Stages of Guinea Pig Pregnancy

Stages of Guinea Pig Pregnancy. Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, are popular pets. Like actual pigs, female guineas are called sows. They were brought to Europe from their native South America in the 1500s, and to North America in the 1700s as pets. Guinea pigs tend to be gentle and good natured, making them suitable pets for young children.

Breeding

Guinea pig heat cycles last about 16 days, but there is only an eight-hour window when the female is receptive to the male. Leave the male and female together in a cage to let nature take its course to achieve pregnancy. Avoid breeding the sow until she weighs at least a pound, which most females will reach by the age of 4 months. Otherwise, they may be too small to successfully deliver. Breed the sow for the first time before she is 7 months old. Delivery problems often occur in first-time mothers older than that. In these older first-time mothers, the pelvis may not separate for delivery, generally with fatal results for both mother and babies unless a Cesarean section is performed. Gestation ranges from 63 to 68 days.

Mid-term and Pregnancy Care

At about a month's gestation, the babies can be felt in the mother's abdomen, Give expectant or nursing sows 20 mg of vitamin C daily; they cannot manufacture this vitamin on their own. A small cube of sugar every day will help prevent toxemia in the pregnant guinea pig. Unlike other rodents, guinea pigs do not build nests before delivery. Over the course of the pregnancy, guinea pigs gain a great deal of weight, which may actually double. Feed pregnant sows plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables along with pelleted guinea pig food to ensure good nutrition for the fetuses. Make sure fresh water is always available.

Birth

The expectant sow becomes extremely large in the days before giving birth. Watch the guinea pig closely as birthing nears, because the signs are subtle. Some sows become irritable. If the sow lives with a male, place him in another cage if delivery is imminent, as sows can mate immediately after giving birth. Feel the sow's pelvic bones regularly---when they begin to separate, delivery will take place within a few days to a few hours. Most births take no longer than a half hour. If contractions last longer, contact a vet. According to the Guinea Pig Resource, the odds of live babies drops dramatically if the contractions last more than 30 minutes.

References

• Desert View Animal Hospital: Health Care for Guinea Pigs
• Guinea Pig Compendium: Pregnancy and Babies