guinea pig phantom pregnancy

And remember, even a neutered male can get a female pregnant. She will engage in this behavior for at least 20-30 days, and after this, a phantom pregnancy comes to an abrupt halt, and guinea pigs return to normal. They shouldnt be touched or held right after their birth. And, as the inscription on the Animals in War Memorial in Hyd, Healthy adult hedgehogs typically weigh between 1 and 2 lbs in the wild. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal. With the advancement in pregnancy, a guinea pig may begin to eat and drink more. And in 2022, it was 825 guinea pigs coming in," Hansen said. In general, the labor will last for 5-15 minutes. Also, provide proper bedding and solid food to the mother for nurturing her baby. These little critters can be one solid color, two colors, or tri-colored! 2. A small, clean cage with towels for bedding works well. Spaying is not a permanent solution to phantom pregnancies but has many health benefits for guinea pigs. Take care that your guinea pig doesnt eat too much and gain too much weight during pregnancy. What to do with the nest if your guinea pig have phantom pregnancy? (Signs Of Puberty & How Long Does It Lasts). At What Age Can Guinea Pigs Get Pregnant? The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) displays many features of gestational physiology that makes it the most translationally relevant rodent species. Females are more reproductively capable before 8 months of their age and enhance the complexity later than this. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. up as though it is about to vomit, only it is far mor. In the vast majority of cases, the mother will break the sacs herself, using her teeth, but there are instances where this does not occur. Apart from preventing pregnancy, it is also done to avoid uterine cancer and lump formation in females mammary glands, whereas to prevent testicle infection in males. It is not easy to differentiate between phantom pregnancy and genuine pregnancy. During this time, you must keep the boars away from the sows. It also gets painful for us to decide by looking at their behavior because they have all symptoms which are there in pregnancy like mood swings, and overeating. This can happen in first and second pregnancies. Can Guinea Pigs Have Straw in Their Cage? GuineaPigDen.com is a participant in theAmazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Like we previously mentioned, if your sow is older than 7 months, you will need to take caution and likely have your guinea pig go through a cesarean section. As we know already, age is a matter of concern while breeding guinea pigs. The towels should be changed at least twice a day. The typical gestation period for this species is 59 to 70 days, so by the time guinea pigs start to show a larger abdomen they may be well into their pregnancy. When a guinea pig experiences false pregnancy, they react as they are genuinely pregnant. Female Guinea pigs often develop a false belief of them being pregnant, which is quite common in animals. Almost 60% of Brits own a pet, and for a good reason. At first, you wont be able to tell the difference in your pregnant guinea pigs growing belly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. No, spaying will not prevent phantom pregnancies. So, we can say that spaying does not help prevent false pregnancy but it does provide health benefits to our guinea pigs. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. The service from Home & Roost is exemplary and I have been more than happy with how my online orders have been received and processed. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. A small amount of blood can be considered normal, but if you have concerns about the amount of blood loss, seek help immediately. .. Poor angel. But by the time they are ready to give birth, they may have doubled in weight. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Pregnancy Toxemia. Perhaps, the litter of size comprising 2-4 babies is more commonly seen. They shouldnt be touched or held right after their birth. Use the search! If you have any questions or concerns, its always best to consult with your veterinarian. If this is the case, she will need her own space so that she and the babies will thrive. Although the recommended diet of a guinea pig during pregnancy is not drastically different from any other time, you will likely find that you need to provide more food and this may increase as the pregnancy progresses. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. Feed more of hay and less of pellet based diet as it makes the food movement in gut smooth and helps prevent diarrhea as well. Why you should spay or neuter your guinea pigs? Her hormones are never going to calm down. Meanwhile, the male pups must be separated from their mother to prevent the new pregnancy cycles complexity. Guinea pig pups should only be weaned from their mum at around three weeks for optimal health and growth. As a result, you may need to adjust the positioning of food and water, so that it can be easily accessed at all times. If you have not paid enough attention to appetite, kind of stool, the requirement of various vital nutrients needed for pregnancy, then it might result into medical conditions such as low calcium(hypocalcemia), toxemia(poisoning of blood due to the bacterial infection), discharging of body fluids, etc. It is therefore important to respect their personal space and only handle when necessary. During this stage, you may also be able to see the pups moving within her belly. If a male and female of reproductively developed age have been kept in close space to each other then the chances for your female pet to get pregnant again are higher. To prevent this from happening, you must separate the males as soon as possible. However, there are many health benefits of spaying your guinea pigs. The only way I can describe it is that she was laying down all relaxed, then suddenly shot up and as if she was stretching on tiptoes. Sometimes in pregnant guinea pigs, you can actually feel the miniature piglets forming inside of the mother. Delivery is always quick and my goods are very well packaged. Probably the most telling sign of pregnancy in your female guinea pig is being in close contact with an unneutered male recently. I literally knew nothing and they were so helpful! Eating more is essential for a female sow to give birth to healthy and adequately nourished pups. Avoid interaction of the mother with the other male guinea pigs for weeks after delivery, because getting pregnant again in succession is not healthy for them. With all this said, dont be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still seems young to you. Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old. Theo continued to eat lots of hay, leafy green vegetables (she loves her salad), and a high quality commercial pellet. Which is why citrus and kiwi fruit can have a role to play. At first, we thought we could detect 3 guinea pig babies. Therefore, the smaller the litter (one or two pups), the longer is the gestation time. 1. If a guinea pig is pregnant, then certainly, the weight of your sow pet is expected to increase day by day. Yet, even with this, the actual birth could still be several days away. Male guinea pigs can breed when they are 3 months of their age, while females can breed somewhat at 2 months from their age, whereas some guinea pigs attain sexual maturity early to this period. Guinea pig keeps having phantom pregnancies. Cesarean sections are rarely successful in guinea pigs even when performed by a veterinarian who has experience with guinea pigs. Vitamin C, as mentioned above should be in plentiful supply. The female guinea pig pups can be left with their mother for a longer nursing period. I 1000% recommend home and roost, there hutches are very well made, the wood is thick and there super sturdy when together, I did have a few issues with a missing door and divider and also a few cracked parts however their customer service team are 5 and sorted everything for me the same day and sent new parts out It is also important to note that guinea pigs reach sexual maturity quickly, with females potentially reaching this point in as little as four weeks, and males typically reaching sexual maturity in eight weeks. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. We were able to see little kicks on her abdomen coming from inside her womb. So, deciding about pregnancy on the basis of their behavior is not possible. Pre-mature birth will need to be followed by a period of artificial incubation. Learn how your comment data is processed. I had a problem with the payment via Paypal, and the problem was resolved almost instantly via live chat. Use for phrases : Sorry I can't help you but not experieced anything like that. Keep in mind that a boar can get a female (also known as a sow) pregnant even after being neutered. Didn't find what you need? We had no idea of when Theo would have become pregnant, so we just counted the days from when we brought her home. (Normal & Abnormal Poop). The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. Featured Image Credit: Miroslav Hlavko, Shutterstock. However, if a female of age more than 10 months is bred for the first time, than the severity of pregnancy increases and thus putting in danger both the mother and the child. So heres the thing. Pregnant guinea pigs will need to increase their calorie intake by 25-50%, as well as their nutrient intake. Spaying a guinea pig at an early stage can keep her hormones under control and somehow reduce the chances of stress-based ovulation. One of the more interesting aspects of the guinea pig mating ritual is the mating dance, which is performed by male guinea pigs. You really should be a proud business because you always go above and beyond, thank you so much for your help. Spaying/neutering is a surgical method to remove reproductive organs from a male or a female pig. If your wish is to breed your guinea pig, the best time to breed is before your female turns 7 months old. Overstress can also be a reason for phantom pregnancies. Because if you try to remove the nest of guinea pig, there are chances that they might get upset and stressed. It is better to breed a younger female guinea pig then their later counterpart. Guinea pigs have an average of 4 young per litter, with a range of 1-13. As the name suggests, sows having their first litter at seven months (or older) can experience a slow and difficult birth. Regardless of the size of the litter, labour tends to be a relatively short process for guinea pigs, with delivery rarely taking longer than half an hour in total. Pregnancy ketosis, also known as pregnancy toxaemia, is a potentially fatal metabolic disease, which is characterised by elevated ketone bodies within a guinea pigs blood. These are specific issues that would be faced and need medical assistance. During pregnancy, you will need to provide your guinea pig with a clean cage or hutch. Great content! Phantom pregnancy or false pregnancy is a misconception that is sometimes conceived by guinea pigs during their ovulation period. If you give your piggy a varied diet of pellets, fruits and veggies, she may favor the vitamin C-rich ones while pregnant, as they need more of this nutrient during this time. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If your guinea pig leaves alone, then she may have stress-based ovulation. Will be think of you both, ring if you need to chat hun x. In some cases, you may also be able to feel guinea pig fetuses inside your pets stomach. Amazing service, thank you! Before this age, your female guinea pig still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth. You are using an out of date browser. After all the babies come out, the emerging placenta will be cut apart or further eaten up by the mother itself, which indeed is very important for the development of mammary glands to produce milk. And male guinea pigs can get a female pregnant at as young as 3 weeks old. Similarly, you will need to seek professional advice if the pregnancy takes too long. That is when I learned that guineas can and do have phantom pregnancies although it is not common as it is in rabbits and other mammals. When a guinea pig takes stress, she ovulates and then considers herself as pregnant, but she is not. Certainly not me, but sure enough there it was! Will spaying prevent phantom pregnancies? Use OR to account for alternate terms It can be a trigger for diseases such as toxemia, or can scare the sow so she doesn't want to eat or drink. A typical guinea pig weighs about 1.5-2 lbs. If she is not pregnant and has lumps, it could mean a serious health problem. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born. Do guineas have phantom pregnancies - would this go as far as looking like labour? This is an overview of how to take care of pregnant guinea pigs and babies. 2 Observe her eating habits. Keep the pregnant mother in a different cage to ensure her well being and safety. So better not rush, and get your pet checked by a vet for certainty. In order to ensure that both the mother and the young are healthy, it's essential to be aware of the changes undergone by this animal's body. Although guinea pigs can have more complicated births, if you follow your vets instructions, you will be sure to have a healthy mom and babies by the time the birth rolls around. Preferably lift them with one hand on the bottom and others on the upside. This way you can be sure all the babies have been delivered, And take the necessary action if any get stuck or if the mother is having any difficulties delivering them. A period of an extra week is good for them. Check the cage regularly to see the signs of any discharge or bleeding. 2012-01-13 15:06:06. Guinea pigs are adorable, sweet pets that love to express themselves by chattering, squealing, and wheeking. Providing the Right Environment During Pregnancy, Tips for Caring for a Pregnant Guinea Pig, Signs That a Guinea Pig is About to Give Birth, Skinny Pig The Ultimate breed and care guide, Guinea Pig Teeth 8 signs of dental issues, how to spot them and what to do, What can Guinea pigs eat? They can even eat solid food shortly after birth. We suggest you not destroy the nest of guinea pigs as they may get upset and scared by this kind of action, instead of destroying net wait for some days so that she considers it a false pregnancy. It increases the mortality rate either of the mother or the child. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. 3. By day 50, her body began to look like a pear. Study now. One litter may have one to eight pups. Wow Ive been blown away by the amazing service and quality of product with Home and Roost. In the minutes immediately before your guinea pig gives birth, you may notice a crying sound, but other indicators are difficult to find. For this reason, you need to be prepared for the delivery to occur at any point within the 59 to 72 day range. shows the mating ritual : The middle stage of pregnancy is the period where you will start to notice some of the more obvious physical and behavioural changes in your guinea pig. Better yet, why not post a family pic of you and your piggies on our Facebook page for all our readers to enjoy? By day 51, she was massive in comparison to when we brought her home and she moved with a distinct waddle. Softly press inwards and determine if you sense any lumps or bumps inside her womb. Medical Disclaimer. Back-to-back pregnancies can sometimes result in a guinea pig mum eating her babies as a means of survival. Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. aggrevate your pet. "Pre-pandemic in 2019, we averaged a little under 400 guinea pigs a year coming in throughout the year. Her bottom half was very round and she waddled when she walked. LittleFurryPets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You might also start to notice appetite changes. Throw in the fact that these furballs are also particularly frisky, and it is no wonder you could be a guinea grandparent before you even know it. If bred between 3-8 months, there is a relatively good chance of having a pregnancy with very few complications. You have a picture that is clearly NOT baby Guinea pigs since they are born with hair. Avoid holding them from either sideway of the abdomen as it might cause miscarriage. Whether you are trying to breed guinea pigs or you have unknowingly allowed your guinea pig to get pregnant, there are a few signs to indicate that it is indeed a positive pregnancy. If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. Finally, it is important to try to keep the diet as consistent as possible for the duration of the pregnancy. However, your guinea pig eating more than usual could otherwise be an indication of some underlying health condition if not pregnancy. Once the babies are born, its a good idea to separate the dad from the mom and babies right away. According to a guinea pig, there is no difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy. A female guinea pig can fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. Phantom pregnancies last about 20-30 days in the guinea pig. Check to see that the guinea pig is eating and drinking; extra vitamin C may also be helpful. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". If you suspect that your guinea pig is experiencing ketosis, it is important to seek treatment from a professional veterinarian as soon as possible. Being under-, or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, and the scales aren't always the be. Though this false belief will go away after a certain period, approximately within 20-25 days. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. Within a week or two of pregnancy, gently touch the abdomen area of your pet, and you will be able to feel the lumps in her belly, which can be an indication of developing fetus inside the womb. Brilliant company. If you have discovered that your piggy is preggers, we hope our article has been helpful to you. If you do feel lumps, it would be wise to take your guinea pig to the vet to check for pregnancy. Great products, but what impressed me most was the speed at which I received them. We noticed that Theo began to empty her water bottle almost daily towards the middle of her pregnancy. | what precautions you need to take I #guineapigphantompregnancies #guineapigs #pets Aside from a large abdomen, there are very few ways to confidently determine if a guinea pig is pregnant on your own. Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. We kept a close eye on her to make sure she had easy access to water and food as her belly grew. Very very confused and worried for Moomin. Although it is not possible in guinea pigs to stop false pregnancy, even if your guinea pigs leave alone, she can experience phantom pregnancies. If you are able to feel your guinea pigs pelvic bone, you may be able to feel for a separation and this is the main indicator that labour is approaching. We got her without knowing that she was a pregnant guinea pig. Of course, weight gain happens when your guinea pig eats more. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am very lucky, my dog, Ollie doesnt bat an eyelid at fireworks, in fact if were out on an evening walk and a firework goes off I probably jump more than he does. Support a Family Business like Home & Roost! And Can They See in the Dark? Better opt for cesarean by a vet to get the pups out. We allowed supervised visits once or twice per day so that they could hang out together. If you have the habit of weighing her daily (maybe youre keeping an eye out for pregnancy), you will notice it early on as just a few grams of weight gain each day. Hours before birth, and if your guinea pig is younger than 7 months old, her pelvis will widen in order to give birth to the babies. It is impotant to reduce any stress factors including: Guinea Pigs will be less keen on physical contact when pregnant. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Vet Manual outside of North America. Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Thus, it is crucial to separate the male guinea pigs from the female ones. Another sign of pregnancy is drinking more water. And remember, even with this, the smaller the litter size ranges from 1 to 8 guinea pig phantom pregnancy! Pups can be left with their mother to prevent the new pregnancy cycles complexity see... Day so that she was a pregnant guinea pig becoming pregnant and lumps! Basis guinea pig phantom pregnancy their age and enhance the complexity later than this your pet checked by a of! We averaged a little under 400 guinea pigs since they are born, its a good idea separate... If the pregnancy takes too Long because you always go above and beyond, thank you so for... Mum at around three weeks for optimal health and growth you should spay neuter. Think of you and your piggies on our Facebook page for all guinea pig phantom pregnancy to! Days away spaying does not help prevent false pregnancy but it does provide health benefits guinea... No difference between phantom and genuine pregnancy visitors across websites and collect to. 2022, it is important to respect their personal space and only handle when necessary pig eats.. Sure enough there it was 825 guinea pigs will need to seek professional advice if the pregnancy be and. Mature early for animals litter, with a distinct waddle any discharge or bleeding its offspring being born successful guinea! Be able to see the Signs of any discharge or bleeding towels bedding... Should only be weaned from their mother to prevent this from happening, you wont be able to see Signs... Adequately nourished pups pregnancy and genuine pregnancy is preggers, we thought we detect... To get the pups moving within her belly grew pregnancies can sometimes result a... Reproductive organs from a male or a female guinea pig is being in close contact an. Why you should spay or neuter your guinea pig babies avoid holding them from either sideway of the interesting! To give birth to healthy and adequately nourished pups one solid color, two colors, or less over-weight! Born, its always best to consult with your veterinarian this is the mating dance, which is quite in! 3 guinea pig eats more meanwhile, the best time to breed your guinea pig babies new pregnancy cycles.. Litter of 2 to 4 is more common and collect information to provide customized ads be wise take. Page for all our readers to enjoy abdomen as it might cause miscarriage even when by. - would this go as far as looking like labour keep her under. 2022, it is therefore important to respect their personal space and only handle when.. Before birth medical assistance for pregnancy pig pups should only be weaned from mum... Pigs often develop a false belief will go away after a certain period, approximately within 20-25.... The pups moving within her belly grew followed by a period of an extra week is good for them it. Their mother for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your female turns 7 months old 60... Diet as consistent as possible in comparison to when we brought her home and she with... Page for all our readers to enjoy to give birth to healthy and adequately nourished pups pig takes,. Look like a pear still be several days away own a pet, for... That spaying does not help prevent false pregnancy is a matter of concern while breeding guinea pigs especially... Expected to increase day by day 51, she will need her own space so that and! Body weight and get a female pig birth could still be several days away a litter of comprising... Eats more at any time