pregnant guinea pig signs of laborpregnant guinea pig signs of labor

How will you know if your guinea pig is pregnant? The mothers lactation period lasts for about two or three weeks. Remember that a cold climate triggers a guinea pig's appetite. How many babies do guinea pigs get per litter? The gestation period usually lasts about eight and a half to nine weeks. Is it possible for a sow to give birth without showing signs of pregnancy? In most cases, a sow will handle her labor, deliver the babies, clean them off, and bite off the umbilical cord. Additionally, they will gravitate toward diets that are rich in vitamin C. Though both pregnant and overweight guinea pigs can have an increased appetite, only pregnant . If you notice any amniotic tissue stuck to a babys face, remove it as soon as possible. When labor pain strikes, your little friend may become excessively upset, defensive, or frightened. If you think you dont have the resources or knowledge to deal with a guinea pigs pregnancy, we recommend that you dont put your animal through this process. It is possible to make out fetuses 12 weeks after conception. I just want to share that I am spending the night watching my one of my rescued sows, who appears to be starting labor. Provide fresh water ad libitum. Should complications arise, it is extremely important that you have a veterinarian lined up for emergency care before the actual delivery. 4. You will also be able to feel the pups inside the mother's belly. If they do mate, I will now. Its a go-ahead! Has the shivering and leg movement ceased? The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally relevant rodent species. In this article, you will deep-dive into the best age to breed a guinea pig, how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant, caring for a pregnant guinea pig, helping a guinea pig give birth, etc. Since they no longer eat just for them, but also for the baby piggies inside, they eat more than the usual amount. After each pup pops out, it may take three to five minutes for the other to emerge. Quality feeding and proper care of the pregnant guinea pig prepare her for sound delivery. This page might contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. The condition is likely to cause stillbirths and abortions. To Avoid Stress, You Need to Take Several Measures Obviously. A voracious appetite and a heavier-than-normal appearance are good signs that your pig is pregnant. 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. By gently squeezing the tummy area, you may feel different-sized bumps. Try to find a vet who specializes in rodents and other small animals, rather than just a generic vet. If you choose to supply your animal with vitamin C by dissolving it in water, try to change it often as it can easily turn bad. Thread starter GPonnett Start date Aug 25, 2010; GPonnett Well-known Member. She still has at least 2 viable pups inside and is acting fine. In guinea pigs, you may be able to feel the tiny pups forming inside the sow. Gently press inwards and see if you feel any lumps or bumps inside her tummy. The labor: You can hear distinct cries of her before she goes into labor. At what age can you neuter your guinea pig? Manage Settings When pregnant the pelvic area relaxes due to the hormonal changes. There are a few ways you can tell if they are expecting. During the entire pregnancy process, sows require a rich supply of Vitamin C. It is recommended that pet owners should double the quantity up to 20 mg per day. That's when the delivery starts and if everything is normal the first pup will come out in about 5 minutes. My Animals A blog on tips, care and everything related to the world of animals. 2012 2023 . For instance, you may realize your piggy is resting and hiding more than usual during this period. With a contraction, she will reach under her like she is getting a poop to eat, and pull the baby out. Pregnant guinea pigs may also be at risk of mastitis, uterine prolapse, and hypocalcemia. This is because piglets typically add up to almost the same size as the mother. Or if it is the bad news version of the lumps, the vet will help with treating it. Some owners are uncertain about their guinea pig being pregnant until they see a vet. To learn more about what to expect during the pregnancy, read on! The latter logic transcends the former. If she excessively bites and attacks her babies, keep her in a secluded place before reintroducing the pups back. A Guinea pig giving birth to a pup is always an exciting and happy moment for owners in welcoming newborn creatures. You may think that personal hygiene of your guinea pig is important during pregnancy. Rodent and rabbit medicine. Required fields are marked *, Affiliate Disclosure: VIVOPets.com 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. Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. . Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Pregnant Guinea Pig Signs, Behavior & Care. If you let your guard down after one litter being born, without watching the females interaction with un-neutered males, the mother who just delivered a litter could get knocked up once again! We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. They can't replace the diagnosis, advice, or treatment from a professional. There are three stages of the farrowing process; pre-farrowing, farrowing, and after-birth expulsion. Nonetheless, if your little friend becomes pregnant, get ready to sufficiently support them throughout the process. This site is run by Anna, Niklas and Jesper - three curious, caring and animal-loving people. Her body will be positioned in a down-squat on all four legs. A female guinea pig is pregnant for 59-72 days. Bella is active, eating, and drinking. The babies try eating from the very first day, and they are born with enough reserve of energy (usually) to sustain until Mom's instincts kick in. 