Thank you for your information. This data is then converted into a picture. Sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions; sometimes its a pup ending up stuck in the birth canal. One sign that she will give birth soon is that her pelvic bones will spread to 1-2 inches (about 2-3 fingertips wide) about 24-48 hours before birth. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. the space is about 1.5cm as opposed to .5cm it was yesterday! Loose-feeling joints. Depending on the age and the health status of your sow, pregnancies evoke a whole load of impediments. Its logical to think that the more babies the mother carries, the longer the pregnancy will last because more time for nourishment is required. 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. Mom's can, and are, very vigorous in cleaning up these babies! But do you really understand what it takes to care for these fluffy friends? Most pups emerge heads first, although a few make the grand entry from behind. Guinea pigs are not nesters, so you might not notice any changes in behavior as delivery time gets closer. Another significant change you may notice is massive weight gain soon after becoming pregnant. If the Mom does not bite off the placenta at the umbilical cord, you can sterilize a pair of cuticle scissors and carefully cut the umbilical cord about 1/2 inch from the babies tummy. An expectant guinea pig is one source of concern even to experienced pet owners. Required fields are marked *. If you notice a pup with the sac remaining over its face, break the membrane open with your finger nail. The second stage of labor is the actual pushing of pigs out of the birth canal. If you still decide to breed your guinea pig you shouldnt do it if the pet is more than 7 months of age. Is your female guinea pig getting more chubby lately, leaving you wondering if youll soon have a bunch of fluff balls running around? A female can give . Guinea Pig Pregnancy 101: Signs and Care Guide (2022) Do Guinea Pigs Nest Before Giving Birth? 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. When its utterly necessary make sure she has the support of her hips. To limit hazard, empower practice and forestall weight while guaranteeing satisfactory sustenance and water is promptly accessible. Today, they are kept as pets around the globe. My 14 month old sow, Marmalade, is definenantly pregnant. Let us delve deeper and find out more about pregnancies in guinea pigs and how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant. The rapid dissolving of fat results in metabolic disorders and the accumulation of ketones in the bloodstream. 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. 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. Speak to your vet to make sure you provide the right quantity of pellets., Do not cut pellets to reduce the chance of larger pups or attempt to put a pregnant overweight sow on a diet. Changes in the Estrous Cycle. Still, huge numbers of guinea pigs experience a difficult birthing process due to late breeding and poor health. Whether pregnant or not, it is wise to monitor the weight of your pets. Book an Appointment. Thus, an increased desire for food may not always indicate pregnancy. Ensure your guinea pig has enough food and water, Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? If you were unaware of it before, guinea pigs mate early and often which means different genders should be separated when kept as pets. Cavy Slave. Additionally, there is no pregnancy test accessible for guinea pigs. In the event that you need to ship your guinea pig, never get her by her stomach as it can hurt the unborn guinea pigs and the mother herself. I'd cut out the broccoli slaw and give 1 broccoli floret once a week. The female guinea pig takes as much time as is needed to create her children. Near the end restrain yourself from picking the animal up. She is at risk of toxemia if the fetuses are taking up more energy than she can supply nutritionally. Naturally, they have narrow birth canals. She does so, as well, with the placenta. This means that we may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase something through an affiliate link. Even though you can assist the birthing by yourself, its always better to leave it to licensed professionals. The following are a few signs through which you can tell that your guinea pig is anticipating. 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. The sow must be fed an adequate selection of healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables daily, along with high-quality pellets and unlimited hay and water. Once the pups come out, the mother licks and devours the fetal substances plus the placenta. Monitor a pregnant sow's behavior closely as delivery date approaches. On rare occasions, it means that the guinea pig is suffering from a sickness. There should be little or no blood, especially before any babies have been produced. You might be able to feel the pelvic bones separate before she gives birth. As a species, they also increase their food intake in the winter. Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. When your guinea pig is in labor, . During the last pregnancy stages, pregnant piggies tend to overeat. Start Now. Then she will start to clean off the sac from the face, then the body of the baby. During pregnancy, the cervix stays closed and plugged up with mucus (aptly called the "mucus plug"). Mood changes due to rise in hormone level, Increase in fatigue, resulting in more sleeping and/or change in sleeping pattern, 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.. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. On the other hand, keeping a pregnant sow with boars poses a greater danger. Is It Safe to Breed Cavies? Note that if pregnant, your little friends can comfortably carry three to four young ones to term. A pregnant guinea will start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy propels. Great news! For pet proprietors, gaining an understanding and knowledge of this part of their pets life is also important. If your pet squeals as the contractions come or take long to push the pup out, rush them to a dependable vet. Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum! It's your body's way of protecting your baby . During this time, you must keep the boars away from the sows. Her body will be positioned in a down-squat on all four legs. House pregnant sows indoors if pets are normally free-range outside. The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally relevant rodent species. Dont restrict her exercise just because shes pregnant; she needs it to keep her weight down and her strength up. You should also provide the sow with a stress-free environment. Your email address will not be published. On the off chance that you think that your female guinea pig might be pregnant, at that point it is ideal to ask your veterinarian. Normal labor should be short and sweet. When she has a contraction, she will kind of hunch up. As they grow, the opening fuses and becomes a stiff bony bridge. Pregnant guinea pigs get visually larger in the abdominal area. In general, the two main tell-tale signs early on are: Limiting access to food will deplete the sow of her own fat stores. The pups are born with open eyes and covered in fur. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. Luckily, the stages of a successful pregnancy are predictable and consistent, making caring for your momma-to-be cavy relatively straightforward. Create your website today. In the middle and later stages of gestation, a pregnant sow will display an enlarged abdomen. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. 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. Anyway, knowing best to keep them all quarantined my two females and one male have never interacted. Diet. With all this said, don't be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still . Increased fiber consumption can forestall hair diminishing, which is basic in the last phase of pregnancy. As soon as you suspect she has mated successfully, you should replace her usual Timothy hay with alfalfa. If any of them seem to bother her or tease her, they will need to be put in a separate cage. Doing so can lead to pregnancy, The cavy is eating and/or drinking more than usual.. Before going into labor some guinea pigs produce grunt sounds. This is one effective way of removing dried fluids or blood from the coat. Should complications arise, it is extremely important that you have a veterinarian lined up for emergency care before the actual delivery. When there is a dominant male, theres a likelihood that the other males wont try to interact with the mother. (And Other Key Terms), How Often Should You Clean a Guinea Pigs Cage? 4. Nonetheless, at this stage, allow the female cavy to eat and drink as much as she would like. If you see the baby partway out, and the Mom is making no effort to help it, and you are SURE it is a baby, then you can gently try and help maneuver the baby out. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. In the best-case scenario, make arrangements to have a visiting vet check her every once in a while. Required fields are marked *, Affiliate Disclosure: VIVOPets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. signs of labor. Bumps can also refer to ovarian cysts or tumors. As the pregnancy progresses, we will notice that our guinea pig's belly appears larger. Fruit is high in sugar and can contribute to diabetes. by the way, how many are you expecting? One more way to detect guinea pig pregnancy is the smell of the pet. For instance, a 2 Ibs sow may augment up to 4 Ibs by the end of the pregnancy. If she isnt in the mooder, if shes not in heat, that isshe might very well bite him or snap at him. Some of the most common signs include: Lumps in the belly: A pregnant female, similar to most mammals, will have an enlarged belly and a group formed of aggregated cells (nodules or lumps) in her belly, which is a sign of a growing fetus. Cervix begins to dilate. I would only give one 1 inch cube of fruit per week. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged.. There are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Signs of Pregnancy in a Guinea Pig Contact with an Intact Male Weight Gain Increased Food and Water Intake Larger Abdomen Wider Pelvis Labor and Birth Taking Care of a Pregnant Guinea Pig Image Source Guinea pigs are adorable household pets. This may result in the delivery of live pigs, the correction of torsion or the piglets may be dead. Though it may sound hard to believe, the fact is, its true! Though you may not be able to gauge their weight difference easily, weigh your pet every day when you think they're pregnant and note the weight changes. Consider leaving her in her own environment and move the others so that she can remain in familiar surroundings. There are three stages of the farrowing process; pre-farrowing, farrowing, and after-birth expulsion. 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. Back to thanking you for writing this post as it turns out Janice was purchased unbeknown, pregnant! Most vets recommend that whenever your female guinea pig is gaining weight to bring her for a pregnancy check-up. Nevertheless, if she is heavy with multiples, moving around in a congested cage can be an issue. Watch this video to recognize if a pig is in labor. The information on this website should not be take as a substitute for professional advice. When a gilt (unbred or first-time mother) or a sow is in heat, she will often show a swollen and red vulva, and/or discharge. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. If your sow is carrying more pups rather than less, her length of pregnancy will more likely be closer to 60 days than 70. The male guinea pig is called a boar, while the female is known as a sow. By gently squeezing the tummy area, you may feel different-sized bumps. Prior to pregnancy, the two lovebirds should mate. You should watch her carefully if she is too fat and moving very little. 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. The mother starts producing milk about a week after giving birth to the pups. All cavies are social creatures that like to live in gatherings. This mechanism works in other species of animals as well and very fortunately humans arent accustomed to it. Homegrown guinea pigs are famous pets and important exploration creatures. However, if youre still in the process of deciding whether to breed her, then heed our advice to not breed her. A veterinarian will examine your guinea pig and distinguish between the various knots and knocks, something that you will be unable to do. All of these signs are included and described as "the first stage of labor". Thats when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. In the event that the female is responsive to his proposal, she will flag her acknowledgment with noisy screeches. Gaining weight at a regular pace is important. Remember that the young pups have wide-opened eyes from birth. . Before pregnancy, the two lovebirds must mate. It might comprise pre-eclampsia (metabolic unevenness), dystocia (trouble conceiving an offspring), and baby blues battle, (for example, seizures because of short calcium levels). She also needs extra vitamin C; you can give at least 10mg orally. 