Pregnant Guinea Pig

How Can You Tell If a Guinea Pig Is Pregnant?

Female guinea pigs begin experiencing oestrus (the time when they are fertile) every sixteen days within the first three to five weeks of life. The physical signs of oestrus include a swollen vagina with discharge. Behavioral changes include mounting cage mates, growling, and lifting her rear end into mating position when touched. The best way to determine guinea pig pregnancy is the LACK of the behavior above 16 days after mating. As mating can occur quickly within a span of a few hours, one can look for a discarded secretion plug – which is comprised of coagulated secretions from the male guinea pig which prevent sperm from leaving the vagina. Don’t be surprised if you are unable to find the plug – sometimes it just dissolves or cannot be found. Another method is to weigh your guinea pig weekly. Weight should increase weekly and be noticeable by 4 weeks in. By week 7, it should be possible to feel fetal movement when one places their hand on the female’s stomach.

Here’s an example of being able to see the movement of the babies:

The Guinea Pig Pregnancy

Guinea pig pregnancy lasts anywhere from 64 to 72 days. By the time birth is eminent, the weight of the babies will account for 30% of the female’s total body weight. In order to support this growth expect your guinea pig to require more food and water as she could be supporting up to six babies. Be sure that the food being fed is particularly high in vitamin C as requirements double to 20 mgs per day during pregnancy. Recommended foods include parsley, cabbage, and dandelion. During this time be sure and remember to continue to let the pregnant female out for exercise and play. Be careful to avoid unnecessary stomach squeezing as well as stress on the female.

Advice about when to move the pregnant guinea pig into a separate cage is mixed. What is known for sure is that by the time the female gives birth, she’ll need to be moved into a separate cage. Male guinea pigs will be a threat to the puppies and the female will be fertile again immediately. No female should have back to back litters as it is cruel and detrimental their health. How early the female is moved is dependent on how much room there is in the existing cage and whether or not the pregnant female appears to be enjoying the company of others. If worried, move the female. In general though, a week before birth should be the minimum.

Signs birth is imminent:

Belly becomes so distended movement is limited.
Movement of the babies is visible.
When touching the female’s stomach, individual baby body parts can be felt such as legs and heads.
Pelvic bones open. This can be felt by placing one’s fingers on the underside of the females belly a couple centimeters ahead of the anus. When a distance of one to two fingers is felt, birth is likely to occur very soon.

Birth

Birth is most likely to occur between dawn and dusk. Sometimes the pregnant female will cry out when her hymen breaks signaling the beginning of labor. Each baby should be expelled with just a couple contractions. After emerging the mother will reach down, break the birth sack, and clean the new baby. This process will repeat every five to ten minutes. Each baby will have its own placenta – do not be alarmed when the mother eats the placenta and other birth fluids or byproducts – this is normal.

Complications

Sometimes babies are born rear first and then mother may break the wrong end of the fetal sack leaving the head covered. This can lead to suffocation. In this instance one would want to reach in and break the sack over the baby’s head. See if the baby is breathing or squeaking, If not, keep the baby in your hands and try gently blowing into the baby’s throat and moving his or her legs around (for circulation.) Be aware that provided the baby survives there is a string chance the mother might reject the baby. In this case one will need to hand raise the baby. For more information on how to do this please see pages 61 and 62 of The Complete Guinea Pig Handbook.

Hey, if this article has been of use to you and you would like to learn more about guinea pigs – don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter! Thanks!

I need your help -

Guinea pig owners or potential guinea pig owners – what would you like to see on this web site? Let me know.