Pregnant guinea pigs should be fed a mixed diet consisting of:
- grass and/or grass hay
- green leafy vegetables
- small amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g. citrus or kiwi fruit
- a small amount of high quality commercial pellet
- a small amount of lucerne hay – though this is not essential (as a supplement to provide increased calcium and protein)
- grass and/or grass hay.
- green leafy vegetables.
- small amount of vitamin C rich foods e.g. citrus or kiwi fruit.
- a small amount of high quality commercial pellet.
- a small amount of lucerne hay – though this is not essential (as a supplement to provide increased calcium and protein)
What do guinea pigs eat during pregnancy?
Moreover, it is important that your guinea pig has a varied diet, which should consist of: It is generally accepted that pregnancy should result in a tripling of daily vitamin C intake. Which is why citrus and kiwi fruit can have a role to play. Some vets may even recommend vitamin C supplements.
How to take care of a newborn baby guinea pig?
Note that your guinea requires a balanced diet more than ever. Therefore, feed them with enough fresh hay, commercialized pellets, and clean water. Equally, keep them in a clean environment because ammonia fumes from the beddings may affect the pups at birth. Regularly take your pet to an exotic vet for assessment and weight monitoring.
How much fruit can guinea pigs eat?
Guinea pigs can enjoy a spoon of fresh fruit for every 2lbs of their body weight. Once more, guinea pigs who are overweight should not be given fresh fruit and treat for some time. Guinea pigs do not compulsorily need these foods to grow. They will get all the essential vitamins they need from hay and vegetables only.
Can you feed baby guinea pigs pellets?
Feeding baby guinea pigs is similar to providing nourishment to older guinea pigs. Young Guinea pigs need lots of food and prefer more pellets to eat. Putting your guinea pigs in good habits of eating healthy food is very important. What they learn at a young age will directly impact their diet as they grow older.
What veggies are good for pregnant guinea pigs?
Vegetables such as red, green, or yellow bell peppers are rich in vitamin C. A good combination to pair them with is fresh greens to provide extra nutrients. It's important to avoid feeding iceberg lettuce to your guinea pig as it's not the healthiest for them.
How much food does a pregnant guinea pig need?
All guinea pigs should be given at least one cup of fresh vegetables a day, but as the pregnant sow begins to eat more you can increase this to 1½ to 2 cups a day.
What hay is best for pregnant guinea pigs?
Alfalfa hayUNLIMITED Timothy Hay is recommended for guinea pigs. For young Guinea pigs under the age of 4 months and pregnant or lactating mothers, Alfalfa hay is also recommended. For those cavies, you could mix half Timothy and Alfalfa.
What do you do when your guinea pig is pregnant?
1:495:59What To Do If Your Guinea Pig Is Pregnant - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFood pregnant guinea pigs need more vitamins. And minerals as usual a variety of food is veryMoreFood pregnant guinea pigs need more vitamins. And minerals as usual a variety of food is very important dried herbs are excellent for that as well as foods that are high in calories. Such as carrot.
Do pregnant guinea pigs need a nesting box?
Most rodents and many other mammal mothers build safe, soft, warm nests where they can feed their helpless, hairless, blind young. But most guinea pigs don't build nests for raising babies in.
Should you bathe a pregnant guinea pig?
Stress can make matters worse and send your guinea pig into toxic shock. For these reasons, it's best to refrain from bathing your pregnant sow unless absolutely necessary or advised by a vet. If your guinea pig does not enjoy the bath and becomes frightened, the consequences could be serious.
How can you tell how far along a pregnant guinea pig is?
A nonpregnant or newly pregnant guinea pig's sides will be straight when she is stretched out. By mid-pregnancy, she looks like she has a tennis ball inside her. When she is ready to give birth, she will look like she swallowed a softball and her hips and hind legs will be wide to accommodate the impending birth.
How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth?
If you touch her underbelly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it won't be long until birth. You should also provide the sow with a stress-free environment.
How long do guinea pigs stay pregnant?
59 – 72 daysGuinea pig / Gestation period (Adult)A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.
Can you hold guinea pigs when pregnant?
If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, be very careful with rodents like hamsters, guinea pigs and mice. They may carry a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (also called LCMV) that can be harmful to you and your baby. LCMV can cause severe birth defects and miscarriage.
How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth?
If you touch her underbelly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it won't be long until birth. You should also provide the sow with a stress-free environment.
How can you tell how far along a pregnant guinea pig is?
