Page 6 | Shit... 99% sure Guinea Pig is pregnant

InAPickle12345 · 2024-02-10T08:49:48+00:00

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?

JDJT · 11/02/2024 20:44

I had 2 skinny pigs! In fact they were my last piggies. I've had guinea pigs since I was around 4 up until my 20s! Dabbled in both breeding and showing. The seriousness of guinea pig showing (and any other) is amazing, if a bit peculiar.😄
This thread is making me miss them. Just don't have the space at the moment😕

Puppupandaway · 11/02/2024 20:52

Our gp was pregnant when we bought her, it was a total surprise to us too. We didn't have to wait long, only a fortnight then she had her babies. 3 mini pigs!! Mum gp did fantastically and we didn't need to do anything. We kept the babies for the right amount of time then rehomed them. Such a special time, they're soooo cute!!

Blueuggboots · 11/02/2024 21:39

Guinea pigs are social animals and should not be kept as a single!

BirthdayRainbow · 11/02/2024 22:14

When my Guinea Pig died I brought the remaining one to live inside which she loved. She was happy on her own indoors.

realdays · 11/02/2024 22:18

Fingers crossed for you OP (and hoping for an update/pictures soon!)

newfriend05 · 12/02/2024 00:14

Marking for GP photos

dingledangledinkledoo · 12/02/2024 09:37

Blueuggboots · 11/02/2024 21:39

Guinea pigs are social animals and should not be kept as a single!

For the most part yes but I have had several that were absolute monsters and would horrifically bully others and they had to be kept separate. Not in a cage next to others, like in a separate room or then would try to constantly get out and attack others. These were typically dark eyed whites females or very dominant males.

People also say you shouldn't keep multiple males together but my sister had a bachelor group of 5 un neutered males that were dumped on her and they lived very happily together , they just needed lots of space. Their enclosure was 3-4ft by 10ft with lots of raised wooden castles, ramps and hides and they really did flourish. She's now down to a single old male who is around 8 years old. He's too old to rehome and has refused to bond with any other pigs but lives very happily in her living room and has access to the entire room. He has 3 very small dogs that he lives with And seems to consider friends and is very happy.

But yes, in general gpigs do need company of their own kind.

lochmaree · 12/02/2024 14:32

dingledangledinkledoo · 12/02/2024 09:37

For the most part yes but I have had several that were absolute monsters and would horrifically bully others and they had to be kept separate. Not in a cage next to others, like in a separate room or then would try to constantly get out and attack others. These were typically dark eyed whites females or very dominant males.

People also say you shouldn't keep multiple males together but my sister had a bachelor group of 5 un neutered males that were dumped on her and they lived very happily together , they just needed lots of space. Their enclosure was 3-4ft by 10ft with lots of raised wooden castles, ramps and hides and they really did flourish. She's now down to a single old male who is around 8 years old. He's too old to rehome and has refused to bond with any other pigs but lives very happily in her living room and has access to the entire room. He has 3 very small dogs that he lives with And seems to consider friends and is very happy.

But yes, in general gpigs do need company of their own kind.

Show quote history

wow I've never encountered a piggie like this! I have had some which I've kept separate but next doors. must be stressful for them if they're constantly trying to get at other pigs through the bars so sounds like their own room is better!

was your sisters enclosure indoors or out? it sounds amazing and something I'd like to replicate. my pigs (only 3) are indoors but I'd love a massive outdoor enclosure attached to an insulated shed. they have lots of space (C&C on 2x 6ft tables) but nothing beats somewhere they can roam like that.

dingledangledinkledoo · 12/02/2024 14:40

@lochmaree

My starters enclosure was under her stairs, in the hallway. It was dead space and she just partitioned it off and put pond liner in there to protect the floor. Then threw in a load of shavings and hay and all the pigloos/hides and castles and they loved it.

Jezzballs2000 · 12/02/2024 14:55

excited to see the photos!!

BertieBotts · 12/02/2024 15:30

Wow I didn't know they could live as long as dogs! I thought they lived about 6-8 years.

