Guniea Pig Pregnant? and Biting?

Question
I am worried about my Guinea Pig because sometimes when i touch her stomach she bites me and wheeps.  This is weird because she always liked me handling her.  I also suspect she is pregnant because she is starting to take a avocado like shape.  I have not noticed any increase of food intake because i have only had her for about a month.  Please respond ASAP.  I am very worried and might be taking her to the vet soon.  Could you please tell me some signs of a pregnant Guinea pig to?  Thank you and once again please relpy as soon as possible.

Answer
Hi Sasha,

It sounds like she's pregnant to me! If you got her from a pet shop it is very likely that you have bought a pregnant piggy - the staff are not trained in animal care, and are not skilled enough to sex guinea pigs so keep males and females together, and often do not treat for diseases such as mites which spread amongst the group.

Guinea pigs are actually quite similar to humans physiologically - hence their history in the lab - so the symptoms of a pregnant piggy are much the same as those of a pregnant woman. She will be eating and drinking more, running around less, being a bit grumpy, gaining wait, and will not enjoy being handled. The babies sit either side of the belly, rather than underneath, so pregnant piggies take on an eggplant/aubergine-like shape.

Do you know how old she is? Male guinea pigs become fertile at three weeks of age, so if she has been kept with her brother or other males ever since she was born, you should be able to work out her earliest possible due date. She could of course, have been mated with on the day you brought her home - you'll never know! Guinea pigs are pregnant for 68-72 days (9-10 weeks) and in the latest stages of the pregnancy you will be able to feel and see the babies moving around.

In her final days of pregnancy, do not handle her unless you have to because she will be uncomfortable enough already. Make sure there's extra hay in the cage for her to lay down on, and that there is plenty of water. She will probably have her babies when you're not looking, and as long as she's not living with a male and is under six months of age, the birth should go smoothly. If you do hear contractions - stay within earshot so you can tell if she's struggling, and once she has finished giving birth check than she has freed all the babies from their birthing sacs and that they are all on their feet and have been cleaned up by her.

If you are worried about her or would like an approximate delivery date, take her to a specialist small animal or exotic pet vet. If you are in the UK, you could also ring the Cambridge Cavy Trust and take her to your local rodentologist.

Hope this helps and if you have any other questions about the pregnancy, the babies or anything else - just ask.

Best wishes,
Jenny.