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. Watch your sow for signs of illness during pregnancy. Do not handle the pups for 3 to 5 days,nursing for at least 3 weeks. Physical signs of pregnancy are hard to detect, and often only become apparent towards the end of pregnancy. Guinea pig litters are normally born fairly soon after each other its hard work for the sow. What are some signs my guinea pig is going into labor. Right before birth cavies will make a hicupping sound. Bonding may happen in one afternoon or it may take months. Twenty four hours can bring about a lot of changes after the birth of a litter of guinea pig pups. I think theres about 1 week left but how do i tell if shes going to have them today or even tomorrow. Its best to keep your cat inside during this time so the new kittens will be born in a safe place. This will let you know that the babies are coming soon. What you dont want to do is plop the new guinea pig into.
First the sow will act oddly and may snap at other pigs and animals, generally not acting like herself. She is quite plump and she doesnt move around unless shes getting food or water. I adopted a guinea pig from shelter and was told she is pregnant. Guinea pigs are sexually mature as young as one month of age. By the time problems become apparent, illnesses may be lifethreatening. Especially, if you have pregnant doe in your herd which is going to give birth of kids soon.
The only fairly accurate method that helps to determine roughly when the sow is close. This timeline charts easily when artificial insemination is employed, while successful breeding between a sow and boar can be less exact. How to care for a pregnant guinea pig with pictures wikihow. Mar 01, 2019 reducing guinea pig stress trying to find the cause of the stress is the most important way to reduce it, dr. If the doe is pregnant, you should be able to feel the developing embryos inside her abdomen. Dystocia is a clinical condition in which the process of giving birth is slowed or is made difficult for the birthing mother. Should complications arise, it is extremely important that you have a veterinarian lined up for emergency care before the actual delivery. We dont know her due date but would like to know what signs to watch for before she gives birth. When a guinea pig sow is about in the next 2 days to give birth her pelvis will start to slowly widen, to over 2.
Usually they give birth in the early morning or in the late evening, and usually you can see the babys moving inside her near birthing date, and if you hear squealing from the mother and from others the babys then you know it is happening. Guinea pigs are not nesters, so you might not notice any changes in behavior as delivery time gets closer. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, it starts secreting mucous. This is called nesting, and you may notice her arranging blankets or going into a closet more than normal. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to determine when a guinea pig is about to give birth. Guinea pigs also enjoy a variety of toys, and a chew stick for proper dental maintenance. Make sure she has a sheltered soft area in which to give birth such as an igloo with soft fleece e. How to know when a pig is going into labor wonderhowto. I think she is going to give birth soon but im not sure. When the mother is giving birth, she will appear to be head first in the corner of.
I summarized the most important things you need to know if you find out that your guinea pig is pregnant. Nov 07, 2015 i summarized the most important things you need to know if you find out that your guinea pig is pregnant. During the birth there are several things that may go wrong. Most rabbits give birth at night, so be prepared to wake up to a litter of rabbits. The sow may sit hunched up, make a hiccuplike movement, and reach under herself to pull out a baby. If youve brought your guinea pigs home for the first time then its recommended that you dont handle them for a week in order to let them get settled into their new home. When do you know when your guinea pig s going into labor. If you own a female guinea pig who just gave birth to a litter of tiny pups, make sure she. Anesthesia, for example, can sometimes be trying on their wee bodies. Labor and birth most guinea pigs give birth in the daytime hours. In fact it is one of the most difficult animals to accurately predict. Another important sign that a dog is going into labor, is a change in her body temperature. Housing a pregnant rabbit in addition to the usual food and water bowls, a pregnant rabbit will need space for its nest and enough room to accommodate all the babies it gives birth to. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about.
I got two guinea pigs at a pet store and they are both girls. An ounce of prevention a cavys health can deteriorate very quickly. You may notice a slight widening of the pelvic bones in the sow, this indicates that she will probably birth within the next week. When guinea pigs are pregnant their nipples dont start to enlarge until the last few days and labour, so you shouldnt have to worry about her being pregnant. Under normal conditions dogs have a body temperature of about 38 c 100. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. Most breeds of pig reach puberty at 5 months of age but some, e. This means the babies will be born within the next few minutes. The gestation period for a guinea pig can be as short as 59 days and as long as 73.
As soon as you suspect she has mated successfully, you should replace her usual timothy hay with. Guinea pigs tend to give birth overnight, so you might have a pleasant surprise one. I hope your guinea pig gives birth to healthy babies. Guinea pigs go outside for first time in life duration. Disinfect the farrowing area and give the gilt or sow straw and other nesting materials such as straw so that she can build a nest. How can i tell when my guinea pig is ready to give birth. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about five minutes to birth a pup. I think my guinea pig might be pregnant, what should i do. Then the sow will want to go to wherever she made her nest. Even if your vet has given you a due date, she may give birth several days either side of this.
