Pregnancy is an uphill battle for a female guinea pig. Female guinea pigs can carry 1 to 6 pups and can last for 58-73 days. Guinea pigs have a high pregnancy mortality rate (around 20%) because they are prone to complications and suffer from diseases such as toxemia. While guinea pigs should never be deliberately bred, it's not uncommon to buy guinea pigs from a pet store that are already pregnant. However, with proper care, this risk of death can be significantly reduced to keep your pregnant guinea pig healthy
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Method 1 of 8: Recognizing Pregnancy
Step 1. Check for pregnancy symptoms
Physical symptoms are usually difficult to identify and usually only become apparent towards the end of pregnancy. However, you may notice your guinea pig is starting to eat and drink more, and their stomachs are starting to grow. Do not put pressure on the abdomen as this can result in miscarriage.
- However, it is important to be aware that young guinea pigs begin to eat and drink more as they grow.
- Small amounts of baby content will not make the guinea pig's stomach bulge significantly and will be more difficult to see clearly.
- All guinea pigs like to hide in green hay, this brooding behavior is not necessarily due to pregnancy.
Step 2. Have your vet diagnose the pregnancy
If you suspect the female is pregnant, take her to the vet to be sure. The vet will feel the abdomen area to feel the presence of the fetus and may use an ultrasound. The vet should be able to provide an estimate of the birth.
- Feeling the guinea pig's stomach area should be done by a professional, because a large bladder, kidney, or ovary can be mistaken for a fetus. Touching roughly can also cause miscarriage.
- Ultrasound is a non-invasive method of examination and can confirm pregnancy. Ultrasound can also confirm the number of children in the womb and the number of living.
Step 3. If the pregnancy was unplanned, determine why the female was pregnant
Chances are either the female was pregnant when you bought her or the other guinea pig she interacted with was a male.
Pet stores usually keep both sexes in one cage, and some breeders don't separate the male from the female early so the female may already be pregnant when you buy it
Step 4. Determine whether the age of the female makes her pregnancy a high risk or not
The female must be above 4 months and under 7 months for her first pregnancy. If they have previously been pregnant, they must be under 2 years of age.
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If your pregnant guinea pig does not meet the requirements for gestational age, consult with your veterinarian planning a pregnancy. For young guinea pigs, this plan may include adding Critical Care supplements or similar products to their diet. For older guinea pigs, this planning may include performing prenatal care and delivery at the vet's office, as the birthing process will require assistance.
- This is because females who are too young are at risk of vitamin deficiency during pregnancy.
- Meanwhile, females who are too old are at greater risk of suffering from symphysis and dystocia, thus requiring a cesarean section.
Step 5. Determine whether the female's body condition makes her pregnancy a high risk or not
Overweight females are at higher risk of developing toxemia. If your female was too fat before pregnancy, talk to your veterinarian about her diet in pregnancy, as the gestation period is a bad time to limit feeding.
Step 6. Determine whether the female or male lineage can make the offspring more susceptible to hereditary diseases or not
Dalmatian guinea pigs and Roan passed down a recessive lethal gene. If one of the parents is of this type, there is a 25% risk for each child to develop a fatal disease. There are several other hereditary diseases that can infect guinea pigs. If possible, check the lineage of the pregnant female and the male that made her pregnant.
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If there is a chance that your child will be born with this condition, you must determine your course of action. If you're not ready to take care of them yourself, more experienced guinea pig owners may be more willing to take care of them, or you may decide to kill them.
Guinea pigs that suffer from hereditary diseases can be white (not albino), born blind, usually in both eyes, have uneven or damaged teeth, are often deaf and often suffer from organ defects, especially digestive organs. These children may die a few days after birth, or they may live for several years. If they survive the first week, they have a lower life expectancy and will require intensive medical care throughout their lives
Method 2 of 8: Health During Pregnancy
Step 1. Pregnant guinea pigs are prone to illness due to stress during pregnancy
This pressure can trigger diseases such as toxemia or scare the female so she doesn't want to eat or drink. That's why the possibility of stress should be reduced as much as possible.
- Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights.
- Keep away from direct sunlight.
