guinea pig pregnancy week by week pictures

If you have not removed males yet, do so at this point. Signs of toxemia typically appear from 2 weeks before birth to 1 week after delivery and include: Unfortunately, in some cases, toxemia is fatal. Guinea Pig Reproduction and Gestation Guinea pigs have a lifespan of 4 to 8 years and reach sexual maturity at an early age. Sometimes she may wait to attend the young ones until all babies are delivered. When her pelvic bones are spread approximately 1 to 2 fingers apart, the labor is very near. 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. This article has been viewed 326,562 times. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. Pregnancy for Guinea Pigs is very high risk, both for the mum and the babies. In this case, the medication oxytocin may be given to stimulate uterine contractions to deliver the pups. Cavies of both sexes, when mixed together and unsterilized, will most assuredly result in guinea pig pregnancy. Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. The onset is generally sudden and progress rather quicker than you are reporting. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. Having somewhere to hide will reduce stress. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. If you've found out that your guinea pig is pregnant, check on it several times a day to monitor its drinking and eating habits so you know what is normal and can react to changes. Over-feeding her will result in extra fat and moving difficulties in the later stages. Other potential complications are prolapse, retained placenta, uterine tears, etc. New Plymouth Vet Group. Leave her in her own cage and move the others, so that she can remain in a surrounding thats familiar to her. As mentioned above, you should make sure you have the knowledge, time, financials to properly guide your guinea pig through that and consider not breeding at all if any one of these requirements isnt fulfilled. Guinea pig diarrhea is a fairly common condition that most guinea pig owners and exotic pet veterinarians encounter., Everybody who knows a cat or dog owner knows that they have to deal with shots for their, When your guinea pig is sneezing a lot you might wonder whether or not your little friend is, You were planning on getting a pet guinea pig, but you are not sure whether you should get, Every guinea pig owner will experience the moment in life where he or she needs to say the, Eye infections in guinea pigs are more common than you might think and can be a result of. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). You may even find her pregnancy waddle to be the cutest thing youve ever seen. guinea pigs concerned are given unlimited access to plenty of fresh, green meadow hay to keep them occupied - this will often stop the problem. Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity very early, around 2-4 months of age. Female guinea pigs usually have a smooth swelling over their genital area. 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. With our guinea pig pregnancy calculator, you can easily estimate the day a guinea pig will give birth to little pups. In addition, he is a proud owner of two guinea pigs. Boys will try and mate with their mum at . This is a common occurrence; roughly 1 in 5 guinea pigs will die as a direct result of pregnancy or birth. "Just found out our rescued pig was pregnant even after two exams and one ultrasound. This is the most exciting period! If there is not an out-of-hours vet in your area, discuss this with your vet to come up with a plan. Be very careful if you need to hold or handle a pregnant guinea pig. Support wikiHow by The age of the sow plays a huge row in making the decision. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. If you gently touch the animals belly and run your hand along the surface and look for small lumps and bumps. Phone: 06 758 4006. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. 25% in pregnancies can end in death for either the mum or the babies and this is why that breeding guinea pigs for a hobby is not encouraged. To use the calculator, click on the calendar icon next to the breeding or due date and choose the correct year, month, and day. If the female disproves of her suitor, then she will snap at or bite him to chase him away. Guinea pig mother lactates for 2-3 weeks. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. To prevent high stress levels, which can lead to disease, keep your guinea pig away from direct sunlight. 2 Observe her eating habits. Mares that have been bred during the first quarter of the year will often carry their foals for . Cavies, as notorious early developers, are sexually mature at a very young age. As a species, they also increase their food intake in the winter. In the event of a high-risk guinea pig pregnancy, they can also ensure a safe environment to deliver the pups successfully. You can sense the distance between the bones by gently positioning your finger on the belly just a few centimeters from the anus. How do you know if your cavy is actually carrying pups? Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Doing otherwise can cause pregnancy complications or miscarriage. Guinea pigs arrive at sexual development early, some when they are only five weeks or a month and a half old. At the end of the process, the placenta emerges and the mother eats it as well. She may, if he persists, even urinate on him. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. ), Will Guinea Pigs Kill Each Other? Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? The sow starts to prefer fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. Welcome to Animallama, a place where experienced small pet owners share all the tips they learned over the years of caring for their fur friends. Not knowing all the necessary facts about pregnancy in guinea pigs can prove to be a nightmare. :)", understand just in case for the future as well, thanks so much for the info. Their shapes are very cylindrical-like and can be compared to tangerines in body appearance. Whilst guinea pigs should never be bred intentionally, coming home from the pet store with a guinea pig who is already pregnant is a common story. 