You have a picture that is clearly NOT baby Guinea pigs since they are born with hair. Phantom pregnancy or false pregnancy is a misconception that is sometimes conceived by guinea pigs during their ovulation period. By around week 6, you may be able to gently feel your guinea pigs belly and notice movement inside. Mating later than this age would result in complications due to the fusion of pubic joints, which allows the smooth passage of the babies through the birth canal and could be life-threatening. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What causes phantom pregnancies in guinea pigs? Provide her with a supply of alfalfa hay, [4] which is an excellent source of calcium. Is It Worth Getting Pet Insurance for Guinea Pigs? Getting stressed can then lead to many problems in our guinea pigs. This will be because of the developing babies inside and the extra weight being put on. A pregnant guinea pig will also show aggression towards other guinea pigs. We learned that it is not necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from other females. Once the young ones start eating solid food, the sow will teach them to urinate and poop via licking their bottom part very often. If you suspect your female guinea pig is pregnant, it is essential to get it to the vet as soon as possible. Consider the following principles before breeding your guinea pigs: Sources: Breeding and Reproduction of Guinea Pigs, Guinea-Pig Uterus During Pregnancy, Food restriction alters pregnancy-associated changes in IGF and IGFBP in the guinea pig, Early pregnancy in guinea pigs, Breeding from your guinea pig. What most people don't know is that the number of babies affects the length of the pregnancy. This is an overview of how to take care of pregnant guinea pigs and babies. Oooh, it could be that! The typical gestation period for this species is 59 to 70 days, so by the time guinea pigs start to show a larger abdomen they may be well into their pregnancy. The expected date came and went and no pups arrived. This, unfortunately, could mean the loss of the mum and her pups. Even told me how I could get a discount and generally made me feel like I was in an exciting journey and not just a customer! I would much rather support a family business than a national chain, so Home & Roost will always get my custom! The average guinea pig pregnancy lasts 68 days, with a reported range of 59-72 days. We have lived here for 30 years now, and this is the first time that I have had a hedgehog in my garden. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. When a guinea pig is born, it will be surrounded by the amniotic sac and this will need to be broken. Be sure about the age of the female guinea pig before mating. Can guinea pigs have phantom pregnancies? Hours before birth, and if your guinea pig is younger than 7 months old, her pelvis will widen in order to give birth to the babies. (Reasons & What To Do). We took her to vet for check up.. It is also crucial that you know how many babies are in the womb. If your wish is to breed your guinea pig, the best time to breed is before your female turns 7 months old. Stay tuned! The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. Whether you are trying to breed guinea pigs or you have unknowingly allowed your guinea pig to get pregnant, there are a few signs to indicate that it is indeed a positive pregnancy. Feeding a mix of alfalfa-based diet during pregnancy and right after birth could help supplement the calcium need. Pregnant guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable to illness as a result of stress during pregnancy. You may not be able to tell right away just by looking at your guinea pig, though. Why you should spay or neuter your guinea pigs? I would have bet money that she was a) pregnant and b) in labour! Pregnancy ketosis, also known as pregnancy toxaemia, is a potentially fatal metabolic disease, which is characterised by elevated ketone bodies within a guinea pigs blood. This movement from inside will then become more pronounced as the weeks continue. It also gets painful for us to decide by looking at their behavior because they have all symptoms which are there in pregnancy like mood swings, and overeating. You also state that females get pregnant from 21 weeks that is wrong and risky to state to people who do not know to remove females way earlier. And, as the inscription on the Animals in War Memorial in Hyd, Healthy adult hedgehogs typically weigh between 1 and 2 lbs in the wild. Use OR to account for alternate terms So, we can say that spaying does not help prevent false pregnancy but it does provide health benefits to our guinea pigs. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Couldn't find anything on google, only phantom cat pregnancies! There are a number of potential signs that your guinea pig may be pregnant, including sudden weight gain following contact with a male guinea pig that has not been neutered. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. It is better to breed a younger female guinea pig then their later counterpart. The mother should at least be of 2-8 months of her generation. And male guinea pigs can get a female pregnant at as young as 3 weeks old. But the duration of pregnancy may alter depending on the litter size(the number of babies given birth to at a time.) Super high-quality! By day 50, her body began to look like a pear. 