what to feed your pregnant guinea pig

• Calcium enriched hay as pregnancy increases guinea pig calcium requirements.
• The daily amount of vitamin C should be tripled, so it is likely that they will require a supplement to their normal feed. ...
• Fresh, clean and abundant water is necessary. Accessibility is also important as their mobility may be lessened thanks to pregnancy.
• Do not feed them parsley. While parsley is a good source of vitamin C, it can also interfere with the pregnancy and may even induce a miscarriage.

Is it safe to feed a pregnant guinea pig?

Feeding a Guinea Pig During Pregnancy 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. Moreover, it is important that your guinea pig has a varied diet, which should consist of:

What do baby guinea pigs eat 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.

What is the best diet for a guinea pig?

The correct diet for any guinea pig, portions according to size, is: 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).

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.

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 do you prepare a pregnant guinea pig?

2:065:59What 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 eat more?

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. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway.

What Vitamin Will the pregnant guinea pig need?

vitamin CDuring pregnancy, the sow's requirement for vitamin C doubles, to 20mg daily, and so very fresh fruit or vegetables must be given daily. Fresh food stored in the fridge, or cut into pieces, will lose a lot of its vitamin C after only a few hours. Also, the sow will need twice as much food as usual.

What time do guinea pigs give birth?

The majority of guinea pigs give birth during the day, but it can happen at any time. If you suspect your guinea pig is due to give birth in the next few days, keep a close eye on her.

How many days does a guinea pig stay pregnant?

59 to 72 daysA 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.

How do you know your guinea pig is about 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.

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 do you hold a pregnant guinea pig?

0:343:49Pregnant guinea pig females and how to move them and what to doYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou need something like a box or a double or a Heidi. Like this that you can literally put on theMoreYou need something like a box or a double or a Heidi. Like this that you can literally put on the side.

What veggies have vitamin C for guinea pigs?

Veggies. Guinea pigs are vegetarians who feed mostly on grasses in the wild. In captivity, however, they'll delight in fresh vegetables given as treats daily. The vegetables with the highest amounts of vitamin C include dark, leafy greens, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and certain squashes.

What fruits have vitamin C for guinea pigs?

Vitamin C content of selected foods and their appropriateness for guinea pig dietsFood ItemWeight or Volume of FoodAmount needed to provide 25mg/dayGuava1 cup = 165mg1.1 tbspRed Peppers1 cup chopped = 149g2.1 tbsp choppedKale1 cup chopped = 67g5 tbsp (1/3 cup)37 more rows

Should I separate my pregnant guinea pig?

If you discover you have a pregnant sow and a male in the cage, you need to separate them immediately. The male could injure the pregnant mother with further mating attempts, and if he is in the cage when she delivers her pups, he could impregnate her immediately afterwards.

How can you tell how far along a pregnant guinea pig is?

They can diagnose a pregnancy in various ways depending on how long your guinea pig has been pregnant. Some vets can do ultrasound exams to visualise babies in the womb. In later gestation vets may be able to take an xray or gently palpate the babies. They may be able to feel or see the babies moving.

What do I do when my guinea pig gives birth?

2:005:46What to Do If Your Guinea Pig Had Babies - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can make an appointment at the vets. Or call a guinea pig rescue.MoreYou can make an appointment at the vets. Or call a guinea pig rescue.

Can the father guinea pig be with the babies?

Male guinea pigs should be separated from their pups, at least for most of the time, simply because the little ones have to be with their mothers. Newborn guinea pigs can meet their fathers, but only if their mothers aren't around. Don't allow female pups to encounter their dads once they're 21 days old, however.

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.

Why is my guinea pig less mobile?

As the pregnancy progresses, you may find that your guinea pig becomes less mobile. This could limit the parts of the cage or hutch which are accessible. Especially if there are any narrow passages to navigate. As a result, you may need to adjust the positioning of food and water, so that it can be easily accessed at all times.

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.

What is the mating ritual of guinea pigs?

One of the more interesting aspects of the guinea pig mating ritual is the mating dance, which is performed by male guinea pigs. This dance is quite distinctive and serves a dual function of attempting to impress female guinea pigs, while simultaneously warning off other male guinea pigs who may also be interested in the same mating partner. This video coutesy of It’s Pigs! shows the mating ritual :

How long before a guinea pig gives birth?

Yet, even with this, the actual birth could still be several days away. 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.

How many pregnant guinea pigs die?

Finally, and sadly, without veterinary support, it is estimated that around 20 percent of all pregnant guinea pigs die in the post-delivery stage. Similarly, miscarriages do also occur. Unfortunately, this means that death during or immediately after labour is a relatively common complication and something you need to consider.

How to prevent pregnancy in guinea pigs?

Neuter male guinea pigs. Another way to prevent pregnancy in guinea pigs is to have the boars neutered. It is also possible to have sows spayed, but this is a more complex and risky process. Always have an exotics or cavy savvy vet for guinea pig surgery.

What is selective feeding in guinea pigs?

Selective feeding is where the guinea pig chooses the tastier bits of food over less tasty – but often more nutritious – foods. This causes mineral deficiency.

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 to prevent guinea pigs from being overweight?

Provide extruded pelleted feed. In a pellet feed, each chunk of kibble is identical. Choosing pellets over muesli (where you can identify individual peas, corn, wheat etc.) prevents selective feeding. Do not over-feed pellets as too much can cause the guinea pig to become overweight. Read the packet for how much, but it should be no more than a few teaspoons or a dessert spoon a day.

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.