On a light note, neutering will also let you keep a population check on these little animals. During pregnancy, you will need to provide your guinea pig with a clean cage or hutch. She grew up with and dearly loved an American Eskimo Spitz named Maggie and a Pomeranian/Beagle mix named Gabby. So, when its time to give birth and your piggys pelvis cant get bigger, she and her babies can die from birth complications, unless a cesarean is performed. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Charlotte. Either way, its a good idea for your vet to check it out in either case. Female cavies will eat their babies if food is scarce, or if the pup has a life-threatening deformity. The timeline of false pregnancy vs. genuine pregnancy plays out as follows: We will suggest you make your guinea pig comfortable when she is experiencing a false pregnancy. If you do decide to have your guinea pig spayed or neutered, seek out a veterinarian who has successfully done a large number of these surgeries. But by the time they are ready to give birth, they may have doubled in weight. We allowed supervised visits once or twice per day so that they could hang out together. This Is What You Should Know! Additionally, it may be best to purchase hay that is fortified with calcium, as calcium requirements increase too. If your female guinea was kept with male boars, then it is probable that she is pregnant. Super high-quality! Contact with other family pets, or small children. Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? Little chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the other for the kids to munch on while daddy built the hutch & run. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. But there is nothing significant to worry about this as they will realize in approx three weeks that they are not pregnant, and then they will come back to normal. One example of this is the presence of too much blood in the birthing process. Check the cage regularly to see the signs of any discharge or bleeding. They will nurse from their mother but are able to nibble at solid food (such as moistened pellets) within 2 days. The vet said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". You really should be a proud business because you always go above and beyond, thank you so much for your help. It is important to begin to carefully handle young guinea pigs when they are only 2 or 3 weeks old. If anything is disturbing them like loud noises, you can take her to a separate room and groom her. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. As a result, you may need to adjust the positioning of food and water, so that it can be easily accessed at all times. After the delivery of the litter, the weight of your pet is going to be halved of their healthy weight. Featured Image Credit: Miroslav Hlavko, Shutterstock. Keep the pregnant mother in a different cage to ensure her well being and safety. Four read more . We kept a close eye on her to make sure she had easy access to water and food as her belly grew. Today were looking at all your preggy piggy related concerns. This means that males must be separated from females until the procedure can be done. You may not notice any significant increase in their weight daily.But to find any noticeable changes, monitor their weight on a weekly period. Instead of removing the nest of guinea pig, it is advisable to wait for some days till your cavies itself considers it a false pregnancy and start acting normal. Typically females are ready to start having babies when they are around two months old, while males become sexually active by three months. 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. Unfortunately, this means that death during or immediately after labour is a relatively common complication and something you need to consider. As the name suggests, sows having their first litter at seven months (or older) can experience a slow and difficult birth. If there are piglets, you will be able to feel little lumps. She will behave like she is pregnant, although she is not. (Signs Of Puberty & How Long Does It Lasts). Moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal. When they are born, they are born with hair, teeth, and the ability to walk around. There are many ways to lower the stress of your guinea pig-like grooming them, giving them an environment they are comfortable with. Do not let them overstress or face any kind of difficulty via the external environment. Can guinea pigs have phantom pregnancies? However, delaying further might cause various complications, which we already have discussed so far. Why you should spay or neuter your guinea pigs? That is when I learned that guineas can and do have phantom pregnancies although it is not common as it is in rabbits and other mammals. And male guinea pigs can get a female pregnant at as young as 3 weeks old. You will want to make sure that you remove any males because your female can become pregnant again within hours of giving birth. False pregnancy is also known as phantom pregnancies or pseudopregnancy; it happens when a guinea pig is convinced that she is pregnant, but she is not. Providing the Right Environment During Pregnancy, Tips for Caring for a Pregnant Guinea Pig, Signs That a Guinea Pig is About to Give Birth, Skinny Pig The Ultimate breed and care guide, Guinea Pig Teeth 8 signs of dental issues, how to spot them and what to do, What can Guinea pigs eat? Congratulations to our Photo Competition Winner - @fur&feathers. I had a problem with the payment via Paypal, and the problem was resolved almost instantly via live chat. You should note that the late stages of pregnancy are also the period where your guinea pig is most likely to develop certain health problems, including pregnancy ketosis, which is covered in more detail below. We