Skip to main content

Care for a pregnant guinea pig


The pregnancy of the guinea pigs

First of all, we have to confirm that our guinea pig is pregnant.If we do not know if it has reached sexual maturity or if it has been in contact with any male, we can suspect pregnancy if we observe some of the following signs :

  • Increase in water and food intake.
  • Constant fattening.
  • Breast development.
  • Pear shape, with an enlarged abdomen.
  • Possibility of feeling the fetal movements if you rest your hand on your belly.

To To be sure, we can consult with our veterinarian. Using an ultrasound it is possible to confirm the pregnancy and find out the number of offspring that our guinea pig is brewing, which can vary from 1 to 6.The veterinarian will be responsible , also, to provide us with information about the care for our pregnant guinea pig and resolve all our doubts.The pregnancy in these rodents lasts, on average, about 68 days.Although in this p eriodo our guinea pig will lead a practically normal life, we must observe some important aspects that we will develop next.


Feeding for a pregnant guinea pig

Once the pregnancy is confirmed, the first thing, within the care for a pregnant guinea pig, is going to be to adapt its diet.A correct diet for any guinea pig includes, according to its proportion , the following foods:

  • Hay, since the guinea pigs are completely herbivores.
  • Specific feed for guinea pigs that must also be composed of hay.
  • Vegetables rich in vitamin C to prevent a disease called scurvy (lack of vitamin C because the necessary one is not ingested in the diet).
  • Fruits and cereals only as a prize, that is, of occasional consumption.
  • Vitamin C supplement if our guinea pig does not eat enough with its usual diet.

After reviewing the diet that every guinea pig needs, how should we adapt it? if ours is in gestation period? Feeding a pregnant guinea pig should include the following modifications to your usual diet :

  • Alfalfa hay rich in calcium , necessary in the pregnancy, as their requirements increase.
  • The amount of vitamin C tripled daily is tripled, so it may become necessary to supplement, always under the supervision of the veterinarian.It is better to give this vitamin directly because it decomposes quickly and if we put it dissolved in the drinking fountain it can have no effect.
  • We must ensure that our guinea pig always has fresh and clean water at its disposal, in a drinker, also clean, and easily accessible.
  • Eye with parsley .Although it contains a large amount of much-needed vitamin C, it has an effect on elutero and can cause abortions.
Care for a pregnant guinea pig


Ideal environment for a pregnant guinea pig

In addition to feeding it is also important to maintain the following precautions:

  • It is not time to make changes in the environment or in the routines of our guinea pig because they can be a stress factor for her.Likewise, we must avoid loud noises, drafts or excess heat (the guinea pigs withstand heat rather than cold).
  • Although her life is going to remain essentially the same, if we find that you have difficulties entering or leaving the cage, accessing the drinking fountain, etc., we must take measures to facilitate mobility .
  • If you live together with other guinea pigs and we observe that with some clashes occur it is a good idea to separate them, keeping the pregnant cage in the usual cage.You can live with the male until the end of pregnancy, if you feel comfortable with it, but you should always separate some days before delivery or just after to prevent a pregnancy right after birth.
  • The s guinea pigs do not need to nest to give birth but, even so, we must always keep the bed clean .
  • During pregnancy we can notice that our guinea pig is more reluctant to handle it.Let's leave it alone.
  • In case of any anomaly or doubt we should consult the veterinarian without wasting time.In this sense, it is important that this is an expert in guinea pigs.It is a good idea to have your telephone number and the emergency number at hand in case there are any complications.
  • Finally, it is not the time to submit it to activities that displease you, such as bathing or brushing.Unless you like it, we can postpone it for the couple of months that the pregnancy lasts.

These would be the main care for a pregnant guinea pig, if we find ourselves before a healthy female.In the next section we will stop at the risks that may arise.


Risks for guinea pigs during pregnancy

As we have said, guinea pigs mature sexually very soon, between 2-4 months (we also have to take into account that their life expectancy is, on average, about 5 years). A from 10 months of age the bones of your pelvis are being welded.A first delivery at this time may be impossible, since a rigid birth canal will prevent the outflow of the offspring, assuming a caesarea with the risks that this intervention entails.Therefore, if we do not know the age of our guinea pig or if it has given birth previously or not, it is advisable to put the case in the hands of the veterinarian.Between 4-7 months will be the age safer for a first pregnancy.

On the other hand, in the care for a pregnant guinea pig, we must know the main pathology that can occur during this period, the toxemia , which it is a very serious and deadly metabolic disorder, if it is not detected in the early stages.It occurs in females a couple of e weeks before delivery and up to a week later.It manifests itself by immobility, anorexia and hypersalivation (drooling) and, in blood tests, hypoglycemia, although there are times when the guinea pig appears suddenly dead without showing no symptoms.There are also risk factors such as obesity or age.


