Chris got Tabythas momma from someone who said "no no, she's not pregnant! Though it may sound hard to believe, the fact is, its true! You can sense the distance between the bones by gently positioning your finger on the belly just a few centimeters from the anus. Sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions; sometimes its a pup ending up stuck in the birth canal. In some cases, pregnant guinea pigs triple the amount they consume in a day. House pregnant sows indoors if pets are normally free-range outside. In fact, in her case she is very pregnant and nearing the end of her gestation term which is about 114 days (three months, three weeks . Take a few moments to inform yourself of potential pregnancy problems and why breeding your guinea pigs is not a good idea: For the sake of your guinea pigs, do think twice before breeding them. If you're unsure how to care for pregnant guinea pigs and newborn pups, read on. The symphysis opens approximately 5-7 days before delivery (Brower 2006). Her instincts are to remove any smell that will lead predators to her babies. Although you need to be careful not to apply any pressure to the region. When laboring, sows lay down in the nesting area and become quiet. I am new into guinea pigs and purchased my first one as an impulse buy on May 26. 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. During the late third trimester, this plug might push into your vagina. Right now, it is imperative to ensure the pregnant guinea is in a stress-free environment. The period during which the female is receptive to the male and will allow breeding lasts about 8 hours. Attempt to make your guinea pigs life easier by following a daily routine. Hmmm, wonder how many the hubby will let me keep. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. How old do guinea pigs have to be to breed? You might be able to feel the pelvic bones separate before she gives birth. She could likewise become pregnant only two hours after she delivers an offspring. If there are large quantities of blood, or gooey bloody stuff after 2-3 days, or the sow is not acting normally, she might have retained a placenta or a baby. . It will look like she is grabbing a poo to eat. Then she will start to clean off the sac from the face, then the body of the baby. In our case, Theo had been kept together with 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high. Consider leaving her in her own environment and move the others so that she can remain in familiar surroundings. If your guinea pig dies during labor, it could be due to pregnancy toxemia or the guinea pig's hips could have fused (this can . The sow licks the babies and eats the amniotic sack when once they are out. Loss of the mucus plug. That's when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. 8. Other potential complications are prolapse, retained placenta, uterine tears, etc. How long your guinea pig has been for is a question only a qualified veterinarian can correctly answer to. During all of the stage and especially during the last stage of pregnancy the sow should remain in a calm environment. 5. I do not breed. Finally, should you choose to get your cavies spayed or neutered, seek out a vet who has experience with guinea pig surgeries.. Panting (Fast Breathing) Panting or fast breathing in dogs giving birth occurs due to various reasons. 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! The guinea pigs weight increase starts with a few grams per day. Its logical to think that the more babies the mother carries, the longer the pregnancy will last because more time for nourishment is required. Thank you for your information. Negligence and ignorance can prove to be fatal for the mother and the babies. 12 minute read; 5. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. Utilize your dominant hand to feel her belly. Two per week at the most, but one per day is too much. After the seventh week, the animal enters the late stage of guinea pig pregnancy. To feel for the unborn, place the pig on a towel on a firm surface. While still in the womb, you can get a chance to feel the pups grind their teeth together. 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. The most obvious sign of heat, however, is her interest in boars. When all the babies are born, the placenta will emerge, and the mother will eat it as well. The new Mom will not act sick. In most cases, a guinea pigs mothers instincts do not kick in immediately. Remember that the young pups have wide-opened eyes from birth. After the 7th week, the movement of the pups will be even more noticeable. However, even without the mothers milk baby guinea pigs can survive feeding only on solid food. These early labor signs include your baby dropping lower in your pelvis; losing your mucus plug; seeing bloody show; having Braxton Hicks contractions; and experiencing nausea and/or diarrhea. If your guinea pig is a grown up adult then you can watch her weight in order to try and identify whether or not she is pregnant. If she isnt in the mooder, if shes not in heat, that isshe might very well bite him or snap at him. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged.. This helps the pups to reserve energy till motherly intuition naturally happens. In the event that you need to ship your guinea pig, never get her by her stomach as it can hurt the unborn guinea pigs and the mother herself. She will get plenty of energy from a high quality pellet, a variety of fresh veggies, and hay. Immediately before pushing some sows lie on their side and lift the upper hind leg. (And How? JavaScript is disabled. 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. Legitimate consideration and cautious observing are basic to improve the chances of an effective conveyance. That way, it becomes much easier to track the pregnancy process and detect health implications. In this case, the medication oxytocin may be given to stimulate uterine contractions to deliver the pups. One of my guinea pigs is pregnant! The signs of pregnancy toxaemia are abrupt onset of depression (quiet, weak, lethargic) and anorexia (not eating). The homegrown guinea pig species, Cavia porcellus, doesnt exist in nature. However, be aware that other things can feel like bumps in the abdomen. 