How old do guinea pigs have to be to breed? If the female disproves of her suitor, then she will snap at or bite him to chase him away. In the pregnant female, the symphysis relaxes and stretches in response to secretion of relaxin by the pituitary gland and endometrium, allowing separation of the pubic bones (Williams 2012, Brower 2006, Martinho 2006). 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. Thus she is pregnant. Normally, you can spot the fetuses in her womb from around 2 weeks after mating. These short haired "cavies" come in many different breeds; the most popular among them is the American, which is characterized by a roman nose which is slightly rounded. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about five minutes to birth a pup. My 14 month old sow, Marmalade, is definenantly pregnant. To decide when the introduction of the young ones will happen is frequently troublesome in that they have a long development period, and that the sows dont assemble homes. Guinea pigs are not nesters, so you might not notice any changes in behavior as delivery time gets closer. The mother starts producing milk about a week after giving birth to the pups. Handle the sow with care and never treat her roughly. Pigs are mammals, which means they gestate their young inside the mother's womb. Labor: . Moms may continue to spot for up to 4-5 days after delivery, although 1-2 is more normal. At the end of the process, the placenta emerges and the mother eats it as well. During the last pregnancy stages, pregnant piggies tend to overeat. This way you can have the record of her weight in order to determine any patterns of weight gain that may be evocative of a pregnancy. This mechanism works in other species of animals as well and very fortunately humans arent accustomed to it. How to tell if your sow is pregnant. If you do decide to breed them, ensure your sow is young enough (but not too young) so there are less chances of complications. Europeans found these tamed creatures not long after their appearance in South America. She doesn't like the florets (tried them) but I wanna do what is best for her! Remember that a cold climate triggers a guinea pig's appetite. Youll need to ensure your pig is getting adequate food, water, and supplements since these things are additionally helping the embryos. Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. You most likely won't even see it happen. 6 Signs of a Pregnant Pig. Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. After the 7th week, the movement of the pups will be even more noticeable. If the female approves of the male, she will signal her acceptance to mate with loud squeaks. Remember that guinea pig litters may count 1-6 piglets. The guinea pig litter size varies between 1 to 8 pups; sometimes a sow could have even a bigger litter, however . This page might contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. What most people dont know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. Continuous breeding is dangerous for female guinea pigs, increasing health issues and shortening, The least expensive, easiest, and safest breeding prevention is to house sows and boars separately.. The abdomen becomes bulky and look plump, though this can also mean other things. Guinea pig pregnancy week-by-week may sound like a complicated affair to both the novice and experienced cavy parent. Belly and lower back pain. And post pictures of the babies. All cavies are social creatures that like to live in gatherings. Your email address will not be published. This is called a "postpartum oestrus," which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time! It is also an indication that the first stage of labor is happening. 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. On the other hand, keeping a pregnant sow with boars poses a greater danger. When a gilt (unbred or first-time mother) or a sow is in heat, she will often show a swollen and red vulva, and/or discharge. Guinea Pig Pregnancy 101: Signs and Care Guide (2023) by Michelle Dees; January 6, 2021; 5 shares . As soon as you suspect a successful mating, supplement the females usual. Changes in the Estrous Cycle. Guinea pups, once born, will be completely furry. Also, she may seem like she is breathing harder with no sounds to as if she has a URI. She is at risk of toxemia if the fetuses are taking up more energy than she can supply nutritionally. Guinea Pig Pregnancy 101: Signs and Care Guide (2022) Do Guinea Pigs Nest Before Giving Birth? An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. 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. Mostly, guinea pigs deliver during the day and rarely at night. You should observe the behavior of the other guinea pigs as well. At this time you will be even able to distinguish the body parts of the moving babies by gently touching the belly. 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. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. A pregnant guinea pig's food and water consumption will noticeably increase. 12 minute read; 5. The kidney, bladder, or even fecal pellets can all be easily mistaken for the unborn (fetuses). By the time she reaches the seventh week of pregnancy, the babies will make up about half of her total body weight. Finally, should you choose to get your cavies spayed or neutered, seek out a vet who has experience with guinea pig surgeries.. The gestation period for pregnant guinea pigs is 60 to 70 days. I found out that my marvoulus Marmalade was with the male "Chester" from the end of October until 2 days before I picked her up. Some sows take up caring for their young ones right away after birth. Guinea pigs eat more when they're pregnant. Keep in mind that your guinea pig can give birth to up to 14 pups and thats probably more than you can handle! Her articles provide practical guidance on choosing the right pet and managing common health issues. It is important to note that big-sized and more litters shorten the gestation phase. . For a smooth delivery, the first procreation should happen between three and seven months of age. Such temperature drops can happen at any point of the pregnancy. The kidney, bladder, or even fecal pellets can all be easily mistaken for fetuses. And remember, even a neutered male can get a female pregnant. This partition increments to more than 2.5cms in the hours not long before conveyance. Note that the incubation period is normally 66 72 days. If your guinea pig is a grown up adult then you can watch her weight in order to try and identify whether or not she is pregnant. The milk provides some very important nutrients for the babies. Somewhere around week 5-6, the abdomen and hindquarters of the pregnant guinea pig will be markedly enlarged.. