If you happen to be nursing a pregnant guinea pig, you have probably noticed some extreme changes in behavior. While some of them are expected, such as fatigue or excessive eating, there are some abnormal habits that pregnant guinea pigs develop.
It is important to recognize these signs, as it can help you identify a pregnant guinea pig in the future. Below are some of the most common characteristics that can help you tell if a guinea pig is pregnant.
Pregnant Guinea Pig Behavior
Some of the main ways to tell if your guinea pig is pregnant is if she is displaying some of the following symptoms:
Visible lumps: One of the earliest tell tale signs that a guinea pig is pregnant is the formation of a lump in their stomach. As you would probably guess, this is the small piglet soon to be born. Because a pregnant guinea pig will have to carry around this extra weight, it will certainly cause other changes in behavior.
Decrease in movement: As the fetus develops and grows, a pregnant guinea pig will become less active. When the piglet is about to be born, the mother guinea pig will likely be twice her normal weight. Aside from energy needed to be exerted to move, the hormones in a pregnant guinea pig also cause her to be less active.
Change in diet: Since a pregnant guinea pig has to feed the pig/piglets in her stomach, she will almost certainly start eating more. In most cases a pregnant guinea pig will be eating two to three times the normal amount of food near the end of her pregnancy. A pregnant guinea pig will also start drinking a lot more water.
Another sign that your guinea pig is pregnant is if she starts avoiding the hay and starts eating only fruits and vegetables. This is a good sign, because both of these foods are high in vitamin C, which are very important for a pregnant guinea pig.
How to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant? Nipples
A guinea pig’s nipples will also start to grow when she is pregnant. This is because their body is preparing the milk for the newborns.
When can guinea pigs get pregnant?
Guinea pigs become sexually mature at a very young age. Some guinea pigs can become pregnant when they are only two months old. Sometimes, a guinea pig might become pregnant at the pet store before you buy them. We have heard many stories of people bringing home girl guinea pigs only to find out days later that she is pregnant.
How long are guinea pigs pregnant?
While the time frame can vary based on environmental conditions, most guinea pigs are pregnant for around 2 months. If you guinea pig is carrying multiple pigs, the pregnancy will probably be a little shorter since the mother can only hold so much weight.
What to do if your guinea pig is pregnant?
It is important to realize that guinea pigs have a very high mortality rate at birth. Around 20% of guinea pig mothers die during birth. For this reason, many veterinarians recommend that you get your guinea pig neutered. However, if your guinea pig is already pregnant, you must know what to expect during labor.
When a guinea pig goes into labor, she will likely let out a cry or a squeal. When a pup comes out, it will have an amniotic sac over its face. The mother will usually remove this, but if she doesn’t, you will need break the membrane yourself.
Labor should take around 5 minutes. After all of the pups are born, the mother will release the placenta and then eat it.
It is important to separate boy guinea pigs from each other after 3 weeks. This is to prevent them from fighting. Additionally, a 3-week-old male guinea pig can actually impregnate their mother.
Its important to keep a close eye on the mother and the pups for the next couple days. Be on the lookout for illnesses, such as trouble breathing or a runny nose.
What is the most amount of guinea pigs born at one time?
The most guinea pigs born at one time is 14. The average number of guinea pigs born in a pregnancy is 3.