Only this way, serious delivery problems can be avoided. Enriching the guinea pigs diet with kale, broccoli, green peppers, and parsley is also advised. (And How? mypetguineapig.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. Whether it was planned or not, this post will inform you on what to expect during guinea pig pregnancy, the potential problems, and post-natal care. Normally, the pregnancy period lasts between 63 and 70 days. Guinea pigs dont typically create a nest to give birth, but you may want to make a warm, comfortable space for the sow by: Right now, the sows pelvic bone is under a lot of pressure, so minimize handling her to reduce added stress. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. Guinea pups, once born, will be completely furry. I named her Janice. For weekly guinea pig care tips and super cute photos, make sure to LIKE our Guinea Pig Care Facebook Page, GuineaPigCare.com.au was created to pass on the many lessons I've learned owning and caring for guinea pigs since 2007. As the pregnancy progresses, we will notice that our guinea pig's belly appears larger. oh, and I do wonder what the piglets will end up looking like maybe you'll get a pleasant mix of long/short hair? Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least. Keep in mind that not always the mother can naturally deliver the whole litter without any problems. The whole process from first contraction to last baby can be as short as 15 minutes, and up to 40 minutes depending on how many babies she has. You will need to see a vet if this is the case. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged.. When your guinea pig is in labor, . Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. Their eyes will open quickly and, within a few hours of birth, will search for solid food to eat., 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. She doesn't like the florets (tried them) but I wanna do what is best for her! Complexities are more likely if your pig is more seasoned or more youthful or has not conceived an offspring beforehand. In most cases, the small forms are a sign of guinea pig pregnancy. She may eat up to the triple measure that she typically eats. In the pregnant female, the symphysis relaxes and stretches in response to secretion of relaxin by the pituitary gland and endometrium, allowing separation of the pubic bones (Williams 2012, Brower 2006, Martinho 2006). View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. Apart from injuring your sow, they may attempt to mate or impregnate her soon after birth. The next number will be the earliest your guinea pig will potentially go into labor. Legitimate administration of the pregnant sow requires a comprehension of the danger factors for pregnancy related sickness and a capacity to perceive early indications of issues. 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. In fact, you may even wonder if your cavy is actually pregnant. Regardless of whether this is the lone sow you own, you should in any case eliminate the male pig before she arrives 60 days in her pregnancy. If the female is receptive to his suggestion, she will signal her acceptance with loud squeals. The Short-haired Guinea Pig Breeds is the coolest. You notice a mucusy discharge or "bloody show". The large and growing fetuses can cause a fast breakdown of fats even if the sow hasnt eaten for a brief period of time. Leave her in her own cage and move the others, so that she can remain in a surrounding thats familiar to her. Think about whether your guinea pig was in the contact of a boar. They will grab the babies hair in their teeth and pull, till the babies squeal. One more way to detect guinea pig pregnancy is the smell of the pet. Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? To feel for the unborn, place the pig on a towel on a firm surface. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. The period during which the female is receptive to the male and will allow breeding lasts about 8 hours. Guinea pigs usually weigh about 1.5-2 lbs. Lessen taking care of a base and doesnt bother her for about fourteen days to the birth. As you get closer to labor, your water may break and you may have back pain or . The signs of pregnancy toxaemia are abrupt onset of depression (quiet, weak, lethargic) and anorexia (not eating). Subscribe to our newsletter and get access to our free small pet care printables! The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. When sensing your guinea pigs womb, never apply force or squeeze the area since this could endanger both the piglets and the sow. Sooner when the motherly impulse slowly sinks in, they may take up their maternal role. Are you able to feel the outlines of the babies bodies? The largest noted litter numbered 14 guinea pigs. It makes me so happy and very worried at the same time. Vitamin C supplements should be given orally at a regiment of 10 mg a day. Do let us know when the babies are born. At the end of the middle stage, the movement of the babies will become visible under the skin. It is also an indication that the first stage of labor is happening. If you were unaware of it before, guinea pigs mate early and often which means different genders should be separated when kept as pets. Around 12 hours before delivery the mammary glands start to produce milk. . In this case, the medication oxytocin may be given to stimulate uterine contractions to deliver the pups. Check out these most popular guinea pig products on the market: Last update on 2023-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Wondering if you are able to commit to being a responsible pet parent to these adorable little rodents? Avoid over-feeding In theory, guinea pigs can give up to 5 litters per year. It's your body's way of protecting your baby . Do it every day at the same time routinely. 