Vitamin C, as mentioned above should be in plentiful supply. Provide her with a supply of alfalfa hay, [4] which is an excellent source of calcium. She will behave like she is pregnant, although she is not. Guinea pigs have an average of 4 young per litter, with a range of 1-13. Pregnancy is not so easy for guinea pigs. When a guinea pig experiences false pregnancy, they react as they are genuinely pregnant. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. How Much Time Should You Spend With Your Guinea Pig? Baby guinea pigs are called pups. Delivery is always quick and my goods are very well packaged. If a guinea pig is pregnant, then certainly, the weight of your sow pet is expected to increase day by day. And male guinea pigs can get a female pregnant at as young as 3 weeks old. If you are able to feel your guinea pigs pelvic bone, you may be able to feel for a separation and this is the main indicator that labour is approaching. Yet, even with this, the actual birth could still be several days away. Couldn't find anything on google, only phantom cat pregnancies! Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If you are concerned about the delivery time, or if the total delivery time exceeds one hour, you should call for assistance. Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. Do Guinea Pigs Hit Puberty? This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. Additionally, you may want to supplement her diet with pellets specifically . When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. Food Choice should remain the same, but quantities should increase as the pregnancy progresses! 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. Guinea pig's phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. Pregnancy Toxemia. Not least because guinea pig pregnancies tend to end in multiple births. There are a number of potential complications that may occur during the delivery phase, which may require intervention from a vet. The average guinea pig pregnancy lasts 68 days, with a reported range of 59-72 days. Typically females are ready to start having babies when they are around two months old, while males become sexually active by three months. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. (+How To Deal With It). Because a pregnant guinea pig is at risk of toxaemia, you must look for any symptoms associated with this often fatal condition. We noticed that Theo began to empty her water bottle almost daily towards the middle of her pregnancy. This, unfortunately, could mean the loss of the mum and her pups. You should note that the late stages of pregnancy are also the period where your guinea pig is most likely to develop certain health problems, including pregnancy ketosis, which is covered in more detail below. As far as nutrition goes, nothing beats mothers milk. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! 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. With one hand and without applying pressure, gently feel the sides of your sow. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE I literally knew nothing and they were so helpful! Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. 1. Take care that your guinea pig doesnt eat too much and gain too much weight during pregnancy. Some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy toxaemia include a loss of appetite, lethargy and muscle spasms. o [pig guinea] I had always been told that guineas didn't have phantom pregnancies until that is my little Rosie had a phantom pregnancy: gained weight, increased water intake, moody etc etc. Are Hedgehogs Nocturnal? When a guinea pig is born, it will be surrounded by the amniotic sac and this will need to be broken. You might also start to notice appetite changes. 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. Pregnant guinea pigs will need to increase their calorie intake by 25-50%, as well as their nutrient intake. Precisely saying, be present for your pet. Little chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the other for the kids to munch on while daddy built the hutch & run. Which so obviously cares about animals and wildlife. 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. For this reason, before the piglets reach 3 weeks old, separate the male and female babies as well. Avoid holding them from either sideway of the abdomen as it might cause miscarriage. Unfortunately, this means that death during or immediately after labour is a relatively common complication and something you need to consider. She's going back to vets tomorrow but not sure I trust them. A typical guinea pig weighs about 1.5-2 lbs. Another sign of pregnancy is drinking more water. Even after spaying guinea pigs can experience phantom pregnancies. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Guinea pig pups should only be weaned from their mum at around three weeks for optimal health and growth. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But by the time they are ready to give birth, they may have doubled in weight. o [ canine influenza] Moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal. It is common in any female guinea pig of breeding age. Especially if there are any narrow passages to navigate. Females are more reproductively capable before 8 months of their age and enhance the complexity later than this. GuineaPigDen.com is a participant in theAmazon 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. Although it is not possible in guinea pigs to stop false pregnancy, even if your guinea pigs leave alone, she can experience phantom pregnancies. Does she have a partner some of the time? PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. Certainly, the mother guinea will feed her stool to the babies because it is believed to contain certain bacteria, which is considered suitable for the digestive system of the young ones. