If you feel something and you're not certain what it is, then consult your veterinarian. But even if your locality has cold weather, it is still worth enough to take your guinea pig to the vet. So it is well over 3 months since the operation. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_15',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-1-0');The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) can be a helpful natural contraceptive in case of humans for a brief period after the birth of a child. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. Thanks for helping me realize that she is pregnant after all! I grew up with everything from dogs and cats to rabbits and guinea pigs. Research source HappyPiggies14 Well-known Member. Support wikiHow by I enjoy learning about pets and to share what I learn with others. Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. Remember guinea pigs are social animals and should be kept in groups, so if you own both a boar and a sow make sure to provide company of the same sex for both of them. This causes mineral deficiency. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. But make sure your handling of her is minimal. But that should be done only when you are present to monitor. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. This will keep your guinea pig from slipping. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Not knowing how to care for your furry pal when shes pregnant makes the whole thing scary, while knowing all about it makes the news heartening. These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. Then they started to do an unusual sound, which I suspected was a mating call. It will be too stressful for her. ago. 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. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Even though the birthing can be handled by yourself, it is better to leave it to licensed veterinarians to avoid last minute complications. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. 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. 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. 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. You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. The gestation period of a guinea pig can last anywhere from 59 to 72 days depending on how many babies she's carrying. Stage #2. Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. Though this window usually falls between 2-3 months old, some can even be mature after only a single month. 8 weeks after birth the guinea pig pups double their size by adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced breeder. But pregnancy is far from straightforward for guinea pigs. If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. It's important to remember you have The Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando in your corner if you feel like your guinea pig is unwell at any point during her pregnancy. 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. That's right, in many cases guinea pigs are pregnant for less than two months before they give birth to their litter. Things to RememberAbout Guinea Pig Pregnancy and Breeding, Terms and Conditions for Pocket pet central, Keeping them in the rooms of your home where loud noises cant be heard, Guinea pigs tend to get stressed when they do not have a pattern in their food, drinking, and outdoor timings. Just because they are the pups of a familiar guinea pig, this does not mean that they will be accepted immediately. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. 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. But it is better if you take her to the vet just to be sure. The minute you are sure your guinea pig is pregnant, make sure you get it to your vets attention. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Guinea Pig Pregnancy Stages Week By Week - Pregnancy Nicky Dalere (@NickyDalere) August 29, 2016 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js August 29, 2016 at 01:30AM Then, the ultrasound probe is placed on skin and emits a high-frequency sound that is inaudible to human ears. As a general rule, the larger the litter, the shorter guinea pig gestation tends to be. Gently press inwards and see if you feel any lumps or bumps inside her tummy. To tell if your guinea pig is pregnant, start by observing her eating habits to gauge whether she's eating and drinking more than usual. Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. Even at such a small size, they have hair and are able to see and run. Use for phrases Excess vitamin C is passed in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but other vitamins can build up and create problems. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Shortly after giving birth, guinea pigs begin a fresh estrous cycle that lasts only about half a day. The ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. But anywhere in the range of 59 days to 72 days is regarded as normal. We read that the more babies she is carrying will result in a shorter pregnancy. Because guinea pigs have a high infant mortality rate. Though it is usually closer to 3-4 months. Just because they can get pregnant again, doesnt mean that it wont have adverse effects on their well being, not just physically but also emotionally. The larger the size of the litter, the shorter the time they could stay inside in the same area where a smaller litter could stay longer. Next, check your guinea pig's weight, since her weight will almost double during pregnancy. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Note that she may chew the cardboard, so have extra boxes or use a wicker or thick-plastic box. Though it depends on the size of the litter, a guinea pig pregnancy lasts 59-72 days. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. But compromising on the perfection of those necessities wont cause much immediate trouble when she is not pregnant. Between 1 and 8 guinea pig babies with 4 being the most common number of guinea pigs per litter. The average Guinea pig gestation period is 68 days with a range of 59 - 72 days. Yeah, tests are very very important to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig. There is no need to remove other sows, they may even help with the pups. "We just found out that one of our guinea pigs is male and the other is pregnant! However, a caesarean surgery may be required. Use OR to account for alternate terms A female may accidentally injure the babies by squashing them and babies are prone to escaping cages, so check up on them regularly. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. 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. They will nurse from their mother but are able to nibble at solid food (such as moistened pellets) within 2 days. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. ask a friend or neighbour to check on her. Mother strains for 15 minutes without producing a pup. Any one else has pets that you can't pet or hold ? We can understand why a guinea pig would need extra comfort during pregnancy, given that she does not move as much as she used to. So having their cagemates with them could be a good choice. Has She Interacted With an Unneutered Male? Males born in the same litter are brothers, right? My guinea pigs continued to grow (4-5 months when I got them early May, so the new ones are 8 months old now) - to like perfectly normal guinea pigs. Caution: What makes guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is their lactation patterns. Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). With cute little fingers, hair, and adorable teeth, open ears & eyes, they are just the apt definition of awesomeness! 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. Have a visiting vet every once in a while. The safest, easiest, and least expensive way to prevent breeding is to house male and female guinea pigs separately. All animals, for example, tend to eat more when it's cold, when they're having a growth spurt, and when they're suffering from certain illnesses. Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. For example, carrots contain lots of oxalate. Publisher: Pergamon. Things to Watch Out for During Guinea Pig Pregnancy If you suspect that your guinea pig is experiencing any of these during gestation, try to take them to a veterinarian to get diagnosed properly. It is not recommended to breed guinea pigs. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. Unless you are a qualified veterinarian, the only other way to know is to go to someone who is an actual veterinarian.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1','ezslot_20',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1-0'); Some people may think that knowing how far along the pregnancy is, could not yield any benefit. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. 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