guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week

Make the introductions gradual as the adults will be a lot larger and could do them serious harm. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Guinea pigs arrive at sexual development early, some when they are only five weeks or a month and a half old. This information is then translated into an image. If you are concerned about the mother or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. The ultrasound exam involves involves clipping a small square of fur and applying gel to the exposed skin. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 447,279 times. By gently running your hand on your guinea pig, you can feel bumps and lumps, which could be because of one of two reasons. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. Another sign is a hike in food intake. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. Commonly, their size would be ranging from eight to ten inches. Lethal guinea pigs are white in colour (not albino) are born blind, usually in both eyes, have crooked or deformed teeth, are often also deaf and often suffer from internal deformities particularly to the digestive organs. To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! She could also become pregnancy just two hours after she gives birth. unlocking this expert answer. The expected duration of a pregnancy is at least 65 days, but it still relies on the number of offspring she is carrying. Because yeah, more the number, more the time to nourish them, sounds logical. The ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. If you are changing the feed, make a gradual change providing a bit of both to start with as otherwise she may not eat the feed at all. Enjoy! After the surgery, keep your pet quiet and separated from other guinea pigs while recovering. Even a slight mishandling could lead to enormous amounts of pain. Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. Use your dominant hand to feel her belly. Stage #2. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). But now that they are arrested in your home, you must be ready to step up and take responsibility. Since guinea pigs attain sexual maturity as early as 6 weeks in their life, even young guinea pigs are bound to get pregnant. What is the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs? Starting from how to know if your guinea pig is pregnant, to how to care for a pregnant guinea pig, to all characteristics of the gestation period, to the birth of the litter, I will lead you through every little detail of guinea pig pregnancy in the upcoming sections of this post! Feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she gets more protein and calcium. The female has a short postpartum estrus that will last for only about half a day and, without a dominant male, all of the males will try to mate with the new mother. ", care of my guinea pig and I am so sure that she is healthy and will have my little baby friends soon! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Guinea pigs are typically considered adults from 6 months to about 5 years of age. o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. Unless you are a qualified veterinarian, the only other way to know is to go to someone who is an actual veterinarian.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1','ezslot_20',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-portrait-1-0'); Some people may think that knowing how far along the pregnancy is, could not yield any benefit. Once the pups are weaned, the mother should not require vitamin supplements anymore, unless you gave them to her as part of her regular diet anyway. It goes without saying that they need emotional stability during pregnancy when they are drowning in fluctuating hormone levels. As if that is not bad news enough, even mothers suffer death immediately after delivery because of malnutrition. Alfalfa hay is great for pregnant, nursing and young guinea pigs but the calcium content is too high for normal guinea pigs as a build-up of calcium can cause bladder stones. Selective feeding is where the guinea pig chooses the tastier bits of food over less tasty but often more nutritious foods. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. If the other sow eats it, their own pregnancy may be induced. Do not keep pregnant guinea pigs in multi-level cages/hutches as their balance will be impaired by pregnancy, and in the later stages of pregnancy they may not be able to get up to the higher tiers. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). :)", understand just in case for the future as well, thanks so much for the info. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Caution: What makes guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is their lactation patterns. Keep the two in separate cages until one of them is fixed. So, better to be overly cautious than to be negligent.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-sky-3','ezslot_22',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-sky-3-0'); Make sure you monitor your guinea pigs weight every week. If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. Its just the same in guinea pigs. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. But it is better if you take her to the vet just to be sure. I guess it is not too difficult to believe that hormone levels go crazy during pregnancy irrespective of which animal it is. This helped me, "Glad we got educated early. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. ", How to Tell if Your Guinea Pig Is Pregnant, Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/guinea-pig-care, http://kb.rspca.org.au/I-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-I-do_354.html, http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, https://petguineapigcare.com/breeding-babies/, saber si tu conejilla de Indias est preada, , Saber se seu Porquinho da ndia Fmea est Grvida, Erkennen ob dein Meerschweinchen trchtig ist, savoir si son cochon d'Inde attend des petits. The period of time between getting pregnant and the birth is called the gestation period. She died along with the litter. "I had a male guinea pig for about a year and a half. So, even a male who was neutered only a few weeks before could cause pregnancy in females. Pet stores often keep both sexes together, resulting in many people being sold sows which are already pregnant. Place it in a sheltered part of the hutch, away from draughts. While there are many hereditary diseases that you should foresee, there are several other basic tests too. The more the number of baby guinea pigs, the shorter is the period of pregnancy. The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. Has She Interacted With an Unneutered Male? While their lactation is essential for some nutrients that cannot be provided in the babies diet, baby guinea pigs are noticed to be able to survive even without their mothers milk. The optimal maintenance of guinea pig colonies, commercially and in research settings, relies on robust informed breeding programs, however, breeding data on specialized inbred strains are limited. The pups will be able to eat solid food from day one, and the mother will introduce them to new food herself. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. But it contains more than necessary amounts for a regular guinea pig. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. At this stage, you have to feed your developing guinea pigs with pellets specially formulated for them. This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. It is important to begin to carefully handle young guinea pigs when they are only 2 or 3 weeks old. Of course, much much cuter! And hand those records to your vert during his weekly visit so that he can comprehend the situation in hand better. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. But that does not mean that you should not give them access to outdoors. Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). I grew up with everything from dogs and cats to rabbits and guinea pigs. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Males mature a little slower on average, but not by much. It is not very different from human pregnancy. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. Giving her higher quality hay, more fruits & vegetables, essential nutrient pellets, abundant fresh water, are all things that should be done even when she is not pregnant. So you should. Guinea Pig Vomit: Everything You Need To Know. Mother strains for 15 minutes without producing a pup. You need to understand that your guinea pig cannot bear the pain of her pregnancy when she gets handled by you. These pups may die within a few days of birth, or may live for several years. Last Updated: September 18, 2022 No relationship can survive without understanding. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Of course, all these are high school zoology concepts. The temperature outside or in a garage/shed usually becomes too cold at night for a pregnant guinea pig. What is the one thing that could get a guinea pig pregnant? Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. This article has been viewed 447,279 times. Guinea pig's pregnancy: final stage. Absolutely pregnant. The safest, easiest, and least expensive way to prevent breeding is to house male and female guinea pigs separately. So, in this article, let's see how a fetus will change week by week to become a baby. Male guinea pigs can impregnate a female at as young as 3 weeks old and a female guinea pig can become pregnant at as young as 4 weeks old, so don't be doubtful if your guinea pig is pregnant due to age. Publisher: Pergamon. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Though it is usually closer to 3-4 months. Giving them their favorite toys and treats. During the last two weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. The probe records the echoes as the sound waves bounce back in order to determine the size, shape, and consistency of internal tissues and organs. Ultrasounds are non-invasive and do not require sedation. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. [1] Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. Males born in the same litter are brothers, right? If you need it, you dont want to have to hunt around for it. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. You should absolutely, Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and protein. Female guinea pigs can become pregnant as early as two months of age. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. I didnt know whether to hit him in the face for the negligence or to feel sorry for his loss. Between 1 and 8 guinea pig babies with 4 being the most common number of guinea pigs per litter. "We just found out that one of our guinea pigs is male and the other is pregnant! The entire span of 40 weeks of the pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Thanks for helping me realize that she is pregnant after all! This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. A female may accidentally injure the babies by squashing them and babies are prone to escaping cages, so check up on them regularly. Here, we investigated the effects of parental age, parity, and . if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3','ezslot_10',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3','ezslot_11',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-129{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}Mothers start lactating after about 8 days. Most pregnant guinea pigs do not move as actively as their normal days. But when she is, you have no choice but to give nothing less than the perfect. Cesarean sections are rarely successful in guinea pigs even when performed by a veterinarian who has experience with guinea pigs. If you wanna make the process of pregnancy easier on your pal, you better read this section with maximum attention. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. Do not intervene or touch the pups unless you need to. But pregnancy is far from straightforward for guinea pigs. Use for phrases So they wont fight with each other. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Introduce the male pups to the father and any other boars you have. So, there are obvious signs that you can look for to identify pregnancy in your guinea pigs. I have had her for three years and she has never been around any males but my family and I think she is pregnant because she has a pear shape and she isn't fat. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_13',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Unlike humans who may experience contractions for hours at a stretch, guinea pigs do not take longer than half an hour for the delivery of their litter. However, be aware that other things can feel like bumps in the abdomen. Remember guinea pigs are social animals and should be kept in groups, so if you own both a boar and a sow make sure to provide company of the same sex for both of them. Just because they are the pups of a familiar guinea pig, this does not mean that they will be accepted immediately. They interact to convey everything they feel, with distinct voices and physical gestures, irrespective of the nature of the emotion. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept inside. Quite a shock, since we thought. But compromising on the perfection of those necessities wont cause much immediate trouble when she is not pregnant. The intercourse with an unneutered male guinea pig causes pregnancy in a female obviously. Individual pet owners should not attempt to breed guinea pigs, according to experts, for two very important reasons: wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. However, there are some signs you can watch for at home. They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced breeder. When they reach about 6 ounces (170 g), the offspring will stop nursing and eat the same foods as their parents. Right? This allows you to gauge what is normal, so that if she becomes unwell and stops eating, or becomes very thirsty, you will pick up clues early on. Approved. The normal pregnancy period of a woman is 40 weeks. To feel for fetuses, place the sow on a towel on a firm surface. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. ?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 ..? He was lonely, so my family decided to get a girl for him to. Then they started to do an unusual sound, which I suspected was a mating call. Left untreated, both the mother and the pups will die. The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. But that should be done only when you are present to monitor. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. 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. Dystocia is a birth delivery problem where the unborn babies are not able to exit due because the mother is unable to dilate fully. Next, check your guinea pig's weight, since her weight will almost double during pregnancy. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. However, do not assume that your guinea pig is pregnant based on just how much she is eating or drinking. If you are thinking that your few weeks old female guinea pigs cannot be pregnant, youre wrong! Make note of the time and amount of water during each refill. Guinea pigs are brilliantly expressive creatures. Being wrong about the pregnancy couldnt hurt more than the consequences of neglecting it!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4','ezslot_23',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-sky-4-0'); There are actual people that I know who neglected the weight gain in their guinea pigs. Stress is one of the most common reasons for death in guinea pigs, during pregnancy no less! 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