Cavies were initially brought into Europe during the 1500s. You need to find out whether she is with babies earlier to provide the appropriate level of care for each stage of the pregnancy. 4. 3. 0. . Weight Gain. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. Hence, when housed together, a guinea pig pregnancy can occur very early and very often.. By gently squeezing the tummy area, you may feel different-sized bumps. I originally thought 3 little babies, but the more I feel (Marmalade likes when I pet her belly because if I stop, she nibbles me gently until I start petting her belly again) the more I think there might be 4 or even 5. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. Avoid putting any pressure on her body. Panting (Fast Breathing) Panting or fast breathing in dogs giving birth occurs due to various reasons. A sow can birth one to six young ones, yet three to four is normal. Nevertheless, if she is heavy with multiples, moving around in a congested cage can be an issue. If labor takes much longer than 20 minutes, she may require emergency medical attention. This data is then converted into a picture. Progesterone production undergoes a luteal to placental shift as in human pregnancy with levels rising during gestation and with labor and delivery occurring without a precipitous decline in maternal progesterone levels. 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. When laboring, sows lay down in the nesting area and become quiet. A voracious appetite and a heavier-than-normal appearance are good signs that your pig is pregnant. Nevertheless, if your sow is not yet matured and is less than 6-8 months of age, she will still be growing and thus weight gain may not be symptomatic of pregnancy. Can Baby Mice Survive Without Their Mother? 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 . Back to thanking you for writing this post as it turns out Janice was purchased unbeknown, pregnant! Moms may continue to spot for up to 4-5 days after delivery, although 1-2 is more normal. They interact with voices and gestures to show you everything they feel. 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. Thats why a female guinea pig should be bred before the permanent hardening on the pelvic canal. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus blocks the cervical opening to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. Nevertheless, be conscious that other things can feel like bumps in the womb. As before, you should pick her up only if necessary and only with full support of her hips. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. Apart from injuring your sow, they may attempt to mate or impregnate her soon after birth. Remember that a cold climate triggers a guinea pig's appetite. If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. Do not overfeed pellets. 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. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. Generally, this happens after the last little one makes its way out. Nonetheless, here are a few subtle signs to look out for that point to a successful pregnancy: Weight gain after 2+ weeks Increase in food and water intake Mood changes due to rise in hormone level Increase in fatigue, resulting in more sleeping and/or change in sleeping pattern Noticeable enlargement of nipples How To Know when a pig is going into labor. Remember that the young pups have wide-opened eyes from birth. The gestation period for pregnant guinea pigs is 60 to 70 days. If you have been breeding her or if you suspect she has mated, then do not lift her without supporting her hindquarters, in order to safeguard the fetuses. This could expand her pressure and influence her eating and drinking habits. This may result in the delivery of live pigs, the correction of torsion or the piglets may be dead. An uncomplicated birth process takes not more than 30 minutes. I rescued these guinea pigs that were pregnant when I got them. The birth canals of these animals are very narrow. Guinea pigs eat more when they're pregnant. The mother remains at risk for some medical complications for a few days after giving birth, so keep a close eye on her. Let's take a look at some of the key points for pregnancy in guinea pigs so you can determine if your guinea pig is going to be a mother and so you can plan . Changes in the Estrous Cycle. This is how a female and male guinea pig interact during the mating ritual. Interesting fact The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! I can feel the outlines of the babies. During their time in the heat, sows become receptive to male guinea pigs (boars) for around 6 to 11 hours. A healthy guinea pig should have no problem going through labor. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about five minutes to birth a pup. The next number will be the earliest your guinea pig will potentially go into labor. Guinea pigs usually weigh about 1.5-2 lbs. To feel for the unborn, place the pig on a towel on a firm surface. 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. I WILL interfere if she is biting the babies, or attacking them. Be especially careful around the newborns eyes, as they are normally wide open, and you can scratch the cornea. If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. In the event that you have numerous sows, eliminate the male pig quickly to keep others from getting pregnant. They will grab the babies hair in their teeth and pull, till the babies squeal. In the presence of a male, the female changes her back (spine) which she arches downwards. Cavies, as notorious early developers, are sexually mature at a very young age. Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. 1. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. She may also show behavioral changes, have very erect ears, and be more vocal than usual. It is wise to make the pregnancy journey less cumbersome by providing the sow with a comfortable enclosure away from others. I do not breed. Thats because they dont want other males to approach her. If you were unaware of it before, guinea pigs mate early and often which means different genders should be separated when kept as pets. To decide when the introduction of the young ones will happen is frequently troublesome in that they have a long development period, and that the sows dont assemble homes. They will lick and lick till you think she is trying to remove their fur. The length of the estrous cycle is 16 days. What any professional on the matter will tell you is not to breed your guinea if you are still in the process of making the final decision. Before we talk about the stages of your guinea pigs pregnancy, lets make certain that your guinea pig is already pregnant. Female guinea pigs can come back into heat 15 hours after giving birth. The kidney, bladder, or even fecal pellets can all be easily mistaken for fetuses. The second stage of labor is the actual pushing of pigs out of the birth canal. Many females who survive experience complications, which are painful to the sow and costly to the pet parent.. The signs of pregnancy toxaemia are abrupt onset of depression (quiet, weak, lethargic) and anorexia (not eating). The best clue might be when they stop the mating ritualnatures call has been answered, and they both quiet down. Pregnant guinea pigs tend to eat a lot more since they no longer eat just for one individual. Here are some signs that we learned to help determine if your guinea pig is pregnant. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. It makes me so happy and very worried at the same time. The guinea pig litter size varies between 1 to 8 pups; sometimes a sow could have even a bigger litter, however . 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. Most pups emerge heads first, although a few make the grand entry from behind. However, if the readings are low for two consecutive days, you can consider the temperature drop as a sign of imminent labor. All pregnancies are risky and breeding is never recommended. the space is about 1.5cm as opposed to .5cm it was yesterday! 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. 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. When a guinea pig is pregnant the pelvic canal stretches as a result of hormonal secretion. 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. If you witness any of the signs listed below, get the sow to a cavy knowledgeable vet immediately. This process can take up to 2-3 hours. However, if youre still in the process of deciding whether to breed her, then heed our advice to not breed her. There should be little or no blood, especially before any babies have been produced. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. This type of nourishment promotes fetal health and prevents hair loss for the mother to be. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. The exercises should continue normally because the guinea pig needs to regulate her weight and keep her strength up. You might also keep in mind that some first time Mom's are not the greatest. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. At that point, the ultrasound machine is put on the skin and transmits a high-recurrence sound that is quiet to human ears. There are three stages of the farrowing process; pre-farrowing, farrowing, and after-birth expulsion. Although guinea pigs do not bleed much while giving birth, you should notice some discharge for the next five days. Those fertile periods can occur during any time of the year, but most frequently during spring. 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. Are you able to feel the outlines of the babies bodies? Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. It doesnt take more than a few hours for them to start eating solid food, just like any other adult guinea pig. Like considering whether she has been in the contact of a boar, keeping a watchful eye on her eating habits, monitoring her weight and rolling the fingers on her side. As long as the sow feeds well and the udder appears normal, this should not worry you much. It will look like she is grabbing a poo to eat. The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. Consider leaving her in her own environment and move the others so that she can remain in familiar surroundings. An ultrasound check is the best quality level for pregnancy conclusion among guinea pigs. Hamsters and Guinea Pigs Can They Live Together. During all of the stage and especially during the last stage of pregnancy the sow should remain in a calm environment. I know guinea pigs don't. Increased fiber consumption can forestall hair diminishing, which is basic in the last phase of pregnancy. Two per week at the most, but one per day is too much. Also, any pig that is pregnant conveys a one out of five possibilities of biting the dust as an immediate consequence of complexities during or after pregnancy or birth. 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. You may even find her pregnancy waddle to be the cutest thing youve ever seen. Her instincts are to remove any smell that will lead predators to her babies. She eats those to keep predators from discovering the babies. Have the details of a small animal vet handy Be prepared. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day. On the other hand, keeping a pregnant sow with boars poses a greater danger. Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. 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