cavy sexing
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Cavy Sexing
Being able to determine the sex of a guinea pig is vital to preventing unwanted pregnancies. Its incredibly common for pet store employees to misjudge the sex of an animal and place a female guinea pig in a cage with males (or the other way around.) Unsuspecting customers bring “Sam” home only discover they really have a pregnant “Samantha.”
When is the earliest you can sex a puppy?
About two weeks. Its harder to determine any earlier than that.
When do Males and Females Need to Be Separated?
By weeks three (ideally) and four (longest.) A male puppy can (and WILL) impregnate the mother as early as three weeks of age.
Cavy Sexing: How to
Roll the guinea pig over so you can get a clear view of the sex organs.
Males – Will have a rounded area in front of the anus. If pressed gently the penis will appear.
Females – Will have a hairless inverted Y (covers the vagina) above the anus.
Here is a site with GREAT pictures across a wide range of ages. Do not miss:
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm
The Wrong Way to Sex
Its not uncommon to read sexing instructions that suggest counting nipples. Guess what? All guinea pigs have two nipples, they just vary in size.
Do not assume you can take your guinea pig to a pet store and have an employee sex them for you. These employees, no matter how friendly and helpful, are not experts and they are notorious for making mistakes. Instead, visit an experienced guinea pig veterinarian. You’ll be glad you did.
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