guinea pig pregnancy stages week by week

If the sow becomes uninterested in food contact your veterinarian immediately. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. Yeah, tests are very very important to take appropriate care of your pregnant guinea pig. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. The towels should be changed at least twice a day. Make note of the time and amount of water during each refill. But believe me, it does. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. But that does not mean a complete compromise of their hygiene. However, a caesarean surgery may be required. Guinea pigs should be split into same-sex groups at 3 weeks old. Use OR to account for alternate terms You'll need to encourage her into a transport cage through treats or her favourite vegetables/fruit. Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Their physical and mental well-being are directly linked to their emotional state. % of people told us that this article helped them. Bumps can also indicate ovarian cysts or tumors. Not only does it scare her, but also causes pain due to the pressure put by our arms. We took her to vet for check up.. Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. But that does not mean that you should not give them access to outdoors. Diseases such as toxemia are caused easily in pregnant females. Even though having a vet all the time is not convenient. Guinea pig's pregnancy: final stage. This article made the information I, "This helped a lot. The period of time between getting pregnant and the birth is called the gestation period. The gestation period of a guinea pig can last anywhere from 59 to 72 days depending on how many babies she's carrying. Things to RememberAbout Guinea Pig Pregnancy and Breeding, Terms and Conditions for Pocket pet central, Keeping them in the rooms of your home where loud noises cant be heard, Guinea pigs tend to get stressed when they do not have a pattern in their food, drinking, and outdoor timings. If the weight does not pick up, or a pup does not improve with additional feeding, consult the vet. Breeding a female guinea pig for the first time after she reaches 8 months of age can be very dangerous because of the normal stiffening of the pubic symphysis (a joint of tough fibrous cartilage between the 2 pubic bones of the pelvis) that occurs when the female reaches adulthood. For different stages of progress, there are different medicines, food supplies, the quantity of food and water, and more! Feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she gets more protein and calcium. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . This period starts from the first day of the last period before your baby is born. How Can You Know How Far Along Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy is? Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. Between 1 and 8 guinea pig babies with 4 being the most common number of guinea pigs per litter. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency. Menu Clubul de antreprenoriat. My guinea pig's quite fat, but when we went to the vet, she wasn't pregnant. Reduce handling to a minimum and don't handle her within two weeks of the birth. You should also provide a box, like a small shoe box on its side. Again, lets go step-by-step with this too. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 - 72 days. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. I have been given an 8 week old guinea pig that is pregnant, and her half-sister. Thats right, they have a distinction between emotions and the mind, just like humans, even though both are processed and caused by the same brain! Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. Guinea pigs are brilliantly expressive creatures. How much depends on the size of the litter, but her weight should never begin fall. This prevents an excess of one particular mineral that might be contained in that vegetable. Enjoy! I didnt know whether to hit him in the face for the negligence or to feel sorry for his loss. But make sure your handling of her is minimal. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born. But pregnancy is far from straightforward for guinea pigs. Finally, have the pregnancy confirmed by a veterinarian, who can perform an ultrasound and give you information about caring for a pregnant guinea pig. Commonly, their size would be ranging from eight to ten inches. So they recover pretty quickly. The more the number of baby guinea pigs, the shorter is the period of pregnancy. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Moreover, neutering does not take immediate effect. Finally, feed your guinea pig high quality hay and pellets throughout its pregnancy. If your pet has too much of this, it can build up in urine and cause bladder stones. Most inexperienced Guinea pig "breeders" do not understand this concept. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. o [ canine influenza] If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. While a female guinea pig is in estrus and he spends time with her overnight, results in her pregnancy. Things to Watch Out for During Guinea Pig Pregnancy If you suspect that your guinea pig is experiencing any of these during gestation, try to take them to a veterinarian to get diagnosed properly. Of course, as you probably already know, a break between two consecutive estrus cycles can be caused only by a pregnancy. But to a pregnant guinea pig, it does! The mothers lactation period lasts for about two or three weeks. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. Support wikiHow by How long is a guinea pig pregnant for? Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. So you may think that grooming them with regular attention, or even more during pregnancy, is needed. With cute little fingers, hair, and adorable teeth, open ears & eyes, they are just the apt definition of awesomeness! If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. If the other sow eats it, their own pregnancy may be induced. Any one else has pets that you can't pet or hold ? But that isnt the case in guinea pigs. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. 4. The ultrasound exam involves involves clipping a small square of fur and applying gel to the exposed skin. Males are territorial. It could be a disease causing the accumulation of excess metabolic products.