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Small pets

Overdue Pregnant Piggies?

17 replies

Evenstar · 10/09/2012 18:48

You may remember my thread about the mysterious pregnancy, the girls are definitely pregnant and I have felt a foot and a sort of extra heartbeat sensation round their tummies, they are very big and I think that since it is 70 days since I had them they were due today. How long should I leave them? They seem slightly off their food but still eating enough but I saw on one guinea pig website that could be a sign of approaching labour. Has anyone had one that has gone on longer than 70 days and was the outcome OK for mum and babies? Thanks in advance

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/09/2012 20:25

From what I remember (from years agp) GP gestation is 63-72 days.
First pg are longer and larger litters are shorter (less room I suppose)


Do what my mum did and shampoo the carpet.
GP sow had her litter 2 on it Grin the next day.

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Evenstar · 10/09/2012 20:52

I cleaned their hutch tonight, just the dirty bits so as not to disturb them too much, so maybe that will do the trick!

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Evenstar · 11/09/2012 16:30

Still no babies, is there anything I can/should do? Is it a bad sign if they are overdue? Sad

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/09/2012 17:35

Is their movement in the abdomen area?
Are they starting to get swollen round their nipple areas to prepare for milk?

Ours went off and 'had them' in a quiet area.

Best person to put out an alert for is Dampatch she's got a batch of gPs brewing at the moment.

Trouble is it's difficult to be accurate with dates and when they mated.

Good Luck!

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Evenstar · 11/09/2012 19:14

I have been out to clean and feed them etc this evening and there is still the same feeling of a "heartbeat" in their tummies and I thought I could hear a slight noise in one of them. They didn't want to be touched and they do feel as though they might be swelling a bit more round the nipples, though those have been large for a few weeks now. The only thing I can be sure of is that they have been with me for 70 days yesterday and they definitely haven't been in contact with a male since then. I haven't been this stressed about dates since going 11 days overdue with my first baby!!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/09/2012 18:44

News, News, Update Evenstar

What are your guineas up to?
Any progress?

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Evenstar · 15/09/2012 16:59

Still no baby piggies Sad they are still very pear shaped and firm round their bellies, they definitely don't feel as though they are just fat, I had three big fat rescue piggies some years ago and they didn't feel like this. I don't really know what to do with them, I would wonder if they were ill if it wasn't for the fact they are eating loads and look absolutely shining with health. Any suggestions welcome

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HmmThinkingAboutIt · 15/09/2012 17:10

Every piggie pregnancy we've had always seemed to last forever and go on longer than they should. But the mothers always ate well and seemed healthy (albeit a bit miserable and fed up looking) and eventually gave birth without any problems. I'm really not sure there is a lot you can do but let nature run its course and keep a close eye on them for problems that might need a vet. Tis difficult not to be patient and anxious, but the truth is, the only thing a vet could do is perform a CS which is extremely dangerous for all concerned and really not what you want anyway.

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Evenstar · 15/09/2012 17:16

Do you know roughly how many days they were pregnant? The longest I can find is 75 days and I think we are going past that now even if they were mated just before I got them. I wonder if they could have been mated just before I got them and actually conceived shortly afterwards when they ovulated. It is very worrying and also just not being sure if they are pregnant or there is anything wrong.

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HmmThinkingAboutIt · 15/09/2012 17:21

If they are pregnant I'm pretty sure you'd know by now. You can see them kicking or feel them moving etc. There is only one pig we didn't notice as being pregnant - she had a singleton that just appeared one morning and was the most enormous baby you've ever seen. He was named MONSTER.

I do seem to remember a couple going to about 75 days or so - but it was a long time ago now and my memory fails me.

Seriously though, there really isn't much you can do at all but wait.

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Evenstar · 15/09/2012 17:23

Thank you I will keep waiting and watching and just try and be patient, I did think I could feel some movement so who knows!

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RandomMess · 15/09/2012 17:29

When mine were pregnant, even with just 1 or 2 you could feel the movement easily if you sat them on your lap and cupped their bumps with each hand.

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Evenstar · 15/09/2012 17:32

The vet did see on a scan that the older one had round lumps with fluid round them which would have been right for 5 weeks and the younger one was checked over by my friend's husband who breeds guinea pigs and he thought she was pregnant. I did definitely think I felt a foot on Tuesday and a sort of heartbeat sensation, so I am very confused really by the absence of babies. Will just have to carry on waiting I suppose.

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RandomMess · 15/09/2012 17:47

Hmm, perhaps you should go back to the vets - I have some vague memory of someone I knew having to get her pig induced...

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Evenstar · 16/09/2012 22:43

I think I am going to take them to the vets tomorrow if nothing has happened. I have had them for 77 days tomorrow so they are quite overdue by even the most generous calculation. I had an email from my friend's husband advising me about the signs I should look for and what to do during and after the birth, but I am not seeing any of that and worried that if there are dead babies or another problem the girls might not make it. Will keep you all informed if there is any news. Thanks for the help and support.

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Evenstar · 23/09/2012 23:23

Just an update, my friend's husband advised me to just watch and wait, which I did and nothing happened!! The girls now seem to have decreased in size and are firm rather than lumpy, so I am wondering if they had some kind of phantom pregnancy, they seem really well and are eating a lot. I am going to take them back to playgroup this week and just see if anything else changes. I certainly think there is no possibility of any babies now. Thanks everyone for the advice and support, I am not sure whether to be relieved or disappointed that there are no babies, but at least the girls seem fine.

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Ilovemypigstoomuch · 09/12/2013 22:11

Hi I was just curious whatever happened with this? I seem to be in the same boat my guinea pig seems to be 16 or more days over due giving the last time she was with a male :/

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