Shit... 99% sure Guinea Pig is pregnant

[InAPickle12345]

Bit of a disaster... I lost one of my two lovely girls at the start of December. We were devastated, they were like two peas in a pod. I had a post on here at the time.

After just over a week I figured I needed to get another Guinea pig to keep my remaining one happy. Bought from a pet store as we don't have any rescues.... and I'm 99% sure the baby is pregnant 😡

Can't get her in to see the Vet until Tuesday morning.

She's had no vet care during pregnancy, haven't been feeding her any supplements. She was 8 weeks when she came to us, so young to be having babies. We've had her 55 days.

What the hell do I do now?

[mamacorn1]

Take the piggy to the vet and get her checked out, they can advise you on what happens next.

[Mysa74]

Crumbs, babies could turn up at any minute. They're generally pregnant for less than 10 weeks. Try not to disturb her too much... Baby guinea pigs are really cute, tiny versions of their parents when they're born. Fully furry with teeth, not all pink and helpless like rabbits. I'd rather have surprise piggies than buns. Good luck... Send photos, lol.

[Mynewnameis]

I wouldn't take her to the vet it will be a huge stress. Just keep her well fed and hope for the best. It happened to one of mine and babies and mum did well. Because we handled the babies early they became very tame lovely pets. Although my mum made me rehome (this was 30 years ago)

[InAPickle12345]

I've broken down the C+C cage and made 2 separate cages now so the two girls are separated.

Do you really think she won't need a vet visit?

Should I be feeding her something different?

Does she need anything in particular for the birth and how will I know when she's nearly ready?

The pet store have said they'll take her back until she has the babies but I really think that would just be traumatising for her, she's relatively used to her surrounding at home now.

[greengreengrass25]

She will be fine and she is settled at yours. The babies turn up. So lovely

We experienced this when the female we purchased was a male and my lovely female piggie was pregnant

[Mysa74]

I've found you some info from the RVC exotics, they're a trustworthy source of info, hope it helps.

[Mysa74]

Picture seems to be blurry... I'll try a clicky link

[RollOnSpringDays]

Guinea pig births are usually pretty straightforward in my experience. I’d maybe be slightly more worried at her young age though. Might be worth a vet visit for a chat. Have you got a photo of her?

[Mysa74]

www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/Beaumont%20Sainsbury%20Animal%20Hospital/documents/Guinea-pig-guide-to-pregnancies-RVC-March2020.pdf
www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/Beaumont%20Sainsbury%20Animal%20Hospital/documents/Guinea-pig-guide-to-pregnancies-RVC-March2020.pdf

[BigDogEnergy]

Can you take a photo of her from above?

If she's 55+ days pregnant then if you sit her on your hands (if she's happy being handled) you will probably feel babies moving by now.

Plenty of vitamin C and supplement her hay with alfalfa hay (would try and prevent the other eating if you can as you don't want the other one having a high calcium diet) now and until she's stopped feeding any babies.

Babies will need sexing and any males removed at 21 days old to prevent any further pregnancies.

[InAPickle12345]

@Mysa74 thank you so much for this, this is very helpful.

QQ - it says to remove all the males as females can mate hours after birth. If the pups will feed for 21 days from Mum, must I remove all the males straight away and put them back to feed at intervals?

She's booked into the vets for Tuesday morning 👍

She's sleeping at the moment but I'll take a pic of her from above and post today/tomorrow. I've had a good feel around her tummy and I'm almost sure I can feel little skulls and limbs in there. Have weighed her and she's nearly 840g.

[JDJT]

Not pup males - please keep them with mum! That is meaning males that are old enough to mate (ie, the dad if he was kept with mum)

[JDJT]

If you need any help sexing I'd be happy to help if you can get some images. I dabbled in a bit of guinea pig breeding (very small scale) years ago. I had six litters in total. All healthy and happy mums and babies, straightforward births, and I found it easy to sex the babies straight away.

[greengreengrass25]

I'm sure we removed the males after a few days but not straight away

We had the dad neutered in the end as he liked his mate

[InAPickle12345]

@JDJT

Not pup males - please keep them with mum! That is meaning males that are old enough to mate (ie, the dad if he was kept with mum)

Ah, okay that makes way more sense 🤦‍♀️ So all the pups can stay with Mum until the 21 day mark anyway, that makes things less complicated.

@JDJT thank you so so much for the offer to help sex the pups. I will 100% take you up on that and send photos once they're born, thank you! 🙏

And I'll post some pics of the pups, that aren't just of their tiny genitalia, for the rest of you! 🥰😂

[greengreengrass25]

Yes please

I loved our babies. It was incredible, they just appeared one night

[Anjea]

Baby pigs are so cute

[InAPickle12345]

@greengreengrass25

Yes please

I loved our babies. It was incredible, they just appeared one night

Well be on standby and keep an eye on this thread then because we are officially on Guinea Pig Watch! 👀 I reckon judging by the dates she's likely due in ~7 days or less, fingers crossed all will go well 🤞 I'll give you guys an update after her vet check up on Tuesday as well

[BigDogEnergy]

I really wouldn't bother taking her to the vets if she's otherwise fit and well. The stress and unnecessary handling (you want to be handling as little as possible now) will outweigh any benefit of taking her.

[Newfluff]

I'm sure there is a photo tax for all this.good information!

[Windydaysandwetnights]

Given that the pet store missold you girls def don't give them back. I reported a pet shop many years ago after seeing them gang raped with no chance of escape. Was quite vile... Local council did enforce them being separated after that. Because I kept calling back into the shop!!

[PoppingTomorrow]

When this happened to me we separate the 2 adult females before the birth and I wish we hadn't because the one who wasn't pregnant got lonely.

[lochmaree]

excited to see baby piggies OP! we had a few litters growing up and they are super cute. as per pp though she probably is best not going to the vet to avoid unnecessary stress and handling. Piggies are pretty good at sorting themselves out with birth and looking after the babies.

[Advice400]

This is sooo exciting!

[JDJT]

@PoppingTomorrow

When this happened to me we separate the 2 adult females before the birth and I wish we hadn't because the one who wasn't pregnant got lonely.

@Windydaysandwetnights I think OP bought them thinking they were females. I guess we don't know though, whether she got pregnant at the breeder's or the pet store.

Edit - Sorry didn't mean to quote you, @PoppingTomorrow not necessary to separate females though. They'll keep mum and pups company.