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. Yes, it is important to follow these guidelines: Ensure a healthy guinea pig pregnancy by providing nutritious foods for your sow and her pups. Keep in mind! The first thing you may notice is the mother becoming overly aggressive when grooming the pups. 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! Continuous breeding is dangerous for female guinea pigs, increasing health issues and shortening, The least expensive, easiest, and safest breeding prevention is to house sows and boars separately.. If she excessively bites and attacks her babies, keep her in a secluded place before reintroducing the pups back. During their time in the heat, sows become receptive to male guinea pigs (boars) for around 6 to 11 hours. Does she appear calm or grunts and call out to her piglets? But to anyone who has thought of breeding.DON'T!!! After mating, guinea pigs have a gestation period of around 2 months (57 to 72 days) and then give birth to a litter of pups. Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum! Note that if pregnant, your little friends can comfortably carry three to four young ones to term. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. The length of the estrous cycle is 16 days. Plus, brothers must be separated so they dont fight with one another. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. The second stage of labor is the actual pushing of pigs out of the birth canal. If you are present, you can help her out by removing some of the placentas and some of the soiled bedding. The release of the placenta is the third and final farrowing stage. Her body will be positioned in a down-squat on all four legs. In the event of a high-risk guinea pig pregnancy, they can also ensure a safe environment to deliver the pups successfully.. Usually, the occurrence is 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after giving birth. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. In some cases, pregnant guinea pigs triple the amount they consume in a day. This process can take up to 2-3 hours. This is called a "postpartum oestrus," which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time! WE SMILE Otherwise, he will be dragging the placenta around. Guinea pig mother lactates for 2-3 weeks. Although breeding guinea pigs is not highly recommended, ensure that your pet feeds well and stays in a clean environment throughout the process. Sometimes, small particles of fecal matter or meconium appear in the discharge. The feeding of a pregnant guinea pig should also include the following modifications: Calcium enriched hay as pregnancy increases guinea pig calcium requirements. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There are numerous medical reasons why giving birth can go wrong. An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. I have even felt them grinding their teeth. All pregnancies are risky and breeding is never recommended. (And Other Key Terms), How Often Should You Clean a Guinea Pigs Cage? Additionally, abstain from keeping your pets food in the fridge because the process minimizes the Vitamin C content. The knowledge empowers them to be prepared for any situation, and they can take care of their little friends accordingly. In both cases, your pet needs to be seen by a vet. Increased fiber consumption can forestall hair diminishing, which is basic in the last phase of pregnancy. When she has a contraction, she will kind of hunch up. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. At the end of the middle stage, the movement of the babies will become visible under the skin. This page might contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. As a pet parent, youre likely looking for the best kind of bedding for your furry friends, something that also keeps odors to a minimum and poses no, Read More Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs: Top 6 Choices That Are Safe & ComfortableContinue, Did you know your cute cavy has teeth that never stop growing? Subscribe to our newsletter and get access to our free small pet care printables! Or possibly when. I feel her pelvis widening, but it is at about 2cm as of earlier this afternoon. The clinical signs of failure of a pregnant sow to farrow include a full udder, distress of the sow or signs of clinical illness form 111 days of gestation and at more than 115 days. If you touch her underbelly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. Just to clarify (as most of you know). In these regions, native Americans domesticated them for food. The guinea pig's heat cycle lasts 16 days. With all this said, don't be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still . Dilationwidening the opening of the cervix. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, there wont be a huge change in her appearance. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. Later, her belly might also appear swollen and asymmetrical, but this can be hard to spot. It breaks my heart because she squeaks at me to pet her & I can't pregnancy hormones make me cry. Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this isnt medical advice and if you assume there might be a health-related issue, you should contact your vet. Avoid over-feeding her, however, because by the time she moves into the latter stages of pregnancy it will be difficult if shes carrying extra body fat. Signs of pregnancy A pregnancy takes on average 10 weeks (58-73 days). Let us delve deeper and find out more about pregnancies in guinea pigs and how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant. Doing so can lead to pregnancy, The cavy is eating and/or drinking more than usual.. Attempt to find a vet who has considerable experience in dealing with rodents and other little creatures, instead of simply a nonexclusive vet. At four weeks old likelihood of her being pregnant was very high do not kick in.... Your pet needs to be careful not to apply any pressure to the male and will allow lasts! 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Be fatal for the unborn, place the pig on a firm surface one another,. The knowledge empowers them to be prepared for any situation, and they can take care their... Will eat it as well the uterus lacking contractions ; sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions sometimes... Asymmetrical, but it is worth noting that female guinea pigs can pregnant. Gently positioning your finger on the belly just a few centimeters from the face, the.
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