Can guinea pigs have phantom pregnancies? Litter size also depends upon the duration of pregnancy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pregnant piggies will need lots of food and water. My guinea had a touch of bloat/trapped air but did not show symptoms like you are describing. Aside from a large abdomen, there are very few ways to confidently determine if a guinea pig is pregnant on your own. You may not be able to tell right away just by looking at your guinea pig, though. And larger the litter(about 5-6 pups) would mean a shorter pregnancy period. After some days, your guinea pig will herself realize that it is a false pregnancy and will start behaving normally. (+How To Deal With It). (Reasons & What To Do). The average number of days female guinea pigs stay pregnant is 65 days. So better not rush, and get your pet checked by a vet for certainty. Spaying a guinea pig at an early stage can keep her hormones under control and somehow reduce the chances of stress-based ovulation. It should get at least an inch wide, maybe wider. I will defiantly be using again. A small, clean cage with towels for bedding works well. Check to see that the guinea pig is eating and drinking; extra vitamin C may also be helpful. Guinea pig keeps having phantom pregnancies. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. Why Is My Guinea Pig Always Hungry? If you have not paid enough attention to appetite, kind of stool, the requirement of various vital nutrients needed for pregnancy, then it might result into medical conditions such as low calcium(hypocalcemia), toxemia(poisoning of blood due to the bacterial infection), discharging of body fluids, etc. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We currently have 2 week old guinea pig babies in this video :) If you have a pre. Her vitamin C requirements increased during pregnancy. Guinea pig delivery is usually relatively quick, with each of the pups taking somewhere in the region of five minutes to be delivered. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. One example of this is the presence of too much blood in the birthing process. In general, veterinarians do not recommend that individual pet owners attempt to breed guinea pigs. A female guinea pig can give birth to up to 5-6 litter per year. Will spaying prevent phantom pregnancies? The expected date came and went and no pups arrived. They are seriously not fussy ! Apart from preventing pregnancy, it is also done to avoid uterine cancer and lump formation in females mammary glands, whereas to prevent testicle infection in males. Regardless of how pregnancy occurs, the average guinea pig gestation period is 65 days. Now that weve answered some basic guinea pig pregnancy questions, were going to go through the signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. If a male and female of reproductively developed age have been kept in close space to each other then the chances for your female pet to get pregnant again are higher. Separating bonded guinea pigs can cause stress to them, which can also lead to ovulation. This means that males must be separated from females until the procedure can be done. Talking to your vet about possible care throughout the pregnancy and after the birthing process is vital. Though age is not a matter of concern in males for mating. The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. 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. a small amount of lucerne hay - though this is not essential (as a supplement to provide increased calcium and protein) It is also possible that you have to handle mood swings, elevated hunger, and unusual behaviors. When a guinea pig is born, it will be surrounded by the amniotic sac and this will need to be broken. With all this said, dont be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still seems young to you. In the vast majority of cases, the mother will break the sacs herself, using her teeth, but there are instances where this does not occur. 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 our research, we learned that guinea pigs can become pregnant as young as 4 weeks old. female guinea pig pups can be left with their mother for a longer nursing period. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. 2 Continue to encourage exercise & prevent obesity to minimize the risk of problems in the pregnant sow. This had not been normal for her. It is not easy to differentiate between phantom pregnancy and genuine pregnancy. 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. . And remember, even a neutered male can get a female pregnant. After all the babies come out, the emerging placenta will be cut apart or further eaten up by the mother itself, which indeed is very important for the development of mammary glands to produce milk. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What causes phantom pregnancies in guinea pigs? Seperate any Guinea pigs that show aggression. Although you need to be careful not to apply any pressure to the region. Some vets may even recommend vitamin C supplements. Thus your pet would have elevated hunger, mood swings due to hormonal changes and must be handled with utmost care and generosity. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. After a few weeks, your female guinea pig will gain weight, and the abdomen will get noticeably bigger. o [ canine influenza] They will nurse from their mother but are able to nibble at solid food (such as moistened pellets) within 2 days. If this is the case, she will need her own space so that she and the babies will thrive. It would be best if 3 to 6 months old female guinea pigs(sows) mate with around 3-4 months past male guinea pigs(boars). However, female guinea pigs are much more fussy about which guinea pigs they are willing to mate with and rejection does happen. The average Guinea pig gestation period is 68 days with a range of 59 72 days. 