Strong, frequent contractions. Nevertheless, if your sow is not yet matured and is less than 6-8 months of age, she will still be growing and thus weight gain may not be symptomatic of pregnancy. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the whole litter to be delivered. During the process, the sow squats on all its limbs. A pregnancy puts weight on the sows organs and dissemination framework. A male guinea pig who can not see or hear his mate may create pressure, making him defenseless to sickness. So we have Janice, Zelma and Possum (looks similar to an Opposum ). Although you need to be careful not to apply any pressure to the region. Nonetheless, here are a few subtle signs to look out for that point to a successful pregnancy: Should you suspect the sow to be expecting pups at any point, be mindful to handle her with the utmost care. Sooner when the motherly impulse slowly sinks in, they may take up their maternal role. Your vet may likewise hear the piglets pulses in the sows mid-region. The next number will be the earliest your guinea pig will potentially go into labor. Dilationwidening the opening of the cervix. . 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. This partition increments to more than 2.5cms in the hours not long before conveyance. Cheers, Adrian @ GuineaPigCare.com.au, Adrian, thank you so much for making this post. alrightywill try that. Place any cavies that appear to annoy her in a different cage. Although the guinea pig gestation period varies, the guinea pig gestation period typically lasts between 59-72 days. When its utterly necessary make sure she has the support of her hips. It is one of the first physical signs your guinea pig is pregnant shows. Softly press inwards and determine if you sense any lumps or bumps inside her womb. 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. Today, they are kept as pets around the globe. Some of the signs to watch out for include: 1. Labor: . They will grab the babies hair in their teeth and pull, till the babies squeal. Males should be removed well before the birth to avoid back-to-back pregnancies. The guinea pigs weight increase starts with a few grams per day. All previously stated animals of which I have experience build nests of some sort. Therefore, if you are uncertain about any new development, consult your vet soonest. Cavies were tamed at any rate by 900 BCE and conceivably as right on time as 5000 BCE. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space. Risk reduction includes preventing obesity in the mother guinea pig and providing adequate energy in the diet late in gestation. Interesting fact The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! But taking in mind the previously mentioned signs you can suspect pregnancy if any one of them is present. When I'm not writing, I enjoy kickboxing and work as an animal trainer. The new Mom will not act sick. If she is, then you need to know what to watch for. Sectioned sows may develop agalactia and both sow and . One more way to detect guinea pig pregnancy is the smell of the pet. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. Avoid over-feeding But usually, by the second day, they realize that no one else is tending to these little noisy creatures so they might as well do it. How old do guinea pigs have to be to breed? So you should be able to get some needed rest. Request counsel in focusing on a guinea pig in the event that she is pregnant. Otherwise, you risk starting an entirely new pregnancy cycle! 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. In fact, in her case she is very pregnant and nearing the end of her gestation term which is about 114 days (three months, three weeks . Male guinea pigs will keep on mounting pregnant sows, which can put pressure or torment your pregnant sow late in the pregnancy (after the 50-day mark). The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days . Signs of Pregnancy. Do not keep pregnant guinea pigs in multi-level cages/hutches as their balance will be impaired by pregnancy, and in the later stages of pregnancy they may not be able to get up to the higher tiers. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. And post pictures of the babies. Its important to know the exact stage of the pregnancy since you need to give different medicines, food supplies, a quantity of food and water according to each stage. If she isnt in the mooder, if shes not in heat, that isshe might very well bite him or snap at him. After the 7th week, the movement of the pups will be even more noticeable. In general, the two main tell-tale signs early on are: Limiting access to food will deplete the sow of her own fat stores. You should also provide the sow with a stress-free environment. Those fertile periods can occur during any time of the year, but most frequently during spring. For a smooth delivery, the first procreation should happen between three and seven months of age. The majority of guinea pigs give birth during daylight. As a species, they also increase their food intake in the winter. I have