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pocketpetcentral_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Either way, one thing is pretty clear: You have to take your guinea pig to the vet. Your pregnant sow will also need more vitamin C after 4 weeks, about twice as much, so incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C into her diet. Stage #3. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. Now they are about the normal size of an adult guinea pig like the first ones you see if you google. 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. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. 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. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. Next, check your guinea pig's weight, since her weight will almost double during pregnancy. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Neutering is advised only after the age of 4 months. It is not very different from human pregnancy. And the babies? Have a visiting vet every once in a while. Although, guinea pigs tend to eat extra in cold weather too. In general, veterinarians do not recommend that individual pet owners attempt to breed guinea pigs. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Well, they can be described as an epitome of cuteness! Note that she may chew the cardboard, so have extra boxes or use a wicker or thick-plastic box. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. If you are not prepared to care for them yourself, a more experienced guinea pig owner may be willing to take them or you may make the decision to have them put down. Excess vitamin C is passed in the urine so cant be over-dosed, but other vitamins can build up and create problems. Once, I had a friend who didnt care about a drastic weight change in his female guinea pig. However, do not assume that your guinea pig is pregnant based on just how much she is eating or drinking. Use for phrases To find out how to house your guinea pig during pregnancy and how to prepare for it to give birth, keep reading! The ultrasound, is a non-invasive procedure and can confirm the pregnancy. So follow a routine. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. So, even a male who was neutered only a few weeks before could cause pregnancy in females. She could also become pregnancy just two hours after she gives birth. Guinea pigs arrive at sexual development early, some when they are only five weeks or a month and a half old. We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! Due to several factors including age, weight, other diseases, nutritive health, etc., females could be inefficient of nourishing and/or delivering the litter. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, Aiutare un Porcellino d'India in Gravidanza, s'occuper d'un cochon d'Inde durant la priode de gestation. The ultrasound will also be able to confirm how many pups there are, and how many of them are alive. [1] We had no idea of when Theo would have become pregnant, so we just counted the days from when we brought her home. Because guinea pigs have a high infant mortality rate. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. Remove any other pregnant sows. Feeling the abdomen needs to be done by a professional because it is easy to mistake the bladder, kidney, or even an enlarged ovary for a foetus. [1] Here, we investigated the effects of parental age, parity, and . Or if it is the bad news version of the lumps, the vet will help with treating it. So you should. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. Find out the Stages Of Pregnancy By Week. Regardless of how pregnancy occurs, the average guinea pig gestation period is 65 days. Yeah, sounds weird, but it actually works with several other animals too. This article was very helpful in letting us know what to expect and what to do when our female goes into labor, etc. This will keep your guinea pig from slipping. Toxemia is the result of a metabolic imbalance, which causes the guinea pig to become gravely ill. Calcium deficiency often displays similar symptoms, but it is the result of a calcium imbalance, whereas toxemia happens due to internal complications associated with impaired blood supply to the uterus. X Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Adults are no longer growing but still require macro-nutrients like fiber and protein, as well as micro-nutrients like the vitamins and minerals that are found in a timothy hay-based, uniform fortified food. Once the pups are weaned, the mother should not require vitamin supplements anymore, unless you gave them to her as part of her regular diet anyway. To prevent high stress levels, which can lead to disease, keep your guinea pig away from direct sunlight. There will come a time when you'll be able to clearly see the babies moving inside the mother, and even the different parts of their anatomy. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. But still, to be on the safer side, having boundaries to the free space she runs is advised. X If you show negligence in ensuring that your guinea pig could handle the pregnancy, you are not only putting the mothers life at risk, but also that of the babies in the litter. For example, carrots contain lots of oxalate. Other adverse effects include a loss of appetite out of fear, which could also result in fatal effects. Giving her higher quality hay, more fruits & vegetables, essential nutrient pellets, abundant fresh water, are all things that should be done even when she is not pregnant. It is not recommended to breed guinea pigs. Small litters do not cause the belly to enlarge significantly, and will not be as noticeable. At what age can you neuter your guinea pig? Use your dominant hand to feel her belly. My guinea pigs continued to grow (4-5 months when I got them early May, so the new ones are 8 months old now) - to like perfectly normal guinea pigs. "Just found out our rescued pig was pregnant even after two exams and one ultrasound. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? 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. The pups do not require a heat lamp or heating pad. The pups will be able to eat solid food from day one, and the mother will introduce them to new food herself. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. The mother has a single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age. Maturing guinea pigs. Just because they are the pups of a familiar guinea pig, this does not mean that they will be accepted immediately. Publisher: Pergamon, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/aid666376-v4-728px-Tell-if-Your-Guinea-Pig-Is-Pregnant-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"