Cramps and increased back pain. A female can give . House pregnant sows indoors if pets are normally free-range outside. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. In reality, close to 20% of expectant sows die while giving birth. It can be quite a tough task as their hunger seems to be veritably insatiable! All Rights Reserved. Utilize your dominant hand to feel her belly. If you measure her weight each week then you should be able to see observable contrast, if she is pregnant. On the other hand, boars should be at least 34 months old before mating. Each litter can contain eight to twelve piglets. Those fertile periods can occur during any time of the year, but most frequently during spring. Prior to labor, sows are restless. 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. At this stage, the sow will appear quite swollen in the midsection. How To Know when a pig is going into labor. A new estrous cycle in saws can begin very shortly after giving birth. Otherwise, he will be dragging the placenta around. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. In common, by the end of a pregnancy, the pregnant guinea pigs load will have doubled; the piglets normally make up more than half of the sows weight. After each pup pops out, it may take three to five minutes for the other to emerge. When a gilt (unbred or first-time mother) or a sow is in heat, she will often show a swollen and red vulva, and/or discharge. Normal labor should be short and sweet. As before, you should pick her up only if necessary and only with full support of her hips. Sectioned sows may develop agalactia and both sow and . You wont have the option to tell without a doubt until the guinea pig is analyzed and evaluated by a talented veterinary expert. After the widening, is birthing within 12-24 hours or 24-48 hours? In the presence of a male, the female changes her back (spine) which she arches downwards. An ultrasound output can picture precisely what the knocks are and affirm a pregnancy. These kinds of guinea pigs are the most popular in America and are the breeds most commonly sold in shops. I have had sows deliver at night, and by morning you would never know she had babies except there are little pigs in the cage! Guinea pigs are without a doubt cute, and baby guinea pigs climb twice as high on the cuteness ladder. The kidney, bladder, or even fecal pellets can all be easily mistaken for fetuses. 2 Remove any boars. 1. Remember that the young pups have wide-opened eyes from birth. 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