A nonpregnant or newly pregnant guinea pig's sides will be straight when she is stretched out. By mid-pregnancy, she looks like she has a tennis ball inside her. When she is ready to give birth, she will look like she swallowed a softball and her hips and hind legs will be wide to accommodate the impending birth.
How many babies do guinea pigs have in their first litter?
How Many Babies Do Guinea Pigs Have in Their First Litter? The average litter size for a cavy is 3. Guinea pigs can have 1 to 8 pups in their litter, but sows going through their first pregnancy tend to have smaller litters of between 2 to 4 babies. The average litter size for a cavy is 3.
What does a pregnant guinea pig belly feel like?
If your guinea pig allows you to touch her, use your fingers to gently examine her sides and stomach. Avoid putting any pressure on her body. If you feel lumps under your fingers this is a sign the female is pregnant. If you feel movement in addition to lumpiness, that's a clear sign she is pregnant.
How to tell if guinea pig is pregnant?
Nevertheless, you may notice your guinea pig begin to eat and drink more , and their belly begin to grow — see Tell if Your Guinea Pig Is Pregnant. Do not apply pressure to the abdomen as you may cause a miscarriage.
How to prevent guinea pigs from getting sick?
As the pregnancy develops, carefully check the guinea pig twice a week for signs of illness, like crusty eyes or a patchy coat.
What breed of guinea pigs carry a lethal gene?
6. Determine if the sow’s or boar’s breed makes the pups more vulnerable to hereditary disease. Dalmatian and Roan guinea pigs carry a lethal gene recessively. If one parent is of these breeds, for each pup there is a 25% chance it will be born lethal.
Why are guinea pigs so vulnerable to illness?
Pregnant guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable to illness as a result of stress during pregnancy. It can be a trigger for diseases such as toxemia, or can scare the sow so she doesn’t want to eat or drink. For these reasons stress should be minimized as much as possible.
How to get guinea pigs to burrow in grass?
Provide quality hay. Provide grass hay (timothy or orchard) with a green tinge. Supplement this with a daily dose of alfalfa hay which is higher in protein and calcium. Make sure hay is freely available at all times, and provide in a large ball the guinea pig can burrow in.
How long do guinea pigs live in the womb?
She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 – 73 days. . There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia.
Do guinea pigs have fur?
Expect that the pups are born alert and ‘ready to run’ as miniature versions of adult guinea pigs. Their eyes should be open and they should have fur, they should be able to hear and they should be able to walk and eat immediately.
How to prevent pregnancy in guinea pigs?
The main ways to prevent pregnancy include guinea pig neutering and separation of male and female guinea pigs. Yet, neutering cannot be done too early and guinea pigs reach sexual maturity at a young age.
How long does it take for a guinea pig to get pregnant?
Regardless of how pregnancy occurs, the average guinea pig gestation period is 65 days. But anywhere in the range of 59 days to 72 days is regarded as normal. This refers to the time between your guinea pig becoming pregnant and its offspring being born.
How do you know if a guinea pig is about to deliver its pups?
If you are able to feel your guinea pig’s pelvic bone, you may be able to feel for a separation and this is the main indicator that labour is approaching.
How long do guinea pigs stay with their mother?
Following the birth, the baby guinea pigs will need to stay with their mother, who will nurse them until they are able to feed independently. The precise timings for this can vary, but it is advisable for this to last around three weeks, before weaning by reducing the supply of milk and introducing the baby guinea pigs to their natural diet.
When should I neuter my guinea pig?
Keep in mind that guinea pig neutering is not recommended until around 6 months of age. It is, therefore, important that unneutered guinea pigs are separated after a couple of weeks, in order to avoid unwanted additional pregnancies.
Can pregnant guinea pigs have ketosis?
Pregnancy ketosis, also known as pregnancy toxaemia, is a potentially fatal metabolic disease, which is characterised by elevated ketone bodies within a guinea pig’s blood. Ketosis also affects other animal species, including humans, and risk factors include obesity, stress and lack of exercise, which is why it can occur during pregnancy.
Can guinea pigs go into labor?
During the last few weeks of the pregnancy, things become more unpredictable and for inexperienced pet owners, it may be best to seek the advice of a veterinary professional. You will need to stay alert to the fact that your guinea pig could go into labour at any point, so try to be extra vigilant.
How to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant?
The first noticeable sign on a pregnant sow is an increased appetite . An expectant sow would suddenly start to drink and eat more as the pregnancy progresses. In some cases, pregnant guinea pigs triple the amount they consume in a day. Remember that a cold climate triggers a guinea pig’s appetite.