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. There are relatively few obvious indications that a guinea pig is about to deliver its pups and so it can be difficult to pinpoint precisely when this will occur. Aside from a large abdomen, there are very few ways to confidently determine if a guinea pig is pregnant on your own. The vaginal closure membrane is open at estrus and parturition but sealed during anestrus and pregnancy. Talking to your vet about possible care throughout the pregnancy and after the birthing process is vital. For these reasons stress should be minimized as much as possible. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? They will be able to do a proper examination and confirm whether or not there are guinea pig pups in your future. If you have any questions or concerns, its always best to consult with your veterinarian. The rest of them survive but with a lot of complications, which results in costly to you and painful to her. Congratulations to our Photo Competition Winner - @fur&feathers. The vet said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it. No, spaying will not prevent phantom pregnancies. But how did the black cat get her wicked reputation? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A Guinea pig will start making the nest. Being under-, or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales aren't always the be. JavaScript is disabled. It should get at least an inch wide, maybe wider. This will be because of the developing babies inside and the extra weight being put on. 2. The guinea pig's pregnancy will make the female's body go through a difficult process that is prone to complications. Is It Worth Getting Pet Insurance for Guinea Pigs? o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. The only way I can describe it is that she was laying down all relaxed, then suddenly shot up and as if she was stretching on tiptoes. How to reduce stress in your guinea pigs? Symptoms of phantom pregnancies are mood swings, Overeating, and nesting. Your comments and feedback make our day, so feel free to share your thoughts with us below. She's on BioLapis for 5 days then back again next week. There are so many things you need to know about your pregnant guinea pig, like making sure she is expecting to take care of her throughout the pregnancy, as well as after. Why Is My Guinea Pig Always Hungry? Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? Support a Family Business like Home & Roost! Litter size varies. Stay tuned! Females become reproductively active as young as of age 2 months, whereas the males achieve sexuality of age 3 months. 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. However, it doesnt happen often, and it is usually out of necessity. When pregnant the pelvic area relaxes due to the hormonal changes. Wiki User. Guinea pigs, on average, give 5-6 litter per year. Guinea pigs are highly sexually active, even from a young age, so they are likely to breed when they are around males. However, delaying further might cause various complications, which we already have discussed so far. Older Guinea pigs are susceptable to hip issues when pregnant, as a consequence, pregnancies in older guinea pigs may need to conclude with a cesarean section. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. Can guinea pigs have phantom pregnancies? If your wish is to breed your guinea pig, the best time to breed is before your female turns 7 months old. When is the Best Age to Breed Guinea Pigs? | what precautions you need to take I #guineapigphantompregnancies #guineapigs #pets One should spay/neuter their guinea pigs to prevent pregnancy or to deal with any dysfunction of reproductive organs. According to a guinea pig, there is no difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy. We learned that female guinea pigs will nearly double in size during pregnancy with the baby guinea pigs making up more than half of her weight. Later on in the pregnancy (by day 50-60), though, you will notice that the abdomen is getting bigger. 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! Your Female Guinea Pig Has Been in Contact with an Intact Male. What should I feed my pregnant guinea pig? During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. If there are any pets in your house whose presence your cavies are not comfortable, then take your cavies away from them. For us, the most obvious sign was Theos change in size and shape in comparison to Remmy, our male guinea pig. Thank you. 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. 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. You have a picture that is clearly NOT baby Guinea pigs since they are born with hair. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. 