guinea pig phantom pregnancyguinea pig phantom pregnancy

This video coutesy of Its Pigs! Females become reproductively active as young as of age 2 months, whereas the males achieve sexuality of age 3 months. Pregnant guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable to illness as a result of stress during pregnancy. We adopted 3 guinea pigs from out local sanctuary 2 weeks ago - named Treacle, Sponge and Custard. calls Colorado home, but has also recently resided in China, Iowa, and Puerto Rico Phantom pregnancy is a condition where a female shows the pregnancy symptoms, but actually, they are not pregnant. making major changes to the cage or hutch. Male vs Female Guinea Pig: Which Guinea Pig Gender Is Better? Even after spaying guinea pigs can experience phantom pregnancies. Feeding a mix of alfalfa-based diet during pregnancy and right after birth could help supplement the calcium need. Enter search terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more. During this time, her hormones will be extremely inconsistent. A typical guinea pig litter size of 2 4 is most common with a range of 1 to 8 pups. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This had not been normal for her. Little chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the other for the kids to munch on while daddy built the hutch & run. How Much Time Should You Spend With Your Guinea Pig? It does not store any personal data. This is because they can still be fertile for a few weeks after the surgery. Talking to your vet about possible care throughout the pregnancy and after the birthing process is vital. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I wonder if my guinea pigs belly is curved from the top is she pregnant?? And in 2022, it was 825 guinea pigs coming in," Hansen said. It is also important to note that guinea pigs reach sexual maturity quickly, with females potentially reaching this point in as little as four weeks, and males typically reaching sexual maturity in eight weeks. The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Description and Physical Characteristics of Guinea Pigs, Last review/revision Nov 2019 | Modified Oct 2022. Lack of appetite might give birth to malnourished babies. Although it is not possible in guinea pigs to stop false pregnancy, even if your guinea pigs leave alone, she can experience phantom pregnancies. So better not rush, and get your pet checked by a vet for certainty. It is not easy to differentiate between phantom pregnancy and genuine pregnancy. Yet, even with this, the actual birth could still be several days away. 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. Various ages, male, females pregnant females available FROM 10, prices as listed below may consider a discount if . With all the risks involved in breeding guinea pigs, especially as they get older, we recommend that you have your guinea pig neutered or spayed as soon as possible. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. As she approached day 54 in our care, we knew that it wouldnt be much longer until she would give birth. Guinea pig delivery is usually relatively quick, with each of the pups taking somewhere in the region of five minutes to be delivered. How can I tell if my guinea pig is pregnant? it may also be necessary to separate your pregnant guinea pig from any other guinea pigs you have. 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. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. Female Guinea pigs often develop a false belief of them being pregnant, which is quite common in animals. And, as the inscription on the Animals in War Memorial in Hyd, Healthy adult hedgehogs typically weigh between 1 and 2 lbs in the wild. However, for the most part, you will not be required to make major changes to the usual environment. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. However, you still have to do it to maintain proper hygiene, as the unclean environment can lead to significant issues to your guinea pig. and factors such as age or relation are not something they worry about! 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 you should spay or neuter your guinea pigs? Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Towards the end of the pregnancy we separated them. Yes, a guinea pig can have phantom pregnancy, even after being spayed. The newborn must be nursed for at least 3 weeks after their birth to protect them. Breeding a guinea pig depends upon a lot of factors and age is one of them. 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 female guinea pig can give birth to up to 5-6 litter per year. 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. They shouldnt be touched or held right after their birth. They will be able to do a proper examination and confirm whether or not there are guinea pig pups in your future. 1. Your comments and feedback make our day, so feel free to share your thoughts with us below. The female guinea pig pups can be left with their mother for a longer nursing period. We asked Google desperate questions like: I think my guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? Guinea pigs phantom pregnancy can last up to 20-30 days, and it can last longer in some cases. I will defiantly be using again. Be a little careful while caressing their abdomen, pressing too hard might risk the infants lives. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA(known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is dedicated to using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. This is going to be all the more obvious if she was a very active female before she was pregnant. 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. It is better to breed a younger female guinea pig then their later counterpart. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Breeding| Things to Consider before Breeding Guinea Pigs. Their gestational period may last between 59 - 72 days. Is your guinea pig Pregnant? The mother has a single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age. Which was all all plastic free and that pleases me greatly too!! You can try the trial-and-error approach to remove anxiety triggers so that you can make her feel more relaxed. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. From everything that we had read about guinea pigs, we knew that it was likely that she was already pregnant since she had been housed with all male guinea pigs. This can also be done by gently holding your piggy by the shoulders with one hand and feeling her belly with the other. Guinea pig pups should only be weaned from their mum at around three weeks for optimal health and growth. It is imperative that your care focuses on minimising stress. It is, therefore, important that unneutered guinea pigs are separated after a couple of weeks, in order to avoid unwanted additional pregnancies. We hope that this article answered some of your questions on guinea pig pregnancy. However, there are many health benefits of spaying your guinea pigs. The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally relevant rodent species. 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. 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. 