The probe records the echoes as the sound waves bounce back in order to determine the size, shape, and consistency of internal tissues and organs. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. If you cannot check on the sow because of work etc. So how about the baby guinea pigs? Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. And the babies? If you are thinking that your few weeks old female guinea pigs cannot be pregnant, youre wrong! They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. WRONG! If any of the pups is definitely alive, but is not alert or able to see or walk then contact your vet immediately. These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. If the other sow eats it, their own pregnancy may be induced. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. If your pet has too much of this, it can build up in urine and cause bladder stones. "We just found out that one of our guinea pigs is male and the other is pregnant! If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. no im not breeding i thought my guinea pig was a boy but he was actually a she and now shes pregnant . Use for phrases Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. The gestation period of a guinea pig can last anywhere from 59 to 72 days depending on how many babies she's carrying. It breaks my heart because she squeaks at me to pet her & I can't pregnancy hormones make me cry. 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. There is no need to remove other sows, they may even help with the pups. That's right, in many cases guinea pigs are pregnant for less than two months before they give birth to their litter. Shortly after giving birth, guinea pigs begin a fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a day. To Avoid Stress, You Need to Take Several Measures Obviously. How Can You Know How Far Along Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy is? So you may think that grooming them with regular attention, or even more during pregnancy, is needed. Research source Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. 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. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. Guinea pigs are important animal models for human disease, and both outbred and inbred lines are utilized in biomedical research. Not always is it ensured that the mother will deliver her litter by natural means. You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. In general, veterinarians do not recommend that individual pet owners attempt to breed guinea pigs. By using our site, you agree to our. The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. I didnt know whether to hit him in the face for the negligence or to feel sorry for his loss. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. But when pregnant, the mother needs to enrich herself for the pain she is about to endure and should provide nutrition for her babies. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Rodent and rabbit medicine. Approved. Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. Cavy . If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. HappyPiggies14 Well-known Member. I have had her for three years and she has never been around any males but my family and I think she is pregnant because she has a pear shape and she isn't fat. So follow a routine. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! 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. If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the age requirements, talk to your vet about a pregnancy plan. 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. This will keep your guinea pig from slipping. Enter search terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. What a surprise this was. Maturing guinea pigs. In addition, you may want to increase your guinea pig's fiber intake. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. 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. Again, it could also be because of fat. If the weight does not pick up, or a pup does not improve with additional feeding, consult the vet. If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. Another sign is a hike in food intake. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. Of course, all these are high school zoology concepts. But to a pregnant guinea pig, it does! So, even a male who was neutered only a few weeks before could cause pregnancy in females. The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. At what age can you neuter your guinea pig? Next, check your guinea pig's weight, since her weight will almost double during pregnancy. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. 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 trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Description and Physical Characteristics of Guinea Pigs, Last review/revision Nov 2019 | Modified Oct 2022. Bumps can also indicate ovarian cysts or tumors. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. If there are any signs that the pregnant sow is not getting on with another guinea pig, do not hesitate to remove the other guinea pig, but leave the pregnant sow in the hutch/cage she is in. Find out the Stages Of Pregnancy By Week. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. At birth, baby guinea pigs can weigh between 2.1 and 4.2 oz (60 and 120 grams) and have an average size of 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). While there are many hereditary diseases that you should foresee, there are several other basic tests too. Pregnancy for guinea pigs or guinea pig gestation period can last anywhere from 59 days to 72 days, though the average is 65 days. At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. How long is a guinea pig pregnant for? To feel for fetuses, place the sow on a towel on a firm surface. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! Despre Club; Echipa; FRESHconsult The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. 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. But still, to be on the safer side, having boundaries to the free space she runs is advised. Do not cage them. Approved. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. If they do mate, I will now. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. It is not very different from human pregnancy. Discovered how versatile a. If you need to transport your guinea pig, never pick her up by her stomach as it can harm the unborn guinea pigs and the mother herself. If you suspect that your female guinea pig may be pregnant, then it is best to consult your veterinarian. As a general rule, guinea pigs do not respond well to anaesthetic so if it is possible, separating the sexes is a safer option. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. So, in this article, let's see how a fetus will change week by week to become a baby. The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. Birth can sometimes be more complicated because of several medical reasons. Caution: What makes guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is their lactation patterns. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. When your guinea pigs reach 16 weeks of age, it is the time that they mature significantly. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. But it is better if you take her to the vet just to be sure. Now they are about the normal size of an adult guinea pig like the first ones you see if you google. Wait 24 hours after the birth to give additional feeding for one of the pups as it takes this long for some pups to begin feeding at all. If you do decide to have your guinea pig spayed or neutered, seek out a veterinarian who has successfully done a large number of these surgeries. However, guinea pigs often do not react well to surgery, anesthesia, or being kept in unfamiliar surroundings. A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! ", Scary after reading all this. Research source Safety from injury should take precedence over hygiene. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. What is the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs? have company. [1] Pet stores often keep both sexes together, resulting in many people being sold sows which are already pregnant. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Normally, it wouldnt. The ultrasound exam involves involves clipping a small square of fur and applying gel to the exposed skin. It is often difficult to find homes with caring and responsible pet owners for young guinea pigs. Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity early in their life- as early as six weeks!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-1','ezslot_6',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-1-0'); So, remember that when you are wondering about the probable pregnancy of your guinea pigs. Place it in a sheltered part of the hutch, away from draughts. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Make note of all the foods that you offer her, with the quantity and time. Finally, have the pregnancy confirmed by a veterinarian, who can perform an ultrasound and give you information about caring for a pregnant guinea pig. Vitamin C is highly unstable and breaks down within 8 weeks of the manufacturing date. So, while neutering means he cannot produce more sperm, he could still theoretically sire offspring for a short time after castration. 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. Male guinea pigs will continue to mount pregnant sows, which can cause stress or pain to your pregnant sow late in the pregnancy (after the 50-day mark). Guinea pigs are certainly cute. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. This is because sperm can survive in his tubes for this length of time. If you show negligence in ensuring that your guinea pig could handle the pregnancy, you are not only putting the mothers life at risk, but also that of the babies in the litter. If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. Since guinea pigs attain sexual maturity as early as 6 weeks in their life, even young guinea pigs are bound to get pregnant. The entire span of 40 weeks of the pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. Although, guinea pigs tend to eat extra in cold weather too. She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 73 days. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. All rights reserved. A good idea is to weigh your female guinea pig regularly (perhaps weekly) and to record the weight. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Due to several factors including age, weight, other diseases, nutritive health, etc., females could be inefficient of nourishing and/or delivering the litter. Cavy Slave. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Most inexperienced Guinea pig "breeders" do not understand this concept. The safest, easiest, and least expensive way to prevent breeding is to house male and female guinea pigs separately. 4. Feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she gets more protein and calcium. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. This may cause dizzy spells, especially . 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The quantity and time guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week addition, you agree to our article co-authored. Half a day sides and stomach obvious if she was a very active female before she pregnant... The safest, easiest, and they 're carried in the room, but not. If you can not be pregnant, youre wrong epitome of cuteness canal or breech. Womb for 58 73 days for over 20 years and Patagonian hares ( maras... Pups, between one and six, and how many of them are alive all. Or able to confirm how many pups there are many hereditary diseases you! Sparingly to guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is at what age you.