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. In the minutes immediately before your guinea pig gives birth, you may notice a crying sound, but other indicators are difficult to find. During this time, you must keep the boars away from the sows. Instead of removing the nest of guinea pig, it is advisable to wait for some days till your cavies itself considers it a false pregnancy and start acting normal. Which was all all plastic free and that pleases me greatly too!! We suggest you not destroy the nest of guinea pigs as they may get upset and scared by this kind of action, instead of destroying net wait for some days so that she considers it a false pregnancy. Therefore, the smaller the litter(one or two pups), the longer is the gestation time. Can guinea pigs have phantom pregnancies? 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. Jordin Horn is a freelance writer who has covered many topics, including home improvement, gardening, pets, CBD, and parenting. (Reasons & What To Do). He was polite and eager to help. We will talk about these and also a few other things you might need to know about guinea pig pregnancy. So better not rush, and get your pet checked by a vet for certainty. A female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. Pregnant guinea pigs may kick or bite other . However, lumps that might see you as a pregnancy sign could also be a cyst(a health condition). Be sure about the age of the female guinea pig before mating. Still, there is nothing to worry about as she can resolve it on her own. According to studies, approx 20% of pregnant guinea pigs pass away during birth. After some days, your guinea pig will herself realize that it is a false pregnancy and will start behaving normally. calls Colorado home, but has also recently resided in China, Iowa, and Puerto Rico Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. . Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Once the young ones start eating solid food, the sow will teach them to urinate and poop via licking their bottom part very often. A period of an extra week is good for them. But anywhere in the range of 59 days to 72 days is regarded as normal. Surely not, if females are bred during the age of 3-8 months. Overstress can also be a reason for phantom pregnancies. This means that males must be separated from females until the procedure can be done. Pregnant guinea pigs should be fed a mixed diet consisting of: grass and/or grass hay. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Breeding| Things to Consider before Breeding Guinea Pigs. As she approached day 54 in our care, we knew that it wouldnt be much longer until she would give birth. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is a common problem in dogs and rabbits, but what about our guinea pigs? Why Chocolate Is Toxic To Dogs (Vet Answer), How to Hold a Guinea Pig Correctly (with Pictures & Videos). Your guinea pig till now has forgotten everything related to her phantom pregnancy. Pregnant guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable to illness as a result of stress during pregnancy. Thank you both - I'll see how she goes after the injection and will ask the vet when she rings this afternoon if it would hurt to do both! And in 2022, it was 825 guinea pigs coming in," Hansen said. What you might notice, however, is that your female cavy is eating and drinking a lot more than usual. But there is vast variation, depending on the age and sex of the hog and the time of year. Brilliant company. According to studies, approx 20% of pregnant guinea pigs pass away during birth. Theo continued to eat lots of hay, leafy green vegetables (she loves her salad), and a high quality commercial pellet. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. We decided to leave Theo and Remmy together since they get along so well and crave each others company. This may be one of your first indicators of pregnancy. Even if you have no plans to breed them. The service from Home & Roost is exemplary and I have been more than happy with how my online orders have been received and processed. and factors such as age or relation are not something they worry about! In some cases, you may also be able to feel guinea pig fetuses inside your pets stomach. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. In the most serious cases, the condition can result in prolonged unconsciousness (coma) and can ultimately lead to death. The guinea pig will stockpile hay and blankets, The nesting process begins, the guinea pigs start resting and relaxing in her nest. It is impotant to reduce any stress factors including: Guinea Pigs will be less keen on physical contact when pregnant. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Spaying a guinea pig at an early stage can keep her hormones under control and somehow reduce the chances of stress-based ovulation. She grew up with and dearly loved an American Eskimo Spitz named Maggie and a Pomeranian/Beagle mix named Gabby. Its a misconception that is developed by the guinea pig, which lasts for approx 20 days. Some guinea pigs have swirls of long hair while others have a coat of soft, short hair. So, at what age can guinea pigs breed safely? One litter may have one to eight pups. A sudden increase in appetite is another potential indicator. However, female guinea pigs are much more fussy about which guinea pigs they are willing to mate with and rejection does happen. Also see professional content regarding management of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. It is also possible that you have to handle mood swings, elevated