How long before a guinea pig delivers?
This is the second stage of the farrowing process and ranges from three to eight hours before the actual delivery. If you have previous pregnancy documentation, compare the prior birth experience. Mostly, guinea pigs deliver during the day and rarely at night.
How much vitamin C should pregnant sows take?
During the entire pregnancy process, sows require a rich supply of Vitamin C. It is recommended that pet owners should double the quantity up to 20 mg per day. For an effective process, ensure that your pregnant sows consume fresh veggies and fruits hay each day.
How long does it take for guinea pigs to farrow?
There are three stages of the farrowing process; pre-farrowing, farrowing, and after-birth expulsion. Pre-farrowing happens 10 to 14 days before the delivery day.
Why is expectant guinea pig dangerous?
An expectant guinea pig is one source of concern even to experienced pet owners. This is because the strain and pressure implicated puts at risk the life of a female guinea pig .
How old do boars have to be to have a baby?
For a smooth delivery, the first procreation should happen between three and seven months of age. On the other hand, boars should be at least 34 months old before mating. Normally, the pregnancy period lasts between 63 and 70 days. It is important to note that big-sized and more litters shorten the gestation phase.
Can you keep a pregnant sow with boars?
On the other hand, keeping a pregnant sow with boars poses a greater danger. Apart from injuring your sow, they may attempt to mate or impregnate her soon after birth. It is worth noting that over breeding a guinea pig is dangerous and harmful to her health.
What to feed a pregnant guinea pig?
Feeding a pregnant guinea pig. Once a pregnancy is confirmed, the first thing we need to consider with our expectant guinea pig is their diet. The correct diet for any guinea pig, portions according to size, is: Hay (guinea pigs are completely herbivorous). Fortified hay pellets.
How to keep guinea pigs pregnant?
Keep the pregnant one in their usual cage and move any others if you don't think they get on together. If they live with a male, they can stay together until just before the pregnancy, but not during. The guinea pigs won't need to make a nest to give birth. Even still, it's important to keep a very clean cage or hutch.
How old are guinea pigs when they are sexually mature?
As we said previously, guinea pigs reach sexual maturity early. With an average life expectancy of about 5 years, they reach sexual maturity at about 2 - 4 months. From 10 months of age, a female guinea pigs pelvic bones become fused. This means that if they have not yet had a litter, their rigid birth canal can prevent the exit of their offspring. This means a cesarean section is likely required, but this is also a risky procedure for any animal. If we do not know the age of our guinea pig or if it has not given birth before, it is advisable to ensure a vet checks on the cavy and we follow their advice closely. The ideal time for a guinea pig to be pregnant is between 4 and 7 months.
How many sprogs are in a guinea pig?
To be certain, we'll need to consult our veterinarian. Using an ultrasound, it's possible to confirm the pregnancy and find out how many little sprogs our guinea pig is gestating. This can be anywhere from 1 to 6, generally the more fetuses, the easier it will be to tell if they are pregnant from looking at them.
How long does it take for a guinea pig to give birth?
If you are wondering how long it takes for guinea pigs to give birth, it usually lasts around 10 minutes to half an hour. The entire process should not take more than an hour.
What to feed guinea pigs to prevent scurvy?
Hay (guinea pigs are completely herbivorous). Fortified hay pellets. Vegetables rich in vitamin C to prevent scurvy (this is especially if you do not have added vitamin C in the rest of their diet). Fruit and cereals as an occasional treat or reward. Vitamin C supplement if not enough in the rest of their diet.
Is a cesarean section necessary for guinea pigs?
This means a cesarean section is likely required, but this is also a risky procedure for any animal. If we do not know the age of our guinea pig or if it has not given birth before, it is advisable to ensure a vet checks on the cavy and we follow their advice closely.
What to feed a pregnant guinea pig?
Vegetables. Some good vegetable options for pregnant guinea pigs that you can feed her each day include; bell peppers, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and kale. Tomato, while technically a fruit, is also a great addition to your guinea pig’s diet that can be fed daily as it’s high in vitamin C.
What are some good foods for guinea pigs?
Dairy Products. Dairy products (like yogurt, cheese, milk, and eggs) – Guinea pigs lack the enzymes necessary to digest dairy as they are herbivores. Yogurt drops are also big no-nos for guinea pigs. Parsley – Although a great staple leafy green for many guinea pigs, parsley is not recommended for sows during pregnancy.
How long do guinea pigs nurse?