6,530 Pregnancy Week By Week Premium High Res Photos Browse 6,530 pregnancy week by week photos and images available, or search for stages of pregnancy week by week to find more great photos and pictures. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . The duration of pregnancy is 60 to 70 days, because of this guinea pigs give birth to well developed young. If you are concerned about the mother or have serious health worries about one of the pups contact a vet immediately, however. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Continuous breeding is dangerous for female guinea pigs, increasing health issues and shortening. As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. The first week of a guinea pig's . A typical pregnancy in horses can last for 320 to 380 days, but generally lasts around 11 months. They will have been eating solids from a few days old so will cope without their mothers milk at this age. Guinea pig newborns are fully covered with hair, have open eyes and ears and have teeth present. Keep in mind that your guinea pig can give birth to up to 14 pups and thats probably more than you can handle! Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. Male guinea pigs are very territorial so when they mate they spray the female with their urine. Speak to your vet to make sure you provide the right quantity of pellets. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. Is there anything special that needs to be done when cavies are pregnant? Do it every day at the same time routinely. Negligence and ignorance can prove to be fatal for the mother and the babies. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. He is an exotic vet. Females will typically reach full sexual maturity at approximately 4 to 6 weeks of age. Selective feeding is where the guinea pig chooses the tastier bits of food over less tasty but often more nutritious foods. 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. Below is a detailed description of what to expect during each week of a guinea pig's 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. Feeling the abdomen needs to be done by a professional because it is easy to mistake the bladder, kidney, or even an enlarged ovary for a foetus. Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria. Guinea pigs are pregnant for 59-72 days. Once in labour, the sow will cry out, and it takes about 5 minutes for each pup to emerge. And, truth be told, it can certainly be a tricky, stress-ridden adventure for experienced cavy owners as well. unlocking this expert answer. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. A female may accidentally injure the babies by squashing them and babies are prone to escaping cages, so check up on them regularly. It is common for them to double in weight during this time. They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. How can I tell? Interesting Fact: The shorter the pregnancy is, the larger the litter size is. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Any apparent change of behavior in means of lethargy, anorexia, or depression can be a sign of sickness. Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. Keep in mind that not always the mother can naturally deliver the whole litter without any problems. Quite a shock, since we thought. Research source Male boars, on the other hand, become sexually active at three months of age. The sow should gradually put on weight. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. [1] Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. However, a caesarean surgery may be required. Week 5 they generally begin to show Week 6 - you can feel the pups move by gently cupping your hands around her tummy Week 8-10 - you may be able to see the pups move from the outside Week 9-10 - you may be able to hear the babies teeth gnashing All generals. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day rather than overnight. Ammonia irritates the lungs of pigs and will predispose the pregnant mother to lung infections. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Examine the shape of the cavy's genital opening. If she has given birth before, she likely will double her weight by the time she gives birth, so you can approximate how far along she is by weighing her. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. This helped me, "Glad we got educated early. Guinea Pig Gestation Period: How Long Is Guinea Pig Pregnancy? You can also find the breeding date if you know the labor date. One more way to detect guinea pig pregnancy is the smell of the pet. Never offer the same vegetable two days running. If the food has been stored for a while at the retail outlet, the chances are the vitamin C content is already negligible by the time you open the bag. The large and growing fetuses can cause a fast breakdown of fats even if the sow hasnt eaten for a brief period of time. During this time, the pregnant guinea pig will undergo many changes, both physically and behaviorally. Are you wondering if your guinea pig is pregnant? They may be willing to attend themselves, or you may have to contact an experienced. Make the habit of repeatedly measuring your pets weight, at least twice a month. 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. Again, if you need to handle your cavy, do so in a gentle manner, grasping her securely yet comfortably, to ensure full support of her body. It doesnt take more than a few hours for them to start eating solid food, just like any other adult guinea pig. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. ", pet they can be, and how to play with them. Thats when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. Is your female guinea pig getting more chubby lately, leaving you wondering if youll soon have a bunch of fluff balls running around? Rough handling may cause miscarriage. Lindsay Pereira is a pet-lovin Montral-based writer whos a mommy to Muffy, a grumpy guinea pig with a serious attitude problem, the recently departed Miss Lilly, who is happily nibbling hay in guinea pig heaven. They live 5-7 years on average, although they can live much longer if they have good genes and, Read More Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years?Continue, Did you know your cute cavy has teeth that never stop growing? Male guinea pigs as young as 3 weeks old can impregnate a female, and a female guinea pig as young as a month old, can get pregnant. Pregnant guinea pigs get visually larger in the abdominal area. Many females who survive experience complications, which are painful to the sow and costly to the pet parent. There is, however, a thin line between sounding heartwarming and scary when people say the words guinea pig pregnancy. They interact with voices and gestures to show you everything they feel. The cavy is eating and/or drinking more than usual. Whilst brothers will be fine to be housed together throughout their lives, they may never get on well enough will other boars to be permanently housed with them. Lets go over the main points of this ritual to help you determine if your guinea pig might be pregnant. Remember that Omni's guinea . Male guinea pigs have a larger amount of space between their penis and their anus, about 2-3cm of space between the penis and the anus. Guinea Pig Site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. There is a 3-5 minute interval between each baby. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. Right now, it is imperative to ensure the pregnant guinea is in a stress-free environment. Our content is written by knowledgeable small pet owners with years of experience and is based on scientific research and expert recommendations. The guinea pig pregnancy is difficult for the animal and has an unpopular 20 percent mortality rate for the mothers. Guinea Pig Pregnancy Britany Sanchez 153 subscribers 150K views 10 years ago This video is about the week by week progress of your Guinea Pig's pregnancy, along with links to more. ). House pregnant sows indoors if pets are normally free-range outside. Naturally bald areas. This type is rich both in protein in calcium, two things she needs a lot at the moment. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. For older guinea pigs, this may include her carrying out her pregnancy and birth housed at the vets, as she is more likely to need intervention. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Mother starts making "extreme" stress calls, Mother seems to give in, appearing exhausted, Excessive bleeding (more than a tablespoon). How much depends on the size of the litter, but her weight should never begin fall. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. The pups are born with open eyes and covered in fur. Week 1. 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). Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years? Doing so can lead to pregnancy. During this time, it is normal for females to double their weight. Get an experienced vet to check the sex of all your other guinea pigs. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the whole litter to be delivered. Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. Duration of guinea pig pregnancy depends on the number of pups: the larger the litter the shorter the pregnancy. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Generally, its best to treat a sow as though she is pregnant until it is proven otherwise. (The Surprising Answer! Whether the gift is for a friend or a family member, an adult or a kid, or even for, Read More 16 Gifts for Guinea Pig Lovers & OwnersContinue, Fleece bedding for guinea pigs is popular amongst piggy parents, whether they want a nice-looking cage or the comfiest home for their fur babies. In fact, you may even wonder if your cavy is actually pregnant. Its important to know the exact stage of the pregnancy since you need to give different medicines, food supplies, a quantity of food and water according to each stage. 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. they were both female and have been living together. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. The birth canals of these animals are very narrow. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. The sow licks the babies and eats the amniotic sack when once they are out. Much like other Rodentia and those of the Lagomorpha species, guinea pigs have pearly whites that will grow without end in sight something that can be a serious health problem, Read More What Can Guinea Pigs Chew On? Keeping a clean hutch will prevent a build-up of ammonia from urine. A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! As in humans, this happens when pups grow and take up more space. Gaining weight at a regular pace is important. If your pet has too much of this, it can build up in urine and cause bladder stones. Well with guinea pigs its the opposite. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. It is essential to make certain this does not happen, thus free access to food and water is vital. The truth is, breeding guinea pigs is dangerous for your female piggy and most vets discourage breeding for several valid reasons. Though it may sound hard to believe, the fact is, its true! when they are this wide you will know she will give birth in the next 48 hours. Once the pelvic bones are about two fingers apart, the time of birth is imminent. At around 4 weeks into a guinea pig's pregnancy the sow's abdomen and lower sides will become more firm than usual. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. The typical gestation period (the time that the guinea pig is pregnant) is 59 - 72 days, with the average pregnancy lasting around two months, or 63 days. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged. This causes mineral deficiency. If you cannot check on the sow because of work etc. It tends to affect overweight sows delivering their first and second litter. If the water bottle is usually placed high-up, provide a second water bottle lower down so that the sow does not have to stretch if she does not want to. Female sows are sexually mature around two months of age and can start to have young ones. Thats why the best age for a guinea pig to get pregnant is between 4 and 7 months of age. Enjoy! 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":"