Many pet owners find it difficult to determine the sex of their guinea pigs, especially those that have just been born. Recognizing the sex of a guinea pig can help you prevent an unplanned pregnancy when mixing it with other guinea pigs and will let you know if you need to separate the baby from the mother. While many veterinarians offer sex recognition services for guinea pigs, you can also determine for yourself.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Checking the Dutch Rat
Step 1. Be careful when examining very young guinea pigs
Newborn guinea pigs can feel stressed when they are away from their mother, besides that the condition of the baby rats is much weaker. Baby guinea pigs also get cold easily, so when you check them out, keep them warm and try to get them over with as quickly as possible.
- Determining the sex of a very young guinea pig can be very difficult. You can wait until the guinea pig is 2-3 weeks old to examine it, at which time it will be easier to determine the sex of the rat. However, since male guinea pigs must be separated from their mother and sister at 3 weeks of age, it is very important to determine the sex at this time. Otherwise, the male dutch rat can impregnate his mother and sister.
- Don't worry about handling guinea pigs. Dutch rat mother no will refuse the baby and early treatment can help reduce the animal's fear of humans.
Step 2. Wash your hands before and after handling guinea pigs
Dutch rats can carry diseases that can infect humans, and they can also get infected by something from your hands (hand sanitizer, lotion, etc.), so it's important to wash your hands frequently.
Don't worry about wearing gloves. Very few human diseases can infect guinea pigs and they do little to prevent them from spreading from one rat to another
Step 3. Perform the inspection on a low, stable surface
Dutch rats are generally sensitive when lifted and held in one place for a long time. Place a clean, soft towel on a low, stable surface, such as a short table or floor in preparation for the examination to make the guinea pig comfortable and protected.
Step 4. Hold the guinea pig gently but firmly
Dutch rats are easily frightened and often fight when frightened. Avoid scaring the guinea pig by gently but firmly holding the guinea pig around the chest and shoulder area. Lay the guinea pig on its back or bottom so that its belly and genital area are facing you and stroke the rat's back with one hand. This method will make it easier for you to examine the genitals of Dutch mice.
- Dutch rats do not like to be laid on their backs for long periods of time. Try to do the check quickly and efficiently. You may want to ask someone else to hold the guinea pig during the sex check to speed up the process.
- Give your guinea pig a treat during a sex check. This step can simplify the process and reduce the fear experienced by the Dutch rat.
Part 2 of 2: Recognizing the Gender of Dutch Rats
Step 1. Check the distance between the rat's pubic and anus
Start by looking for the rat's anus, which is a vertical hole that is usually gray or brown in color. The anus of the Dutch rat is located under the cock.
After distinguishing the anus from the pubic rat, you can see the distance between the two. Female Dutch rats have a shorter distance between the vulva and the anus. In general, the vulva of the female guinea pig is directly above the anus. Male Dutch rats have a wider distance between the penis and the anus, approximately 5-7.5 cm between the two
Step 2. Examine the shape of the rat's pubic hole
Look closely at the pubic hole of a Dutch rat. Female guinea pigs usually have soft lumps over the genital area. Use your fingers to gently open the pubic opening. If the genital area forms the letter “Y”, this indicates that the guinea pig is female.
- Male Dutch rats have a pubic opening that is shaped like a small circular point with the penis protruding above the skin that surrounds it.
- Male Dutch rats have bulges in the genital area and anus. The bulge is seen due to the presence of the testicles of Dutch rats which are located under the skin around the anus and penis. You should also check for donuts around the anus of the guinea pig, as that is where the testicles are.
Step 3. Press the top of the pubic opening to examine the guinea pig penis
Sometimes it can be difficult to see the penis of a guinea pig, especially in older, fat males. To make the penis protrude, use your fingers to gently press around the genital area of the guinea pig. The penis will reveal itself.
- You can also use your fingers to gently press and feel the guinea pig's genital area. If you feel a "mound" above the genital area, you are feeling the inside of the penis shaft of a Dutch rat. This is a clear sign that the Dutch rat is male.
- While examining the penis, look and feel for the testicles on both sides of the penis to make sure that the guinea pig is male. The testicles are quite large relative to the body size of the Dutch rat.
Step 4. If unsure, ask a licensed veterinarian to determine the sex of the guinea pig
Determining the sex of a guinea pig is extremely difficult, even with a thorough and careful examination at home. If you're not 100% sure of the gender, take your guinea pig to the vet for a check-up. Go to a vet you trust and/or have examined your guinea pig beforehand, as even well-known vets can make mistakes in determining the sex of these animals.