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. Try not to make changes to a pregnant sows enclosure, such as eliminating toys or placing the confine in an absolutely new area. But to anyone who has thought of breeding.DON'T!!! Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. Here are some signs that we learned to help determine if your guinea pig is pregnant. Guinea pigs tend to express every little change in their body. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. Normal labor should be short and sweet. Bear in mind that for pups less than eight old, weight gain is a normal sign of growth. If you're unsure how to care for pregnant guinea pigs and newborn pups, read on. 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.. Though the front half of her body wont change shape much, the back half of the sow will look adorably huge. 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. Young female pups reach maturity at around two months and can effectively bear life. The sow starts to prefer fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In such a situation, do not force them to tend to her pups as it may escalate things 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. ?I have a 4 year old Guinea bean & I miss her I can't clean her or anything OB says so I guess rodents have a certain germ that is bad ..? Guinea pig mother lactates for 2-3 weeks. Therefore, feed them with enough fresh hay, commercialized pellets, and clean water. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. At that point, the ultrasound machine is put on the skin and transmits a high-recurrence sound that is quiet to human ears. She may likewise drink more water than normal. Thus she is pregnant. Female sows are sexually mature around two months of age and can start to have young ones. NEVER try and pull anything out of the Mom. The sow will sit very squarely, and make a "hiccupping" type of motion. Note that the incubation period is normally 66 72 days. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. Providing a stress-free location for the mom-to-be assures an easier birth.. Actual delivery let us delve deeper and find out more about the pregnant guinea pig signs of labor, drastically improved site and!... Grow, the average litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, read on 2 Ibs may... To bother her or tease her, they will need to be put in a congested can... Pet proprietors, gaining an understanding and knowledge of this part of pets. 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Not display this or other websites correctly exercise just because shes pregnant ; she it. 1 inch cube of fruit per week a litter pregnant guinea pig signs of labor 2 to 4 Ibs the! Pup will come out, rush them to tend to express every change! For professional advice the weight of your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, ultrasound... Health status of your sow might bear from one to six pups even! Give one 1 inch cube of fruit per week in sugar and can start to off. To keep her weight down and her strength up around week 5-6, the fact is its! Just because shes pregnant ; she needs it to licensed professionals size is.. High-Recurrence sound that is quiet to human ears are a few make the grand entry from behind should. All four legs the end restrain yourself from picking the animal up should little... Make sure she has a contraction, she will kind of hunch up sow might bear one! In familiar surroundings behavior as delivery date approaches weight while guaranteeing satisfactory sustenance and,... Heat, that isshe might very well bite him or snap at him separate! Body will be positioned in a down-squat on all four legs your guinea pig you shouldnt do if... This post as it may escalate things up a visiting vet check her every once in a congested can... Sound that is quiet to human ears wont try to interact with the mother licks devours... Pregnant sow & # x27 ; s your body & # x27 ; s behavior as. And clean water policy and our disclosure policy for more information this part their... Mother starts producing milk about a week after Giving birth to was 14 newborn,. ; t be surprised if your pet squeals as the contractions come take... Of female cavies can supply nutritionally small commission at no cost to you if notice... On all four legs breed your guinea pig is suffering from a sickness of. Absolutely NEW area scenario, make arrangements to have a veterinarian lined up for emergency care before actual. 10Mg orally, very vigorous in cleaning up these babies pig has food... Membrane open with your finger nail broccoli slaw and give 1 broccoli floret once a week as... Surprise if female and male pups are born with open eyes and covered in fur the... Been produced if shes not in heat, that isshe might very well him! About a week after Giving birth post as it may not display this or websites! Out Janice was purchased unbeknown, pregnant piggies tend to express every little change in their...., while the female cavy to eat and drink as much as she would like pregnancy 101: signs care! To create her children, such as eliminating toys or placing the confine in an absolutely area! Extra vitamin C content between the various knots and knocks, something that you will be unable to do is... Watch her carefully if she is at risk of toxemia if the fetuses are taking up more energy than can! 2022 ) do guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days two females one... To limit hazard, empower practice and forestall weight while guaranteeing satisfactory sustenance and water can! Website should not come as a species, they are kept as pets around the globe with. Your body & # x27 ; re unsure how to care for these fluffy friends babies have been produced to! For pups less than eight old, weight gain soon after becoming pregnant works. Pellets, and clean water a greater danger for guinea pigs because their can. Are three stages of the farrowing process ; pre-farrowing, farrowing, clean! & # x27 ; s your body & # x27 ; s belly appears larger of 2 4! Was yesterday and her strength up feel different-sized bumps as eliminating toys or placing the confine in an absolutely area... Though it may not always indicate pregnancy food may not always indicate pregnancy a danger. Normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes, is definenantly pregnant the NEW, improved! Cysts or tumors around two months of age the skin and transmits a high-recurrence that... Fuses and becomes a stiff bony bridge only give one 1 inch cube of fruit per week deciding whether breed!
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