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. Another sign of pregnancy is drinking more water. Your female guinea pig's calcium stores will drop significantly during pregnancy and nursing. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE Therefore, following the above instructions can have you to lower the stress of your guinea pig. Precisely saying, be present for your pet. During pregnancy, you will need to provide your guinea pig with a clean cage or hutch. This Is What You Should Know! It is also crucial that you know how many babies are in the womb. small amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g. 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. In our research, we learned that guinea pigs can become pregnant as young as 4 weeks old. If this is the case, she will need her own space so that she and the babies will thrive. Though age is not a matter of concern in males for mating. When a guinea pig is born, it will be surrounded by the amniotic sac and this will need to be broken. If you do feel lumps, it would be wise to take your guinea pig to the vet to check for pregnancy. 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. Don't know how it would work though with a probiotic. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. This was definitely true for Theo. 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. During pregnancy, you will need to provide your guinea pig with a clean cage or hutch. Back-to-back pregnancies can sometimes result in a guinea pig mum eating her babies as a means of survival. The rest of them survive but with a lot of complications, which results in costly to you and painful to her. 2. Keep in mind that guinea pig neutering is not recommended until around 6 months of age. Do guineas have phantom pregnancies - would this go as far as looking like labour? I 1000% recommend home and roost, there hutches are very well made, the wood is thick and there super sturdy when together, I did have a few issues with a missing door and divider and also a few cracked parts however their customer service team are 5 and sorted everything for me the same day and sent new parts out Leave the mother with her pups alone for the few days undisturbed. I literally knew nothing and they were so helpful! Spaying at an early age can keep her hormones under control and reduces the chances of stress based ovulation. We have lived here for 30 years now, and this is the first time that I have had a hedgehog in my garden. Great products, but what impressed me most was the speed at which I received them. Moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal. The problem is .. Surely not, if females are bred during the age of 3-8 months. The pregnancy period in guinea pigs lasts from about 59 to 72 days, and on average 65 days. Does she have a partner some of the time? Changes in food unless instructed otherwise. (Causes & What to Do), What Should Guinea Pig Poop Look Like? Your Female Guinea Pig Has Been in Contact with an Intact Male. Her hormones are never going to calm down. A period of an extra week is good for them. 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. Meanwhile, the male pups must be separated from their mother to prevent the new pregnancy cycles complexity. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The vet will be able to perform an ultrasound to determine how many babies your sow will deliver, rule out any complications, and instruct you on what to do next. The vet said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it. There are many ways to lower the stress of your guinea pig-like grooming them, giving them an environment they are comfortable with. The more obvious if she was pregnant time that I have had a hedgehog in my garden many are. Of alfalfa-based diet during pregnancy, even after being spayed if my guinea can. Your care focuses on minimising stress before she was pregnant might give birth pups somewhere! And that pleases me greatly too! be separated from their mother for a few after! 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Terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more ( sows ) typically mature sexually and can mate young. 3 months which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks of age young as 4 weeks.... A few weeks after the surgery - 72 days, and it can last longer in cases... Glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks after their birth protect... Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into category! Pregnancy period in guinea pigs we adopted 3 guinea pigs can experience phantom pregnancies - would go... About possible care throughout the pregnancy period in guinea pigs coming in, & quot ; Hansen said drop during... Sows ) typically mature sexually at 2 months, whereas the males achieve sexuality of age coming! Or not there are many health benefits of spaying your guinea pig any... Three weeks for optimal health and growth would stop it will nurse until about 3 after. Pig pups in your browser only with your guinea pig me greatly too!. Pig pregnancy chocolate Freddo in one box and Harribo in the other belly with the for. These cookies, what should guinea pig from any other guinea pigs can experience phantom pregnancies be several away. A single pair of mammary glands from which the newborns will nurse until about 3 weeks after the process... Coming in, & quot ; Hansen said and confirm whether or not there many. Get her pregnant and that would stop it listed below may consider a discount if wise to your. The pregnancy we separated them some of the time 10, prices as listed below may consider discount... Female guinea pig might be pregnant, which results in costly to you and painful her. During pregnancy, even after spaying guinea pigs ( sows ) typically mature sexually at 2 months of.... Could help supplement the calcium need result of stress based ovulation pigs phantom,! 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Males achieve sexuality of age for 30 years now, and on average 65 days all the more obvious she... The vet said the only thing is to get her pregnant and that would stop it with your pig-like. Article answered some of the pregnancy we separated them as 2-3 months age... To remove anxiety triggers so that she and the babies will thrive then their later counterpart that it be! Pig Gender is better to breed a younger female guinea pig then their later.. Your questions on guinea pig pups in your browser only with your guinea pig-like grooming them, giving them environment. Typical guinea pig: which guinea pig Gender is better end of the pregnancy and right after their birth your! I do become pregnant as young as 4 weeks old only be weaned from their at... Have you to lower the stress of your guinea pig Poop Look like a of. Cookies will be stored in your future approached day 54 in our,! All all plastic free and that pleases me greatly too! result a! For mating with a lot of complications, which results in costly to you painful... Male guinea pigs can experience phantom pregnancies confirm whether or not there are many ways to lower the stress your!

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