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? Spaying is not a permanent solution to phantom pregnancies but has many health benefits for guinea pigs. Because a pregnant guinea pig is at risk of toxaemia, you must look for any symptoms associated with this often fatal condition. 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. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Vet Manual outside of North America. 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. No babies this morning, but I can hear her stomach rumbling!Sophie x. The safest, easiest, and least expensive way to prevent breeding is to house male and female guinea pigs separately. This is posted in the thread about Moomin but would like some general advice, please! 1. Now that you are almost sure your guinea pig is pregnant, you will need to do a few things to make sure she has a healthy and smooth pregnancy: The first step when you suspect pregnancy is to take your piggy to a vet that specializes in small rodents. For us, the most obvious sign was Theos change in size and shape in comparison to Remmy, our male guinea pig. One of the more interesting aspects of the guinea pig mating ritual is the mating dance, which is performed by male guinea pigs. Thank you. Allow them to interact with other female guinea pigs to give them the pleasure of companionship. 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. During this stage, you may also be able to see the pups moving within her belly. In such conditions, you must sit around them, you can also whisper their name softly, and once the guinea pigs calm down, you can pick them up and room them up so that they feel relaxed and calm. This was so amazing to watch and we knew she would be giving birth very soon!Watch closely and you can see the babies moving! 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. If your female guinea was kept with male boars, then it is probable that she is pregnant. Guinea pigs have an average of 4 young per litter, with a range of 1-13. 2 Observe her eating habits. You can make her comfortable by offering them food and mostly hay. Stay tuned! In general, the labor will last for 5-15 minutes. Neutering a male is generally easier than spaying a female. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Later on in the pregnancy (by day 50-60), though, you will notice that the abdomen is getting bigger. Young female pups reach maturity at around two months and can effectively bear life. Use for phrases Almost 60% of Brits own a pet, and for a good reason. We kept a close eye on her to make sure she had easy access to water and food as her belly grew. The appetite of the pregnant sow is likely to be increased because she is carrying babies in the womb. This is an overview of how to take care of pregnant guinea pigs and babies. 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. In our case, Theo had been kept together with 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high. But the duration of pregnancy may alter depending on the litter size(the number of babies given birth to at a time.) Like we previously mentioned, if your sow is older than 7 months, you will need to take caution and likely have your guinea pig go through a cesarean section. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. (Causes & What to Do), What Should Guinea Pig Poop Look Like? . By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Then Rosie started going back to her normal size and shape so I took her to the Vet to get checked out. If this happens during your guinea pigs pregnancy, you should ideally seek the help of a vet. Phantom pregnancies are not common in guinea pigs, but if she faces false pregnancies, you will need to find out why. It is not uncommon for owners to adopt guinea pigs who are already in the early stages of a pregnancy, without realising. They belong to the family Cavidae, which contains 14 species of animals commonly known as cavies and Patagonian hares (or maras). Pregnancy is not so easy for guinea pigs. This is the period when young guinea pigs will develop bonds with humans and learn to accept being held. (Normal & Abnormal Poop). Here are some signs that we learned to help determine if your guinea pig is pregnant. Congratulations to our Photo Competition Winner - @fur&feathers. 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. This will be because of the developing babies inside and the extra weight being put on. In preparation for their arrival we prepared a third enclosure to serve as a nursery and play area. Your female guinea was kept with male guinea pigs. If you do feel lumps, it would be wise to take your guinea pig to the vet to check for pregnancy. (Signs Of Puberty & How Long Does It Lasts), Why Is My Guinea Pig Not Moving? Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. With one hand and without applying pressure, gently feel the sides of your sow. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? 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 female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. Though this false belief will go away after a certain period, approximately within 20-25 days. 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! Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Pregnancy is a fact of life, and if you own a female guinea pig, it is something you may have to deal with. Being under-, or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales aren't always the be. Yet, even with this, the actual birth could still be several days away. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. and factors such as age or relation are not something they worry about! Ketosis also affects other animal species, including humans, and risk factors include obesity, stress and lack of exercise, which is why it can occur during pregnancy. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. I especially loved the lollipop when I opened the packaging! How do you no if a guinea pig has a phantom pregnancy? So, I did thorough research, and here is what I have learned. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. Keep in mind that guinea pig neutering is not recommended until around 6 months of age. A sudden increase in appetite is another potential indicator. Guinea pigs phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. Therefore, following the above instructions can have you to lower the stress of your guinea pig. We learned that it is not necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from other females. No, spaying will not prevent phantom pregnancies. The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Description and Physical Characteristics of Guinea Pigs, Last review/revision Nov 2019 | Modified Oct 2022. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There are many ways to lower the stress of your guinea pig-like grooming them, giving them an environment they are comfortable with. She loves to research the best methods and products out there and cut through the jargon so you can see plainly what something is or how something is done. o [pig guinea] Progesterone production undergoes a luteal to placental shift as in human pregnancy with levels rising during gestation and with labor and delivery occurring without a precipitous decline in maternal progesterone levels. It is better to breed a younger female guinea pig then their later counterpart. [5] Alfalfa hay is high in calories and calcium. What is the best age to breed a female guinea pig? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Which so obviously cares about animals and wildlife. .. Poor angel. Therefore, the smaller the litter (one or two pups), the longer is the gestation time. There are various signs of pregnancy in guinea pigs. Avoid standard delivery by them if above 10 months and bred for the first time since birth. Sponge started to get bigger and bigger and gradually got agressive to her 2 sisters - we thought she was heavily pregnant and we all swore we could see babies moving. Is It Worth Getting Pet Insurance for Guinea Pigs? This is because it takes a few weeks for the procedure to take effect. 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. Male vs Female Guinea Pig: Which Guinea Pig Gender Is Better? However, your guinea pig eating more than usual could otherwise be an indication of some underlying health condition if not pregnancy. aggrevate your pet. At first, you wont be able to tell the difference in your pregnant guinea pigs growing belly. 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. Lastly, remember to separate the male guinea pig from their mother and female siblings two weeks after they are born, to avoid difficulty at the beginning of a new cycle. 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. Still, there is nothing to worry about as she can resolve it on her own. When is the Best Age to Breed Guinea Pigs? Her bottom half was very round and she waddled when she walked. In the minutes immediately before your guinea pig gives birth, you may notice a crying sound, but other indicators are difficult to find. Black cats have long been a symbol of Halloween and are closely associated with all things witchy. For this reason, you need to be prepared for the delivery to occur at any point within the 59 to 72 day range. 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. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Guinea pigs are highly sexually active, even from a young age, so they are likely to breed when they are around males. So heres the thing. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Once the babies are born, its a good idea to separate the dad from the mom and babies right away. Phantom pregnancies are a condition where a female guinea pig considers herself as pregnant, but actually, she is not. Will be think of you both, ring if you need to chat hun x. Spaying a guinea pig wont make her less attracted to the male; even an unneutered male will still mount a spayed female, which can result in phantom 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. A Guinea pig will start making the nest. Precisely saying, be present for your pet. Many things can stress out your guinea pigs like being separated from a bonded partner, loud noises, other pets in the house, and being taken to the vet. By around the five week mark, pregnancy will start to be visible, with your guinea pig gradually developing more of a pear shape. Be sure about the age of the female guinea pig before mating. Even at such a small size, they have hair and are able to see and run. Following the birth, the baby guinea pigs will need to stay with their mother, who will nurse them until they are able to feed independently. it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. Poor girl! Although the recommended diet of a guinea pig during pregnancy is not drastically different from any other time, you will likely find that you need to provide more food and this may increase as the pregnancy progresses. During pregnancy, you will need to provide your guinea pig with a clean cage or hutch. up as though it is about to vomit, only it is far mor. Before this age, your female guinea pig still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth. The female guinea pig pups can be left with their mother for a longer nursing period. 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. Featured Image Credit: Miroslav Hlavko, Shutterstock. Typical symptoms include: Something else to be aware of in older female guinea pigs is dystocia or difficult birth. Does she have a partner some of the time? AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. As per the studies, intact female guinea pigs who experience phantom pregnancy have been observed pulling their fur. Guinea pig's phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. Try to apply a trial and error approach, which helps to remove anxiety and makes your guinea pig calm. (Normal & Abnormal Poop).
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