Guinea pigs are one of the most common domesticated pets all around the world. Both affectionate and social, these cute furry balls have a good nature for keeping as pets. And most of all, guinea pigs are great pets for children because of their docile nature and less chance of nipping hands over unexpected things.

In addition to being kid-friendly, guinea pigs are popular for being a herd animal. That means, they are better when there are other guinea pigs around them. When this happens, the owner wouldn’t often know if the sow is enceinte or not. Is the hamster enceinte, or is it a sign of other guinea pig health problems? You can check if your sow is enceinte with the signs below.

Tell-tale signs that your guinea pig is enceinte

  1. The big question: did your sow interacted with a boar?

A female guinea pig or sow will only get enceinte if it interacted with a male guinea pig or boar during its estrous cycle. Signs that a sow is in the heat include: humping other guinea pigs, enflamed genitals, and elevating the rear end when touched. If your sow is at least two months old, there’s a chance that it will get enceinte when putting into a cage with boars. Boars are sexually matured at an older age of 3 months. As for the question above, if the answer is yes, check on the other symptoms mentioned below.

  1. Change in eating habit

Sows would change their eating habits while enceinte to incorporate the needs of her body and the growing guinea pig pups. If you notice your sow is getting faster in emptying the food bowl and the water container, it might be enceinte. If your sow is enceinte, you should give it food that contains green leafy vegetables and grass. It is best if you change the menu gradually to avoid any damage in its gastrointestinal system.

  1. Weight changes

A enceinte sow would start ballooning when enceinte, especially during the last stages of pregnancy. The hard part here is determining if your pet is actually getting more weight because of pregnancy or because of growth, especially if the guinea pig is still young. If your sow increases its food intake dramatically, you might want to consider regular weight in. Record your sow’s weight and keep track of changes. Usually, by the end of pregnancy, the piglets would weigh more than the sow’s, which causes doubled bodyweight of the mother.

  1. Piglet bumps

Signs of piglets in a sow’s body can be felt after two to three months of pregnancy. You can test this by running your fingers gently to your guinea pig’s body. If you feel lumps in the sow’s body, there’s a big chance that it’s enceinte. Unfortunately, lumps in the guinea pig’s body can also mean the accumulation of metabolic products. The general rule is: if you found lumps in the guinea pig’s body, better visit a veterinarian.

  1. Visit a veterinarian

If still unsure, the best route to take is seeing the veterinarian right away. Your guinea pig might have conditions besides pregnancy. The vet would make a diagnosis using ultrasound to know more about the guinea pig’s condition. In addition, we also advised you with proper care based on your pet’s pregnancy condition.

What to do when your pet is enceinte?

To take care of your enceinte guinea pig, the first thing you need to do is to get the place more comfortable. Always clean the cage and pay attention to anything that can cause harm to the guinea pig. Don’t put away the exercise toys, as enceinte guinea pigs also require a good amount of exercise. This is to make sure that they won’t get overweight during pregnancy. Furthermore, one should avoid lifting the sow if possible.

The average pregnancy of a guinea pig is about 68 days. This can be less or more, depending on the litter size. During this time, one should avoid feeding food that can give more weight. Instead, feed your pet a diet rich in fiber and vitamin C supplements. Always give the pet fresh water every day. During the late pregnancy, add adequate calcium in the mix.

What are the signs of a enceinte guinea pig?

The signs of pregnancy toxaemia are abrupt onset of depression (quiet, weak, lethargic) and anorexia (not eating). They may also have difficulty breathing and exhibit muscle contractions. Risk reduction includes preventing obesity in the mother guinea pig and providing adequate energy in the diet late in gestation.

Do guinea pigs get enceinte easily?

They are easy to mate, easy to rear and you’ll be as happy as a pig in mud watching the new squeakers growing and developing. Just be sure you can find good homes for the resultant babies. As with real pigs, female guinea pigs are called sows and males are called boars.

Can a guinea pig get enceinte on its own?

How many babies do guinea pigs have in their first litter?

Guinea pigs are sexually mature as young as one month of age. While it is less important for the male pig to be a certain age at the time of breeding, the female needs to be less than 10 months old (at the maximum) to be able to give birth naturally.

How soon can you tell a guinea pig is enceinte?

The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year.

How soon can guinea pigs get enceinte after giving birth?

Signs are most likely to be noted over 1-5 days during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy or the first week following birth. These include poor appetite, depression, weakness, reluctance to move, incoordination, difficulty breathing, coma and death. Some afflicted sows may show no signs, and then suddenly die.

What time of day do guinea pigs give birth?

The period during which the female is receptive to the male and will allow breeding lasts about 8 hours. Female guinea pigs can come back into heat 15 hours after giving birth. This is called a “postpartum estrus,” which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time!

What age is a male guinea pig fertile?

Most guinea pigs give birth in the daytime hours. She will give out a cry just as she goes into labor, and it will take about five minutes to birth a pup. Each pup will have its own amniotic sac, and usually the mother removes it and eats it.

How long do guinea pigs stay enceinte?

Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days).

Do guinea pigs bite?

Cochon d’Inde/Période de gestation

Can guinea pigs miscarriage?

As already mentioned, guinea pigs are not usually aggressive, but they will bite if they feel threatened, bullied, mishandled or are ill. Of course, all piggies are different, and while one guinea pig might like being cuddled, another won’t. You can teach it not to bite by doing a few simple things.

How do you take care of newborn guinea pigs?

Guinea pigs tend to hide their illnesses very well, so oftentimes it may go unnoticed. Guinea Pig Sounds . It can cause miscarriage, abortion and even death in enceinte sows. It is important to also keep in mind that breeding guinea pigs always puts the mother’s life at risk.

Do baby guinea pigs bite?

Do Baby Guinea Pigs Need to Be Kept Warm? It is best to keep the babies in a warm, quiet place and in a small box or carry cage. For heating, two or more babies usually snuggle to keep each other warm.

What kind of milk do you feed a baby guinea pig?

Guinea pigs are docile animals, and rarely bite without cause. These are not hard bites, though, and don’t hurt. It’s not aggression, just curiosity. Guinea pigs only use their teeth aggressively if they feel under threat – they are their only means of defence.

Can you hold a guinea pig when you first get it?

Use full-fat goat’s milk, or prepare a milk mixture of half water and half evaporated milk. Soak brown bread in the milk, and offer this to the baby GP on a teaspoon – they’ll suck the milk out. This isn’t as nutritious as a guinea pig mother’s milk, but it’s the second best thing.

What should you do when you first get a guinea pig?

Don’t take your guinea pig out of their guinea pig cage when they first arrive at your home. It is often best to avoid handling them for a few days so they can adjust to their new surroundings. Even though you are not physically handling your guinea pig, you can still make efforts to bond with them.

How many times a day should I hold my guinea pig?

Here’s what you need to know to keep your new guinea pig happy and healthy.
  1. Set the scene for a proper home.
  2. Stock up on a good food.
  3. Guinea pig proof your abode.
  4. Give your guinea pig some space at first.
  5. Understand your guinea pig’s actions.
  6. Be on the lookout for any health issues.
  7. Pair your guinea pig appropriately.

Do guinea pigs enjoy being held?

Most guinea pigs love spending quality time with their owners, so handling them is enjoyable for all concerned. Once your guinea pig gets to know you, being hand-fed and petted become important parts of their lives. This means it’s actually up to you how much you hold them – you can do so as often as you like.