According to a guinea pig, there is no difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy. Litter size also depends upon the duration of pregnancy. During this time, her hormones will be extremely inconsistent. By around the five week mark, pregnancy will start to be visible, with your guinea pig gradually developing more of a pear shape. When female guinea pigs ovulate, she believes that she is pregnant, although she is not. Pregnancy Toxemia. Softly press inwards and determine if you sense any lumps or bumps inside her womb. If you have any questions or concerns, its always best to consult with your veterinarian. 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. And Can They See in the Dark? 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. Additionally, you may want to supplement her diet with pellets specifically . (Reasons & What To Do). Therefore, following the above instructions can have you to lower the stress of your guinea pig. Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. As the pregnancy progresses, you may find that your guinea pig becomes less mobile. In preparation for their arrival we prepared a third enclosure to serve as a nursery and play area. If you give your piggy a varied diet of pellets, fruits and veggies, she may favor the vitamin C-rich ones while pregnant, as they need more of this nutrient during this time. One of the more interesting aspects of the guinea pig mating ritual is the mating dance, which is performed by male guinea pigs. Talking to your vet about possible care throughout the pregnancy and after the birthing process is vital. In our case, Theo had been kept together with 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high. Great communication / customer service, fab. 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. A female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. 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. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. The first physical sign of pregnancy will be weight gain. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When a guinea pig experiences false pregnancy, they react as they are genuinely pregnant. During pregnancy, you will need to provide your guinea pig with a clean cage or hutch. Better yet, why not post a family pic of you and your piggies on our Facebook page for all our readers to enjoy? She will behave like she is pregnant, although she is not. They will eat some hay, and others will be used for making a nest. In case if it lasts longer than 15-20 mins then do not delay further to reach the vet. You are using an out of date browser. Guinea pig keeps having phantom pregnancies. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? Pregnant guinea pigs will need to increase their calorie intake by 25-50%, as well as their nutrient intake. So maybe it's a phantom! 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. These are specific issues that would be faced and need medical assistance. It is also possible that you have to handle mood swings, elevated hunger, and unusual behaviors. As she approached day 54 in our care, we knew that it wouldnt be much longer until she would give birth. 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. This is because it takes a few weeks for the procedure to take effect. Use to remove results with certain terms Self-induced breeding by the owners may not be as efficient and healthy as the normal one initiated by the guinea pigs themselves. Unfortunately, this means that death during or immediately after labour is a relatively common complication and something you need to consider. Who expects an online order to arrive the following day (or early the day after that, my memory fails me)? What should I feed my pregnant guinea pig? Check the cage regularly to see the signs of any discharge or bleeding. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Guinea pig pups should only be weaned from their mum at around three weeks for optimal health and growth. She drank a lot of water and would empty her bottle quite frequently so we also had to make sure that we kept it filled up. This is because your sow can get pregnant almost immediately after birth, which would mean back-to-back pregnancies for her and could be hard on her health. 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. A period of an extra week is good for them. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. Especially if there are any narrow passages to navigate. If your guinea pig leaves alone, then she may have stress-based ovulation. I have made several purchases and have been extremely pleased with the quality of their products. Later on in the pregnancy (by day 50-60), though, you will notice that the abdomen is getting bigger. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Breeding| Things to Consider before Breeding Guinea Pigs. 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). It can be a trigger for diseases such as toxemia, or can scare the sow so she doesn't want to eat or drink. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. Litter size typically consists of 2-4 pups with a range of 1-13 young. When Ginger was gassy I followed Peter Gurneys advice and gave her one Rennie crushed in water and it worked. Newborn guinea pigs weigh about 3.5 ounces (100 g). (Causes & What to Do), What Should Guinea Pig Poop Look Like? 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. What you might notice, however, is that your female cavy is eating and drinking a lot more than usual. Stress is also a risk in a pregnant Guinea Pig. A guinea pigs gestation period is around 3 months. I have a female guinea that leaves alone but is showings signs of pregnancy. In our case, Theo had been kept together with 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high. Female Guinea pigs often develop a false belief of them being pregnant, which is quite common in animals. 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. She, Guinea Pigs Can Get Pregnant Early and Easily. green leafy vegetables. When they reach about 6 ounces (170 g), the offspring will stop nursing and eat the same foods as their parents. Early stages of the guinea's pig pregnancy and recommended diet Within a week or two of pregnancy, gently touch the abdomen area of your pet, and you will be able to feel the lumps in her belly, which can be an indication of developing fetus inside the womb. This is because they can still be fertile for a few weeks after the surgery. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. We noticed that Theo began to empty her water bottle almost daily towards the middle of her pregnancy. 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. Your comments and feedback make our day, so feel free to share your thoughts with us below. Neutering a male is generally easier than spaying a female. up as though it is about to vomit, only it is far mor. It would be suggested you not do anything with the nest. So better not rush, and get your pet checked by a vet for certainty. 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. Sows that reach adulthood without a prior pregnancy may not be able to deliver their young normally. Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. 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. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. But unlike other animals, the C section in guinea pigs is very likely to be unsuccessful even when performed by an expert. But by the time they are ready to give birth, they may have doubled in weight. Overstress can also be a reason for phantom pregnancies. The service from Home & Roost is exemplary and I have been more than happy with how my online orders have been received and processed. This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. Use for phrases 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. Either way, its a good idea for your vet to check it out in either case. And remember, even a neutered male can get a female pregnant. 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. Only pick her up when necessary. During the middle of her pregnancy, we were able to gently feel the little babies by lightly touching her sides and belly. Male vs Female Guinea Pig: Which Guinea Pig Gender Is Better? Will be think of you both, ring if you need to chat hun x. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! 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. Avoid interaction of the mother with the other male guinea pigs for weeks after delivery, because getting pregnant again in succession is not healthy for them. Etiology: Two forms have been identified, both of which most commonly occur in pregnant or lactating guinea pigs, but can also occur in non-gravid females as well as boars [1]: Fasting form: reduced carbohydrate intake results in systemic mobilization of fat stores. 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. The appetite of the pregnant sow is likely to be increased because she is carrying babies in the womb. (Causes & What to Do), What Should Guinea Pig Poop Look Like? But it is worth stressing that changes in appetite can occur for a wide variety of reasons. Lastly, take care of your guinea pigs at the time of phantom pregnancies, try not to disturb them as then she will become more irritated and angry. The guinea pig will stockpile hay and blankets, The nesting process begins, the guinea pigs start resting and relaxing in her nest. Also, dont be surprised if she gets pregnant right after giving birth, as female guinea pigs go into heat right after they give birth. Oooh, it could be that! 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. (Signs Of Puberty & How Long Does It Lasts). This was definitely true for Theo. You might also start to notice appetite changes. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. Great (British) products, high mortality rate when it comes to a guinea pig pregnancy, Small servings of fruits rich in vitamin C, Although it isnt essential, lucerne hay will provide extra protein and calcium. Pregnancy is a fact of life, and if you own a female guinea pig, it is something you may have to deal with. However, the nodules will continue to grow until birth only if the sow is pregnant. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. However, for the most part, you will not be required to make major changes to the usual environment. Typically females are ready to start having babies when they are around two months old, while males become sexually active by three months. First physical guinea pig phantom pregnancy of pregnancy in your female cavy is eating and a! Always best to consult with your veterinarian will not be able to deliver their young.. Spaying a female pregnant believes that she is pregnant, there is no difference phantom... 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