My guinea pig zinnia has 4 babies 2 stillborn 2 alive. Hi patty, your sow will show the same signs that most critters have, i. Btw, she will not kill any babies that might have problems. She is very fat and the babies are kicking more and more everyday.
The gestation period of a sow or gilt is 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days or approximately 112115 days. Breeding and reproduction of guinea pigs all other pets merck. See this how to video as a pig gives birth in a farrowing crate. Your guinea will not move more than absolutely necessary and will not make any noises, as apposed to a usual constant chittering. How to tell if a pig is about to farrow farming friends. Youve honored the quarantine period, your new pig is healthy and you are ready to introduce him or her to your other guinea pig. However sometimes the date of serving the pig is not known and even when a boar has run with your female pigs it can sometimes be hard to tell if they are pregnant.
How to care for a pregnant guinea pig with pictures. Apart from the body stress, an additional pregnancy can be highly disruptive to a female guinea pig who is busy looking after and nursing her youngsters. Not only are the signs not very obvious, but in addition the gestation period is long and a nest isnt built to house the babies. By choice and sometimes by accident, a pregnant guinea pig comes under our care. Learning about when a goats vulva start to expand during pregnancy is very important. The way to prevent it is by making sure that mothers and fathers arent together postbirth.
Do male guinea pigs need to be separated from the piglets. This may be hard to resist but your guinea pig will thank you for it. Hopefully if this is the case, there havent been any complications during the birth of the guinea pigs. Timing guide to breeding guinea pigs the spruce pets. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. Sow getting exhausted and just giving up from trying. Mar 29, 2019 gently place the thumb on the right side of the abdomen and the fingers of your hand on the left side. A dog that is close to labor may experience a slight decrease in body temperature. A female guinea pig who is first bred after 7 or 8 months of age could be at.
You dont need to isolate it from the other pigs, because its male will stay closer to it, and will protect it from others during the birth. Nov 05, 2007 the gestattion period for a guinea pig is 5973 days. Guinea pigs almost never give birth during daytime hours,they prefer cooler temps and quiet. Mar 29, 2009 what are some signs my guinea pig is going into labor. Guinea pigs tend to give birth overnight, so you might have a pleasant surprise one morning when you see the litter tucked under the new guinea pig mother. Find a guinea pigknowledgeable exotics vet soon after adopting a guinea pig so you know whom to contact in an emergency.
An easy way to remember this is with the rule of 3s. If this is your first farrowing experience let me know and id be happy to give info on a proper birthing room, without one you will most likely loose the. Hello, normal guinea pig labor is short with few signs that it is going on. Aug 09, 2019 know that it is incredibly difficult to tell when a guinea pig will give birth. A search for roan guinea pig images will give you an idea of all the different ways this gene can manifest in a coat in general, guinea pig pregnancy and birth come with some significant risks. Guinea pigs pregnancies are all too frequently accompanied by complications such as hypocalcimia lack of calcium, pregnancy toxemia, dystocia difficult birth, still borns, premature babies, weak labour, retained not delivered babies and placentas, hemoraging, and death of the mother herself. One way to prevent guinea pig stress signs in the first place is to provide your pet with a comfortable, appropriatesized cage and guinea pig house located in a. Have patience, take your time, always do this on neutral territory, and dont give up too soon. A key consideration when observing sows for signs of labor is knowing when insemination occurred. The establishment of teat order occurs soon after birth, and there is a tendency for a pig to continue nursing a certain teat until weaned. Can you tell when your guinea pigs going to give birth.
The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. Mar 14, 2012 generally guinea pigs go into labour when its dark and quiet, so normally in the night or early morning when youll be in bed and the signs of her going into labour are that she will drink a lot and eat a lot and then she will just take herself off into her bed and nest, getting ready for her babies to arrive. When labor is imminent, you might notice some changes in the way your guinea pig looks. Rabbits usually give birth at night or in the early hours of the morning hours, although they can also do so at some other time. Birth for mammals is a dangerous, but necessary event. The signs when a sow is ready to give birth are those that are pretty universal to all species. The physicle signs of your guinea pig giving birth is if you see a mucass plug come out. Find a cavyknowledgeable exotics vet soon after adopting a guinea pig so you know whom to contact in an emergency.
The video gives a little back story and details from the time we found out she was pregnant through her giving birth. Prompt, competent veterinary care is crucial to saving the life of a sick cavy. If youre unfamiliar with how to safely palpate an animal. The normal timeline from conception to birth is 112 days.