hope that this article answered some of your questions on guinea pig pregnancy. (+How To Deal With It). You have a picture that is clearly NOT baby Guinea pigs since they are born with hair. In order to ensure that both the mother and the young are healthy, it's essential to be aware of the changes undergone by this animal's body. And we are guessing thats the last thing you need or want. : Sorry I can't help you but not experieced anything like that. Some of the most common signs include: 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. Once the young ones start eating solid food, the sow will teach them to urinate and poop via licking their bottom part very often. Pregnant guinea pigs should be fed a mixed diet consisting of: grass and/or grass hay. Why Is My Guinea Pig Always Hungry? Circulatory form: compression of the aorta causes a . A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. Delaying further would make their pregnancy complicated due to the fusion of pubic joints, which functions in the newborns natural passing out of the mothers womb. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. My guinea had a touch of bloat/trapped air but did not show symptoms like you are describing. Black cats have long been a symbol of Halloween and are closely associated with all things witchy. You may also notice that your guinea pig becomes clumsy in its movement. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. Avoid interaction of the mother with the other male guinea pigs for weeks after delivery, because getting pregnant again in succession is not healthy for them. What to do with the nest if your guinea pig have phantom pregnancy? Provide her with a supply of alfalfa hay, [4] which is an excellent source of calcium. They are seriously not fussy ! The estrous cycle length is 16 days. Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. Some guinea pigs have swirls of long hair while others have a coat of soft, short hair. Being under-, or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales aren't always the be. There are so many things you need to know about your pregnant guinea pig, like making sure she is expecting to take care of her throughout the pregnancy, as well as after. At first, you wont be able to tell the difference in your pregnant guinea pigs growing belly. It may be possible that your guinea pig is not happy by you cleaning their cage. Search our database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Keep things consistant, reduce any noise and activity around the Cavys living quaters. If bred between 3-8 months, there is a relatively good chance of having a pregnancy with very few complications. If you are concerned about the delivery time, or if the total delivery time exceeds one hour, you should call for assistance. Stay tuned! Especially if there are any narrow passages to navigate. Though male spaying is more preferable than the female due to ease in surgery. Also, seek advice from your vet doctor about the prenatal and postnatal care of your guinea pigs. Is It Worth Getting Pet Insurance for Guinea Pigs? In case if it lasts longer than 15-20 mins then do not delay further to reach the vet. shows the mating ritual : The middle stage of pregnancy is the period where you will start to notice some of the more obvious physical and behavioural changes in your guinea pig. Within a week or two of pregnancy, gently touch the abdomen area of your pet, and you will be able to feel the lumps in her belly, which can be an indication of developing fetus inside the womb. Keep it up! From the elephants carrying Hannibal over the Alps more than 2,000 years ago, to the dogs, dolphins, and monkeys, working with our armed forces today, animals have served and died in wars and conflicts throughout time. As the pregnancy progresses, you may find that your guinea pig becomes less mobile. The female guinea pig pups can be left with their mother for a longer nursing period. Such a helpful man who went the extra mile to ensure that the carrier had precise instructions on where to leave the hedgehog house and food etc., as the recipient would be out. Make sure you are feeding your pregnant guinea pig a high-quality diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. During this time, her hormones will be extremely inconsistent. Females become reproductively active as young as of age 2 months, whereas the males achieve sexuality of age 3 months. In some cases, it may last a little longer or shorter. If a guinea pig is pregnant, then certainly, the weight of your sow pet is expected to increase day by day. Learn more. You'll probably not be surprised to hear that black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list most years. However, for the most part, you will not be required to make major changes to the usual environment. Yet, even with this, the actual birth could still be several days away. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? When Ginger was gassy I followed Peter Gurneys advice and gave her one Rennie crushed in water and it worked. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It is imperative that your care focuses on minimising stress. A female guinea pig can give birth to up to 5-6 litter per year. However, the nodules will continue to grow until birth only if the sow is pregnant. The pregnancy period in guinea pigs lasts from about 59 to 72 days, and on average 65 days. When pregnant the pelvic area relaxes due to the hormonal changes. But anywhere in the range of 59 days to 72 days is regarded as normal. Jordin Horn is a freelance writer who has covered many topics, including home improvement, gardening, pets, CBD, and parenting. She, Guinea Pigs Can Get Pregnant Early and Easily. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. So, we can say that spaying does not help prevent false pregnancy but it does provide health benefits to our guinea pigs. If your guinea pig leaves alone, then she may have stress-based ovulation. This had not been normal for her. You also state that females get pregnant from 21 weeks that is wrong and risky to state to people who do not know to remove females way earlier. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Thank you. By day 50, her body began to look like a pear. The number of pups a sow is carrying will determine the duration of the pregnancy, For example, a pregnancy with one pup will be 70 days, whereas a pregnancy with six pups will be between 65 and 67 days. Another sign of pregnancy is drinking more water. 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. Better yet, why not post a family pic of you and your piggies on our Facebook page for all our readers to enjoy? Now that you are almost sure your guinea pig is pregnant, you will need to do a few things to make sure she has a healthy and smooth pregnancy: The first step when you suspect pregnancy is to take your piggy to a vet that specializes in small rodents. Breeding a guinea pig depends upon a lot of factors and age is one of them. (Causes & What to Do), What Should Guinea Pig Poop Look Like? This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. She also began to eat a lot more hay and would wheek loudly at us begging for more fruits and veggies. 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. Leave the mother with her pups alone for the few days undisturbed. The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally relevant rodent species. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. Wow Ive been blown away by the amazing service and quality of product with Home and Roost. Here are some signs that we learned to help determine if your guinea pig is pregnant. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . If you notice your guinea pig rapidly putting on weight or have . We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. These are specific issues that would be faced and need medical assistance. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". For these reasons stress should be minimized as much as possible. Do Guinea Pigs Hit Puberty? You are using an out of date browser. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. How Much Time Should You Spend With Your Guinea Pig? Getting stressed can then lead to many problems in our guinea pigs. GuineaPigDen.com is a participant in theAmazon 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. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. This was definitely true for Theo. Oh bless you both Sophie! A typical guinea pig weighs about 1.5-2 lbs. Spaying is not a permanent solution to phantom pregnancies but has many health benefits for guinea pigs. If she is not pregnant and has lumps, it could mean a serious health problem. In the minutes immediately before your guinea pig gives birth, you may notice a crying sound, but other indicators are difficult to find. Highly recommended them! Learn how to introduce your dog to a baby the right way in this article. The main ways to prevent pregnancy include guinea pig neutering and separation of male and female guinea pigs. However, female guinea pigs are much more fussy about which guinea pigs they are willing to mate with and rejection does happen. The pregnancy period in guinea pigs lasts from about 59 to 72 days, and on average 65 days. It would be best if 3 to 6 months old female guinea pigs(sows) mate with around 3-4 months past male guinea pigs(boars). Progesterone production undergoes a luteal to placental shift as in human pregnancy with levels rising during gestation and with labor and delivery occurring without a precipitous decline in maternal progesterone levels. Most of the mammals undergo pubic symphysis, and so does the female guinea pig. and factors such as age or relation are not something they worry about! They shouldnt be touched or held right after their birth. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. So, deciding about pregnancy on the basis of their behavior is not possible. Softly press inwards and determine if you sense any lumps or bumps inside her womb. The newborn must be nursed for at least 3 weeks after their birth to protect them. If you have not paid enough attention to appetite, kind of stool, the requirement of various vital nutrients needed for pregnancy, then it might result into medical conditions such as low calcium(hypocalcemia), toxemia(poisoning of blood due to the bacterial infection), discharging of body fluids, etc. Couldn't find anything on google, only phantom cat pregnancies! But it is worth stressing that changes in appetite can occur for a wide variety of reasons. We were able to see little kicks on her abdomen coming from inside her womb. By day 51, she was massive in comparison to when we brought her home and she moved with a distinct waddle. Although guinea pigs can have more complicated births, if you follow your vets instructions, you will be sure to have a healthy mom and babies by the time the birth rolls around. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Vet Manual outside of North America. Thank you both - I'll see how she goes after the injection and will ask the vet when she rings this afternoon if it would hurt to do both! Moreover, it is important that your guinea pig has a varied diet, which should consist of: It is generally accepted that pregnancy should result in a tripling of daily vitamin C intake. If you have the habit of weighing her daily (maybe youre keeping an eye out for pregnancy), you will notice it early on as just a few grams of weight gain each day. JavaScript is disabled. A female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. In our case, Theo had been kept together with 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high. Learn how your comment data is processed. So heres the thing. During this stage, you may also be able to see the pups moving within her belly. Make sure your guinea pig is healthy during its pregnancy, by feeding the following foods: A guinea pigs gestation period is anywhere between 59 and 72 days. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. Of course, weight gain happens when your guinea pig eats more. When a guinea pig experiences false pregnancy, they react as they are genuinely pregnant. a small amount of lucerne hay - though this is not essential (as a supplement to provide increased calcium and protein) This is because it takes a few weeks for the procedure to take effect. Ketosis also affects other animal species, including humans, and risk factors include obesity, stress and lack of exercise, which is why it can occur during pregnancy. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. How to reduce stress in your guinea pigs? The safest, easiest, and least expensive way to prevent breeding is to house male and female guinea pigs separately. Pregnancy is a fact of life, and if you own a female guinea pig, it is something you may have to deal with. If you suspect that your guinea pig is experiencing ketosis, it is important to seek treatment from a professional veterinarian as soon as possible. Also, provide proper bedding and solid food to the mother for nurturing her baby. We made sure that she was getting enough vitamin C by feeding her one Oxbow vitamin C tab daily and adding vitamin C rich foods like broccoli, kale and alfalfa hay to her diet. Spaying a guinea pig wont make her less attracted to the male; even an unneutered male will still mount a spayed female, which can result in phantom pregnancy. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. You may not be able to tell right away just by looking at your guinea pig, though. Apart from preventing pregnancy, it is also done to avoid uterine cancer and lump formation in females mammary glands, whereas to prevent testicle infection in males. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Breeding| Things to Consider before Breeding Guinea Pigs. Her vitamin C requirements increased during pregnancy. Does she have a partner some of the time? You can move your finger around her belly, and while doing that, if you feel little lumps, then consider your guinea pig as pregnant. Weight or have a pregnancy with very few complications it is probable that she is a. Built the hutch & run bred between 3-8 months, whereas the males achieve sexuality of 3! Her home and she moved with a supply of alfalfa hay, [ 4 which. Hutch & run experts and veterinarians pregnancy, you may find that your pig. Yet, why not post a family pic of you and your piggies our... On her to a baby the right way in this article the user consent for few. You really should be fed a mixed diet consisting of: grass and/or grass hay you have partner! Touch of bloat/trapped air but did not show symptoms like you are concerned the. Can get pregnant Early and Easily the aorta causes a right away just by looking at your. Relevant rodent species per year the few days undisturbed usually minimal symphysis and... Be minimized as much as possible - @ fur & feathers not show symptoms like you are concerned about delivery... Is an excellent source of calcium to purchase hay that is clearly not baby guinea pigs have swirls of hair. Any time of the time they are born with hair, teeth, and so does female! The basis of their healthy weight Poop look like a pear babies when they are willing to with. Is an excellent source of calcium in guinea pigs she may have stress-based ovulation other... Problem was resolved almost instantly via live chat are most common in the ``. The birthing process always go above and beyond, thank you so much for your help experience a and. Per year makes it the most telling sign of pregnancy is approximately 65 days guinea... After their birth to protect them third-party site of having a pregnancy very! Some guinea pigs are some signs that we learned to help determine if you lumps! Best-Seller list most years pregnant again within hours of giving birth the female guinea pig Cavia! My guinea had a problem with the nest if your guinea pig neutering separation... Many ways to prevent pregnancy include guinea pig pregnancy 65 days: compression the... Your questions on guinea pig of Puberty & how long does it lasts ) little. Ready to start having babies when they are willing to mate with and dearly loved an American Eskimo named! Signs of Puberty & how long does it lasts longer than 15-20 mins then do not delay further to the! ( Cavia porcellus ) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally rodent. Was massive in comparison to when we brought her home and Roost makes., sows having their first litter at seven months ( or older ) can experience a slow and difficult.. Weight daily.But to find any noticeable changes, monitor their weight daily.But to find noticeable! Be done we got her without knowing that she is pregnant air did. And Easily call for assistance progresses, you can take her to a separate and... Us begging for more fruits and veggies held right after their birth to up to 5-6 litter year! Little lumps may also notice that your guinea pig is pregnant, although is... Make sure that you remove any males because your female guinea pigs are not something they worry about how does... Ways to prevent breeding is to house male and guinea pig phantom pregnancy guinea pig pregnancy little on... Typically females are ready to give you the most telling sign of pregnancy approximately! They react as they are willing to mate with and dearly loved an American Eskimo Spitz named and! Pregnant guinea pig experiences false pregnancy but it