How to know if my guinea pig is going to give birth

The care for a pregnant guinea pig also includes the time of delivery.One of the greatest uncertainties in any pregnancy is knowing when the event will take place.Although we know that the pregnancy of our guinea pig lasts about two months, it is impossible to know when it will be the exact day of childbirth.Also, in guinea pigs it is not easy to detect symptoms that indicate the impending birth, since there are no changes in their behavior Perhaps the only one of the pelvic bone would be.If we put our finger over the genitals of our guinea pig, we will notice a bone.If we notice it as a split in two, with an approximate separation of 1 centimeter, we can predict that the birth will take place in the next days (about 10).It must be borne in mind that this sign is not an exact measure, that it is not easy to palpate it and that there are guinea pigs that can present this separation for a long time without starting labor.

Once the part or it starts, the guinea pig will remain still and its offspring will be born quickly.Yes, if you wonder how long the delivery of a guinea pig lasts, you should know that, in general, the whole process usually lasts from about 10 minutes to half an hour and In any case, it should not last for more than an hour.The possible complications that may arise are set out in the following section.

Care for a pregnant guinea pig


Delivery problems in guinea pigs

Generally, childbirth does not require any special care on our part, since it is usually a quick and simple process that our guinea pig will do quietly alone.We should not intervene unless there is any complication, such as the following :

  • Disregard of the offspring , translated into not breaking the amniotic bag.Normally, according to the offspring are born, the mother will break the bag with her teeth It involves them but, sometimes, this does not occur, for different reasons, and we will be the ones who break it and bring the mother closer to it.We can ask our veterinarian to teach us.
  • Excess of time , if the process of childbirth lasts for more than an hour without more babies being born and we observe that our guinea pig is still in labor, making efforts.It may be a dystocia and will need veterinary intervention.
  • Bleeding , which is normal in childbirth but reason for consultation if the amount of blood exceeds one tablespoon.
  • Of course, we should request veterinary assistance if we observe any anomalous sign in our guinea pig or in its young.

The expulsion of the placentas indicates the end of the birth.It is completely normal for the guinea pig to eat them, just as it ingests amniotic bags and umbilical cords.Small guinea pigs are born with the ability to feed themselves.mother will be able to eat the same as her, so you have to continue with a balanced diet, maintaining the alfalfa hay that ensures the calcium necessary for their growth.Despite this independence, they should suck approximately during the first month., it is important to separate males and females to avoid new pregnancies , both from the mother and the offspring.

Lastly, even though we provide all the care for a pregnant guinea pig, the gestation process supposes e a risk, not to mention the ethical issues that should surround the raising of guinea pigs in a society in which so many of these animals are abandoned and, therefore, need a home.As responsible caregivers we must consider sterilization .

Care for a pregnant guinea pig

If you want to read more articles similar to Care for a pregnant guinea pig , we recommend that you enter our Gestacion section.

Etiquetas:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Balanoposthitis in dogs - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Image: psyc2074.wordpress.com The diseases in the dog's penis are very frequent and cause a lot of discomfort to the individual who suffers them, so if we observe that a dog licks the penis more than usual or that there is a secretion of pus , among other symptoms, means that something bothers you and/or hurts. There are many causes that can cause injuries, from bacterial infections to the presence of a tumor, in fact, there are dozens of possible pathologies that they can affect the penis of the dog.One of them is, mainly in non-castrated individuals, balanoposthitis in dogs, an inflammation of the penis and the foreskin. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will discuss in detail the balanoposthitis in dogs, their causes, symptoms and treatment .However, if you suspect that your dog may suffer rla, you should know that the visit to your veterinarian is mandatory, the sooner the better. What is balanoposthitis in dogs? Balanoposthitis is characterized by in
Post a Comment
Read more

Canine training criteria

In each training session you must focus on a single criterion . For example, imagine that you are training your dog to sit down.The initial criterion could be that his butt touch the ground.So every time your dog's butt touches the ground, you reinforce that behavior with a piece of food or some game. Your training criteria is clear: your dog's butt must touch the ground.Then, it doesn't matter if you feel quickly, slowly, tilted or straight.As long as your bottom touches the ground, you will reinforce the response. Instead, you will not reinforce the responses in which your dog will feel halfway (without touching the ground with your butt), lie down, bark, jump, walk, approach you, etc.All these actions produce failed repetitions. " Lift "or" increase "the training criteria means increasing the difficulty exercise ls .For example, your dog sits when you ask for it, but does it on its side (leaning on its side).You want it to feel straight, so
Post a Comment
Read more

10 curiosities about the Siberian husky

Are you passionate about husky? Do you want to know everything about this Wonderful race? Then you have reached the right place! In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you 10 things you did not know about the Siberian husky that will surely surprise you, from morphological details to their appearance throughout history. Do you get curious? Keep reading about these 10 curiosities about the Siberian husky , one of the oldest and most incredible dogs that exist, you will fall in love even more with the breed! 1.It is the dog most similar to the wolf Have you visited our list about the 10 dog breeds that look like wolves? If so, you will know that the husky is probably one of the dogs that most reminds us of the wolf , probably because of its pointed ears, penetrating look and pronounced snout.Yes, remember that recent studies indicate that the dog it does not descend from the wolf, but it is about close relatives. However, the Siberian husky is smaller than t
Post a Comment
Read more

