Fruit/Veggie list

Question

Lopsided Pancakey   QUESTION: I read in a prev post that you had a list of fruit/veggie w/vitamin C content. Could I get that list emailed to me too?

Also how do you see or feel a guinea pig pelvis to see if it is widening?

I have a piggy we got from a pet store and come to find out she is pregnant. I have had her for 51 days, no one knows when she became pregnant but I just realized 2 weeks ago she was prego. She's getting bigger by that day and very lopsided looking, so I know she is due soon.

ANSWER: I'd be happy to send you the list. If you'll just send me an private message with your email address I'll send it to you.

One of the best indicators of how far along she is will be whether or not you feel movement. That happens roughly two weeks prior to deliver. The gestation period is 70 days, plus or minus a couple of days.

To get an idea of what to look (or in this case feel) for you can start by learning to feel what the normal position is for the pelvic bones. You may read in some places that the "pelvic bones fuse" after a certain age, making delivery impossible and losing the sow and the pups.  

Pelvic bones don't fuse. Bones cannot move on their own. That's what ligaments are for.Ligaments are attached to bone and their job is to move bones. When you rotate your hands or feet, arms, shoulders, etc. the ligaments are the things that are moving the bones, not the bones moving the ligaments.

In an older sow (somewhere between one and two years of age)that has never had a litter, those ligaments lose their elasticity. Without elasticity they cannot move anything. The pelvis doesn't open enough and the babies get stuck. I'm not telling you this to frighten you, just trying to help you understand the mechanics of delivery.

Now for the instruction: Put your hand on top of her back. With your fingers facing her rear slowly run your hand downward toward her bottom. I find it easier to feel with my middle finger than with the forefinger. Run the finger down the spine and when you come to the vent (genital opening in a sow) you will feel two very small pointed bones. They are normally almost (but not quite) touching, leaving about 1/16 of an inch between them.  You will not be able to move them when they are that close together.

About 24 to 48 hours before giving birth the ligaments start to spread those bones apart. When they get far enough that you can almost put a finger between them, they will feel flexible and you can move them. Don't try to force them, just touch enough to sense that they have become flexible. Once the birth canal is open she will give birth.

The bones will not feel to you as though they are far enough apart for a baby to pass, but they will finish spreading as the baby comes through.

Practice now so you are comfortable with what you're feeling for. That way when the time comes you'll recognize it. You don't need to do anything for her except leave her alone, don't lift her anymore than you have to while she's "big with child." If you must pick her up be sure to keep your hand under her belly to support it.

Keep the camera ready, you're in for some real fun and excitement watching the babies. They will pop out looking like perfect miniatures of the parents (except for maybe color difference). Their are very precocious (mature) at birth. You can handle them as soon as they're dried off.

If the mom ignores them for the first few hours don't intervene. She will not allow them to nurse until she's finished cleaning out and delivering any afterbirths, etc. Then she will take full control.

I'd love to see pictures when they arrive.  Best of luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Chillin'   QUESTION: does the pelvis gradually separate or just widens as soon it is ready for birth?

Thank you for explaining how to check her pelvis, that was very helpful. I noticed she has started to settle down and relax a bit more. I think birth may be getting near. I noticed her nails need trimming, shall I wait till a few weeks after birth?

Answer
It seems to happen fairly quickly. One day you're not quite sure if it is really any wider, then the next day you have no doubt.

I would wait until after the babies are born to trim her nails. It's not going to be that long and once she's delivered the pups she won't be so uncomfortable when you handle her.