- Implement a daily routine with a consistent schedule.
- Change plans as early as possible in pregnancy, when stress is still not having much effect on the female.
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Avoid holding your guinea pig as much as possible.
In the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, do not touch the guinea pig. It's best to cover your guinea pig with a towel or put it in a crib
Step 2. Observe his eating and drinking patterns
It's important to check your guinea pig several times a day, ideally every 3-4 hours. Each time you check, keep in mind the amount of water you drink and the food you eat.
- This allows you to estimate normal limits, so that if your guinea pig is unwell and stops eating, or looks very thirsty, you'll be able to recognize the signs more quickly.
- If your female is not interested in touching her food, contact the vet as soon as possible. The vet will check the guinea pig's condition. They can give you a prescription that includes injections of dextrose, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. There is a possibility of loss of appetite as well as a symptom of pregnancy toxemia.
Step 3. Examine the female closely more than twice a week
Check for signs of disease (eg, dry eye/nose/ear fluid or sparse hair) and weigh. In the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, do not touch the female. It's best to cover him with a towel or put him in a crib.
- The female will gain weight. The weight depends on the number of children in the womb, but the weight is impossible to lose.
- If you have concerns, don't hesitate to contact your doctor.
Step 4. Do less grooming during pregnancy
Feather grooming usually involves a lot of touching, which should be reduced during pregnancy. If the female is hairy, trim her fur short towards the end of pregnancy as the female will have a hard time cleaning herself and her coat will become matted or dirty.
Do not bathe the female during pregnancy. This can cause the stress to rise too high
Step 5. Continue training the female
Continue to let him play on the floor or graze outside. Minimize handling of the female by putting her in a crib or wrapping her in a towel to move her. It's important to keep him active to prevent obesity and maintain healthy blood flow, but don't chase him or force him to exercise, as pregnancy, especially with many children in the womb, can suppress the guinea pig's blood circulation and be prone to heart disease.
Method 3 of 8: Containment During Pregnancy
Step 1. Make sure you provide a proper cage
Read your guinea pig care guide to determine the right cage. Make sure the temperature is consistent and don't use a tiered cage.
- The temperature outside or in the garage is usually too cold for a pregnant guinea pig. Pregnant guinea pigs should be kept indoors.
- Do not place pregnant guinea pigs in multi-story cages as their balance is disturbed by pregnancy, and in later stages of gestation they cannot go upstairs.
Step 2. Move the male
If you have multiple females, remove the male guinea pig as soon as possible to prevent other females from getting pregnant. If this pregnant female is the only female you have, the male guinea pig should be removed before the female reaches 50 days of gestation.
Male guinea pigs should be removed before 50 days of age as the male can overwhelm the female and cause stress or pain in later pregnancies, and the female can get pregnant again as soon as 2 hours after giving birth
Step 3. Move other females only when necessary
Pregnant females can be left with other females if they are familiar enough. Guinea pigs are social animals and should be kept in groups even if they are pregnant.
- If there are signs that the pregnant female is not familiar with the other guinea pigs, feel free to move the other guinea pig, but leave the pregnant female alone in her cage.
- Move another female who is also pregnant. Their placenta contains hormones that can trigger contractions. If eaten by other females, their pregnancies can be affected.
Step 4. Clean the cage regularly
Clean the soiled or wet hay every day, and clean the cage thoroughly twice a week or every 3 days. Only use anti-bacterial sprays specifically made for guinea pig cages.
Keeping the cage clean can prevent the deposition of ammonia from the urine. Ammonia irritates guinea pigs' lungs and can expose pregnant females to lung infections
Step 5. Set up a comfortable space
Provide 3-4 inches of space for bedding in the cage. The place to sleep should be a cotton pad or green straw. Alfalfa hay or regular hay is not soft enough for a bed.