A guinea pig with babies will continue to nurse for a few weeks until the babies are around 3 weeks old. Some pups stop feeding at 1 to 2 weeks of age, while others continue to feed for a little longer.
How many babies does a cavy have?
The average litter size for a cavy is 3.
What to do if guinea pig hasn't eaten placenta?
Cleaning. If your guinea pig hasn’t eaten the placentas of her pups, you can remove these, as well as other soiled bedding so she can care for her babies. Pregnancy and delivery are taxing on your guinea pig’s body, so help her regain her strength and care for her pups by offering vegetables and some treats.
How to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant?
Pregnant guinea pigs will have an enlarged or swollen abdomen in late pregnancy , so this is one of the signs to look out for if you think your pet is expecting babies. It’s also common for pregnant sows (female guinea pigs) to double their body weight during gestation.
What do guinea pigs eat?
Feed her a diet consisting of unlimited grass hay (preferably Timothy grass hay), a small amount of high-quality guinea pig pellets, vegetables (ideally leafy greens), and small portions of foods high in vitamin C.
When do guinea pigs start eating?
Weaning is a gradual teaching process which occurs over a period of time (approximately a few weeks). Babies must be kept with their mother until the weaning process has finished, the babies can feed independently and they are at least 4 weeks of age. Newborn guinea pigs are sexed by examining the external genitalia (your vet can assist in sexing the babies).
How long is a guinea pig pregnant?
The guinea pig pregnancy duration is long – approximately 59- 72 days (the average is 65 days) – the duration decreases with litter size (i.e. the smaller the litter, the longer the pregnancy). The mean length of pregnancy for a litter of 1 guinea pig is 70 days; for a litter of 6 guinea pigs its 67 days. First litters tend to be smaller ...
How old are guinea pigs when they are sexually mature?
Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity early. Females can reach sexual maturity as early as approximately 4-6 weeks of age and males as early as approximately 8-9 weeks of age so the different sexes should be separated before they are able to reproduce with each other.
Can guinea pigs hear their babies?
They may be able to feel or see the babies moving. They may also be able to hear the babies’ heart beats in the mother’s abdomen. There are vets who specialise in exotic animal medicine and surgery, including guinea pigs: your local vet can refer you to a guinea pig vet if necessary.
Can guinea pigs get pregnant again?
Guinea pigs can fall pregnant again straight after giving birth to their litter – so entire adult males must be kept separately from females in late pregnancy and after the birth to prevent any further unwanted/unplanned litters of baby guinea pigs. Updated on April 30, 2019. Home.
How to feed a baby guinea pig?
Begin with bell peppers, cilantro, lettuce, and slowly transition to other veggies. Baby guinea pigs can munch on vegetables when they reach 4 weeks old, and their stomach gets stable enough to digest vegetables in small amounts. Fresh vegetables will also control the size of their teeth as their teeth keep growing.
What to feed guinea pigs at 3 weeks?
Fresh hay and water are essential foods in those early days. Baby guinea pigs require high protein, thus offer them pellets and dry alfalfa grass. Your baby guinea pigs will stop drinking mother’s milk once they are three weeks old. You can consider adding a small serving of fresh veggies at this stage.
What are the main foods that guinea pigs eat?
The three main foods of guinea pig’s diet are pellets, hay, and fresh vegetables. If we get to draw a chart of guinea pig’s diet, then hay would be written as the most important part followed by vegetables and pellets. That is because the digestive passage of guinea pigs is designed to absorb fiber found in dry grass.
How old do guinea pigs need to be to drink water?
Until baby guinea pigs turn 3 weeks old, they get hydration from their mothers. As they grow, baby guinea pigs need to drink more water as they eat lots of solid food. So drinking water becomes essential for them to be healthy. However, not all guinea pigs are able to drink from bottle at such an early age.
Why are my baby guinea pigs so energetic?
Baby guinea pigs will feel energetic at times, but they will require constant short naps. Due to the lack of a proper diet , you may find your guinea pigs lazier than normal. Observing a guinea pig’s poop discharge is a way to know about their health conditions and especially their digestive system.
How long does it take for a guinea pig to grow?
The first six months of your guinea pig’s life is crucial for their longterm health. In this primary stage of their growth, a guinea pig undergoes some physical changes continuously. Their diet plan must consider their growth.
Do guinea pigs sleep on hay?
This will help you to ease the transition of your guinea pigs to timothy hay as they grow up. Other than this, be sure that the cage of your guinea pigs is full of hay. They will sleep on hay, and generally, they will be surrounded by this. It also means that they will eliminate a lot of waste in their hay.