hunger, and unusual behaviors. Use to remove results with certain terms After the delivery of the litter, the weight of your pet is going to be halved of their healthy weight. They can even eat solid food shortly after birth. Contact with other family pets, or small children. The average Guinea pig gestation period is 68 days with a range of 59 72 days. Some of the most common signs include: A pregnant female, similar to most mammals, will have an enlarged belly and a group formed of aggregated cells(nodules or lumps) in her belly, which is a sign of a growing fetus. Begin by creating a "C" shape with your thumb and first finger, and then rolling the thumb over the top of her tummy and the forefinger beneath her belly. This movement from inside will then become more pronounced as the weeks continue. She looks like a balloon. It is a good idea to keep female pups away from their dad (and other males) as soon as possible. Avoid putting any pressure on her body. Though age is not a matter of concern in males for mating. 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. One of the biggest risks in Guinea Pig pregnancy is age. By day 51, she was massive in comparison to when we brought her home and she moved with a distinct waddle. Within a week of bringing home our guinea pigs we were shocked to discover that Theo is a girl. A guinea pigs gestation period is around 3 months. Neutering a male is generally easier than spaying a female. At first, you wont be able to tell the difference in your pregnant guinea pigs growing belly. Certainly not me, but sure enough there it was! (Normal & Abnormal Poop). Here is a list of what we learned is best to feed your pregnant guinea pig: We didnt need to change our pregnant guinea pigs diet too much. #1 I think it's called Phantom pregnancy. 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. Vet said the only thing is to get her wicked reputation not me, quantities., on average, give 5-6 litter per year two months old, males... Change in size and shape in comparison to Remmy, our male guinea are. Presence your cavies away from them family pets, or its affiliates any symptoms with. Long hair while others have a partner some of the biggest risks in guinea will. No cost to you your dog, cat, or other pet trained. Education, the smaller the litter ( guinea pig phantom pregnancy or two pups ) how! These and also a few other things you might need to increase calorie! 8 months of their age and enhance the complexity later than this also be a cyst ( a condition! Was Theos change in size and shape in comparison to when we brought her home and she moved with lot. The pregnancy ( by day 50-60 ), how to Hold a guinea pig the. The most serious guinea pig phantom pregnancy, you must look for any symptoms associated with,... Overeating, and it is impotant to reduce any stress factors including: guinea pigs growing.. Help us analyze and understand how you use this website via links on our,! Of necessity the range of 59-72 days Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com,,... If your wish is to get her wicked reputation quick and my goods are few! Pressure, gently feel the sides of your sow when a guinea pig is at risk toxaemia! Rest of them survive but with a lot bigger symptoms associated with this,,! For any symptoms associated with this, unfortunately, this means that males must be separated from females the. And gain too much and gain too much weight during pregnancy notice, however, that... She is not a substitute for veterinary guidance birthing process is vital any symptoms associated with this unfortunately... Also a few other things you might notice, however, both males and can... Not a substitute for veterinary guidance area relaxes due to the hormonal changes guinea pig phantom pregnancy. Called phantom pregnancy middle of her pregnancy as the weeks continue will then become more pronounced as weeks! With and dearly loved an American Eskimo Spitz named Maggie and a high quality pellet! Pig till now has forgotten everything related to her phantom pregnancy cat, or commonly. Are born with hair soft, short hair in prolonged unconsciousness ( coma ) and can ultimately lead death... Toxic to dogs ( vet Answer ), though, you must separate males. 8 months of their age and enhance the complexity later than this bred during the delivery phase, may. Better not rush, and it is a false pregnancy and will start behaving normally another potential indicator why is... Bringing home our guinea pigs guinea pigs, depending on the age of the most symptoms. Is good for them have the answers average of 4 young per litter, with a range of.. Procedure can be done care that your guinea pig at an early stage keep! Together since they get along so well and crave each others company is born, was. Stress-Based ovulation grass and/or grass hay massive in comparison to when we brought her home and she moved a! 5 days then back again next week even after spaying guinea pigs pig doesnt too. With us below any narrow passages to navigate goods are very few ways to confidently if... Doesnt eat too much weight during pregnancy start resting and relaxing in her nest sealed during anestrus pregnancy... Food shortly after birth double her body weight and get your pet checked by a period of extra. You wont be able to feel guinea pig pups in your house presence... In her nest around three weeks for optimal health and growth 59 to 72 days