You should also provide a box, such as a small shoe box, on the side. Place it in a roofed part of the cage, away from air currents. Note that your guinea pig may bite the cardboard, so prepare a spare box or use a wicker box or thick plastic box. This place to hide can reduce stress
Method 4 of 8: Diet During Pregnancy
Step 1. Prepare extruded pellets
In pellet-shaped feed, each grain is exactly the same. Pellets are better than muesli (which can be distinguished by beans, corn and wheat, etc.) because they prevent your guinea pig from eating selectively. Do not feed too much pellets because it can cause obesity. Look at the dosage on the package, but it should be no more than a few teaspoons a day.
- Selective feeding is when guinea pigs choose foods that are more savory over others - even though others are often more nutritious. This causes a mineral deficiency.
- When you change the feed, change gradually. Otherwise, the guinea pig will not want to eat at all.
Step 2. Provide clean water at all times
All guinea pigs always need clean water, but clean water is even more important when they are pregnant. Empty the water bottle and refill it daily to make sure the water is clean.
- If the water bottle is usually placed in a high place, provide a second, lower water bottle so the female doesn't have to strain to reach it.
- Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent mold and bacteria build-up. Wash the water bottle with a mild dish soap every few days.
Step 3. Provide quality green hay
Provide green grass hay (timothy or orchard) greenish. Add this to a daily alfalfa hay feed which is higher in protein and calcium. Make sure the hay is available at all times and provide it in large lumps for the guinea pig to enter.
Alfalfa hay is great for pregnant, lactating, and young guinea pigs, but the calcium content is too high for regular guinea pigs. Calcium deposition can cause kidney stones
Step 4. Provide fresh vegetables every day
All guinea pigs should be given one bowl of fresh vegetables per day, but as the pregnant female begins to eat more, you can increase the portion to 1.5 to 2 bowls per day. To see which vegetables work well, read our guinea pig care guide
Never give the same vegetables two days in a row. This is to prevent excess of certain minerals present in these vegetables. For example, carrots contain a lot of oxalates. If your pet eats too much, these minerals can collect in the bladder and cause kidney stones
Step 5. Make sure you provide enough vitamins and minerals
Pregnant guinea pigs are prone to vitamin C and calcium deficiencies. Make sure you provide adequate nutrition through vitamin C supplements or similar products.
- Never give multi-vitamin supplements. Excess vitamin C is excreted in the urine so an overdose won't occur, but other vitamins can build up and cause problems.
- Do not rely on feed containing vitamin C. Vitamin C is highly unstable and breaks down within 8 weeks of being produced. If the food has been stored for a long time in the store, it is likely that the vitamin C has already broken down by the time you open the package.
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Never use water-soluble tablets. These tablets can become ineffective quickly and may cause the female to have an appetite for drinking water. This can lead to fatal dehydration in the process of pregnancy.
Step 6. Increase the amount of fruit you provide in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy
Give small cubes of fruit such as apples, strawberries, or grapes without seeds every 3 days.
Fruits should be given little by little because the acid can cause canker sores. However, toxemia is one of the causes of a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is also important
Method 5 of 8: Making Birth Preparations
Step 1. Make sure you have everything you need ready for your guinea pig to give birth
Contact a veterinarian who is familiar with guinea pigs, not just cats or dogs.
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Veterinarian emergency telephone number.
Write the numbers on paper and stick them next to the guinea pig's cage. When you need it, you don't want to have to look around
- The vet's phone number outside of business hours.
- If there is no veterinarian working outside of business hours, consult your veterinarian. They may want to take care of it themselves, or you will need to contact an experienced breeder.
- Critical Care or similar products as you will likely need them for at least one child.
- Clean towels.
Step 2. Be aware that it can be very difficult to know exactly when your guinea pig will give birth
Even if your vet has given you an estimated date, your female may give birth after or before that date. You may notice an enlargement in your female pelvis, which indicates she is likely to give birth in the next week.
Step 3. Within 60 days, check the female several times a day
It was much safer to have someone watching him. Ideally, check every 2-3 hours. While most births occur during the day, births can also occur at night, so check the female at night as well.
If you can't check because of work etc., ask a friend or neighbor for help. Local breeders may also be willing to help
Step 4. Pregnancy toxemia and calcium deficiency are very common in the last 7-10 days before birth
Both can be dangerous without treatment, so watch out for the following: loss of appetite, change in drinking level, dizziness or fatigue and other more obvious signs of illness such as muscle spasms or drooling.
