), the guinea pig was in the contact of boar. Depending on the age and the health status of your sow, pregnancies evoke a whole load of impediments. Have the details of a small animal vet handy Be prepared. 6 Signs of a Pregnant Pig. All creatures, for instance, will in general eat more according to the changes in climate, when theyre having a development spree, and when theyre experiencing specific diseases. The sow starts to prefer fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content. How much your cavy expands during this time depends on the number of pups shes carrying., 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.. Risk reduction includes preventing obesity in the mother guinea pig and providing adequate energy in the diet late in gestation. All in all, if you notice extreme weight gain on your female pets, feel the tummy gently to detect any pregnancy signs. Plus, brothers must be separated so they dont fight with one another. 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). Note that if pregnant, your little friends can comfortably carry three to four young ones to term. Your female guinea was kept with male guinea pigs If your female guinea was kept with male boars, then it is probable that she is pregnant. When labor is imminent, you might notice some changes in the way your guinea pig looks. Her hindquarters, especially, needs extra support to protect the litter. You must be prepared to handle the litter of newborns, and remember that males can impregnate their mothers when they are only three weeks old. The feeding of a pregnant guinea pig should also include the following modifications: Calcium enriched hay as pregnancy increases guinea pig calcium requirements. 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. the space is about 1.5cm as opposed to .5cm it was yesterday! Some factors like body size, breed and number of fetuses affect the pig gestation period or length. It will look like she is grabbing a poo to eat. Whether pregnant or not, it is wise to monitor the weight of your pets. I have experience with dogs, cats, rats, mice and even reptiles, but none with Guinea Pigs (last guinea pigs I had were when I was 10 years old and I don't remember any of it). 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. If you hold her carefully by the shoulders when shes on your lap or a towel, then you should be able to softly feel the lumps and bumps if you roll your other hand over her gently. A pregnant guinea will start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy propels. Guinea pig pregnancy week-by-week may sound like a complicated affair to both the novice and experienced cavy parent. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. 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. It is possible to make out fetuses 12 weeks after conception. As they grow, the opening fuses and becomes a stiff bony bridge. In such a situation, do not force them to tend to her pups as it may escalate things up. Or possibly when. It can be quite a tough task as their hunger seems to be veritably insatiable! Male guinea pigs (also called boars) are sexually active at 3 weeks of age, but they are not able to go through a neutering procedure until 4 months old. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. If possible, you can request your vet to sterilize your males or keep them in separate cages with the sows. A veterinarian will examine your guinea pig and distinguish between the various knots and knocks, something that you will be unable to do. You may even find her pregnancy waddle to be the cutest thing youve ever seen. Although breeding guinea pigs is not highly recommended, ensure that your pet feeds well and stays in a clean environment throughout the process. 0. Cervix begins to dilate. Use our guinea pig gestation calculator to estimate your pets due date based on the date she was bred. Although guinea pigs do not bleed much while giving birth, you should notice some discharge for the next five days. Loud squeals are a sign that she accepted him. I even have an emergency vet lined up if needed. Limit pressure and dodge any changes in the eating routine or lodging during late pregnancy. It takes two or three weeks to wean pups, and remember that the baby males must be separated by the time they are at most three weeks old. Our content is written by knowledgeable small pet owners with years of experience and is based on scientific research and expert recommendations. If you're unsure how to care for pregnant guinea pigs and newborn pups, read on. But taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can suspect pregnancy if any one of them is present. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. 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. There are numerous medical reasons why giving birth can go wrong. Mom's can, and are, very vigorous in cleaning up these babies! Guinea pigs are not nesters, so you might not notice any changes in behavior as delivery time gets closer. 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! If youd like to have more piggies in your guinea pig family, adopting a few from a rescue is a better choice and it doesnt put your sow at risk. However, the following guinea pig pregnancy timeline will simplify the entire gestation period and demystify the experience, so you can provide a stress-free environment for your little mama and her tiny pups.. Remember that a cold climate triggers a guinea pig's appetite. I have no idea when she was bred. Other potential complications are prolapse, retained placenta, uterine tears, etc. You should be watchful of the sow, because you really wont notice any difference in her appearance for the first few weeks. Those nutrients will nourish her as well as the fetuses and also prevent hair loss. An uncomplicated birth process takes not more than 30 minutes. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. The guinea pigs also undergo various stages of mating and as a result, get pregnant and reproduce. This may result in the delivery of live pigs, the correction of torsion or the piglets may be dead. Know when a pig is going into labor. If you are present, you can help her out by removing some of the placentas and some of the soiled bedding. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. The age of the sow plays a huge row in making the decision. At first, it can be difficult to notice, especially because guinea pigs tend to gain weight. Strong, frequent contractions. Male boars, on the other hand, become sexually active at three months of age. 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.. Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? 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! The guinea pig's heat cycle lasts 16 days. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. Your vet may confirm the pregnancy through physical examination, and if required, may suggest getting an ultrasound done. 0. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. Pregnant guinea pigs will also make a unique groaning sound when they are going into labor. The first thing you may notice is the mother becoming overly aggressive when grooming the pups. The milk provides some very important nutrients for the babies. 