. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. ", all. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. Normally, it wouldnt. So, even a male who was neutered only a few weeks before could cause pregnancy in females. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. I would start looking up local guinea pig rescues so they can take some babies and help getting all the pigs fixed before she gets pregnant again (this can happen very fast after she gives birth). Support wikiHow by You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. Just because they can get pregnant again, doesnt mean that it wont have adverse effects on their well being, not just physically but also emotionally. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. Not all guinea pigs are capable of handling the stress of a pregnancy. As a general rule, the larger the litter, the shorter guinea pig gestation tends to be. Of course, much much cuter! A baby guinea pig is called a pup. How Can You Know How Far Along Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy is? This article has 20 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. You vet may also be able to hear the piglets' heartbeats in the sow's abdomen. Breeding a female guinea pig for the first time after she reaches 8 months of age can be very dangerous because of the normal stiffening of the pubic symphysis (a joint of tough fibrous cartilage between the 2 pubic bones of the pelvis) that occurs when the female reaches adulthood. Giving them their favorite toys and treats. Avoid over-feeding Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the age requirements, talk to your vet about a pregnancy plan. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. 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. But when she is, you have no choice but to give nothing less than the perfect. Check to see that the guinea pig is eating and drinking; extra vitamin C may also be helpful. Other adverse effects include a loss of appetite out of fear, which could also result in fatal effects. o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. But consult with your vet first, just to be on the safer side. Remove any other pregnant sows. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! This information is then translated into an image. By gently running your hand on your guinea pig, you can feel bumps and lumps, which could be because of one of two reasons. Even though the birthing can be handled by yourself, it is better to leave it to licensed veterinarians to avoid last minute complications. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. So how long are guinea pigs pregnant? It could be a disease causing the accumulation of excess metabolic products.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Either way, one thing is pretty clear: You have to take your guinea pig to the vet. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-netboard-2','ezslot_18',122,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-netboard-2-0');Well, not too many similarities are shared by guinea pigs and humans in their pregnancy. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. For different stages of progress, there are different medicines, food supplies, the quantity of food and water, and more! Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. But as blissful as it is for a mother to give birth to children, it is also stressful and painful.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-box-4','ezslot_3',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-box-4-0'); So, as your guinea pigs are part of your family, you should take care of them just as well as you would take care of a pregnant sister or wife or mother! Birth can sometimes be more complicated because of several medical reasons. To feel for fetuses, place the sow on a towel on a firm surface. At birth, baby guinea pigs can weigh between 2.1 and 4.2 oz (60 and 120 grams) and have an average size of 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). By this time, your pet's pelvic bones will have widened enough to make way for the pups . This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. By using our site, you agree to our. Only hold her if necessary. This is because sows who are too young are at a greater risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. This could increase her stress and affect her eating and drinking habits. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. Neutered boars should be kept separate from sows for four weeks after surgery. Female guinea pigs can become pregnant as early as two months of age. The period of time between getting pregnant and the birth is called the gestation period. This is an emergency situation requiring an immediate c-section. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. The boar must be removed by 50 days as he may continue to mount her which can be stressful or painful in later pregnancy, and she could become pregnant again as early as two hours after the birth. Stage #2. Males mature a little slower on average, but not by much. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Most inexperienced Guinea pig "breeders" do not understand this concept. It's important to remember you have The Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando in your corner if you feel like your guinea pig is unwell at any point during her pregnancy. Zealotstim 4 mo. Publisher: Pergamon, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid711031-v4-728px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"