Due to the early sexual maturity of guinea pigs and the difficulty of distinguishing whether it is a male or a female, we may find that the guinea pig we have just adopted is pregnant. Therefore, in this article on our site we are going to offer you all the information you need about the care for a pregnant guinea pig We will examine the most suitable conditions for your environment, as well such as the correct diet, the risks and we will provide some notes on the moment of delivery. Keep reading!
Guinea pig pregnancy
First of all, we need to confirm that our guinea pig is pregnant. If we do not know if she has reached sexual maturity or if she has been in contact with a male, we can suspect pregnancy if we observe any of the following signs:
- Increased food and water intake.
- Constant fattening.
- Breast development.
- Pear-shaped, with enlarged abdomen.
- Possibility of feeling fetal movements if the hand is placed on the belly.
To be sure, we can consult with our veterinarian. Using an ultrasound it is possible to confirm the pregnancy and find out the number of offspring that our guinea pig is gestating, which can vary from 1 to 6. The veterinarian will also be in charge of providing us with information about the care for our pregnant guinea pig and answering all our questions. Gestation in these rodents lasts, on average, about 68 days. Although in this period our guinea pig is going to lead a practically normal life, we must observe some important aspects that we are going to develop next.
Food for a pregnant guinea pig
Once the pregnancy is confirmed, the first thing to do when caring for a pregnant guinea pig is to adapt its diet. A correct diet for any guinea pig includes, depending on their proportion, the following foods:
- Hay, since guinea pigs are completely herbivorous.
- Specific feed for guinea pigs that must also be composed of hay.
- Vegetables rich in vitamin C to prevent a disease called scurvy (lack of vitamin C because you don't get enough of it in your diet).
- Fruits and cereals only as a reward, that is, for occasional consumption.
- Vitamin C supplement if our guinea pig does not get enough from its usual diet.
After reviewing the diet that every guinea pig needs, how should we adapt it if ours is in the gestation period? Feeding a pregnant guinea pig should include the following modifications to its usual diet:
- Alfalfa hay rich in calcium, necessary during pregnancy, as its requirements increase.
- The amount of vitamin C is tripled that is needed daily, so it may be necessary to supplement, always under the supervision of the veterinary. It is better to give this vitamin directly because it breaks down quickly and if we put it dissolved in the drinker it may not have any effect.
- We must ensure that our guinea pig always has fresh and clean water available, in a drinker, also clean, and easily accessible.
- Watch out for parsley. Although it contains a large amount of much-needed vitamin C, it has an effect on the uterus and can even cause miscarriages.
Ideal environment for a pregnant guinea pig
In addition to feeding, it is also important to maintain the following precautions:
- This is not the time to make changes in the environment or in our guinea pig's routines because they can be a stress factor for it. Likewise, we must avoid loud noises, drafts or excess heat (guinea pigs tolerate heat worse than cold).
- Although his life will remain essentially the same, if we find that he is having difficulty getting in or out of the cage, accessing the drinker, etc., we must take steps to facilitate mobility.
- If you live with other guinea pigs and we observe that there are confrontations with some of them, it is a good idea to separate them, keeping the pregnant one in the usual cage. She can live with the male until the end of the pregnancy, if she feels comfortable with him, but they should always be separated a few days before giving birth or just after to avoid a pregnancy right after giving birth.
- Guinea pigs do not need to build a nest to give birth but, even so, we must keep the bed always clean.
- During pregnancy we can notice that our guinea pig is more reluctant to be handled. Let's leave her alone.
- In case of any anomaly or doubt, we should consult the veterinarian without wasting time. In this sense, it is important that he is an expert in guinea pigs. It's a good idea to have his phone number and the emergency phone number to hand in case of any complications
- Finally, this is not the time to subject her to activities she doesn't like, such as bathing or brushing. Unless you like them, we can postpone it for the couple of months that the pregnancy lasts.
These would be the main care for a pregnant guinea pig, in case we find ourselves before a he althy female. In the next section we are going to dwell on the risks that may arise.
Risks to guinea pigs during pregnancy
As we have said, guinea pigs sexually mature very quickly, between 2-4 months (you also have to take into account that their life expectancy is, on average, about 5 years). Starting at 10 months of age your pelvic bones begin to heal. A first delivery at this time may be impossible, since a rigid birth canal will prevent the exit of the pups, assuming a cesarean section with the risks that this intervention entails. Therefore, if we do not know the age of our guinea pig or if it has previously given birth or not, it is advisable to put the case in the hands of the veterinarian. Between 4-7 months is the safest age for a first pregnancy.
On the other hand, within the care for a pregnant guinea pig, we must know the main pathology that can occur during this period, toxemia, which is a very serious and fatal metabolic disorder, if not detected in the early stages. It occurs in females a couple of weeks before giving birth and up to a week after. It is manifested by immobility, anorexia and hypersalivation (drooling) and, in blood tests, hypoglycemia, although there are occasions in which the guinea pig suddenly appears dead without showing any symptoms. There are also risk factors such as obesity or age.
How to know if my guinea pig is going to give birth
Care for a pregnant guinea pig also includes the time of delivery. One of the greatest uncertainties in any gestation is knowing when the event will take place. Although we know that our guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about two months, it is impossible to know when the exact day of delivery will be. In addition, in guinea pigs it is not easy to detect symptoms that indicate imminent delivery, since there are no changes in their behavior Perhaps the only one would be that of the pelvic bone. If we put our finger over the genitals of our guinea pig we will notice a bone. If we notice it as divided in two, with an approximate separation of 1 centimeter, we can predict that the birth will take place in the next few days (about 10). Keep in mind that this sign is not an exact measurement, that it is not easy to feel, and that there are guinea pigs that can present this separation for a long time without giving birth.
Once labor begins, the guinea pig will lie still and her young will be born rapidly. Thus, if you are wondering how long a guinea pig gives birth, you should know that, in general, the entire process usually lasts from 10 minutes to half an hour and, in any case, should not last more than an hour. The possible complications that may arise are explained in the following section.
Guinea pig parturition problems
Generally the delivery does not require any special care on our part, since it is usually a quick and simple process that our guinea pig will do calmly on its own. We should not intervene unless some complication occurs, such as the following:
- Neglect of the pups, translated into not breaking the amniotic sac. The normal thing is that, as the pups are born, the mother breaks the bag that surrounds them with her teeth but, sometimes, this does not occur, for different reasons, and we will be the ones who break it and bring the pup closer to her mother. We can ask our vet to teach us.
- Excess time, if the labor process lasts for more than an hour without more babies being born and we observe that our guinea pig still in labor, making efforts. It may be dystocia and will require veterinary intervention.
- Bleeding, which is normal in childbirth but a reason for consultation if the amount of blood exceeds a tablespoon.
- Of course, we must request veterinary assistance if we observe any abnormal sign in our guinea pig or its young.
The expulsion of the placentas indicates the end of labor. It is completely normal for the guinea pig to eat them, just as it ingests amniotic sacs and umbilical cords. Little guinea pigs are born with the ability to feed themselves. In addition to their mother's milk, they will be able to eat the same as her mother, which is why they must continue with a balanced diet, maintaining the alfalfa hay that ensures the necessary calcium for their growth. Despite this independence, they must nurse for about the first month. After him, it is important to separate males and females to avoid new pregnancies, both of the mother and the offspring.
Finally, while we take every care for a pregnant guinea pig, the gestation process is risky, not to mention the ethical issues that should surround raising guinea pigs in a society in which so many of these animals are abandoned and therefore in need of a home. As responsible caregivers we must consider sterilization
