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Guinea pigs are adorable, lovable pets that love to express themselves with chatter, squeals and wheezing. Some guinea pigs have long hair curls, while others have soft short hair. These little creatures can be monochromatic, bi-colored, or tri-colored! Many owners watched for hours as these furry creatures jump, run, hide and chew hay in their cage. While some guinea pig owners only have one guinea pig, others have several that they keep in separate cages. There is, of course, another option.
Some guinea pig owners are taking their pet adventures a step further by breeding their guinea pigs. Keeping a pregnant guinea pig means the owner takes on even more responsibility for their pet. Plus they add some new ones to the collection! Naturally, those who are new to guinea pig breeding have many questions. One of the simplest questions is: How long is a guinea pig pregnant? Getting an answer to this question means that the owner can be ready for new settlements.
Keep reading to find out how long a guinea pig is pregnant, signs that it is about to give birth, and what to do after the baby is born.
How do I know if my guinea pig is pregnant?
With all this fur, it can be difficult to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant. Fortunately, there are certain signs to watch out for.
One idea is to weigh a female guinea pig once a week. If she starts out as a two-pound guinea pig and her weight slowly increases each week, it could be a sign of pregnancy. A pregnant guinea pig can sometimes grow to double its normal weight.
A vegetable kitchen scale with a bowl or platter on top is suitable for weighing a guinea pig. It can be stainless steel or plastic. Be sure to keep your hand close to the guinea pig when it is on the scale so that it doesn’t jump out and get hurt. Placing the scale on a low table or even on the floor can help keep your pet safe during the weighing process.
The second way to find out if a guinea pig is pregnant is to observe its eating habits. A pregnant guinea pig will eat more than usual to feed the young developing inside her. She can eat three times more than usual. Give her a normal amount of food, then watch how long she lasts.
Another option is to take your guinea pig to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may do a physical exam to determine if your guinea pig will have droppings. He or she may even give you an idea of the due date. In addition, your veterinarian can advise on how best to take care of this pet during and after pregnancy.
How long are guinea pigs pregnant?
As is the case with most animals, a guinea pig does not have a specific number of days of gestation. However, in most guinea pigs, gestation lasts 59 to 72 days. So, if you collect items to prepare for baby guinea pigs, you may only have two months to do it all!
How to care for a pregnant guinea pig?
Stress can cause health problems in a pregnant guinea pig. So, one way to reduce the stress of a pregnant guinea pig is to place the cage in a quiet environment. If the cage is in a family room, where the guinea pig can hear doors slamming, the radio blaring, and the TV turning on, move it to a quieter bedroom.
It is important for a pregnant guinea pig to get enough rest. Placing the cage in a quiet room will help this pet get enough sleep. In addition, in a less active room, the guinea pig will not be bothered by turning the lights on and off at any time of the day or night.
Make sure the pregnant guinea pig mixes lots of vegetables with her food. This is important even for non-pregnant guinea pigs. The more vitamins and nutrients the female consumes, the healthier her children will be.
Here are some ideas on how to put vegetables in her bowl:
- Green lettuce
- Cabbage
- Romaine lettuce
- Parsley
As the deadline approaches, do not hold the woman in your arms unless you need to. The female’s body changes a lot and she may feel vulnerable to injury when she is being lifted and carried. Plus, talking and petting the female can definitely help keep stress levels in check.
Should other guinea pigs be removed from the cage?
The answer to this question depends on the specific circumstances and attitude of the pregnant guinea pig. Knowing how important it is to reduce stress levels in a female guinea pig, it may be necessary to remove other guinea pigs from the cage or habitat.
For example, a male guinea pig who pushes or bothers a female can stress the female. She can snap back or chase him away. In this case, it is best to remove the male and place him in another cage. Try not to move the female to another cage so that she can stay in a familiar environment throughout her pregnancy.
It is best to remove female guinea pigs from the cage of a pregnant woman. Female guinea pigs are likely to fight and this will definitely cause stress or even injury to the pregnant female.
Although the pregnant female is alone in her cage, she can be placed next to the cages of other guinea pigs. If she is not stressed by just seeing and hearing other guinea pigs, then they can be kept in the same room.
How do you know when your guinea pig is ready for childbirth?
Now that you roughly know how long a guinea pig has been pregnant, you know when to start looking for signs that a guinea pig is about to give birth. But what are the signs to look for?
A guinea pig close to childbirth is likely to keep aloof. She may lie in her cage and not react to your words or attempts to play with her. The female stores energy in preparation for the birth and feeding of the young.
Nesting is something that many pregnant animals do in preparation for childbirth. For example, a bitch moves blankets or bedding in a doghouse or bed before giving birth to puppies. But don’t expect a pregnant guinea pig to cook the nest. Scientists aren’t sure why pregnant guinea pigs don’t prepare nests. Female guinea pigs feel comfortable during childbirth almost anywhere in the cage.
When this small animal gives birth, its body may hiccup. This means that in the female, the contractions and the process of childbirth are moving forward. When this happens, it is best not to touch the female. She does some serious birthing work and may view your hand in the cage as a threat to her children. The female has natural instincts and knows what to do. Isn’t that awesome ?!
What should I do after my baby is born?
Most guinea pigs have three or four cubs per litter. Of course, some have more. After the babies are born, the mother begins
to
breastfeed them. When it comes to caring for babies, the mother does all the work. But there are a few things you can do to help her as a new mom.
Give your pet healthy food and fresh water daily. Nutritious food allows her to feed her babies enough milk when they need it.
Wait at least two weeks before trying to hold any of the babies. It may be tempting to hug them right away, but their bodies are fragile. In short, they can be injured very easily if handled too early. What’s more, a young mom can get nervous if you try to get into the cage and take one of her babies.
You can clean the cage of the female and her newborns, but do it carefully. Instead of cleaning it completely by removing all of the litter, gently scoop up any wet or dirty shavings and replace them with fresh ones. You will be able to thoroughly clean the cage after the babies are a few weeks old. But when a woman has newborns, it is best not to disturb her as much as possible.
Next: where do guinea pigs come from?
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