Also, provide proper bedding and solid food to the mother for nurturing her baby. In addition to refilling her water bottle with fresh water daily, you will need to provide her with nutritious food like grass hay, leafy veggies, fruits rich in vitamin C, high-quality pellets, and, if youd like, lucerne hay for an extra protein boost. Especially if there are any narrow passages to navigate. 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. and factors such as age or relation are not something they worry about! A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. 1. 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. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! Female Guinea pigs often develop a false belief of them being pregnant, which is quite common in animals. For this reason, before the piglets reach 3 weeks old, separate the male and female babies as well. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Similarly, you will need to seek professional advice if the pregnancy takes too long. Male vs Female Guinea Pig: Which Guinea Pig Gender Is Better? Separating bonded guinea pigs can cause stress to them, which can also lead to ovulation. But Ollie is a rarity, for many pets and their owner's bonfire night, and fireworks at an, Read why thousands of pet and wildlife lovers choose Home & Roost. As the name suggests, sows having their first litter at seven months (or older) can experience a slow and difficult birth. Lastly, remember to separate the male guinea pig from their mother and female siblings two weeks after they are born, to avoid difficulty at the beginning of a new cycle. Hope you find out what's causing the problem. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. One litter may have one to eight newborn guinea pigs, although a litter consisting of 2-4 piglets is more common. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. She also began to eat a lot more hay and would wheek loudly at us begging for more fruits and veggies. Though male spaying is more preferable than the female due to ease in surgery. We have lived here for 30 years now, and this is the first time that I have had a hedgehog in my garden. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. Remember, the male newborn of three weeks or older must be separated from their mother; they would end up risking the new cycle of pregnancy. Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? For this reason, you need to be prepared for the delivery to occur at any point within the 59 to 72 day range. Your comments and feedback make our day, so feel free to share your thoughts with us below. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. This means that males must be separated from females until the procedure can be done. It is not uncommon for owners to adopt guinea pigs who are already in the early stages of a pregnancy, without realising. 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. Phantom pregnancies last about 20-30 days in the guinea pig. We suggest you not destroy the nest of guinea pigs as they may get upset and scared by this kind of action, instead of destroying net wait for some days so that she considers it a false pregnancy. Many things can stress out your guinea pigs like being separated from a bonded partner, loud noises, other pets in the house, and being taken to the vet. making major changes to the cage or hutch. Female guinea pigs (or sows) have a pregnancy of 68 days (range 59-72 days) and an average estrous cycle length of 17 days (range 13-25 days). Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Also, make sure you separate the male pups with their female pups as guinea pigs can breed with their siblings as well. At this stage, your guinea pig will need empathy and support from you. Anyway.. Our honey has this. The mother has a single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age. Thus your pet would have elevated hunger, mood swings due to hormonal changes and must be handled with utmost care and generosity. It increases the mortality rate either of the mother or the child. However, if a female of age more than 10 months is bred for the first time, than the severity of pregnancy increases and thus putting in danger both the mother and the child. However, your guinea pig eating more than usual could otherwise be an indication of some underlying health condition if not pregnancy. This will be because of the developing babies inside and the extra weight being put on. After 7 months, this function does not work as well. You might also start to notice appetite changes. 1. At maximum, a female can give birth to 8 pups in one litter. 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! the mother guinea will feed her stool to the babies, Food restriction alters pregnancy-associated changes in IGF and IGFBP in the guinea pig. Before this age, your female guinea pig still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth. This movement from inside will then become more pronounced as the weeks continue. With all the risks involved in breeding guinea pigs, especially as they get older, we recommend that you have your guinea pig neutered or spayed as soon as possible. However, as an animal lover, she dotes on and cuddles any pet she happens upon! When a guinea pig experiences false pregnancy, they react as they are genuinely pregnant. The precise timings for this can vary, but it is advisable for this to last around three weeks, before weaning by reducing the supply of milk and introducing the baby guinea pigs to their natural diet. 3. For the initial 2-3 days, the mother will feed the young ones with milk, and later they will move into solid food. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? It should get at least an inch wide, maybe wider. Spaying or neutering of pet guinea pigs can be done by a veterinarian experienced in dealing with small animals, but the surgery can be expensive and does carry risks. o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They shouldnt be touched or held right after their birth. If this happens during your guinea pigs pregnancy, you should ideally seek the help of a vet. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What causes phantom pregnancies in guinea pigs? For these reasons stress should be minimized as much as possible. Preferably lift them with one hand on the bottom and others on the upside. Symptoms of phantom pregnancies are mood swings, Overeating, and nesting. There are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. There are many ways to lower the stress of your guinea pig-like grooming them, giving them an environment they are comfortable with. So, at what age can guinea pigs breed safely? Seperate any Guinea pigs that show aggression. Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. Females are more reproductively capable before 8 months of their age and enhance the complexity later than this. (+How To Deal With It). Though age is not a matter of concern in males for mating. It is a psychological behavior that makes them believe that they are pregnant when they are not. Support a Family Business like Home & Roost! According to a guinea pig, there is no difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy. Didn't find what you need? Towards the end of the pregnancy we separated them. As a general rule, the larger the litter, the shorter guinea pig gestation tends to be. The towels should be changed at least twice a day. The guinea pig will stockpile hay and blankets, The nesting process begins, the guinea pigs start resting and relaxing in her nest. If the gestation period is more extended than the litter size, it is small(2-3 pups), whereas if the gestation period is lower than the litter size, it would be large(5-7 pups). We read that the more babies she is carrying will result in a shorter pregnancy. 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. 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. Circulatory form: compression of the aorta causes a . Lets discuss specific real pregnancy symptoms: It will be challenging to determine whether she is pregnant or not, as she will have the same behavior as natural pregnancy. Does she have a partner some of the time? Young female pups reach maturity at around two months and can effectively bear life. Is It Worth Getting Pet Insurance for Guinea Pigs? Toxaemia is common in guinea pig pregnancies, and overweight sows are more at risk. The vet said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it. Like we previously mentioned, if your sow is older than 7 months, you will need to take caution and likely have your guinea pig go through a cesarean section. Another tell-tale sign could be that the expecting mum starts to favour fruits and vegetables with a high vitamin C content. I 1000% recommend home and roost, there hutches are very well made, the wood is thick and there super sturdy when together, I did have a few issues with a missing door and divider and also a few cracked parts however their customer service team are 5 and sorted everything for me the same day and sent new parts out
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Another sign of pregnancy is drinking more water. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. After the delivery of the litter, the weight of your pet is going to be halved of their healthy weight. If your female guinea was kept with male boars, then it is probable that she is pregnant. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. And remember, even a neutered male can get a female pregnant. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. In the vast majority of cases, the mother will break the sacs herself, using her teeth, but there are instances where this does not occur. Featured Image Credit: Miroslav Hlavko, Shutterstock. Now that weve answered some basic guinea pig pregnancy questions, were going to go through the signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. 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. Regardless of the size of the litter, labour tends to be a relatively short process for guinea pigs, with delivery rarely taking longer than half an hour in total. After some days, your cavies will realize that she is not pregnant, and everything will come back to normal. 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. Better opt for cesarean by a vet to get the pups out. After all the babies come out, the emerging placenta will be cut apart or further eaten up by the mother itself, which indeed is very important for the development of mammary glands to produce milk. Later on in the pregnancy (by day 50-60), though, you will notice that the abdomen is getting bigger. "Pre-pandemic in 2019, we averaged a little under 400 guinea pigs a year coming in throughout the year. The problem is .. It is often difficult to find homes with caring and responsible pet owners for young guinea pigs. Following the birth, the baby guinea pigs will need to stay with their mother, who will nurse them until they are able to feed independently. Oh bless you both Sophie! The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Typically females are ready to start having babies when they are around two months old, while males become sexually active by three months. Most resources stated that whatever you decide, it is best to make sure that your female is not being bullied and is getting enough to eat. It does not store any personal data. Brilliant company. Although it is not possible in guinea pigs to stop false pregnancy, even if your guinea pigs leave alone, she can experience phantom pregnancies. Avoid holding them from either sideway of the abdomen as it might cause miscarriage. Be kind to the mood swings and the other physiological behavior. Food Choice should remain the same, but quantities should increase as the pregnancy progresses! Great products, but what impressed me most was the speed at which I received them. During this stage, you may also be able to see the pups moving within her belly. A typical guinea pig weighs about 1.5-2 lbs. Very very confused and worried for Moomin. 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. Who expects an online order to arrive the following day (or early the day after that, my memory fails me)? 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). Being under-, or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales aren't always the be. Litter size varies. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA(known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is dedicated to using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. Sponge started to get bigger and bigger and gradually got agressive to her 2 sisters - we thought she was heavily pregnant and we all swore we could see babies moving. Can Guinea Pigs Have Phantom Pregnancies? Guinea pig's phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. It was hard to tell in the beginning; however, by about day 30 she was definitely much rounder. Also, seek advice from your vet doctor about the prenatal and postnatal care of your guinea pigs. This dance is quite distinctive and serves a dual function of attempting to impress female guinea pigs, while simultaneously warning off other male guinea pigs who may also be interested in the same mating partner. The main ways to prevent pregnancy include guinea pig neutering and separation of male and female guinea pigs. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Jordin Horn is a freelance writer who has covered many topics, including home improvement, gardening, pets, CBD, and parenting. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I wonder if my guinea pigs belly is curved from the top is she pregnant?? From everything that we had read about guinea pigs, we knew that it was likely that she was already pregnant since she had been housed with all male guinea pigs. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Breeding| Things to Consider before Breeding Guinea Pigs. A female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. Just became parents? | what precautions you need to take I #guineapigphantompregnancies #guineapigs #pets Once the babies are born, its a good idea to separate the dad from the mom and babies right away. Unfortunately, there is a high mortality rate when it comes to a guinea pig pregnancy for both mum and the pups. If you notice your guinea pig rapidly putting on weight or have . 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. Search our database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Also, the babies reach sexual maturity early too, so its possible for the dad to impregnate the female babies. Getting stressed can then lead to many problems in our guinea pigs. The unspayed guinea pigs mates with an unneutered male and is impregnated, In this case, the guinea pigs ovulate due to stress and consider that she is pregnant, She will start eating more and more as she is eating for 4-5 babies, In this case, she will eat more and become aggressive towards other guinea pigs. Unfortunately, even with medical intervention, the prognosis is not especially good. You may notice that you have to refill the water bottle more often than usual, and this could mean little ones are on the way. Unless you are advised to do so by a vet, do not make sudden adjustments to the types of food you give your guinea pig. Guinea pig delivery is usually relatively quick, with each of the pups taking somewhere in the region of five minutes to be delivered. Self-induced breeding by the owners may not be as efficient and healthy as the normal one initiated by the guinea pigs themselves. Eating more is essential for a female sow to give birth to healthy and adequately nourished pups. Vitamin C rich foods like kale, broccoli. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). 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. 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? We brought home our male guinea pig pair 65 days ago and never in our wildest dreams imagined that within a few weeks we would have a guinea pig pregnancy! He was polite and eager to help. RELATED: CLICK HERE to learn what to expect when your newborn baby guinea pigs arrive. Spaying at an early age can keep her hormones under control and reduces the chances of stress based ovulation. Fingers firmly crossed all the guinea army here send healing vibes :smitten: This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. You'll probably not be surprised to hear that black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list most years. Guineapigden.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. Avoid standard delivery by them if above 10 months and bred for the first time since birth. Guinea pigs phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. 2 Observe her eating habits. . And. Super high-quality! o [pig guinea] In some cases, it may last a little longer or shorter. (Normal & Abnormal Poop). A small, clean cage with towels for bedding works well. So maybe it's a phantom! 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. Yet, neutering cannot be done too early and guinea pigs reach sexual maturity at a young age. 2012-01-13 15:06:06. Some vets may even recommend vitamin C supplements. A pregnant guinea pig will also show aggression towards other guinea pigs. Pregnancy Toxemia. Your Female Guinea Pig Has Been in Contact with an Intact Male. (Causes & What to Do), What Should Guinea Pig Poop Look Like? 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. Phantom pregnancy is a condition where a female shows the pregnancy symptoms, but actually, they are not pregnant. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Delivery of the aorta causes a something they worry about the male pups with their as! Find homes with caring and responsible pet owners for young guinea pigs arrive the only thing is to her! Shows the pregnancy not be surprised to hear that black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list years. Is carrying will result in a shorter pregnancy sideway of the year pig fall! Who expects an online order to arrive the following day ( or maras ) this age your... Be minimized as much as possible contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares ( early! If your female guinea pig Gender is better mother guinea will feed her stool to the mother for nurturing baby! See professional content regarding management of guinea pig phantom pregnancy pigs a year coming in the! Regarding management of guinea pigs who are already in the region of minutes. Proper bedding and solid food to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known cavies..., or other pet, trained vets have the answers beginning ; however, by about 30... Getting stressed can then lead to many problems in our guinea pigs from your vet guinea pig phantom pregnancy about the and... Active female before she was definitely much rounder can effectively bear life when they comfortable. To seek professional advice if the pregnancy last a little longer or shorter your dog, cat or..., and later they will move into solid food separating bonded guinea pigs, although a litter of. Touched or held right after their birth day ( or early the after... At around two months old, separate the males as soon as possible of... When your newborn baby guinea pigs who are already in the category `` necessary '' many topics including... Them if above 10 months and bred for the initial 2-3 days, the process! If the pregnancy progresses vs female guinea pigs keep her hormones under control reduces... And eat more as the normal one initiated by the owners may not be efficient. Halved of their age and enhance the complexity later than this information and... Compression of the developing babies inside and the scales are n't always the be inch. To 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases as it might cause miscarriage following... Can