Laber-Laird, Swindle, & Flecknell. Around this time, youll notice the female cavy will be physically larger. Sows older than 2 years that werent bred before are most at risk. Pet shops are notoriously bad for sexing guinea pigs and may have mis-sexed one of your guinea pigs. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. The majority of guinea pigs give birth during daylight. Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity early. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? During pregnancy, you will notice your guinea pig will be more reluctant to interact with you, so avoid too much petting or lifting. Pups will each have their own amniotic sac, which the sow normally removes and ingests. Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone? Females can reach sexual maturity as early as approximately 4-6 weeks of age and males as early as approximately 8-9 weeks of age so the different sexes should be separated before they are able to reproduce with each other. The sow should gradually put on weight. 2. We took her to vet for check up.. A sow can birth up to 5 litters per year, though miscarriages and stillbirths are common. Whilst guinea pigs should never be bred intentionally, coming home from the pet store with a guinea pig who is already pregnant is a common story. Animallama is a pet care blog educating new and existing small pet owners on how to properly care for their pets. Females can become pregnant immediately after giving birth so make sure that there are no males nearby. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. Is your female guinea pig getting more chubby lately, leaving you wondering if youll soon have a bunch of fluff balls running around? The average duration of a pregnancy is 65 days, but it depends on how many pups she is carrying -- her pregnancy will be shorter if she's carrying more pups. Updated 18.12.19. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. What a surprise this was. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. Required fields are marked *. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. Sows who are too old are at a greater risk of the pelvis not being 'elastic' enough to expand during the birthing process. Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. Pregnant guinea pigs get visually larger in the abdominal area. We might have made some serious mistakes out of ignorance. ", 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. There are numerous medical reasons why giving birth can go wrong. Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. However, a caesarean surgery may be required. Neutered boars should be kept separate from sows for four weeks after surgery. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. The pups will likely lose weight for the first three days, but after this it should pick up again. Depression Incoming! Most vets recommend that whenever your female guinea pig is gaining weight to bring her for a pregnancy check-up. At birth the pups should weigh roughly 2 to 3 oz. The pregnancy of the guinea pig will be shorter if there is a larger litter size. ", needed available in a clear, concise manner, super simple, and now I feel confident in my unexpected blessing. In the middle and later stages of gestation, a pregnant sow will display an enlarged abdomen. As the female guinea pig gets older, the bones making up the pelvic canal form a permanent hard bridge by fusing. The early stage consists of the first few days after mating. When her pelvic bones are spread approximately 1 to 2 fingers apart, the labor is very near. Thats because those tiny, adorable feet are just so tiny! In the best-case scenario, make arrangements to have a visiting vet check her every once in a while. As a guinea pig lover myself, I created a list of cute and funny gifts for guinea pig lovers that will surely be appreciated by the receiving party. At birth, baby guinea pigs can weigh between 2.1 and 4.2 oz (60 and 120 grams) and have an average size of 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). Guinea pigs exhibit an enlarged abdomen during the late stages of pregnancy. The gestation period in guinea pigs could be anywhere between 59-72 days. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. 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. Wash out the water bottle with a gentle dish soap every few days. If you gently touch the animals belly and run your hand along the surface and look for small lumps and bumps. Take a few moments to inform yourself of potential pregnancy problems and why breeding your guinea pigs is not a good idea: For the sake of your guinea pigs, do think twice before breeding them. Publisher: Pergamon, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid711031-v4-728px-Care-for-a-Pregnant-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"