Method 6 of 8: Helping the Birth Process
Step 1. Listen carefully
As you examine your guinea pig, pay attention to whether you hear a whimper or not. Your guinea pig will whimper as she begins to give birth. Even if you've never heard it before, you'll likely recognize it when you hear it.
Step 2. Be present during the birthing process
This process takes less than an hour and there is a 5 minute gap between guinea pigs. The female guinea pig will sit between her head and legs and experience 'hiccups', which are contractions.
- Do not press the female guinea pig.
- Don't swarm the female guinea pig - make sure there's only one person in the room while someone else outside is on duty to call if needed.
- Do not involve yourself or touch the child unless necessary.
- There's no need to move other females, they can even help new born chicks.
Step 3. At birth, monitor for signs of complications and be prepared to call the vet if necessary
If signs of complications or stress are observed, do not hesitate and contact your veterinarian immediately. Signs of complications are:
- Females convulse for 15 minutes without giving birth to offspring.
- The birth process exceeds one hour.
- The female begins to make sounds of extreme stress.
- Females seem to give up and look tired.
- The female's mouth is drooling or foaming.
- Excessive bleeding (more than a teaspoon).
- The veterinarian can try to pose the guinea pig so the female can push. However, sometimes a cesarean section may be required.
Step 4. Engage only when necessary
Sometimes, with a large number of cubs, if the cubs are born too soon, the female has no chance of rupturing her own amniotic sac. When that happens, and only if you're sure the female won't do it herself, carefully grab the cub with a clean towel and sever the amniotic sac, then wipe all the fluid off her face. Don't use your fingers or nails, as you could accidentally scratch your guinea pig's eyes.
While guinea pigs can get caught in the birth process, never involve yourself. Only a qualified and experienced veterinarian can position guinea pigs before they are born
Step 5. Check each child is breathing or not
If something is not breathing, lift it up carefully and hold it some distance away. His head should be looking up against you. Turn your body once. The twist should clear the blockage from his throat and help him breathe. If this doesn't work, gently massage her back from back to front and vice versa.
Step 6. Check the female has removed the birth signs or not
The female will eat the remains of birth and clean each cub. He will also eat pads etc. which has blood.
When you're sure her birth is over, you can help the female by removing the bloodstained pad
Step 7. Make sure the female is interested in her chicks, as at first births, especially in young females, they may run away from the chicks as if confused
If the female runs away from her chicks, carefully place her and her chicks together in a small crib, after this her maternal instincts should work.
Method 7 of 8: Care After Birth
Step 1. Anticipate that the newborn guinea pig will be alert and ready to run like a miniature version of an adult guinea pig
They should also have hair and open eyes. In addition, they can also hear and can walk and eat as soon as possible.
- If a child is alive, but does not appear alert or cannot see or walk, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Guinea pigs don't need lights or heating pads. They should be in the same comfortable temperature as the adult guinea pig.
Step 2. Leave the mother and chicks to be together for a few hours
Better to let them rest if they seem fine.
However, if you are concerned that something might have happened to the mother or one of her cubs, contact the vet immediately
Step 3. Weigh the cubs and the mother on the same day of birth
Both guinea pigs and their mothers can lose weight very quickly and the only way to tell is by their weight. You can hold the cubs from birth, the mother won't mind.
At birth, the cub should weigh 2.5 to 3.5 ounces
Step 4. Weigh the chicks and mother guinea pigs the next day
It's likely that the pups will lose weight, but if one is much lighter than the other, provide the feed straight from the spoon and give the guinea pig 15 minutes alone with the mother 3 times a day.
Wait 24 hours after birth to provide additional feed for one of the guinea pigs as it can take a long time for the cubs to start eating
Step 5. Continue weighing the children and their mothers daily
Use the weighing results to determine if the pups need additional feed and the mother guinea pig is doing well or getting sick. Toxemia and calcium deficiency still threaten for a week after pregnancy, so watch for signs of disease in the mother and continued weight loss. Daily weighing should continue for the first 3 weeks.
