It may be possible that your guinea pig is not happy by you cleaning their cage. 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. 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. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. 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. Anyway.. Our honey has this. Keep in mind that a boar can get a female (also known as a sow) pregnant even after being neutered. However, if a female of age more than 10 months is bred for the first time, than the severity of pregnancy increases and thus putting in danger both the mother and the child. So sorry to hear that Moo is not doing so well, if she she is gassy you could try baby gripe water and buscopan to help ease it as per peter guerneys advice but not sure how this would work with the injections the vet has been giving. You are using an out of date browser. When a guinea pig experiences false pregnancy, they react as they are genuinely pregnant. 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. Females become reproductively active as young as of age 2 months, whereas the males achieve sexuality of age 3 months. We asked Google desperate questions like: I think my guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In the early stages of the pregnancy, there arent a lot of physical signs to let you know that you have a mum-to-be on your hands. Certainly not me, but sure enough there it was! She's on BioLapis for 5 days then back again next week. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. See answer (1) Best Answer. During the middle of her pregnancy, we were able to gently feel the little babies by lightly touching her sides and belly. In general, veterinarians do not recommend that individual pet owners attempt to breed guinea pigs. Dont let the family cat or dog (or any small children!) 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. One example of this is the presence of too much blood in the birthing process. Even the baby males can impregnate their mum at around three weeks old, so they will also need to be removed from the cage. "Pre-pandemic in 2019, we averaged a little under 400 guinea pigs a year coming in throughout the year. Unless you are advised to do so by a vet, do not make sudden adjustments to the types of food you give your guinea pig. 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! Wiki User. Little chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the other for the kids to munch on while daddy built the hutch & run. 1. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 2 Observe her eating habits. Once the babies are born, its a good idea to separate the dad from the mom and babies right away. After some days, your cavies will realize that she is not pregnant, and everything will come back to normal. (+How To Deal With It). And most importantly, take appropriate care and heed to their needs and demands. Is your guinea pig Pregnant? A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. Guinea pigs are highly sexually active, even from a young age, so they are likely to breed when they are around males. There have been instances of male guinea pigs impregnating their mothers in as little as five weeks. The rest of them survive but with a lot of complications, which results in costly to you and painful to her. You may not notice any significant increase in their weight daily.But to find any noticeable changes, monitor their weight on a weekly period. .. Poor angel. So heres the thing. Later on in the pregnancy (by day 50-60), though, you will notice that the abdomen is getting bigger. But by the time they are ready to give birth, they may have doubled in weight. 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. 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. In case if it lasts longer than 15-20 mins then do not delay further to reach the vet. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? Can phantom pregnancies be prevented in guinea pigs? Keep the pregnant mother in a different cage to ensure her well being and safety. A small, clean cage with towels for bedding works well. Meanwhile, the male pups must be separated from their mother to prevent the new pregnancy cycles complexity. Still, there is nothing to worry about as she can resolve it on her own. The average Guinea pig gestation period is 68 days with a range of 59 72 days. The mother has a single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age. One litter may have one to eight pups. This can also be done by gently holding your piggy by the shoulders with one hand and feeling her belly with the other. Because if you try to remove the nest of guinea pig, there are chances that they might get upset and stressed. 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? Guinea pig's phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. Pregnancy is not so easy for guinea pigs. Male vs Female Guinea Pig: Which Guinea Pig Gender Is Better? If your wish is to breed your guinea pig, the best time to breed is before your female turns 7 months old. Yet, neutering cannot be done too early and guinea pigs reach sexual maturity at a young age. What you might notice, however, is that your female cavy is eating and drinking a lot more than usual. Delaying further would make their pregnancy complicated due to the fusion of pubic joints, which functions in the newborns natural passing out of the mothers womb. But anywhere in the range of 59 days to 72 days is regarded as normal. We currently have 2 week old guinea pig babies in this video :) If you have a pre. 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. Why Is My Guinea Pig Always Hungry? Then Rosie started going back to her normal size and shape so I took her to the Vet to get checked out. No babies this morning, but I can hear her stomach rumbling!Sophie x. Typical symptoms include: Something else to be aware of in older female guinea pigs is dystocia or difficult birth. She will engage in this behavior for at least 20-30 days, and after this, a phantom pregnancy comes to an abrupt halt, and guinea pigs return to normal. But there is vast variation, depending on the age and sex of the hog and the time of year. a small amount of lucerne hay - though this is not essential (as a supplement to provide increased calcium and protein) This is because they can still be fertile for a few weeks after the surgery. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 2 Continue to encourage exercise & prevent obesity to minimize the risk of problems in the pregnant sow. Spaying is not a permanent solution to phantom pregnancies but has many health benefits for guinea pigs. Breeding a guinea pig depends upon a lot of factors and age is one of them. For complicated pregnancies, your vet might suggest a caesarean section or medication. Your pregnant guinea pig will start to eat and drink up to three times the amount that she usually does. Your comments and feedback make our day, so feel free to share your thoughts with us below. Unfortunately, there is a high mortality rate when it comes to a guinea pig pregnancy for both mum and the pups. Will be think of you both, ring if you need to chat hun x. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. And. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy toxaemia include a loss of appetite, lethargy and muscle spasms. Pregnant guinea pigs may kick or bite other . Does she have a partner some of the time? They will nurse from their mother but are able to nibble at solid food (such as moistened pellets) within 2 days. However, guinea pigs often do not react well to surgery, anesthesia, or being kept in unfamiliar surroundings. This is an overview of how to take care of pregnant guinea pigs and babies. products and they're lovely too. Unfortunately, this means that death during or immediately after labour is a relatively common complication and something you need to consider. It would be suggested you not do anything with the nest. Guinea pig delivery is usually relatively quick, with each of the pups taking somewhere in the region of five minutes to be delivered. So, deciding about pregnancy on the basis of their behavior is not possible. One of the more interesting aspects of the guinea pig mating ritual is the mating dance, which is performed by male guinea pigs. Can Guinea Pigs Have Phantom Pregnancies? Which is why citrus and kiwi fruit can have a role to play. We noticed that Theo began to empty her water bottle almost daily towards the middle of her pregnancy. 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 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. Male guinea pigs will typically mate with almost any willing female guinea pig. The infants will be fragile and furred with eyes completely open. Also, provide proper bedding and solid food to the mother for nurturing her baby. However, it is possible for guinea pigs to survive, in which case, treatment may include a specialist diet. This Is What You Should Know! Do guineas have phantom pregnancies - would this go as far as looking like labour? Can Guinea Pigs Have Phantom Pregnancies? [5] Alfalfa hay is high in calories and calcium. Why Is My Guinea Pig Always Hungry? With one hand and without applying pressure, gently feel the sides of your sow. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. So maybe it's a phantom! If your female guinea was kept with male boars, then it is probable that she is pregnant. However, you still have to do it to maintain proper hygiene, as the unclean environment can lead to significant issues to your guinea pig. Overstress is the leading cause of phantom pregnancies. Do Ferrets Need Vaccination Shots? 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. Overstress can also be a reason for phantom pregnancies. Especially if any of them display aggressive tendencies. Though male spaying is more preferable than the female due to ease in surgery. Young female pups reach maturity at around two months and can effectively bear life. The towels should be changed at least twice a day. Feeding a mix of alfalfa-based diet during pregnancy and right after birth could help supplement the calcium need. Use for phrases With their cute little faces and quirky personalities, pets provide hours of entertainment, devoted friendship and unconditional love. Pregnancy Toxemia. 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. The tummy starts getting swollen and might have small bumps. 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. 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