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 . The sow will sit very squarely, and make a "hiccupping" type of motion. So you should be able to get some needed rest. Sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions; sometimes its a pup ending up stuck in the birth canal. (And Other Key Terms), How Often Should You Clean a Guinea Pigs Cage? The abdomen becomes bulky and look plump, though this can also mean other things. and then voila, there's an insanely large pig with moving lumps in her belly. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the whole litter to be delivered. In some cases, pregnant guinea pigs triple the amount they consume in a day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Her instincts are to remove any smell that will lead predators to her babies. 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. The sow may sit hunched up, make a hiccup-like movement, and reach under herself to pull out a baby. By and large, you can permit the pregnancy to continue regularly, yet ensure you have a vet available in the event that there are complexities. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. Note that your guinea requires a balanced diet more than ever. It is essential to make certain this does not happen, thus free access to food and water is vital. If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. One of my guinea pigs is pregnant! Other guinea pigs sometimes act differently around pregnant specimens. 12 minute read; 5. If you notice a pup with the sac remaining over its face, break the membrane open with your finger nail. Pre-farrowing happens 10 to 14 days before the delivery day. At the end of the middle stage, the movement of the babies will become visible under the skin. Feed your guinea pig horse feed rather than timothy feed with the goal that she gets more protein and calcium. Ultrasounds are non-intrusive and dont need sedation. All of these signs are included and described as "the first stage of labor". After the widening, is birthing within 12-24 hours or 24-48 hours? The female guinea pig takes as much time as is needed to create her children. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! This page might contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. During their time in the heat, sows become receptive to male guinea pigs (boars) for around 6 to 11 hours. Think about whether your guinea pig was in the contact of a boar. Another significant change you may notice is massive weight gain soon after becoming pregnant. Is there anything special that needs to be done when cavies are pregnant? Pigs have an average gestation period of 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days). Maybe Janice will have at least one son so Possum will have a cage mate. 5. Once the pup is out, she will eat the sac on the pup and begin to clean the pup. I know guinea pigs don't. All Rights Reserved. Jane is an experienced animal care specialist with a focus on rodents and small mammals, with over 10 years of experience in the pet industry. Once the pelvic bones are about two fingers apart, the time of birth is imminent., Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day rather than overnight. Cavies were tamed at any rate by 900 BCE and conceivably as right on time as 5000 BCE. If you notice any unusual signs, take your pet to a vet for further analysis. Animallama is a pet care blog educating new and existing small pet owners on how to properly care for their pets. Signs of toxemia typically appear from 2 weeks before birth to 1 week after delivery and include:, Unfortunately, in some cases, toxemia is fatal. Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. During the entire pregnancy process, sows require a rich supply of Vitamin C. It is recommended that pet owners should double the quantity up to 20 mg per day. Wondering if you are able to commit to being a responsible pet parent to these adorable little rodents? Consider leaving her in her own environment and move the others so that she can remain in familiar surroundings. 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. Your email address will not be published. Normal labor should be short and sweet. It tends to affect overweight sows delivering their first and second litter. Even though there have been situations of guinea pigs giving birth to as much as 8 offspring, the average litter size is 4 baby guinea pigs. Once she passes the seventh week, you will easily be able to see the babies movement and even be able to distinguish by gentle touch what body part you are feeling. Place the cage away from direct sunlight and from places where there are loud noises present. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. If you sense your guinea pigs womb very deliberately, you may be able to detect the unborn if she is pregnant. Well with guinea pigs its the opposite. I do not breed. They may also have difficulty breathing and exhibit muscle contractions. Prevention is key, therefore, as stress and obesity play a major role in its development.. I am definitely no expert, but the same situation happened to Tabytha Sue's previous owner, Chris. How do you know if your cavy is actually carrying pups? Thats why a female guinea pig should be bred before the permanent hardening on the pelvic canal. They pace and build nests with straw or available materials. Thats because they dont want other males to approach her. The pups will be fully furred and have their eyes open. However, there is some variation among different breeds of pigs, either a little longer or a little shorter. An ultrasound check is the best quality level for pregnancy conclusion among guinea pigs. I found out that my marvoulus Marmalade was with the male "Chester" from the end of October until 2 days before I picked her up. Near the end restrain yourself from picking the animal up. In the presence of a male, the female changes her back (spine) which she arches downwards. Attempt to find a vet who has considerable experience in dealing with rodents and other little creatures, instead of simply a nonexclusive vet. The gestation period in pigs is 113 to 115 days from the first day of mating. If not, the female guinea pig will most likely bite or urinate on the male. So it is of utmost importance that you keep male and female guinea pigs isolated on the off chance that you dont need pregnancies to happen. Sows do not usually build nests, so provide some soft bedding in the cage. An expectant guinea pig is one source of concern even to experienced pet owners. A new estrous cycle in saws can begin very shortly after giving birth. I'm so excited, she getting so big. Many others survive but with complicationscostly to you, painful to her. Interesting fact The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! When sensing your guinea pigs womb, never apply force or squeeze the area since this could endanger both the piglets and the sow. I scared Ill lose her, her name is Pixie and I never wanted this to happen but my male name Nemo. 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Hindquarters, especially, needs extra support to protect the litter affect the pig gestation calculator to estimate your.... Taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can help her out by removing some of the stage. ), how Often should you clean a guinea pigs triple the amount they consume in a clean environment the. To make out fetuses 12 weeks after conception there are numerous medical reasons why giving.... Begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth can go wrong escalate. Becoming pregnant be unable to do, because you really wont notice any difference in her.! Being a responsible pet parent to these adorable little rodents, how Often should you a!