Guinea pigs mothers do not need help from the fathers in. Give a dose of wormer to the gilt or sow about a week before farrowing. Pregnancy there is no such thing as a pregnancy without risks. If you notice a pup with the sac remaining over its face. When you notice your rabbit pulling fur or making a nest, this is a clear sign that she will give birth within a couple of days. Pregnancy and giving birth is an important time in the life of your rabbit. Keep the cage as clean as you can for the pregnancy. This part of labor indicates the final stage will begin in 15. F, but approximately 12 hours before delivery it decreases to between 36 and 37 c 96. They originated in the andes of south america, and studies based.
Before we talk about the stages of your guinea pigs pregnancy, lets make certain. This bloodtinged fluid contains the small, dark pellets of her piglets defecation, known as meconium. Difficulty giving birth is quite common in guinea pigs so its important to see your vet for. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. A female guinea pig needs to be sexually mature to breed but also not too old to give birth. Moreover, the babies can be seen when it is ready to give birth.
Breeding and reproduction of guinea pigs all other pets. Shortly before your cat is due to give birth she will begin setting up a place to have her litter. Do not apply pressure to the abdomen as you may cause a miscarriage. Oct 23, 2009 when guinea pigs are pregnant their nipples dont start to enlarge until the last few days and labour, so you shouldnt have to worry about her being pregnant. The guinea pig labor the hard labor of antonito little antonio. If your doe is pregnant, then you have to make sure you dont miss any signs that her kidkids are ok. In this article, animalwised gives you all the details you need to care for your pregnant rabbit. How soon you can handle your guinea pig depends on the context. Guinea pigs will give birth usually early in the morning or in lateearly evening. Guinea pigs are pregnant for about 9 weeks and if you see the babies moving then she will go into labor soon. Pig birthing dates are very predictable unlike some of the other livestock species. The female guinea pig eat her placenta to strength herself and to avoid to let any hints for predators to find her babies.
Each pup will have its own amniotic sac, and usually the mother removes it and eats it. Male guinea pigs can go through puberty at 8 weeks old. The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig cavia porcellus, also known as cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family caviidae and the genus cavia. The babies inside her are kicking pretty hard, making her belly move. Following the quieting, straining and shivering stage of labor, but immediately prior to farrowing the first piglet, the sow passes fluid from her swollen, reddened vulva, the external organ of the female pigs reproductive tract.
You cant really tell when the guinea pig is in labour but about 24 hours before she gives birth there are two bones behind the vaginal opening that will separate about one finger length. Nevertheless, you may notice your guinea pig begin to eat and drink more, and their belly begin to grow see tell if your guinea pig is pregnant. The way to prevent it is by making sure that mothers and fathers arent together post birth. I will provide for you a list of the weekly signs of pregnancy. Many pigs will give birth exactly 114 days after the onset of pregnancy. Make sure your sow has ample room in which to give birth in. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor. Labor in guinea pigs is quite fast, it rarely last more than 1 hour from the first contraction and less is common. When a goats vulva start to expand during pregnancy modern. How to know when a pig is going into labor pigs wonderhowto. How can you tell when your guinea pig is going to give birth. Females can reach sexual maturity as early as approximately 46 weeks of age. What are the signs of a guinea pig going into labour. The whole process should take no more than 40 minutes.
How to tell if your guinea pig is pregnant cuteness. Watch this video to recognize if a pig is in labor. Jul 10, 20 we were lucky enough to see our guinea pig daisy give birth. Despite their common name, guinea pigs are not native to guinea, nor are they closely biologically related to pigs, and the origin of the name is still unclear. Reducing guinea pig stress trying to find the cause of the stress is the most important way to reduce it, dr.
Generally guinea pigs go into labour when its dark and quiet, so normally in the night or early morning when youll be in bed and the signs of her going into labour are that she will drink a lot and eat a lot and then she will just take herself off into her bed and nest, getting ready for her babies to arrive. If you notice a pup with the sac remaining over its face, break the membrane open with your finger nail. Guinea pigs mothers do not need help from the fathers in looking after their juveniles. It would have been careless for the petstore to keep males and females together as well. This allows an extremely small window of opportunity unless you want to have a cesarean section csection performed on the sow to get the babies out. Do not hesitate to seek competent veterinary care if you suspect your pig is ill. This video is to help people who, unknowingly, adopted a. Set up an area for the piglets slightly away from the gilt or sow, with straw and a pig lamp. One way to prevent guinea pig stress signs in the first place is to provide your pet with a comfortable, appropriatesized cage and guinea pig house located in a quiet area of your home.