no idea when she was bred. I usually do not interfere. The afterbirth will be a round flat bloody object ranging in size from a nickel to a quarter. I named her Janice. Should complications arise, it is extremely important that you have a veterinarian lined up for emergency care before the actual delivery. Or possibly when. At that point, the ultrasound machine is put on the skin and transmits a high-recurrence sound that is quiet to human ears. Attempt to find a vet who has considerable experience in dealing with rodents and other little creatures, instead of simply a nonexclusive vet. Hamsters and Guinea Pigs Can They Live Together. oh, and I do wonder what the piglets will end up looking like maybe you'll get a pleasant mix of long/short hair? In these regions, native Americans domesticated them for food. How to tell if your sow is pregnant. mypetguineapig.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. A female cavy uses a lot of her energy during this time, and thus requires a healthy, balanced diet that is appropriate for her during gestation.. If your guinea pig has been pregnant for more than about two or three weeks then you might be capable of very gently feeling the unborn in your pet. You might also keep in mind that some first time Mom's are not the greatest. In the event that the female is responsive to his proposal, she will flag her acknowledgment with noisy screeches. Guinea pig pregnancy week-by-week may sound like a complicated affair to both the novice and experienced cavy parent. On average, the process lasts around one to four hours. The male on, the other hand, will put on his manly display but will still approach the saw with a lowered head. Her body will be positioned in a down-squat on all four legs. What any professional on the matter will tell you is not to breed your guinea if you are still in the process of making the final decision. I'm so excited, she getting so big. Guinea pigs usually weigh about 1.5-2 lbs. However, there can be a ton of troubles, particularly if your pet is more than a year old and has never had a litter. Generally, this happens after the last little one makes its way out. It will look like she is grabbing a poo to eat. The male guinea pig is called a boar, while the female is known as a sow. Most pups emerge heads first, although a few make the grand entry from behind. Cavy Slave. Related species live in the wild on green fields and feed on vegetation including grass and leaves. Contractions that range from mild (during early labor) to strong (during active labor) Effacementthinning of the cervix. Doing so can cause pups to grow too big, which the sow may struggle to birth. This process can take up to 2-3 hours. The pregnancy of the guinea pig will be shorter if there is a larger litter size. Usually, a guinea pig's pregnancy lasts from 59-72 days. Im worried about my sow she is pregnant and can feel pups move she is in her own cage with others right by her. Sometimes its the uterus lacking contractions; sometimes its a pup ending up stuck in the birth canal. Each pup will have its own amniotic sac, and usually the mother removes it and eats it. The test records the echoes as the sound waves skip back to decide the size, shape, and consistency of tissues and organs in the body. By the time she reaches the seventh week of pregnancy, the babies will make up about half of her total body weight. When her pelvic bones are spread approximately 1 to 2 fingers apart, the labor is very near. Avoid putting any pressure on her body. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. Such temperature drops can happen at any point of the pregnancy. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. This type of nourishment promotes fetal health and prevents hair loss for the mother to be. Are you able to feel the outlines of the babies bodies? Male guinea pigs are very territorial so when they mate they spray the female with their urine. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally relevant rodent species. Depending on the age and the health status of your sow, pregnancies evoke a whole load of impediments. This can occur from 2 weeks before until 2 weeks after the birth. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about five minutes to birth a pup. The first noticeable sign on a pregnant sow is an increased appetite. After the commotion of a mating ritual, keep a close eye on the sow. I'd cut out the broccoli slaw and give 1 broccoli floret once a week. Near the end restrain yourself from picking the animal up. Most guinea pigs give birth in the daytime hours. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Be especially careful around the newborns eyes, as they are normally wide open, and you can scratch the cornea. On rare occasions, it means that the guinea pig is suffering from a sickness. If you are present, you can help her out by removing some of the placentas and some of the soiled bedding. 8. Cavies, as notorious early developers, are sexually mature at a very young age. 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