- The guinea pigs will likely lose weight for the first 3 days, but after that they will gain weight again. If the weight does not increase or the condition of the child does not improve with additional feed, consult a veterinarian.
- The mother's weight will fluctuate for a few days while she is still adjusting, but will stabilize within 5 days. If the weight continues to drop or it still fluctuates after 5 days, consult a veterinarian.
Step 6. Call the veterinarian to check the condition of the mother and all the cubs
If the mother and cubs seem fine, there is no need to call the vet, but it is best if they are checked by the vet in the first week, you may have missed something.
Step 7. Continue to enrich your diet
Use alfalfa hay as well as green grass hay for the mother and her chicks, as well as vitamin supplements for the mother. Provide additional vegetables and increase in number over the next few weeks as the chicks begin to grow and eat more. Continue to provide fruit for the mother, but do not give it to the child because the acid content is too high.
The guinea pigs can start eating solid foods from day one, and the mother will introduce them to them
Step 8. By the third to fifth week, the male pups are sexually mature, so transfer the guinea pigs by sex to this age range
Check the sex of the children to prevent accidents. The female chicks should be left with the mother and the males removed.
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Introduce male pups to their fathers and other male guinea pigs you raise.
Make introductions slowly as adult guinea pigs are much larger and can injure them. Although siblings can be caged together throughout their lives, they will not get along well enough with other males to be caged together
Step 9. The pups will be weaned on day 21
Some cubs will be weaned a few days after or before, but the average is 21 days. The puppies should weigh around 5½ to 8 ounces.
- Once the cubs are weaned, the mother won't need any more vitamin supplements, unless you give them as part of her normal diet.
- If you are not sure the chicks are weaned on day 21, the male should still be removed to prevent pregnancy. They are used to eating solid food since they are a few days old so they can eat without needing their mother's milk.
Step 10. Return the female guinea pig you removed earlier and the pups at 3-4 weeks of age
Slowly introduce the chicks to other females and watch them carefully. It took several days before they could live together.
Just because they're children of recognized guinea pigs doesn't mean they'll be taken for granted
Method 8 of 8: Preventing Next Pregnancy
Step 1. Realize how easy it is for guinea pigs to get pregnant
Male guinea pigs can be sexually mature from 3 weeks of age. Female guinea pigs can be sexually mature from 4 weeks of age.
- It is quite possible for male offspring to impregnate their mother or sister.
- Pet stores usually mix males with females, which is why buying a female guinea pig from a pet store that is already pregnant happens to many people.
Step 2. Separate guinea pigs into same-sex groups
The easiest way to prevent pregnancy is to separate the male from the female.
- Guinea pigs should be separated into similar groups at 3 weeks of age.
- Remember, guinea pigs are social animals and should be kept in groups, so if you have a male and female, make sure they have friends of the same sex.
Step 3. Castrate the male guinea pig
Another way to prevent guinea pigs from becoming pregnant is to castrate male guinea pigs. You can also spay the female, but this method is more complicated and risky. Always see an experienced veterinarian to take care of your guinea pig.
- Castrated males should be separated from females for 4 weeks after surgery. This is because the sperm can still survive in the genital tract. Therefore, even though castration prevents him from producing sperm, he can still produce children within a short period of time after being castrated.
- Basically, guinea pigs don't respond well to anesthetics, so sex segregation is a safer option if possible.
Step 4. Avoid breeding your guinea pig on purpose
A guinea pig pregnancy has a 1 in 5 risk of death, plus the risk of death after delivery. If you want to have more guinea pigs, your local guinea pig center has plenty of guinea pigs that need care and love.
Warning
- Be careful when handling pregnant guinea pigs. Hold only when absolutely necessary. Holding it carelessly can lead to pregnancy complications or even miscarriage.
- Females can accidentally injure their babies by getting on top of them and babies tend to run away from the cage, so have them checked every time.
- Females can get pregnant again soon after giving birth, so make sure there are no males nearby. Successive births are almost always fatal.
- Guinea pigs may die during or after delivery from complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. This is a common thing; approximately 1 in 5 guinea pigs will die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth.
