Guinea pig pregnancy
For all animals, pregnancy is a difficult period and this also applies to rodents. The owner should pay the most attention to the guinea pig at this stage.
It is worth taking into account that childbirth may be accompanied by deviations from the norm and the owner should also be prepared for this.
Pregnancy symptoms
It is difficult to determine pregnancy in a guinea pig in the early stages. There is a decrease in activity. And after about two weeks, clear signs begin to appear that the pig is expecting offspring:
- Belly growth. With the naked eye, you can notice an obviously rounded belly starting from the 3rd week of pregnancy. And at 7-8 weeks you will be able to see the activity of the babies, distinguishing their movements;
- Weight. The animal's appetite grows along with the development of the fruit; of course, the longer the period, the greater the weight. By the end of pregnancy, the female's weight may be twice as much as it was before;
- Appetite. Typically, appetite increases, but sometimes loss of appetite may occur. The animal may turn away from its favorite food. It is important to choose nutrition that promotes fruit development;
- Estrus. When a female guinea pig is pregnant, she is not in heat and the appearance of the genitals changes - swollen, loose and enlarged;
- Toilet. As the babies get bigger, there is pressure on the bladders and intestines, which increases the frequency of trips to the toilet.
Guinea pig puberty
It is believed that at 7-8 months a guinea pig is already capable of becoming pregnant and giving birth. Experienced owners do not recommend rushing to breed animals. At this age, the female is still in the process of formation, maturation, and an unstrengthened organism may not be able to withstand labor.
The safe age for mating is not only the achievement of puberty, but its establishment. In females it occurs at 11 months, in males a little later - at 12.
Mating is possible during the female's estrus period, which occurs every 2-2.5 weeks. Lasts about two days. The most productive period is the first 12 hours. The guinea pig shows its consent to mating in its behavior - being near the male, it spreads its hind legs and exposes its butt.
How long does pregnancy last in pigs, how to determine the due date?
To determine this, we must take into account two facts:
- Pregnancy in pigs usually lasts 68-72 days, but birth is possible as early as 59 days after conception;
- The guinea pig's menstrual cycle is 15-17 days.
- The estrus itself, that is, the female’s fertile period, lasts 24-48 hours, of which 6-11 hours is the period when she is ready to accept a male.
- When a female is not in heat, her birth canal becomes plugged with a mucus plug and fertilization is not possible.
So, if we mate a female with a male exactly when she is ready to mate, then the shortest time after which children can be born is 59 days, but most likely after 68-72 days.
If, however, we accidentally picked a cycle day that fell just after the "fertile day", we would have to wait until 21 days for another chance at fertilization, and then until 72 days into pregnancy, so the longest possible waiting time for babies is 93 days.
You also need to take into account that the male will not always cover the female in the first heat when they live together. Therefore, for the safety of the potential mother, it must be assumed that the last day that the female lives with the male may be the first day of pregnancy.
In short - to reduce the likelihood of unpleasant and often tragic events - for 72 days after the separation of the male and female, you should behave as if the sow was pregnant. Not in all cases the blissful state can be recognized at first glance, although it is usually difficult to miss.
Pregnancy period
Length of pregnancy
Average time is about 10 weeks. The duration of this period can be affected by the animal’s age, breed, number of fetuses, as well as the health characteristics of a particular female. Of course, if there are two or more babies in the tummy, then the gestation period will be reduced to 58-62 days. When the baby is the only one – 70-75 days.
Number of cubs
If a guinea pig becomes a mother for the first time, it often means 1, maximum 2 babies. In case of repeated pregnancy, the probable number of children is 2-5.
Unlike hamsters, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open and fur. Which makes them somewhat independent from their mother.
Caring for your pig during pregnancy
The owner’s task is to create a comfortable, calm environment for the expectant mother, so that the pregnancy proceeds well and the birth occurs on time. Loud sounds and noise should be avoided, and you should also avoid picking up the pig often.
There is a set of simple but important recommendations:
- As soon as it becomes clear that the guinea pig is pregnant, you need to transplant it from the male and other neighbors into a separate cage. This is necessary for a calm environment, and to avoid re-mating immediately after childbirth.
- Leave only the essentials in the cage - a drinking bowl, a bowl of food, a house. Remove ladders, swings, etc., eliminating the risk of injury.
- The cage should be located in a place where there are no drafts, no sudden changes in temperature, no direct sunlight, as this can cause toxicosis in the animal, even death.
- Bathing should be avoided during pregnancy, so as not to further frighten the animal.
- Do not pull the female out of the cage unless necessary, but if necessary, this should be done carefully, with both hands, supporting the tummy.
- Skin care may be required as cracks may appear on the abdomen. It is enough to lubricate with baby cream. If the breed is long-haired, then at the beginning of pregnancy you should cut the hair so that it does not get dirty.
- It is recommended to replace the hay bedding with fresh hay daily and wash bowls and drinking bowls. The cleaning process should take place calmly, again, so as not to scare the animal.
- If the pet is not shy and shows interest, then short walks outside the cage are allowed to maintain activity and prevent possible obesity.
- You should only visit a veterinarian if there are any disturbances in behavior or well-being.
Diet of a pregnant animal
It is very important not only to increase the diet depending on the period, but also to make it complete and balanced. It is during pregnancy that pigs lack vitamin C and calcium, which are very important for future offspring. Monitor the availability of clean water in the drinking bowl.
In addition to the usual food, hay, fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits, the guinea pig's menu should include:
- Dairy products (cottage cheese, milk);
- Specialized food for pregnant pigs.
Refusal to eat after delivery is a signal that you urgently need to visit a veterinary clinic. The cause may be serious health problems.
The pig is pregnant - what to do?
First of all, we must make sure that our pregnant woman gets more food than before; The diet should be constantly supplemented with fruits, vegetables, vitamin C and as many greens as possible. After all, our pig not only has its own, always hungry belly that needs to be fed!
