Pregnancy of a 12month old sow

Question
My son has a 12 month old sow.  My younger son has just acquired a 5 month old boar and we did not know much about the breeding process but i am now worried that the sow is pregnant and too old to have the pups.  How can I tell if she is pregnant and if not should I have the boar neutered immediately and separate them.  My eldest son would be devastated if his guinea pig should die trying to give birth.  I had no idea that it was not safe to breed, for the first time, after 7 months.  i have just been reading all this information on the net and it all says the same stuff.  Can you advise me please?

Answer
Sharon,

Here are some signs of a pregnant Guinea Pig.

1. she is eating and drinking more

2. she will not let you rub her stomach

3. her stomach is larger

4. nipples become very prominent

5. becomes sluggish and doesn't move alot

She'll need extra vitamin C from now until she is done nursing the pups at 3 weeks of age. Best way to provide this is with fresh foods that contain lots of vitamin C. Also start feeding her Alfalfa hay , it contains lots of calcium for her and the babies bones to develop, it is also a fatty hay which is good for the development of the babies and will help her in her lactation. Alfalfa is a hay that is a recommended hay for pregnant, nursing and baby Guinea Pigs.  

The pregnancy will last for 63 to 70 days, around 42 days (six weeks) into the pregnancy you should be able to see and feel the babies as they move around in the womb. As the day of birth draws nearer they will become more active. Do not try squeezing her body to find the babies as you could inflict a serious injury. Avoid any unnecessary handling during the last month.

After about 70 days or so the sow will produce her pups, usually at either dawn or dusk when they are most active and also the safest time to give birth in the wild (their natural instinct is to protect their pups and have them at the safest time). There is very little blood or mess when guinea pigs are born... mom will do a superb job of cleaning the babies up!

Pups are miniature adults, fully developed at birth with strong legs, eyes open and hair. Like all herd animals they must be ready to move with their families soon after they are born. Being born in such an advanced stage of development, the pups will be able to eat solid foods within a day, but will benefit greatly from their mother's milk. Mom will suckle her babies for about three weeks, after which the baby boys will need to be separated from their mother and sisters as they can and will get mom and sisters pregnant. So make sure to sex them close the the 3 week mark so you know who is who. If you place the boys with their father, first rub them all over with litter from his cage so that they smell of him rather than of the sow.

If she is showing any of the signs above, take her to a vet and talk to the vet about some options. Remove the boar immediately place him in a separate cage in a separate room. Until you get him neutered at least. That way your a preventing her from getting pregnant if she isn't pregnant and if she is you won't have to remove him later on. A for sure sign that she is pregnant as that she is try to fight off any further amorous attention from the male.

Good luck to you,
I hope this helps and that everything works out.
        Take care now,
                Jules