While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. And, truth be told, it can certainly be a tricky, stress-ridden adventure for experienced cavy owners as well. Post the number on a piece of paper next to the guinea pigs hutch/cage. If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the age requirements, talk to your vet about a pregnancy plan. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. 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. Once cavies mate, there is a noticeable quiet period afterwards. Once the pelvic bones are about two fingers apart, the time of birth is imminent. Thats why the best age for a guinea pig to get pregnant is between 4 and 7 months of age. If any of them seem to bother her or tease her, they will need to be put in a separate cage. . 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! As in humans, this happens when pups grow and take up more space. Thats because they dont want other males to approach her. This prevents an excess of one particular mineral that might be contained in that vegetable. In the case of any anomalies or worry, you should contact the vet. If there is not an out-of-hours vet in your area, discuss this with your vet to come up with a plan. She may, if he persists, even urinate on him. Again, if you need to handle your cavy, do so in a gentle manner, grasping her securely yet comfortably, to ensure full support of her body. Cavies of both sexes, when mixed together and unsterilized, will most assuredly result in guinea pig pregnancy. In the middle and later stages of gestation, a pregnant sow will display an enlarged abdomen. [1] The ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. The average gestation period is 65 days. Place it in a sheltered part of the hutch, away from draughts. Sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions; sometimes its a pup ending up stuck in the birth canal. Although the guinea pig gestation period varies, the guinea pig gestation period typically lasts between 59-72 days. If the water bottle is usually placed high-up, provide a second water bottle lower down so that the sow does not have to stretch if she does not want to. If you hold her carefully by the shoulders when she's on . Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. Naturally bald areas. Like we said, if you plan to keep the babies, you should keep them separate. Pet stores often keep both sexes together, resulting in many people being sold sows which are already pregnant. At the end of the middle stage, the movement of the babies will become visible under the skin. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. Thats because those tiny, adorable feet are just so tiny! Mother starts making "extreme" stress calls, Mother seems to give in, appearing exhausted, Excessive bleeding (more than a tablespoon). They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. You should observe the behavior of the other guinea pigs as well. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. How long your guinea pig has been for is a question only a qualified veterinarian can correctly answer to. Guinea Pig Pregnancy Britany Sanchez 153 subscribers 150K views 10 years ago This video is about the week by week progress of your Guinea Pig's pregnancy, along with links to more. Wondering if you are able to commit to being a responsible pet parent to these adorable little rodents? Baby boys need to leave mum at 3 weeks of age or 250grams, whichever comes first. The majority of guinea pigs give birth during daylight. Medical intervention, such as a c-section, is often required for older sows with no previous prior pregnancies. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. She does so, as well, with the placenta. Near the end restrain yourself from picking the animal up. Enjoy! If there are male guinea pigs present at the time of birth, they will compete between themselves to mate with the mother and protect the newborn guinea pigs. Adding a soft, fleece blanket to her sleeping area. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. . (The Surprising Answer! This type is rich both in protein in calcium, two things she needs a lot at the moment. Approved. This is the most exciting period! The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. 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. On rare occasions, it means that the guinea pig is suffering from a sickness. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. One more way to detect guinea pig pregnancy is the smell of the pet. Their shapes are very cylindrical-like and can be compared to tangerines in body appearance. The guinea pigs won't need to make a nest to give birth. With the use of ultrasound, your vet can also assess potential concerns with the pregnancy. when they are this wide you will know she will give birth in the next 48 hours. Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old. Only this way, serious delivery problems can be avoided. Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. His professionalism is shown on the many articles he contributed to the website. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, Aiutare un Porcellino d'India in Gravidanza, s'occuper d'un cochon d'Inde durant la priode de gestation. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. Are you wondering if your guinea pig is pregnant? Other potential complications are prolapse, retained placenta, uterine tears, etc. The early stage consists of the first few days after mating. As mentioned above, you should make sure you have the knowledge, time, financials to properly guide your guinea pig through that and consider not breeding at all if any one of these requirements isnt fulfilled. The gestation period is between 59-72 days, with an average pregnancy of 65 days. If you've found out that your guinea pig is pregnant, check on it several times a day to monitor its drinking and eating habits so you know what is normal and can react to changes. During the first month or so, there arent a lot of physical signs to indicate your sow is a mom-to-be. She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 - 73 days. 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. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. A first-timer will not gain as much weight, but generally will weigh 35 ounces or more by the time she gives birth. If you are concerned about the mother or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however. Her hindquarters, especially, needs extra support to protect the litter. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. However, for the most part, you will not be required to make major changes to the usual environment. Once the pups are weaned, the mother should not require vitamin supplements anymore, unless you gave them to her as part of her regular diet anyway. Support wikiHow by I have been given an 8 week old guinea pig that is pregnant, and her half-sister. Postnatally guinea pigs can become sexually mature as early as four weeks. The baby guinea pigs can be physically felt 2 to 4 weeks into pregnancy. The male, when courting a female, will physically display himself with actions like rumbling, standing upright before the sow, and approaching her with a lowered head. Vitamin C supplements should be given orally at a regiment of 10 mg a day. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. As with most animals, there's not a set number of days that a guinea pig is pregnant. This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Thats when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. Boys will try and mate with their mum at . Note that she may chew the cardboard, so have extra boxes or use a wicker or thick-plastic box. 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. ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. But taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can suspect pregnancy if any one of them is present. Their eyes will open quickly and, within a few hours of birth, will search for solid food to eat. Since their gestation lasts just 59-73 days, a female guinea pig is capable in theory of bearing five or even six litters a year. Do not intervene or touch the pups unless you need to. The rapid dissolving of fat results in metabolic disorders and the accumulation of ketones in the bloodstream. If the female guinea appears to be in distress or is in labour for longer than 20-30 minutes without giving birth, then emergency veterinary care is imperative. A visit to the vet will help determine if your cavy is pregnant. Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? Even though you can assist the birthing by yourself, its always better to leave it to licensed professionals. How Big of a Cage for Two Guinea Pigs? If you cannot check on the sow because of work etc. In most cases, the small forms are a sign of guinea pig pregnancy. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The age of the sow plays a huge row in making the decision. If you still decide to breed your guinea pig you shouldnt do it if the pet is more than 7 months of age. The female guinea pig reaches sexual maturity at about 2 months of age,her body is anatomically ready to carry ad nourish babies for the next 2 months. Quite a shock, since we thought. Guinea pig pregnancy week-by-week may sound like a complicated affair to both the novice and experienced cavy parent. Guinea Pig Reproduction and Gestation Guinea pigs have a lifespan of 4 to 8 years and reach sexual maturity at an early age. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. How to confirm your guinea pig's pregnancy? You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. Pregnancy for Guinea Pigs is very high risk, both for the mum and the babies. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. 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