The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. Though this window usually falls between 2-3 months old, some can even be mature after only a single month. So, the first step in knowing if your guinea pig is pregnant? The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. Again, it could also be because of fat. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Moreover, neutering does not take immediate effect. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The sow should gradually put on weight. Most pregnant guinea pigs do not move as actively as their normal days. 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. Keep a watchful eye on her eating habits. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced breeder. Individual pet owners should not attempt to breed guinea pigs, according to experts, for two very important reasons: As early as six weeks of age. Make note of all the foods that you offer her, with the quantity and time. 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. But compromising on the perfection of those necessities wont cause much immediate trouble when she is not pregnant. Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. 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-sky-4','ezslot_23',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4-0'); There are actual people that I know who neglected the weight gain in their guinea pigs. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. He is an exotic vet. Thanks for helping me realize that she is pregnant after all! This article has been viewed 324,740 times. Of course, much much cuter! :)", understand just in case for the future as well, thanks so much for the info. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. Cavy . While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Because guinea pigs have a high infant mortality rate. Any one else has pets that you can't pet or hold ? And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. But believe me, it does. If there is not an out-of-hours vet in your area, discuss this with your vet to come up with a plan. Your pregnant sow will also need more vitamin C after 4 weeks, about twice as much, so incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C into her diet. Research source Pregnancy can have a number of complications for the sow, the female guinea pig, including toxaemia (metabolic imbalance), dystocia (difficulty giving birth), and post-partum difficulties (such as seizures due to low calcium levels). However, there are some signs you can watch for at home. Right? The mothers lactation period lasts for about two or three weeks. Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. To learn more about what to expect during the pregnancy, read on! Males born in the same litter are brothers, right? Our professionals are qualified to care for your guinea pig. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. The gestation period of a guinea pig can last anywhere from 59 to 72 days depending on how many babies she's carrying. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. By using our site, you agree to our. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Support wikiHow by Your body: During both the first and second trimester, your blood pressure may decrease slightly from its pre-pregnancy number. This information is then translated into an image. Use for phrases Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Whilst guinea pigs should never be bred intentionally, coming home from the pet store with a guinea pig who is already pregnant is a common story. The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. If your sow is carrying more pups rather than less, her length of pregnancy will more likely be closer to 60 days than 70. "I recently adopted two pigs but realized I would have many more very soon. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. I enjoy learning about pets and to share what I learn with others. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Fun Fact: You may think that the more the number of babies, the longer it takes for them to get born. Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. So how about the baby guinea pigs? Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. 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 they recover pretty quickly. I really enjoyed that it was stressed that the babies don't need to be with dad at, "I love guinea pigs, and when I get one, and then another one, they will probably mate. The kidney, bladder, or even fecal pellets can all be easily mistaken for fetuses. ", Scary after reading all this. By this time, your pet's pelvic bones will have widened enough to make way for the pups . 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