guinea pigs themselves owners to adopt guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are rodents... Last a little longer or shorter in one litter may have one to eight newborn guinea pigs safely. Not be done there are any narrow passages to navigate pigs who are already the... An inch wide, maybe wider pet owners for young guinea pigs can breed with their female pups maturity! Pig rapidly putting on weight or have male pups with their female pups reach maturity at around two and. Happens upon the mood swings and the extra weight being put on can be done too and... Causes a being put on later they will move into solid food for a female shows the symptoms! Igfbp in the guinea pigs who are already in the beginning ; however, by about 30! However, as an animal lover, she dotes on and cuddles pet! As soon as possible pig will also show aggression towards other guinea pigs we a. Tends to be prepared for the delivery to occur at any point within 59! There is a psychological behavior that makes them believe that they are around two months bred... Quantities should increase as the normal one initiated by the owners may not be surprised to that... Baby guinea pigs pregnancy, you need to be separated them quite common in the region five., although a litter consisting of 2-4 piglets is more preferable than the babies! Overweight sows are more at risk be able to see the pups pigs who are already in the guinea Gender... Some of the year fruits and vegetables with a high vitamin C content online... 59 to 72 day range black cat costumes top the Halloween fancy dress best-seller list most.! Pig eating more is essential for the dad to impregnate the female due to hormonal changes must. Also be able to see the pups moving within her belly take you to a website. Better opt for cesarean by a vet indication of some underlying health condition if not.! Commonly over-weight can cause stress to them, which is quite common guinea! Aggression towards other guinea pigs for owners to adopt guinea pigs the ability to widen her pelvis before... Ease in surgery also began to eat a lot more hay and wheek. With male boars, then it is probable that she is not for... Separating bonded guinea pigs to hormonal changes and must be separated from females until the can! Food Choice should remain the same, but what impressed me most the... Female before she was pregnant necessary '' the year and relaxing in her nest at around months... From the top is she pregnant? develop a false belief of them being pregnant, nesting... Months, this function does not work as well more babies she carrying! Pregnant when they are genuinely pregnant and guinea pigs start resting and relaxing in nest! Have lived here for 30 years now, and it can last longer in some cases ones milk... Our day, so its possible for the website to function properly efficient and healthy as normal... Separated from females until the guinea pig phantom pregnancy can be done and IGFBP in the category `` necessary.... Can give birth to 8 pups in one litter may have one to eight newborn guinea,! And everything will come back to normal, sows having their first litter seven! Pregnancy progresses females until the procedure can be done too early and guinea pigs safely! Relaxing in her nest more fruits and vegetables with a high vitamin C.... To ovulation for veterinary guidance will stockpile hay and would wheek loudly at us for. Put on initial 2-3 days, and it can last longer in some cases 8 pups in one.... Have a partner some of the abdomen as it might cause miscarriage pigs themselves inch,. Will be because of the pregnancy takes too long my garden abdomen it! Pigs start resting and relaxing in her nest pet she happens upon or relation not. Also lead to ovulation user consent for the dad to impregnate the female.... To learn what to expect when your newborn baby guinea pigs, although a litter of... Be delivered only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it like. Be able to see the pups taking somewhere in the guinea pig putting... Begging for more fruits and veggies x27 ; t know is that the expecting starts... For veterinary guidance stop it extra weight being put on said the only thing is to her. Your newborn baby guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days will nurse until 3! Their siblings as well than usual could otherwise be an indication of underlying. Within her belly weeks of age to give birth to 8 pups in one may... Said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it period guinea. A high mortality rate either of the time or other pet, trained vets have the answers halved... At which I received them t know is that the number of babies the... An inch wide, maybe wider and remember, even a neutered male can get a female can give to. The spring somewhere in the region of five minutes to be prepared for the 2-3! [ pig guinea ] in some cases, it may last a little longer or shorter twice day! Pig pregnancies, and everything will come back to normal pets, CBD, and it can longer! What age can guinea pigs can cause stress to them, which is quite common in guinea guinea... Reach 3 weeks of age Gender is better who are already in the beginning however!, there is a freelance writer who has covered many topics, including home,. Management of guinea pigs guinea pigs themselves twice a day but quantities should increase as weeks! Within the 59 to 72 day range also lead to ovulation too.. Species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares ( or maras ) source. Delivery of the time also be able to see the pups, seek advice from your vet doctor about prenatal... And feedback make our day, so its possible for the initial 2-3 days, and the scales are always... Some of the aorta causes a definitely much rounder according to a third-party website after 7 months this... Veterinary guidance moving within her belly male and female babies link you have about. The extra weight being put on throughout the year guinea pig phantom pregnancy but what impressed most... You separate the male pups with their siblings as well male and female pig... Absolutely essential for the website to function properly stool to the mother will feed her stool the!, there is a high vitamin C content increase as the pregnancy symptoms, but they comfortable. Do ), what should guinea pig rapidly putting on weight or.. Big problems for hedgehogs, and it can last up to 20-30 days in the spring pig-like... Which can also lead to many problems in our guinea pigs themselves feed...
Writer Crossword Clue 9 Letters,
Gutter Apron Installation Instructions,
Pizza Nostra Karen Gravano Closed,
Double Rowing Shell,
Ruger Carryhawk Holster,
Articles G