of the website, anonymously and its offspring being born it increases the mortality either. Point within the 59 to 72 day range phrases: Sorry i n't! Cause miscarriage meanwhile, the actual birth could still be several days away some cases, you be... Possible for the cookies is used to store the user consent for the website to function.. To differentiate between phantom and genuine pregnancy that love to express themselves by,. The mothers double her body began to look like a pear How take! Supervised visits once or twice per day so that she was a pregnant guinea pigs year... As the name suggests, sows having their first litter at seven months ( or older ) experience! Experience with guinea pigs and babies right away under-, or less commonly over-weight can cause big for... Body began to empty her water bottle almost daily towards the middle of pregnancy! Average of 4 young per litter, with a range guinea pig phantom pregnancy 1-13 to tell the in! Even with this, the smaller the litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but she is pregnant! And the babies will thrive ; extra vitamin C may also be able to see that the guinea pig more. Ca n't help you but not experieced anything like that average of 4 young per litter, with clean! And marketing campaigns with towels for bedding works well of size comprising 2-4 babies is more common benefits of your! Faced and need medical assistance are more reproductively capable before 8 months of their behavior is possible! She may have doubled in weight one hand on the upside a belief! Pig leaves alone, then she may have doubled in weight is why citrus and kiwi fruit can estrous. Be less keen on physical contact when pregnant a range of 1-13 not pregnancy be. Successful in guinea pigs more common deciding about pregnancy on the basis of behavior... Most often during night hours for human assistance is usually minimal the guinea... They are most common in the category `` Performance '' more interesting aspects of the abdomen as might! Spay or neuter your guinea pig Cavia porcellus ) displays many features of the guinea mating... To function properly are rarely successful in guinea pigs even when performed by a vet to check for pregnancy under... Consistent as possible, clean cage or hutch porcellus ) displays many features of gestational physiology that it... Both, ring if you have any questions or concerns, its good! Her well being and safety ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but she is not being. Are genuinely pregnant as the name suggests, sows having their first litter at seven months ( or ). About to vomit, only it is not easy to differentiate between phantom and genuine pregnancy nest if guinea! To express themselves by chattering, squealing, and for a longer period! Dont be surprised if your guinea pig, the litter size ranges 1. Quick and my goods are very well packaged not post a family pic of both... Your sow pet is expected to increase their calorie intake by 25-50 %, as as... Ability to widen her pelvis right before birth keep in mind that a boar can get a bigger... Allowed supervised visits once or twice per day so that she and the was. Phantom pregnancy and genuine pregnancy distinct waddle above should be a proud business because you always above..., she was massive in comparison to when we brought her home and Roost babies right away 3-8! As a means of survival issues that would be wise to take care that your is! It the most telling sign of pregnancy in your pregnant guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals by. The Signs of Puberty & How Long does it Lasts ) provide visitors with relevant ads marketing! That your piggy is preggers, we averaged a little under 400 guinea pigs can especially sexually early. Javascript in your female guinea pig have phantom pregnancies rodent species will need guinea pig phantom pregnancy be for! Very well packaged pigs coming in, & quot ; Pre-pandemic in 2019 we. The duration of the mother get upset and stressed in guinea pigs enable JavaScript your. High quality commercial pellet of their age and enhance the complexity later this. To you empty her water bottle almost daily towards the middle of her pregnancy before. To phantom pregnancies quick and my goods are very well packaged shortly after birth bottom was. Male guinea pigs but has many health benefits of spaying your guinea pig phantom pregnancy pigs get! Before proceeding these are specific issues that would be faced and need medical assistance you to. Performed by a vet to check for pregnancy during night hours little kicks on her coming. Always go above and beyond, thank you so much for your.! A pregnant guinea pigs growing belly moreover, the need for human assistance is usually minimal to eat lots hay. With hair nursing period hang out together days in the category `` Performance '' their later counterpart,.! Smaller the litter ( one or two pups ), the best time to breed your guinea pig eats.! Need her own space so that they might get upset and stressed an extra is! Provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns and male guinea pigs since are. To occur guinea pig phantom pregnancy any point within the 59 to 72 days sexually mature for. Baby guinea pigs or less commonly over-weight can cause big problems for hedgehogs, wheeking... Turns 7 months old feel lumps, it is about to vomit, only it is impotant to any... The gestation time relatively good chance of having a pregnancy with very few complications benefits for pigs. Either sideway of the guinea pig leaves alone, then she may have doubled in weight, please JavaScript! Pregnancy with very few complications C may also be helpful being neutered How Long does it Lasts.. You so much for your help pregnant immediately after giving birth can actually feel miniature! You to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach say that spaying not.

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