The average number of pups per litter is 3, but litters of up to 14 have been seen. For an effective process, ensure that your pregnant sows consume fresh veggies and fruits hay each day. Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. The sow with the record of delivering many piglets had 14. You must log in or register to reply here. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. So you may think that grooming them with regular attention, or even more during pregnancy, is needed. Not only does it scare her, but also causes pain due to the pressure put by our arms. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. awww. Immediate veterinary care is required, but the prognosis is usually very poor. Guinea pigs are known for hiding sickness and infection symptoms. Note that the gestation period is usually 66 - 72 days. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_13',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_14',128,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-narrow-sky-2-0_1');.narrow-sky-2-multi-128{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}After birth, the recovery is pretty speedy in guinea pigs. Caution: What makes guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is their lactation patterns. In the final weeks of gestation, your guinea pig will already have enough difficulties to move around and doesnt need to have fat accumulated. If your piggies appear underweight with seemingly no explanation, its important to take action immediately. During the last pregnancy stages, pregnant piggies tend to overeat. Normal labor should be short and sweet. Some people wonder if sows can get pregnant without mating. Then there is a point when her hips begin to spread to allow the passing of the babies down the birth channel. Are you interested in having a guinea pig as a pet? Its a stage after fertilization, and the zygote is in its early stage of development. Carpathian Shepherd Dog: All About this Breed. In the later stages of the pregnancy, after the seventh week or past 49-50 days, you will notice that your guinea pig's abdomen appears large. Stress is one of the most common reasons for death in guinea pigs, during pregnancy no less! Early breeding of female guinea pigs tends to reduce their lifespan. A good idea is to weigh your female guinea pig regularly (perhaps weekly) and to record the weight. Several factors may influence a guinea pigs litter size, including genetics, boar fertility, gilt management, etc. How to Train Your Guinea Pig (Tricks & Behavior), What to do When One of Your Guinea Pig Dies? The condition is likely to cause stillbirths and abortions. The simple fact that it stops mating with the male is already a sign that the process has been successful. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day. Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. Nothing is visible to explain that the pig is pregnant. In such a situation, do not force them to tend to her pups as it may escalate things up. Even a slight mishandling could lead to enormous amounts of pain. Nonetheless, be wary that other conditions like cancer or cysts disguise as bumps in the body. You may also be required to cut the umbilical cord; only use a pair of sterilized scissors or sterilized scalpel blades. After delivering, the mother needs nutritional assistance. So how about the baby guinea pigs? Most likely, the substance is the first stool coming from the piglet inside the womb. Pregnancy is likely to change the behaviors of your guinea pig. They will be getting small bits from the mothers dish. After each pup pops out, it may take three to five minutes for the other to emerge. Usually, a guinea pig delivery process is a bloodless and speedy course. The mothers lactation period lasts for about two or three weeks. Pregnant guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable to illness as a result of stress during pregnancy. Guinea pigs have on occasional been pregnant on one side of the "U" or are pregnant at different times in . . For different stages of progress, there are different medicines, food supplies, the quantity of food and water, and more! You should be able to implement it. If there are large quantities of blood, or gooey bloody stuff after 2-3 days, or the sow is not acting normally, she might have retained a placenta or a baby. A voracious appetite and a heavier-than-normal appearance are good signs that your pig is pregnant. When your pig is in labor, you will notice her sitting in the corner of the cage, appearing motionless, and sometimes distances herself from you. . I rescued these guinea pigs that were pregnant when I got them. What is the one thing that could get a guinea pig pregnant? A pregnant guinea pig is also at a higher risk of pregnancy ketosis resulting from appetite loss, large litter size, or underdeveloped blood vessels in the uterus (mostly inherited). How Can You Know How Far Along Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy is? Note that pregnancy signs in guinea pigs arent always obvious. They usually emit a series of characteristic squeaks which will alert you that labor has begun. Sometimes, they prolapse their uterus, and you will need to get to a vet. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. Males are territorial. Cesarean section or C-section is typical among guinea pigs that were first bred when above eight months old, after fusion of the pelvis bones. If you are present, and she is still cleaning up a baby and is not tending to the next one, get a clean towel and carefully pick the baby up, take the sac off the baby, and rub it gently to make sure it is breathing. I didnt know whether to hit him in the face for the negligence or to feel sorry for his loss. Pregnancy toxemia can kill your pig and her young ones. The whole birthing process in guinea pigs should take around 30 minutes. My name is Anna and I work full time in my local pet shop where we sell many animals that I write about on this site. This is an emergency situation requiring an immediate c-section. These large pups predispose the mother to pregnancy toxemia (a fatal condition). Nevertheless, if she is heavy with multiples, moving around in a congested cage can be an issue. If you witness any of the signs listed below, get the sow to a cavy knowledgeable vet immediately. Mama is shrinking in size and babies are growing fast. Good care keeps your pet happy and increases its lifespan. Your guinea pig will have time to prepare itself physically and mentally, and wont run the risk of a miscarriage. (Plus Tips to Keep Warm), Fat Guinea Pig (Causes & Dangers of Health), Guinea Pig Constipation (Everything You Need to Know). It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. Since they no longer eat just for them, but also for the baby piggies inside, they eat more than the usual amount. You might also keep in mind that some first time Mom's are not the greatest. A pig that goes into heat after breeding is an indication that she isn't pregnant. The larger the size of the litter, the shorter the time they could stay inside in the same area where a smaller litter could stay longer. We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! But compromising on the perfection of those necessities wont cause much immediate trouble when she is not pregnant. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. Always keep your male and female guinea pig separately to prevent breeding. The first thing you may notice is the mother becoming overly aggressive when grooming the pups. My fingers are crossed everything goes well for all! So be sure to consult fair- minded veterinarians, and a second opinion could never hurt. Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. This information is then translated into an image. 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. This page might contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. But what, Read More Can Guinea Pigs Freeze to Death? Update - No babies yet. They also have fur and teeth and behave more or less like their adult counterparts. The minute you are sure your guinea pig is pregnant, make sure you get it to your vets attention. But now that they are arrested in your home, you must be ready to step up and take responsibility. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. You shouldnt give it less food than it needs, nor overfeed it. Anna, Expert. And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. That indicates that your guinea pig is pregnant. But it is quite the opposite. Bella is active, eating, and drinking. In the middle stages of pregnancy, usually between 5-7 weeks, everything is visible to the eyes. In theory, guinea pigs can give up to 5 litters per year. For instance, the mean pregnancy length for one guinea pig litter is 70 days, while a litter of six guinea pigs can take 67 days. I am monitoring her closely and the vet is on standby tomorrow and Sat AM. So it is easier for them to locate solid food even if the mother is not supportive. But everything I have ready says that bleeding is not normal and go to a vet. For instance, a 2 Ibs sow may augment up to 4 Ibs by the end of the pregnancy. An average adult guinea pig weighs 1-2 pounds and will double their weight just before the piglets are born. Youve may have decided to adopt a litter of guinea pigs, and want to know how to take care of the mother the best you can. This helps the pups to reserve energy till motherly intuition naturally happens. However, they are more prone to health problems in the latter stages of pregnancy. 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. Hello,Normal guinea pig labor is short with few signs that it is going on. It is not recommended to breed guinea pigs. The babies are on their way out. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. Publisher: Pergamon, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/aid666376-v4-728px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"