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the whole litter to be delivered. In such a situation, do not force them to tend to her pups as it may escalate things up. The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. Although the cervix needs to dilate at least 10 centimeters for a vaginal delivery, cervical dilation of at least 2 to 3 centimeters often indicates that labor is 24 to 48 hours away. 8. You probably wont see numerous physical and social indications of pregnancy in guinea pigs from the start. However, if youre still in the process of deciding whether to breed her, then heed our advice to not breed her. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long until birth. Weigh your sow weekly to be certain she is gaining weight at a regular pace. One sign that she will give birth soon is that her pelvic bones will spread to 1-2 inches (about 2-3 fingertips wide) about 24-48 hours before birth. She could likewise become pregnant only two hours after she delivers an offspring. Generally, this happens after the last little one makes its way out. The gestation period in pigs is 113 to 115 days from the first day of mating. If your sow is carrying more pups rather than less, her length of pregnancy will more likely be closer to 60 days than 70. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. Lastly, it takes about 2-4 weeks to wean guinea pups. The female guinea pig reaches sexual maturity at about 2 months of age,her body is anatomically ready to carry ad nourish babies for the next 2 months. Cavies were initially brought into Europe during the 1500s. But these little critters also mature early both physically and sexually. Signs of Pregnancy. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In time, it will be a bit harder for them to move, but this is of little or no significance. So we have Janice, Zelma and Possum (looks similar to an Opposum ). As soon as you suspect she has mated successfully, you should replace her usual Timothy hay with alfalfa. Respiratory rate increases, and sometimes pigs will breathe through open mouths. Copyright 2023 - VIVO Pets. 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. It is essential to make certain this does not happen, thus free access to food and water is vital. The release of the placenta is the third and final farrowing stage. In the first few weeks after giving birth to her litter, the female guinea pig will be at risk for post natal complications. 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. After the commotion of a mating ritual, keep a close eye on the sow. You have to rely on a combination of indicators. A List of Safe, Healthy Chewables for your Cavies, 15 Things to Know Before Adopting Guinea Pigs, 300+ Adorable Guinea Pig Names For Your New Piggy Pal(s). Bumps can also refer to ovarian cysts or tumors. In both cases, your pet needs to be seen by a vet. There are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. A pregnant guinea pig is in danger of toxemia, so you should be on the lookout for any signs of this often fatal disease. The sow will sit very squarely, and make a "hiccupping" type of motion. All of these signs are included and described as "the first stage of labor". Sometimes even surgery must be performed to save the mothers life. Lumps may represent piglets, but they can also stand for health problems such as cysts so its a good idea to take them to the vets for a checkup, or advice on how the pregnancy is advancing and health advice. The middle stage is up until the seventh week of pregnancy. Some factors like body size, breed and number of fetuses affect the pig gestation period or length. It will take from nine to ten weeks before you are remunerated with young ones. Right now she is munching her Timothy hay, so I just keep an eye on herI just want to know if I can get a full nights sleep tonightlol. Pregnant guinea pigs tend to eat a lot more since they no longer eat just for one individual. You should be watchful of the sow, because you really wont notice any difference in her appearance for the first few weeks. One of my guinea pigs is pregnant! Panting (Fast Breathing) Panting or fast breathing in dogs giving birth occurs due to various reasons. 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. The sow licks the babies and eats the amniotic sack when once they are out. Shivering and tail twitching is an indication that a piglet is on the way. Most guinea pigs give birth in the daytime hours. Typically, breeding reduces the lifespan of female cavies. All pregnancies are risky and breeding is never recommended. ), the guinea pig was in the contact of boar. I rescued these guinea pigs that were pregnant when I got them. When laboring, sows lay down in the nesting area and become quiet. For an effective process, ensure that your pregnant sows consume fresh veggies and fruits hay each day. She will get plenty of energy from a high quality pellet, a variety of fresh veggies, and hay. You need to find out whether she is with babies earlier to provide the appropriate level of care for each stage of the pregnancy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A neutered male guinea pig can still impregnate a female. I would only give one 1 inch cube of fruit per week. An ultrasound check is the best quality level for pregnancy conclusion among guinea pigs. Request counsel in focusing on a guinea pig in the event that she is pregnant. It is very helpful and appreciated. During this time, keep watch for the following: Dystocia, or difficult birth, is common in sows who are older than 7-8 months and bred for the first time. Thats because they dont want other males to approach her. Whether pregnant or not, it is wise to monitor the weight of your pets. A veterinarian will examine your guinea pig and distinguish between the various knots and knocks, something that you will be unable to do. VIVO Pets Rodents Guinea Pigs Pregnant Guinea Pig Signs, Behavior & Care. This is the most exciting period! Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. Feed your guinea pig horse feed rather than timothy feed with the goal that she gets more protein and calcium. Many females who survive experience complications, which are painful to the sow and costly to the pet parent.. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. 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