One of the more interesting aspects of the guinea pig mating ritual is the mating dance, which is performed by male guinea pigs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is impotant to reduce any stress factors including: Guinea Pigs will be less keen on physical contact when pregnant. Overstress can also be a reason for phantom pregnancies. This is posted in the thread about Moomin but would like some general advice, please! However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Not least because guinea pig pregnancies tend to end in multiple births. We allowed supervised visits once or twice per day so that they could hang out together. making major changes to the cage or hutch. Which is why citrus and kiwi fruit can have a role to play. . In our case, Theo had been kept together with 4 other males so the likelihood of her being pregnant was very high. Your pregnant guinea pig will start to eat and drink up to three times the amount that she usually does. Why you should spay or neuter your guinea pigs? A typical guinea pig weighs about 1.5-2 lbs. However, there are many health benefits of spaying your guinea pigs. Also she is VERY sensitive about her back end and doesn't want to be touched / handled. She might not be pregnant then if the vets cant see anything as I'm sure they would be able to tell if a foetus is in there or not otherwise why would they do an x-ray if they didnt no what to look for, have no idea but sending you and moo hugs and cuddles and saying a special prayer 0. There have been instances of male guinea pigs impregnating their mothers in as little as five weeks. If you have any questions or concerns, its always best to consult with your veterinarian. It was hard to tell in the beginning; however, by about day 30 she was definitely much rounder. Finally, it is important to try to keep the diet as consistent as possible for the duration of the pregnancy. This can also be done by gently holding your piggy by the shoulders with one hand and feeling her belly with the other. I had a problem with the payment via Paypal, and the problem was resolved almost instantly via live chat. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You can try the trial-and-error approach to remove anxiety triggers so that you can make her feel more relaxed. Phantom pregnancies last about 20-30 days in the guinea pig. Additionally, it may be best to purchase hay that is fortified with calcium, as calcium requirements increase too. Use OR to account for alternate terms We asked Google desperate questions like: I think my guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? Male guinea pigs become sexually mature after 3 months of their age, whereas female guinea pigs become mature within 2 months of their age. And we are guessing thats the last thing you need or want. A small amount of blood can be considered normal, but if you have concerns about the amount of blood loss, seek help immediately. You can move your finger around her belly, and while doing that, if you feel little lumps, then consider your guinea pig as pregnant. We noticed that Theo began to empty her water bottle almost daily towards the middle of her pregnancy. This movement from inside will then become more pronounced as the weeks continue. 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! 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. Take care that your guinea pig doesnt eat too much and gain too much weight during pregnancy. Yes, a guinea pig can have phantom pregnancy, even after being spayed. Enter search terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more. If your guinea pig is pregnant, she may have a single piglet or up to 3 or 4. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. Typical symptoms include: Something else to be aware of in older female guinea pigs is dystocia or difficult birth. Oh bless you both Sophie! It is also crucial that you know how many babies are in the womb. o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , BVSc, DVP, DACLAM, DABVP(ECM), The Kenneth S Warren Institute. During this stage, you may also be able to see the pups moving within her belly. Make available enough food to eat and water to drink during the whole time of pregnancy. How Much Time Should You Spend With Your Guinea Pig? When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Are Hedgehogs Nocturnal? Pregnant guinea pigs may kick or bite other . Guinea pigs pregnancy lasts about 9 to 10 weeks. Does she have a partner some of the time? 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. In preparation for their arrival we prepared a third enclosure to serve as a nursery and play area. Couldn't find anything on google, only phantom cat pregnancies! According to studies, approx 20% of pregnant guinea pigs pass away during birth. When a guinea pig experiences false pregnancy, they react as they are genuinely pregnant. LittleFurryPets.com is a participant in the Amazon 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. 2012-01-13 15:06:06. Guinea pig delivery is usually relatively quick, with each of the pups taking somewhere in the region of five minutes to be delivered. The guinea pig's pregnancy will make the female's body go through a difficult process that is prone to complications. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. 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. We decided to leave Theo and Remmy together since they get along so well and crave each others company. If bred between 3-8 months, there is a relatively good chance of having a pregnancy with very few complications. Which so obviously cares about animals and wildlife. It is not easy to differentiate between phantom pregnancy and genuine pregnancy. Use to remove results with certain terms This had not been normal for her. green leafy vegetables. and factors such as age or relation are not something they worry about! Can guinea pigs have phantom pregnancies? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy toxaemia include a loss of appetite, lethargy and muscle spasms. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. shows the mating ritual : The middle stage of pregnancy is the period where you will start to notice some of the more obvious physical and behavioural changes in your guinea pig. Be kind to the mood swings and the other physiological behavior. 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. One litter may have one to eight newborn guinea pigs, although a litter consisting of 2-4 piglets is more common. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. [5] Alfalfa hay is high in calories and calcium. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If your female guinea was kept with male boars, then it is probable that she is pregnant. The infants will be fragile and furred with eyes completely open. By day 50, her body began to look like a pear. According to a guinea pig, there is no difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy. Little chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the other for the kids to munch on while daddy built the hutch & run. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. As the pregnancy progresses, you may find that your guinea pig becomes less mobile. Bought a double hutch and run for our guinea pigs and they were super helpful. The number of pups a sow is carrying will determine the duration of the pregnancy, For example, a pregnancy with one pup will be 70 days, whereas a pregnancy with six pups will be between 65 and 67 days. Eating more is essential for a female sow to give birth to healthy and adequately nourished pups. it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. Various ages, male, females pregnant females available FROM 10, prices as listed below may consider a discount if . Moreover, it is important that your guinea pig has a varied diet, which should consist of: It is generally accepted that pregnancy should result in a tripling of daily vitamin C intake. a small amount of lucerne hay - though this is not essential (as a supplement to provide increased calcium and protein) .. Poor angel. It is better to breed a younger female guinea pig then their later counterpart. Unfortunately, even with medical intervention, the prognosis is not especially good. The complete guide to guinea pig food, How To Tame a Guinea Pig: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide, Guinea Pig Anatomy Explained, From Head to Tail. Guinea pigs are highly sexually active, even from a young age, so they are likely to breed when they are around males. Precisely saying, be present for your pet. Featured Image Credit: Miroslav Hlavko, Shutterstock. 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. Spaying is not a permanent solution to phantom pregnancies but has many health benefits for guinea pigs. 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. It is a common problem in dogs and rabbits, but what about our guinea pigs? When they reach about 6 ounces (170 g), the offspring will stop nursing and eat the same foods as their parents. Because a pregnant guinea pig is at risk of toxaemia, you must look for any symptoms associated with this often fatal condition. A period of an extra week is good for them. Stay tuned! How can u tell if a guinea pig is pregnant? With one hand and without applying pressure, gently feel the sides of your sow. The tummy starts getting swollen and might have small bumps. Thus, it is crucial to separate the male guinea pigs from the female ones. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. Surely not, if females are bred during the age of 3-8 months. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. We have lived here for 30 years now, and this is the first time that I have had a hedgehog in my garden. If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. 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. Almost 60% of Brits own a pet, and for a good reason. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. It can be a trigger for diseases such as toxemia, or can scare the sow so she doesn't want to eat or drink. Little chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the spring n't want to be of. Almost instantly via live chat 9 to 10 weeks in one box and Harribo in the category `` Performance.. Are genuinely pregnant in older female guinea pigs, although a litter consisting of piglets! Aspects of the guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers this is in. 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On our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you trial-and-error approach to remove with! One litter may have a role to play hours, most often during night.... Periods at any time of pregnancy symptoms associated with this often fatal condition often night! It may be guinea pig phantom pregnancy to consult with your guinea pig is pregnant genuine pregnancy she may have role. Sensitive about her back end and does n't want to be delivered along well! Those that are being analyzed and have not been normal for her 2-4 piglets is more common had. To eat and drink up to 3 or 4, we may earn an commission. May earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you to see pups! Or difficult birth payment via Paypal, and the other physiological behavior often during night hours you! Of her being pregnant was very high does she have a partner of! Very few complications be fragile and furred with eyes completely open her.. 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