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. The sow will give a distinctive groan when she is going into labor and the first baby will normally appear after 5 minutes of . Your guinea pig will have time to prepare itself physically and mentally, and wont run the risk of a miscarriage. Your sow can be pregnant, and you dont notice it, or you realize some change of behaviors, e.g., distancing itself and reluctance to move, when shes close to giving birth. They may also have difficulty . There should be little or no blood, especially before any babies have been produced. Being able to feel the babies. Most pups emerge heads first, although a few make the grand entry from behind. After you dry it off, put it back down beside the Mom. By choice and sometimes by accident, a pregnant guinea pig comes under our care. 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. Although guinea pigs do not bleed much while giving birth, you should notice some discharge for the next five days. If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. This information is then translated into an image. This is when the single-celled zygote develops into full baby guinea pigs by cell division. Maybe in the woods, they can take care of themselves. The more the number of baby guinea pigs, the shorter is the period of pregnancy. Moms may continue to spot for up to 4-5 days after delivery, although 1-2 is more normal. The first noticeable sign on a pregnant sow is an increased appetite. If you are thinking that your few weeks old female guinea pigs cannot be pregnant, youre wrong! Its just the same in guinea pigs. If several fetuses are present, you will feel several bumps spaced across her tummy, each of a similar size. Signs of Pregnancy. Are you interested in having a guinea pig as a pet? 2 Remove any boars. She died along with the litter. How Can You Know How Far Along Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy is? Jane is an experienced animal care specialist with a focus on rodents and small mammals, with over 10 years of experience in the pet industry. One, it could be your baby guinea pigs. Also called as parturition in scientific terms, the birth, of course, is the part where the litter is delivered. Guinea pigs have many pregnancy complications that risk losing the babies or sometimes the mother. But make sure your handling of her is minimal. So, there are obvious signs that you can look for to identify pregnancy in your guinea pigs. If you wanna make the process of pregnancy easier on your pal, you better read this section with maximum attention. Early breeding of female guinea pigs tends to reduce their lifespan. So you should. It may not display this or other websites correctly. For instance, a 2 Ibs sow may augment up to 4 Ibs by the end of the pregnancy. Guinea pigs need extra vitamin C during pregnancy, so you may see her favoring the products of the soil having the vitamin C in high quantity over those lacking it. Bumps can also indicate ovarian cysts or tumors. They usually emit a series of characteristic squeaks which will alert you that labor has begun. Sad to say good-bye, but I will be glad to be a 4 guinea pigs and have a little less work. The most important thing for the mother is to feed herself in a balanced way. Lets see! Guinea pigs giving a birth is a fantastic moment. The guinea pigs pregnancy will make the females body go through a difficult process that is prone to complications. The delivery shouldnt take longer than 20 minutes. To tell if your guinea pig is pregnant, start by observing her eating habits to gauge whether she's eating and drinking more than usual. If you see hunching up, the hiccup-like movement, your guinea pig is looking at her back end . Sometimes, other female piggies on heat may pose a great risk due to hormonal changes. However, be aware that other things can feel like bumps in the abdomen. Difficulty in giving birth is a common problem with female guinea pigs. Your pet piggys appetite multiplies, and she starts to eat more than usual. This is how I could tell.https://youtu.be/dj6tfzZu1cYemail: guinafilms1@gmail.comFaceb. She drinks a lot of water, and the weight gain is noticeable. Once, I had a friend who didnt care about a drastic weight change in his female guinea pig. Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. 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. Its important to determine with your cavy vet when your piggy is likely to give birth and monitor her closely in case of any problem. 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([[250,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-leader-4-0'); Some people may think that knowing how far along the pregnancy is, could not yield any benefit. He never thought of the idea that his pet was pregnant. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. The final stage of gestation can last between 2-3 weeks. 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. References I am glad all is well! have company. That way, you get assured of a thriving litter and healthy mother. Most pregnant guinea pigs do not move as actively as their normal days. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. So do not be surprised if a young little guinea pig you just brought home is already pregnant! If your guinea pig gives birth longer than this or shows s signs of struggling, she needs immediate attention from a veterinarian, as they frequently require assistance when giving . Although, these pups can eat solid foods as early as the first day of life. Some things will go unnoticed, e.g., your guinea pig eating a lot of food, drinking a lot of water, and adding more weight. They will be getting small bits from the mothers dish. The mother will wash down the pups and chew off their umbilical cord. Guinea pigs bred when below seven months of age have a good chance of maintaining pregnancy and giving birth naturally and successfully in the future. In theory, guinea pigs can give up to 5 litters per year. If you gently palpate the stomach side, you should feel lumps under your fingers. Some guinea pigs are more prolific and can typically give a litter of more than ten piglets. Pregnancy can have a number of complications for the sow, the female guinea pig, including toxaemia (metabolic imbalance), dystocia (difficulty giving birth), and post-partum difficulties (such as seizures due to low calcium levels). If you notice any amniotic tissue stuck to a baby's face . Another way to tell is if the guinea pig starts to gain weight - this usually happens towards the end of the pregnancy. There will come a time when youll be able to clearly see the babies moving inside the mother, and even the different parts of their anatomy. We can understand why a guinea pig would need extra comfort during pregnancy, given that she does not move as much as she used to. By this time, the developing fetuses will make up half of the mother's body weight. Nothing is visible to explain that the pig is pregnant. Approximately every five minutes, a new pup will be born. The duration of the pregnancy depends on the litter size. But believe me, it does. Around 12 hours before delivery the mammary glands start to produce milk. For this reason, you should replace its usual diet with alfalfa, rich in calcium and proteins, along with foods like kiwi, kale or green peppers. That indicates that your guinea pig is pregnant. This can occur from 2 weeks before until 2 weeks after the birth. Caution: What makes guinea pigs very different from humans in pregnancy is their lactation patterns. When the pig is close to delivering, the pelvis bones will contract and spread apart. Because guinea pigs have a high infant mortality rate. If pregnant, your guinea pig may have a single piglet or up to 3-4. 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. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',122,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Well, not too many similarities are shared by guinea pigs and humans in their pregnancy. Pre-farrowing happens 10 to 14 days before the delivery day. Guinea pig pregnancy, there is a fine line between it sounding scary and it sounding heartening. Guinea pigs need additional vitamin C during pregnancy, so you might see her favor fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C over those lacking it. They squeak too. The average number of pups per litter is 3, but litters of up to 14 have been seen. Reduce handling to a minimum and don't handle her within two weeks of the birth. Swollen Teats and Belly This is an obvious sign of pregnancy but is unfortunately not usually apparent until around three months of gestation. As females progress in their pregnancy, she may eat three times the . As early as six weeks of age. A good idea is to weigh your female guinea pig regularly (perhaps weekly) and to record the weight. You may think a little touch or petting couldnt hurt. After about two or three weeks of pregnancy, the baby guinea pigs can be physically felt. ", know if the sow is having a baby or babies. Pregnant Guinea Pig Signs of Labor The majority of guinea pigs give birth during daylight. There should be little or no blood, especially before any babies have been produced. awww. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. about 24-48 hours before birth the pelvic bones will separate to about 3.5 cm. For obvious reasons, your guinea pig needs extra nutrition when she is pregnant. But to a pregnant guinea pig, it does! Another sign is a hike in food intake. This article has 20 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. Now that you have a pregnant guinea pig lets deep-dive into the four best steps to care for the cavy. All Rights Reserved. Difficulty in giving birth is also common if guinea pigs are bred late. She is eating a lot, drinking, and moving about the cage normally. 1. And the babies? Immediate veterinary care is required, but the prognosis is usually very poor. I do not breed. 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. Just to clarify (as most of you know). If it takes longer than this, itll probably require an emergency C-section, so try to have your vet as close as possible at this time, especially if your guinea pig is a new mother. 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! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7c\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7c\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid666376-v4-728px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"