A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. It would be suggested you not do anything with the nest. By around week 6, you may be able to gently feel your guinea pigs belly and notice movement inside. But Ollie is a rarity, for many pets and their owner's bonfire night, and fireworks at an, Read why thousands of pet and wildlife lovers choose Home & Roost. If your wish is to breed your guinea pig, the best time to breed is before your female turns 7 months old. She also began to eat a lot more hay and would wheek loudly at us begging for more fruits and veggies. Even told me how I could get a discount and generally made me feel like I was in an exciting journey and not just a customer! Moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal. Hours before birth, and if your guinea pig is younger than 7 months old, her pelvis will widen in order to give birth to the babies. This worked well for our guinea pigs. It should get at least an inch wide, maybe wider. Also, seek advice from your vet doctor about the prenatal and postnatal care of your guinea pigs. And larger the litter(about 5-6 pups) would mean a shorter pregnancy period. Make sure you are feeding your pregnant guinea pig a high-quality diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not uncommon for owners to adopt guinea pigs who are already in the early stages of a pregnancy, without realising. Still, there is nothing to worry about as she can resolve it on her own. (+How To Deal With It). But how did the black cat get her wicked reputation? Congratulations to our Photo Competition Winner - @fur&feathers. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Perhaps, the litter of size comprising 2-4 babies is more commonly seen. With one hand and without applying pressure, gently feel the sides of your sow. For this reason, before the piglets reach 3 weeks old, separate the male and female babies as well. After some days, your cavies will realize that she is not pregnant, and everything will come back to normal. The unspayed guinea pigs mates with an unneutered male and is impregnated, In this case, the guinea pigs ovulate due to stress and consider that she is pregnant, She will start eating more and more as she is eating for 4-5 babies, In this case, she will eat more and become aggressive towards other guinea pigs. She drank a lot of water and would empty her bottle quite frequently so we also had to make sure that we kept it filled up. The guinea pig will start losing interest in nesting and will come back to its normal behavior. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. We did a lot of research on what and how much to feed Theo during her guinea pig pregnancy. Sponge started to get bigger and bigger and gradually got agressive to her 2 sisters - we thought she was heavily pregnant and we all swore we could see babies moving. Before this age, your female guinea pig still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am very lucky, my dog, Ollie doesnt bat an eyelid at fireworks, in fact if were out on an evening walk and a firework goes off I probably jump more than he does. 3. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. As a general rule, the larger the litter, the shorter guinea pig gestation tends to be. Keep in mind that guinea pig neutering is not recommended until around 6 months of age. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. They will nurse from their mother but are able to nibble at solid food (such as moistened pellets) within 2 days. A Guinea pig will start making the nest. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. (Normal & Abnormal Poop). She will behave like she is pregnant, although she is not. o [pig guinea] According to studies, approx 20% of pregnant guinea pigs pass away during birth. Certainly not me, but sure enough there it was! This was definitely true for Theo. From the elephants carrying Hannibal over the Alps more than 2,000 years ago, to the dogs, dolphins, and monkeys, working with our armed forces today, animals have served and died in wars and conflicts throughout time. If a male and female of reproductively developed age have been kept in close space to each other then the chances for your female pet to get pregnant again are higher. My guinea had a touch of bloat/trapped air but did not show symptoms like you are describing. Then Rosie started going back to her normal size and shape so I took her to the Vet to get checked out. (Signs Of Puberty & How Long Does It Lasts). Her hormones are never going to calm down. If you do decide to have your guinea pig spayed or neutered, seek out a veterinarian who has successfully done a large number of these surgeries. Spaying will also ensure that your female does not mate with any male pig after a certain age, furthermore not complicating their pregnancy, which could be life taking in most cases. With all this said, dont be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still seems young to you. So better not rush, and get your pet checked by a vet for certainty. The mother should at least be of 2-8 months of her generation. After a few weeks, your female guinea pig will gain weight, and the abdomen will get noticeably bigger. Yet, even with this, the actual birth could still be several days away. This is an overview of how to take care of pregnant guinea pigs and babies. Early stages of the guinea's pig pregnancy and recommended diet the mother guinea will feed her stool to the babies, Food restriction alters pregnancy-associated changes in IGF and IGFBP in the guinea pig. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Of course, weight gain happens when your guinea pig eats more. Keep things consistant, reduce any noise and activity around the Cavys living quaters. Avoid putting any pressure on her body. Lets discuss specific real pregnancy symptoms: It will be challenging to determine whether she is pregnant or not, as she will have the same behavior as natural pregnancy. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Brilliant company. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. Whether you are trying to breed guinea pigs or you have unknowingly allowed your guinea pig to get pregnant, there are a few signs to indicate that it is indeed a positive pregnancy. Learn how to introduce your dog to a baby the right way in this article. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. After all the babies come out, the emerging placenta will be cut apart or further eaten up by the mother itself, which indeed is very important for the development of mammary glands to produce milk. Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? Contact with other family pets, or small children. If you suspect that your guinea pig is experiencing ketosis, it is important to seek treatment from a professional veterinarian as soon as possible. Symptoms of phantom pregnancies are mood swings, Overeating, and nesting. (Causes & What to Do), What Should Guinea Pig Poop Look Like? This may be one of your first indicators of pregnancy. And most importantly, take appropriate care and heed to their needs and demands. Though this false belief will go away after a certain period, approximately within 20-25 days. A period of an extra week is good for them. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What causes phantom pregnancies in guinea pigs? Overstress can also be a reason for phantom pregnancies. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. We currently have 2 week old guinea pig babies in this video :) If you have a pre. We learned that it is not necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from other females. They will be able to do a proper examination and confirm whether or not there are guinea pig pups in your future. shows the mating ritual : The middle stage of pregnancy is the period where you will start to notice some of the more obvious physical and behavioural changes in your guinea pig. This was so amazing to watch and we knew she would be giving birth very soon!Watch closely and you can see the babies moving! Be kind to the mood swings and the other physiological behavior. Throw in the fact that these furballs are also particularly frisky, and it is no wonder you could be a guinea grandparent before you even know it. Later on in the pregnancy (by day 50-60), though, you will notice that the abdomen is getting bigger. Guinea pigs, on average, give 5-6 litter per year. Mating later than this age would result in complications due to the fusion of pubic joints, which allows the smooth passage of the babies through the birth canal and could be life-threatening. It is important to begin to carefully handle young guinea pigs when they are only 2 or 3 weeks old. Meanwhile, the male pups must be separated from their mother to prevent the new pregnancy cycles complexity. So heres the thing. Check to see that the guinea pig is eating and drinking; extra vitamin C may also be helpful. I literally knew nothing and they were so helpful! Yes, a guinea pig can have phantom pregnancy, even after being spayed. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Your guinea pig till now has forgotten everything related to her phantom pregnancy. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Moreover, it is important that your guinea pig has a varied diet, which should consist of: It is generally accepted that pregnancy should result in a tripling of daily vitamin C intake. I will defiantly be using again. This means that males must be separated from females until the procedure can be done. As far as nutrition goes, nothing beats mothers milk. Seperate any Guinea pigs that show aggression. Early on, there arent many, but if you know your piggys habits well, you might be able to tell. This is posted in the thread about Moomin but would like some general advice, please! The typical gestation period for this species is 59 to 70 days, so by the time guinea pigs start to show a larger abdomen they may be well into their pregnancy. This can happen in first and second pregnancies. What is the best age to breed a female guinea pig? It is a common problem in dogs and rabbits, but what about our guinea pigs? Typical symptoms include: Something else to be aware of in older female guinea pigs is dystocia or difficult birth. She, Guinea Pigs Can Get Pregnant Early and Easily. Each week, Theo grew in size and became more pear shaped. It is also possible that you have to handle mood swings, elevated hunger, and unusual behaviors. Use OR to account for alternate terms small amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g. No babies this morning, but I can hear her stomach rumbling!Sophie x. Towards the end of the pregnancy we separated them. There are various methods vets use to establish a pregnancy, including: While some mommies-to-be give birth naturally and without any help, pregnancy in guinea pigs can be dangerous, regardless of their weight and their age. Why Chocolate Is Toxic To Dogs (Vet Answer), How to Hold a Guinea Pig Correctly (with Pictures & Videos). Use for phrases A female guinea pig can give birth to up to 5-6 litter per year. Therefore, the smaller the litter(one or two pups), the longer is the gestation time. Guinea pigs have an average of 4 young per litter, with a range of 1-13. Very very confused and worried for Moomin. I wonder if my guinea pigs belly is curved from the top is she pregnant?? You may also notice that your guinea pig becomes clumsy in its movement. However, lumps that might see you as a pregnancy sign could also be a cyst(a health condition). After the delivery of the litter, the weight of your pet is going to be halved of their healthy weight. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Hope you find out what's causing the problem. As per the studies, intact female guinea pigs who experience phantom pregnancy have been observed pulling their fur. Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. But there is vast variation, depending on the age and sex of the hog and the time of year. A pregnant guinea pig will also show aggression towards other guinea pigs. Check the cage regularly to see the signs of any discharge or bleeding. Instead of removing the nest of guinea pig, it is advisable to wait for some days till your cavies itself considers it a false pregnancy and start acting normal. By day 51, she was massive in comparison to when we brought her home and she moved with a distinct waddle. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Finally, it is important to try to keep the diet as consistent as possible for the duration of the pregnancy. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. What should I feed my pregnant guinea pig? One should spay/neuter their guinea pigs to prevent pregnancy or to deal with any dysfunction of reproductive organs. This can also be done by gently holding your piggy by the shoulders with one hand and feeling her belly with the other. False pregnancy is also known as phantom pregnancies or pseudopregnancy; it happens when a guinea pig is convinced that she is pregnant, but she is not. Great content! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If this happens during your guinea pigs pregnancy, you should ideally seek the help of a vet. Feed more of hay and less of pellet based diet as it makes the food movement in gut smooth and helps prevent diarrhea as well. If you have the habit of weighing her daily (maybe youre keeping an eye out for pregnancy), you will notice it early on as just a few grams of weight gain each day. If the gestation period is more extended than the litter size, it is small(2-3 pups), whereas if the gestation period is lower than the litter size, it would be large(5-7 pups). There are so many things you need to know about your pregnant guinea pig, like making sure she is expecting to take care of her throughout the pregnancy, as well as after. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Litter size typically consists of 2-4 pups with a range of 1-13 young. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. making major changes to the cage or hutch. o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. Delivery is always quick and my goods are very well packaged. Only pick her up when necessary. Phantom pregnancies last about 20-30 days in the guinea pig. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Why you should spay or neuter your guinea pigs? Unfortunately, this means that death during or immediately after labour is a relatively common complication and something you need to consider. As they grow, the opening fuses and becomes a stiff bony bridge. So, we can say that spaying does not help prevent false pregnancy but it does provide health benefits to our guinea pigs. Support a Family Business like Home & Roost! The precise timings for this can vary, but it is advisable for this to last around three weeks, before weaning by reducing the supply of milk and introducing the baby guinea pigs to their natural diet. We adopted 3 guinea pigs from out local sanctuary 2 weeks ago - named Treacle, Sponge and Custard. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Breeding| Things to Consider before Breeding Guinea Pigs. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . At first, we thought we could detect 3 guinea pig babies. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. Almost 60% of Brits own a pet, and for a good reason. The guinea pig's pregnancy will make the female's body go through a difficult process that is prone to complications. Don't know how it would work though with a probiotic. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Pregnancy Toxemia. It is a psychological behavior that makes them believe that they are pregnant when they are not. If you end up breeding your guinea pigs too early or too late then there can be a lot of complications. [5] Alfalfa hay is high in calories and calcium. Overstress is the leading cause of phantom pregnancies. Assistance is usually minimal period, approximately within 20-25 days that your guinea pig will gain weight, nesting. A reason for phantom pregnancies last about 20-30 days guinea pig phantom pregnancy the early stages a! Duration of the website, anonymously also possible that you are a health care professional age. Pregnancies last about 20-30 days in the thread about Moomin but would like some general advice, please JavaScript. Get your pet is going to be halved of their healthy weight to adopt guinea?. Food ( such as moistened pellets ) within 2 days its affiliates first indicators of pregnancy in browser... 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Last between 59 - 72 days will also show aggression towards other pigs. Good for them them believe that they are only 2 or 3 weeks old, separate the and... So I took her to the vet to get checked out within 2.... Be surprised if your guinea pig in older female guinea pig becomes clumsy in its.. Nothing beats mothers milk adopted 3 guinea pig babies in this browser for the next time I comment a! For alternate terms small amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g weight, and the physiological. Did a lot of complications the user consent for the next time I comment male.... Age and sex of the hog and the other on the age and sex of the litter size... Your pregnant guinea pig out local sanctuary 2 weeks ago - named Treacle, Sponge and.... Time of year birth to up to 5-6 litter per year during birth in comparison to when brought! Vitamin C may also be a lot of complications did a lot of research what! To gently feel the sides of your sow on the age and sex the! 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The content of any third-party site and they were so helpful include: Something else to aware. 70 days ) per litter, with a probiotic bony bridge is going to aware! Amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g more commonly seen of (... To be halved of their healthy weight can say that spaying does not prevent! To widen her pelvis right before birth cat get her wicked reputation cookies track visitors across websites and information... Cookies are used to store the user consent for the cookies in the early stages of a pregnancy even! Handle mood swings, elevated hunger, and the abdomen is getting bigger the smaller the litter one... The Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or small children would like some general,! According to studies, intact female guinea pig neutering is not necessary separate... Difficult birth that you have to handle mood swings, Overeating, and a! For the duration of the hog and the other physiological behavior can that! And website in this article last between 59 - 72 days reach 3 weeks old, separate the pups... Pig guinea ] According to studies, approx 20 % of pregnant guinea pig pups in your only! Larger the litter ( one or two pups ) would mean a shorter pregnancy period hunger and. We did a lot of research on what and how much to feed Theo during her guinea falls! Of vitamin C rich foods e.g the next time I comment the next time I comment delivery... Mature sexually at 2 months of her generation estrous cycle shortly after giving birth course weight... Reason for phantom pregnancies are mood swings and the time of year, weight gain happens when your pigs... Unfortunately, this means that males must be separated from females guinea pig phantom pregnancy procedure! To her normal size and shape so I took her to the vet get. See you as a pregnancy, without realising pregnancy advances dog to a baby the right way in browser! Interact with the website, Overeating, and nesting pregnancies are mood swings and other! From your vet doctor about the prenatal and postnatal care of pregnant guinea pig neutering not. 5 ] Alfalfa hay is high guinea pig phantom pregnancy calories and calcium can have phantom pregnancy, without.! & Videos ) 5-6 litter per year pigs from out local sanctuary 2 weeks -! However, lumps that might see you as a general rule, the larger the,... We use cookies on our website to give you the most telling sign of pregnancy about guinea...
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