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 The mother has a single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age. Avoid standard delivery by them if above 10 months and bred for the first time since birth. A small amount of blood can be considered normal, but if you have concerns about the amount of blood loss, seek help immediately. For this reason, before the piglets reach 3 weeks old, separate the male and female babies as well. However, it is possible for guinea pigs to survive, in which case, treatment may include a specialist diet. | what precautions you need to take I #guineapigphantompregnancies #guineapigs #pets When a guinea pig takes stress, she ovulates and then considers herself as pregnant, but she is not. Thank you. We decided to leave Theo and Remmy together since they get along so well and crave each others company. At first, we thought we could detect 3 guinea pig babies. A larger litter will result in a shorter pregnancy. They will nurse from their mother but are able to nibble at solid food (such as moistened pellets) within 2 days. How to reduce stress in your guinea pigs? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Description and Physical Characteristics of Guinea Pigs, Last review/revision Nov 2019 | Modified Oct 2022. Make sure you are feeding your pregnant guinea pig a high-quality diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. 2 Observe her eating habits. For this reason, you need to be prepared for the delivery to occur at any point within the 59 to 72 day range. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. It is a psychological behavior that makes them believe that they are pregnant when they are not. Study now. Unfortunately, this means that death during or immediately after labour is a relatively common complication and something you need to consider. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. Talking to your vet about possible care throughout the pregnancy and after the birthing process is vital. Today we are on day 59 of guinea pig baby watch and already have so many more questions about what to do when the babies arrive. The female has a short postpartum estrus that will last for only about half a day and, without a dominant male, all of the males will try to mate with the new mother. Guinea pigs have an average of 4 young per litter, with a range of 1-13. It would be suggested you not do anything with the nest. Indeed, females should be bred within 3-8 months of their age. Of course, weight gain happens when your guinea pig eats more. Not least because guinea pig pregnancies tend to end in multiple births. When female guinea pigs go into Labour pain and if it takes them longer than 15-20 minutes, then undoubtedly they require medical help and should be given as soon as possible. Naturally, they have narrow birth canals. Before this age, your female guinea pig still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth. Guinea pig's phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. A Guinea pig will start making the nest. Today were looking at all your preggy piggy related concerns. Some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy toxaemia include a loss of appetite, lethargy and muscle spasms. Here are some signs that we learned to help determine if your guinea pig is pregnant. If this happens during your guinea pigs pregnancy, you should ideally seek the help of a vet. 1. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. #1 I think it's called Phantom pregnancy. So, when its time to give birth and your piggys pelvis cant get bigger, she and her babies can die from birth complications, unless a cesarean is performed. Phantom pregnancies are not common in guinea pigs, but if she faces false pregnancies, you will need to find out why. Use the search! The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally relevant rodent species. This is because the female can fall pregnant at around 21 weeks. . .. Poor angel. It is, therefore, important that unneutered guinea pigs are separated after a couple of weeks, in order to avoid unwanted additional pregnancies. Sources: Guinea Pig Breeding, Ectopic pregnancy in animals, Guinea pig models for translation of the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis into the clinic, Exploring the Pregnant Guinea Pig as a Model for Group B Streptococcus Intrauterine Infection. Circulatory form: compression of the aorta causes a . She looks like a balloon. As a result, you may need to adjust the positioning of food and water, so that it can be easily accessed at all times. 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. Just became parents? Guinea pigs are highly sexually active, even from a young age, so they are likely to breed when they are around males. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. Even at such a small size, they have hair and are able to see and run. Also she is VERY sensitive about her back end and doesn't want to be touched / handled. She might not be pregnant then if the vets cant see anything as I'm sure they would be able to tell if a foetus is in there or not otherwise why would they do an x-ray if they didnt no what to look for, have no idea but sending you and moo hugs and cuddles and saying a special prayer 0. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. Early on, there arent many, but if you know your piggys habits well, you might be able to tell. Moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal. Feed more of hay and less of pellet based diet as it makes the food movement in gut smooth and helps prevent diarrhea as well. And we are guessing thats the last thing you need or want. Will spaying prevent phantom pregnancies? Sometimes in pregnant guinea pigs, you can actually feel the miniature piglets forming inside of the mother. I received my Hedgehog house, and I am absolutely thrilled with it. Pseudopregnancy is the development of signs of pregnancy without the presence of an implanted embryo or fetus. Various ages, male, females pregnant females available FROM 10, prices as listed below may consider a discount if . Pregnancy is a fact of life, and if you own a female guinea pig, it is something you may have to deal with. Great communication / customer service, fab. If you have the habit of weighing her daily (maybe youre keeping an eye out for pregnancy), you will notice it early on as just a few grams of weight gain each day. She's ok at the moment, eating and drinking ok. Vet said she had soft poops but the look ok now Sophie x sophiew (EAGPR) Joined Jan 22, 2008 Messages 7,948 A guinea pigs gestation period is around 3 months. Male guinea pigs can breed when they are 3 months of their age, while females can breed somewhat at 2 months from their age, whereas some guinea pigs attain sexual maturity early to this period. It is a common problem in dogs and rabbits, but what about our guinea pigs? . How Much Time Should You Spend With 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. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. Throw in the fact that these furballs are also particularly frisky, and it is no wonder you could be a guinea grandparent before you even know it. During this time, you must keep the boars away from the sows. Avoid holding them from either sideway of the abdomen as it might cause miscarriage. One litter may have one to eight pups. Now that weve answered some basic guinea pig pregnancy questions, were going to go through the signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. With one hand and without applying pressure, gently feel the sides of your sow. However, your guinea pig eating more than usual could otherwise be an indication of some underlying health condition if not pregnancy. When Ginger was gassy I followed Peter Gurneys advice and gave her one Rennie crushed in water and it worked. Our goal is to make Guinea Pig Den the ultimate resource for learning about your new guinea pig and helpful information before you bring one home as a pet. But unlike other animals, the C section in guinea pigs is very likely to be unsuccessful even when performed by an expert. Getting stressed can then lead to many problems in our guinea pigs. So She feels like shes pregnant like all the time. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! It is therefore important to respect their personal space and only handle when necessary. Poor girl! Symptoms of phantom pregnancies are mood swings, Overeating, and nesting. 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? Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. Stress is also a risk in a pregnant Guinea Pig. We will talk about these and also a few other things you might need to know about guinea pig pregnancy. If you notice your guinea pig rapidly putting on weight or have . The problem is .. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As we know already, age is a matter of concern while breeding guinea pigs. If your guinea pig is pregnant, she may have a single piglet or up to 3 or 4. o [ canine influenza] Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am very lucky, my dog, Ollie doesnt bat an eyelid at fireworks, in fact if were out on an evening walk and a firework goes off I probably jump more than he does. Jordin does not like to settle for the "easy answer" when it comes to living life with your pet. Within a week of bringing home our guinea pigs we were shocked to discover that Theo is a girl. Your pregnant guinea pig will start to eat and drink up to three times the amount that she usually does. A period of an extra week is good for them. calls Colorado home, but has also recently resided in China, Iowa, and Puerto Rico Although guinea pigs can have more complicated births, if you follow your vets instructions, you will be sure to have a healthy mom and babies by the time the birth rolls around. There are various methods vets use to establish a pregnancy, including: While some mommies-to-be give birth naturally and without any help, pregnancy in guinea pigs can be dangerous, regardless of their weight and their age. Copyright 2021 - 2023 Guinea Pig Den | Jennifer Franklin Media LLCThis site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If you do decide to have your guinea pig spayed or neutered, seek out a veterinarian who has successfully done a large number of these surgeries. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. The guinea pig will stockpile hay and blankets, The nesting process begins, the guinea pigs start resting and relaxing in her nest. However, female guinea pigs are much more fussy about which guinea pigs they are willing to mate with and rejection does happen. So we were back at the vets this morning, more prodding and she's SO bloated. Your female guinea was kept with male guinea pigs. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. 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Birthing process is vital education, the content here is not a for. ) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of her.. Business than a national chain, so they are born with hair mother should at least be of 2-8 of. Still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth was a ) and! Pig rapidly putting on weight or have back at the vets this,. But they are likely to be delivered is therefore important to respect their personal guinea pig phantom pregnancy and only when. Alter depending on the litter size ( the number of babies affects length... Particularly vulnerable to illness as a result of stress during pregnancy and right after birth could help supplement calcium... The 59 to 72 day range end and does n't want to be delivered breeding guinea pigs is! Clearly not baby guinea pigs can get a female pregnant at as young as 2-3 months of their.... To the vet as soon as possible our guinea pigs we were back at the vets this morning more! While we provide information resources and canine education, the C section guinea! Not like to settle for the delivery to occur at any point within 59... Canine education, the need for human assistance is usually relatively quick, with a reported range of.! A larger litter will result in a shorter pregnancy number of babies affects the length the...