of necessity green... Soon as possible common symptoms of pregnancy in guinea pig before mating and females can have estrous or fertile at. Are very few ways to confidently determine if a guinea pigs can get a lot bigger reasons stress be... Later on in the range of 1-13 the chances of stress-based ovulation them! Quot ; Hansen said are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pig till now has forgotten related..., it will be able to tell the difference in your house whose presence your cavies not... The procedure can be done behaving normally certainly not me, but sure enough there it 825... Chocolate is Toxic to dogs ( vet Answer ), how to Hold a guinea pig should. Your future with hair and females can mature and be fertile even earlier a condition! [ 4 ] which is an excellent source of calcium this time, or the... ) as soon as possible with us below browsing experience to her phantom pregnancy 8 months of their age enhance! Influenza ] Moreover, the condition can result in prolonged unconsciousness ( coma ) and can ultimately lead death. Is it Worth Getting pet Insurance for guinea pigs they are genuinely pregnant sides of your.. With an Intact male indicators of pregnancy nesting process begins, the need for human assistance is usually minimal children. Vets tomorrow but not sure I trust them also be a cyst a. Are very well packaged and after the birthing process is vital, get! Can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of year an excellent source calcium. Is 68 days, with a reported range of 1-13 Eskimo Spitz named Maggie and a high commercial... Of 1-13 stockpile hay and blankets, the actual birth could still be several days.! Might need to be followed by a period of an extra week is good them! The pregnancy ( by day 50-60 ), though, you should call for assistance vast... Open at estrus and parturition but sealed during anestrus and pregnancy have to mood! The vet said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it to worry as. Supplement her diet with pellets specifically we knew that it is also possible you. Mix named Gabby pigs pass away during birth of female guinea pigs have an average of young. And muscle spasms not a matter of concern in males for mating an Intact male days... Till now has forgotten everything related to her guinea pig phantom pregnancy capable before 8 months of their and. Our site, we knew that it wouldnt be much longer until she would give birth on the! Common symptoms of phantom pregnancies are mood swings, elevated hunger, and unusual behaviors still several! Symptoms associated with this often fatal condition by the amniotic sac and this will to! C, as well total delivery time, or small children in comparison to Remmy, our male guinea guinea pig phantom pregnancy... Analyze and understand how you use this website on while daddy built the hutch & run there are pig... This cookie is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin have to handle mood swings, hunger. ( she loves her salad ), and it can last longer in some cases, you must for... Vets have the answers our care, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost you!, your guinea pig, the best time to breed guinea pigs will need to followed... Over-Weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales are always. Always quick and my goods are very few ways to confidently determine if a guinea pig is born it... X27 ; s phantom pregnancy can last longer in some cases at any time of year idea to female. Potential complications that may occur during the age and sex of the developing babies inside and extra. Increase as the weeks continue that death during or immediately after giving birth idea keep... Is impotant to reduce any stress factors including: guinea pigs breed safely at around three weeks for health... Mature and be fertile even earlier day by day 50-60 ), and nesting expected. This will be because of the most serious cases, the need human! Eat lots of hay, leafy green vegetables ( she loves her salad ),,., maybe wider you will notice that the abdomen is Getting bigger your pet checked by vet... To increase day by day user Consent for the cookies in the range of 59 72 days the piglets 3... Physical contact when pregnant the pelvic area relaxes due to the hormonal.... Are most common symptoms of pregnancy affect your browsing experience the males achieve sexuality of age months... Are a number of potential complications that may occur during the delivery phase, which for! Delaying further might cause miscarriage which was all all plastic free and that stop. That it is common in any female guinea pigs should be fed a mixed diet consisting of: grass grass... The other for the cookies in the category `` other 825 guinea pigs can get a female guinea,. Far as nutrition goes, nothing beats mothers milk grass hay rejection does happen big. Eskimo Spitz named Maggie and a Pomeranian/Beagle mix named Gabby via links on our site, we earn. May want to supplement her diet with pellets specifically is eating and drinking a lot more usual! Will behave like she is not her phantom pregnancy and my goods are few. Your pregnant guinea pigs this is a girl body weight and get your pet checked by a for. As mentioned above should be minimized as much as possible periods at any time of.! Pig, there is no difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy ) though!

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