Names for orange cats

Our cats are like our children, therefore, when adopting a feline of the most important decisions will be to choose the perfect name for him.A name that identifies him in personality and physical and that also highlights all his qualities. Color is a characteristic that can guide us very well in that way of the name.Cats are very varied in terms of colors, and for example, it would not be a very good idea if you gave your cat a name like "snow" if it is brown. In ExpertAnimal we love to get creative and we want to support you in this chromatic theme.Next, we invite you to read this new article where we propose some names for orange cats , curious and original, so you can quickly find The perfect name for your pet. What should I consider to choose the best name? Cat lovers can spend weeks choosing the ideal name for their cat, and even then, doubt after selecting it.The truth (and totally understandable) is that each creature must have its own proper name , which wi
Post a Comment
Read more

Frugivoros Animals - Characteristics and +20 Examples

Frugivorous animals are those that base their diet on the consumption of fruits , or much of what they consume is made up of this type of food.In the animal kingdom, many species are frugivorous, from insects to large mammals. The plants that produce fruits are the angiosperms .In this group, the flowers of the female plants or the female parts of a hermaphrodite plant have an ovary with several ovules that, when fertilized by a sperm, thickens and changes color, acquiring very attractive nutritional qualities for animals. 20% of the known species of Mammals are frugivorous animals, so this type of diet is very significant and important among animals. At first glance, frugivorous animals do not seem to possess distinctive features of animals not frugivoros, even less if they are omnivorous animals that, although they can be feed on many products, its main food is fruit. The main qualities appear along the digestive tract , starting with the mouth or beak.In mammals or o
Post a Comment
Read more

12 animals that live in the forest and you should know

1 brown bear The brown bear, or Ursus arctos , is a huge forest animal that is characterized by its thick, thick and robust fur brown, although it has cream and even black tones, it has a large head, its strong legs are capable of moving large-sized rocks and its small eyes have a color similar to its fur. Despite its fierce similar appearance to that of carnivores, the brown bear is an omnivorous animal that feeds almost entirely on plants and fruits, although it uses its large jaw and its enormous claws to defend itself from predators. It inhabits the forests of North America, Europe and Asia and hibernates in the winter time. Curiously, brown bears are planted, which means they stand on their hind legs. 2.Owl The owl ( Bubo bubo ) is a mostly nocturnal animal that is characterized by its acute vision and its large size , since it reaches 1.7 meters in length when it expands its wings.It is considered the most intelligent bird in the world and lives up to 60 years.
Post a Comment
Read more

How to heal a wound in my dog's eye?

In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain how to heal a wound in a dog's eye , differentiating when it occurs around the eye or inside.A wound in one eye, due to its location, presents differences with respect to wounds produced in others parts of the body, so they can not be cured in the same way.Also, most of these wounds will require examination by a veterinarian, since we could be in the eye damage that cause serious injury. If your dog has wounds around the eye or inside and you don't know what to do, keep reading and apply the first aid we share. How to heal wounds around the eyes in dogs? In principle, and as long as these wounds do not affect the inside of the eye, we can treat them as if they were wounds in any other part of the body.So, to heal them we will follow the following steps, provided that it is superficial lesions caused, for example, by a slight blow to the eye, since the deep ones require veterinary assistance: We must delimit
Post a Comment
Read more

Tips for the bad smell of the ferret

Most ferrets we find in shelters available and ready to be adopted are sterilized, why does this happen? Does it have to do with the bad smell? The male ferret , at the end of one year of life he begins to develop the glands to attract specimens of the other sex or mark the territory and drive away those of his own.By sterilizing a male we managed to avoid: Bad smell Territoriality Tumors Sterilizing the female ferret also has certain advantages and is that they undergo hormonal changes to attract the male that also involve the use of their glands.By sterilizing it we manage to avoid: Bad smell Hormonal problems Hyperestrogenism Anemia Alopecia Reproduction Tumores Reproduction The ferrets dis They put perianal glands, they are two and they are located inside the anus communicating to him through two small channels. We must know that a ferret sterilized by not suffering from heat or sexual excitement no longer produces the bad smell regularly but if you can
Post a Comment
Read more

Why adopt a stray dog?

There are millions of abandoned dogs on the streets around the world, and decrease the The number seems to be very complicated, especially because of the easy reproduction of the canines and the irresponsibility of many people. In Animals and Pets Online we know that this is a serious problem that must be solved, so we want to contribute to create awareness about animal abandonment.If you've ever wondered why adopt a stray dog, here are 10 reasons to do it . 1.You learn responsibility Rescuing a stray dog ​​or adopting it in a shelter is a decision that should not be taken lightly, and that commits you to the rest of the animal's life .that is why adoption will help you to be more responsible, by having another living being in your care that is completely up to you . 2.Save two lives Millions of dogs are slaughtered in shelters due to overpopulation, while those who remain on the streets lead a life of fear, hunger, cold and physical abuse.Look at them to see the sa
Post a Comment
Read more