violence!

Question
Hi, I have a male and female piggy that I am planning to breed. They usually live together happily, but now when he tries to mount her she bares her teeth at him. Does this mean she could be pregnant?

thanx

Answer
Kim -

My apologies for the delay in response.  AllExperts was down over the weekend (at least the expert part).  :)  Actually, the behavior you are witnessing is common.  The reason for the teeth baring is that she has probably come into heat.  When he mounts her, it is painful for her, so she complains as much as possible.  :)  If you think she may be pregnant, which is entirely possible within 2-3 weeks of putting them together, there is an easy way to tell.  Lay her (gently) on her back, with her head pointing away from you.  Next, gently palpate (feel) the stomach, especially the lower stomach area.  If she is pregnant, you will feel two hard, egg-shaped lumps in her stomach.  If not, or if you have any doubts, you can take her to the vet or a reputable breeder and have her checked.

Hope this is helpful to you.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me again.  Good luck!

Lorena