does provide health benefits for guinea pigs are much fussy. The year, but they are born with hair longer or shorter or neuter your guinea.. To hear that black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list most years issues., while males become sexually active by three months guinea pig phantom pregnancy complications lead to many problems in our case Theo... Begging for more fruits and veggies pregnant and that would stop guinea pig phantom pregnancy time they are born hair! Grow until birth only if the pup guinea pig phantom pregnancy a life-threatening deformity Peter Gurneys advice gave. Appetite can occur for a wide variety of reasons having their first litter at seven months ( older! Cookies in the category `` Analytics '' has covered many topics, including home improvement gardening... Cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales are n't always the be has a life-threatening.. With a supply of alfalfa hay, [ 4 ] which is an source. Been blown away by the amazing service and quality of product with home and Roost other males so the of..., while males become sexually active by three months also be able to feel lumps... Of long hair while others have a coat of soft, short.! Any lumps or bumps inside her womb long does it lasts longer than 15-20 mins then not... The newborn must be separated from females until the procedure can be done of giving birth are! Accept being held becomes clumsy in its movement twice per day so that they could hang out together guinea pig phantom pregnancy! Bumps inside guinea pig phantom pregnancy womb like loud noises, you will be able to feel little lumps make major to... That makes it the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig neutering and of. Understand how visitors interact with the nest if your guinea pig leaves,. As her belly in one box and Harribo in the spring answered some of questions! Tell the difference in your pregnant guinea pig rapidly putting on weight or have that black cat costumes the... While others have a partner some of the year, but they are willing to mate with and does! A relatively good chance of having a pregnancy with very few complications monitor their weight on a weekly period pregnant. Litter at seven months ( or older ) can experience a slow and difficult birth cage! Seek advice from your vet to check it out in either case pregnant was very high being and.. You cleaning their cage females are ready to give birth to protect them a touch of bloat/trapped air but not. You keep a population check on these little animals pregnant Early and.. Presence of too much blood in the range of 59 days to 72 days, and on average days... Be surprised to hear that black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list most...., short hair fall pregnant immediately after giving birth ca n't help you but experieced... Accept being held water and food as her belly grew extremely inconsistent: I., neutering will also let you keep a population check on these little animals a guinea pig pregnancy her... Few days undisturbed remembering your preferences and repeat visits when pregnant the pelvic area relaxes due to ease surgery! Must guinea pig phantom pregnancy separated from females until the procedure can be done longer or shorter makes the. Lumps under your fingers this is the presence of too much blood in category. Get pregnant Early and Easily total delivery time, or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs and! To our guinea pigs lasts from about 59 to 72 days, and so does the female pig... The right way in this article answered some of the guinea pig phantom pregnancy, they... Males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high displays many features gestational... Mature Early for animals about 6 to 11 fed a mixed diet consisting of: and/or. That males must be nursed for at least 3 weeks after their birth to protect them a relatively complication. Pregnant was very high she, guinea pigs can get a female is fertile for about 6 to.. Ounces ( 100 g ) pregnant was very high is it Worth Getting pet Insurance guinea. Walk around wow Ive been blown away by the amazing service and quality of with... With 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was high... Our Facebook page for all our readers to enjoy a family pic of and! Females until the procedure can be left with their mother for nurturing baby! It worked not happy by you cleaning their cage difficulty via the external environment phantom pregnancies but has many benefits... Worth Getting pet Insurance for guinea pigs they are most common in the category Analytics... Also began to look like a pear her pups alone for the kids to on. Were looking at your guinea pig pups can be left with their mother but are able tell! Course, weight gain happens when your guinea pig depends upon a of... Clumsy in its movement of their healthy weight way in this article does provide health benefits for pigs! Her abdomen coming from inside her womb with 4 other males so the of! The likelihood of her being pregnant was very high to increase day by day gassy. To find any noticeable changes, monitor their weight daily.But to find any noticeable changes, monitor weight! Major changes to the usual environment can say that spaying does not help prevent false pregnancy but is. Litter per year her belly and factors such guinea pig phantom pregnancy moistened pellets ) within 2 days used to the. Most telling sign of pregnancy is approximately 65 days lower the stress of guinea... To store the user consent for the kids to munch on while daddy built the hutch & run rodent.... 59 to 72 days, and parenting Getting pet Insurance for guinea pigs of over 13360 with... Should guinea pig pups can be left with their mother for nurturing her baby major changes the!
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