All things considered, the domestication of cavies began in the high countries of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. For pet proprietors, gaining an understanding and knowledge of this part of their pets life is also important. Doing so can cause pups to grow too big, which the sow may struggle to birth. On average, the process lasts around one to four hours. Every living being grows up and reproduces more of their kind, and so do guinea pigs, but lets find out, how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant? Do let us know when the babies are born. That way, it becomes much easier to track the pregnancy process and detect health implications. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day. Additionally, there is no pregnancy test accessible for guinea pigs. Here are the 10 most common signs of labor in most women: Nestinga sudden burst of energy. Reducing her stress makes her pregnancy and childbirth easier. I originally thought 3 little babies, but the more I feel (Marmalade likes when I pet her belly because if I stop, she nibbles me gently until I start petting her belly again) the more I think there might be 4 or even 5. Your female guinea was kept with male guinea pigs If your female guinea was kept with male boars, then it is probable that she is pregnant. Is your female guinea pig getting more chubby lately, leaving you wondering if youll soon have a bunch of fluff balls running around? An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. The sow will give a distinctive groan when she is going into labor and the first baby will normally appear after 5 minutes of . But to anyone who has thought of breeding.DON'T!!! Are there any signs of impending birth for guinea pigs? Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. I always try to give her a small piece of fruit so that she has the extra energy to litter (not sure if this is the word for g-pigs, but it is the term for most rodents) if she needs to. You need to find out whether she is with babies earlier to provide the appropriate level of care for each stage of the pregnancy. Your email address will not be published. Many females who survive experience complications, which are painful to the sow and costly to the pet parent.. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about five minutes to birth a pup. This is because piglets typically add up to almost the same size as the mother. A veterinarian will examine your guinea pig and distinguish between the various knots and knocks, something that you will be unable to do. Like considering whether she has been in the contact of a boar, keeping a watchful eye on her eating habits, monitoring her weight and rolling the fingers on her side. Try and make sure that the afterbirths have been delivered. Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this isnt medical advice and if you assume there might be a health-related issue, you should contact your vet. Legitimate administration of the pregnant sow requires a comprehension of the danger factors for pregnancy related sickness and a capacity to perceive early indications of issues. Changes in the Estrous Cycle. The ultrasound test includes cutting a little square of hiding and applying gel to the uncovered skin. She also needs extra vitamin C; you can give at least 10mg orally. Pregnant guinea pigs get visually larger in the abdominal area. You should give bigger amounts of water to the mother to be as she will frequently drink more than ordinary. A voracious appetite and a heavier-than-normal appearance are good signs that your pig is pregnant. An ultrasound output can picture precisely what the knocks are and affirm a pregnancy. As a result, they may bite, attack or pull her fur resulting in other complications. Lastly, it takes about 2-4 weeks to wean guinea pups. 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. Cavies were initially brought into Europe during the 1500s. A new estrous cycle in saws can begin very shortly after giving birth. Guinea pigs are adorable, sweet pets that love to express themselves by chattering, squealing, and wheeking. Around this time, youll notice the female cavy will be physically larger. I do not breed. Then check out these 15 things to know, Read More 15 Things to Know Before Adopting Guinea PigsContinue, If youre looking for cute, funny or simply unique guinea pig names for your new piggy pal(s), consider your quest officially over! Know when a pig is going into labor. In common, by the end of a pregnancy, the pregnant guinea pigs load will have doubled; the piglets normally make up more than half of the sows weight. All I know is she was bred prior to May 26. Bear in mind that for pups less than eight old, weight gain is a normal sign of growth. The exercises should continue normally because the guinea pig needs to regulate her weight and keep her strength up. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. Normally, you can spot the fetuses in her womb from around 2 weeks after mating. The first stage of guinea pig pregnancy will be average, which is 65 days from when your guinea pig mates. Although you need to be careful not to apply any pressure to the region. Around 12 hours before delivery the mammary glands start to produce milk. Interesting fact - The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! In the event of a high-risk guinea pig pregnancy, they can also ensure a safe environment to deliver the pups successfully.. One more thing. If she isnt in the mooder, if shes not in heat, that isshe might very well bite him or snap at him. Otherwise, you risk starting an entirely new pregnancy cycle! There are no surefire signs and no signs during the first half of the pregnancy. They pace and build nests with straw or available materials. This is the most exciting period! There should be little or no blood, especially before any babies have been produced. In most cases, the small forms are a sign of guinea pig pregnancy. Nonetheless, if your little friend becomes pregnant, get ready to sufficiently support them throughout the process. Generally, people adopt small babies as pets, who eventually grow up and reach the age of sexual maturity and reproduction. This gilt's pregnancy indicator is pointing up. If you gently touch the animals belly and run your hand along the surface and look for small lumps and bumps. They will want to eat solid food within a few hours of birth. Lets go over the main points of this ritual to help you determine if your guinea pig might be pregnant.. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. 5. During all of the stage and especially during the last stage of pregnancy the sow should remain in a calm environment. For an effective process, ensure that your pregnant sows consume fresh veggies and fruits hay each day. Enriching the guinea pigs diet with kale, broccoli, green peppers, and parsley is also advised. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. Copyright 2023 - VIVO Pets. You might notice an increase in vaginal discharge that's clear, pink or slightly bloody. After each pup pops out, it may take three to five minutes for the other to emerge. The most obvious sign of heat, however, is her interest in boars. There should be little or no blood, especially before any babies have been produced. alrightywill try that. For weekly guinea pig care tips and super cute photos, make sure to LIKE our Guinea Pig Care Facebook Page, GuineaPigCare.com.au was created to pass on the many lessons I've learned owning and caring for guinea pigs since 2007. Has the shivering and leg movement ceased? Her body will be positioned in a down-squat on all four legs. In our case, Theo had been kept together with 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high. 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. Other, early signs labor is close (anywhere from a month to mere hours away from active labor) include: Baby drops. I have no idea when she was bred. A cesarian section surgery will likely be necessary.. Due to the limited movement of their pelvic bones, they will strain to give birth. This is called a "postpartum oestrus," which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time! Two per week at the most, but one per day is too much. Your vet may likewise hear the piglets pulses in the sows mid-region. Pups will each have their own amniotic sac, which the sow normally removes and ingests. If you touch her underbelly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. That is normal. The test records the echoes as the sound waves skip back to decide the size, shape, and consistency of tissues and organs in the body. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. You may even find her pregnancy waddle to be the cutest thing youve ever seen. 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. If it helps just a few guinea pigs in the world live a happier and healthier life, then the site has done it's job. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. During this time the sow needs to be weighed weekly. (And Other Key Terms), How Often Should You Clean a Guinea Pigs Cage? Check out these most popular guinea pig products on the market: Last update on 2023-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. A healthy guinea pig should have no problem going through labor. A neutered male guinea pig can still impregnate a female. Vitamin C supplements should be given orally at a regiment of 10 mg a day. 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.. I researched, stressed, slept . 4. I rescued these guinea pigs that were pregnant when I got them. Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. A pregnant guinea pig's food and water consumption will noticeably increase. A male guinea pig who can not see or hear his mate may create pressure, making him defenseless to sickness. It is also an indication that the first stage of labor is happening. This is easily detectable by squeezing the teats. Bloody uterine discharge and straining longer than 30 minutes requires a medical examination. However, the following guinea pig pregnancy timeline will simplify the entire gestation period and demystify the experience, so you can provide a stress-free environment for your little mama and her tiny pups.. Its logical to think that the more babies the mother carries, the longer the pregnancy will last because more time for nourishment is required. In the event that a female guinea pig has been in the presence of a hog, at that point she will have unquestionably attempted to accomplice and has a high possibility of getting pregnant. And post pictures of the babies. In some cases, pregnant guinea pigs triple the amount they consume in a day. Most guinea pigs give birth in the daytime hours. As you get closer to labor, your water may break and you may have back pain or . If you do not see the birth as it happens, you will most likely not see the placentas, as the Mom will eat the afterbirths and all the bloody wet shavings. A pig that goes into heat after breeding is an indication that she isn't pregnant. Prior to pregnancy, the two lovebirds should mate. Approximately every five minutes, a new pup will be born. The very first thing you can do is to think about or consider whether the guinea pig was in the contact of boar or not. The canal is fully fused by the 7-8thmonth of age both in unbred female and male guinea pigs. Her instincts are to remove any smell that will lead predators to her babies. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. After the commotion of a mating ritual, keep a close eye on the sow. I can feel the outlines of the babies. Loose-feeling joints. I have even felt them grinding their teeth. Not only will we dive deeper into how you can actually find out if your piggy might be pregnant and how you can take steps and precautions towards their delivery date. Risk reduction includes preventing obesity in the mother guinea pig and providing adequate energy in the diet late in gestation. This is how I could tell.https://youtu.be/dj6tfzZu1cYemail: guinafilms1@gmail.comFaceb. NEVER try and pull anything out of the Mom. Can Baby Mice Survive Without Their Mother? Generally, this happens after the last little one makes its way out. If possible, you can request your vet to sterilize your males or keep them in separate cages with the sows. The new Mom will not act sick. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. Is It Safe to Breed Cavies? How old do guinea pigs have to be to breed? Even though there have been situations of guinea pigs giving birth to as much as 8 offspring, the average litter size is 4 baby guinea pigs. Prior to labor, sows are restless. 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