2 Remove any boars. Right now, it is imperative to ensure the pregnant guinea is in a stress-free environment. The canal is fully fused by the 7-8thmonth of age both in unbred female and male guinea pigs. Joined Jun 13, 2010 Posts 178. . All in all, if you notice extreme weight gain on your female pets, feel the tummy gently to detect any pregnancy signs. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, there wont be a huge change in her appearance. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. Some guinea pigs have swirls of long hair while others have a coat of soft, short hair. However, even without the mothers milk baby guinea pigs can survive feeding only on solid food. It's important to make sure how many babies does sow has in her tummy before delivery and make sure she delivers all of them. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. If you see your sow bleeding, more than a tablespoon, dripping blood, or many pieces of bloody bedding with no babies, you are best advised to get to a vet. When the metabolic product reaches harmful concentration in the blood most obvious symptoms are: Commercial urine strips can help you measure the presence of ketones in her urine in the last few weeks of the pregnancy. An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. The pups will be fully furred and have their eyes open. During this time, you must keep the boars away from the sows. She eats those to keep predators from discovering the babies. An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. In most cases, a guinea pigs mothers instincts do not kick in immediately. Thats when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. A female can give . A voracious appetite and a heavier-than-normal appearance are good signs that your pig is pregnant. Copyright 2000-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Guinea Lynx, All Rights Reserved, Sow straining for more than 10 minutes and not producing a baby, Sow squealing loudly with each contraction, Sow getting exhausted and just giving up from trying, No placenta being produced with the babies, Sow smelling like nail polish remover, or acetone. The guinea pig's heat cycle lasts 16 days. The test records the echoes as the sound waves skip back to decide the size, shape, and consistency of tissues and organs in the body. Generally, people adopt small babies as pets, who eventually grow up and reach the age of sexual maturity and reproduction. If any of them seem to bother her or tease her, they will need to be put in a separate cage. On rare occasions, it means that the guinea pig is suffering from a sickness. Naturally, they have narrow birth canals. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The age of the sow plays a huge row in making the decision. If youve had cavies for a while, youve undoubtedly noticed from the start that your little, Read More How to Feed Guinea Pigs: An Easy-To-Follow Feeding ScheduleContinue, Guinea pigs spend quite a lot of time in their habitat, so they require an excellent bedding material thats not only highly-absorbent, but soft and cozy too. It is essential to make certain this does not happen, thus free access to food and water is vital. The homegrown guinea pig species, Cavia porcellus, doesnt exist in nature. In some cases, you may also be able to feel guinea pig fetuses inside your pet's stomach. Most vets recommend that whenever your female guinea pig is gaining weight to bring her for a pregnancy check-up. Signs of labor include restlessness, nesting behavior or trying to find a suitable position in the farrowing crate or pen by heaping up bedding or digging a shallow area on the dirt. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about five minutes to birth a pup. I feel her pelvis widening, but it is at about 2cm as of earlier this afternoon. Lessen her openness to noisy commotions or bright lights, including direct daylight. Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum! Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. If it helps just a few guinea pigs in the world live a happier and healthier life, then the site has done it's job. If not, the female guinea pig will most likely bite or urinate on the male. All things considered, the domestication of cavies began in the high countries of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. By gently squeezing the tummy area, you may feel different-sized bumps. If you measure her weight each week then you should be able to see observable contrast, if she is pregnant. Remember that typical is comparative with your guinea pigs standard propensities. 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