In what way are they as much work as dogs? I must be totally out of date as we had them when I was a teenager. We used to put them in the run in the garden or give them the run of the living room (all cables protected) and sometimes we would make them obstacle courses out of a big box. But we didn't need to train them or take them out on wet days. Their poos are much less offensive than dog poos too We did get a neighbour to come in and feed them when we went on holiday.

I do think the cages we had were much too small by modern standards, though.

Original poster

InAPickle12345 · 12/02/2024 17:06

BertieBotts · 12/02/2024 15:30

Wow I didn't know they could live as long as dogs! I thought they lived about 6-8 years.

In what way are they as much work as dogs? I must be totally out of date as we had them when I was a teenager. We used to put them in the run in the garden or give them the run of the living room (all cables protected) and sometimes we would make them obstacle courses out of a big box. But we didn't need to train them or take them out on wet days. Their poos are much less offensive than dog poos too We did get a neighbour to come in and feed them when we went on holiday.

I do think the cages we had were much too small by modern standards, though.

Edited

Well, when I say as long as a dog, I would say more the lifespan of many thoroughbred dogs ~8years.

I actually find cleaning up after the dog so much easier!!! With a dog you just let them out and then scoop up. With the pigs, their cage needs to be constantly swept out, new pee pads put down on top of the fleece, full clear out and replacing of fleeces etc ~3 times a week and all of the associated laundering and drying. I actually find it really laborious! And the amount the poop is actually beyond belief, they probably poop their own body weight in 2 days 😂 The fact that I keep mine indoors as well means that I have to diligently keep on top of it without fail or my house smells!

Pet stores definitely don't prepare owners properly in terms of their future needs. We were given a tiny cage but they had outgrown that in a matter of a couple of months. We now have a 2 storey, 5 x 2 C+C cage and I'd still love to give them more space.

OP posts:

Original poster

InAPickle12345 · 12/02/2024 17:16

Update on the vet: spoke with her today and she agreed with the PPs here. Unless I'm concerned about her health, and she gave me a few things to watch for, leave her at home as the visit to the practice would just stress her out. Keeping the appointment for my other girl instead.

Day 58 with us today folks 😬

OP posts:

Hiddendoor · 12/02/2024 17:16

Here for the babies!

medianewbie · 12/02/2024 17:37

Also here for tiny Pig pics. Squee!!!!

Words · 12/02/2024 18:01

Me too!

lunar1 · 13/02/2024 19:29

Checking in for baby GP's!

MrsH497 · 13/02/2024 19:41

Many years ago when me and my mum got GP's we got our 2 girls and discovered one was pregnant. Went to bed a week or so later with 2 and woke up with 3. Little girl pig and she happily lived with her mum and auntie pig. Mum was the same as yours only 8 weeks old when she had baby. Love GP's and baby ones are amazing! Good luck and can't wait to see pics!

MysticalMegx · 13/02/2024 19:42

Placemarking for piggy photos 🥰

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 13/02/2024 19:49

Those guinea pigs are so cute.

Original poster

InAPickle12345 · 13/02/2024 21:21

MrsH497 · 13/02/2024 19:41

Many years ago when me and my mum got GP's we got our 2 girls and discovered one was pregnant. Went to bed a week or so later with 2 and woke up with 3. Little girl pig and she happily lived with her mum and auntie pig. Mum was the same as yours only 8 weeks old when she had baby. Love GP's and baby ones are amazing! Good luck and can't wait to see pics!

Ah, that would be amazing... I think the only instance I would keep any of the babies is if it is an only girl and could live with my current 2.

Stop... I told myself I was keeping NONE of them 😂

Day 59 with us folks... no babies yet!

She's eating great and is the thirstiest pig I've ever seen. (Doesn't help that she's also the loudest drinker I've ever heard, didn't realise water bottles could make such a loud noise!)

Hope it's nothing to be concerned about?

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 14/02/2024 09:28

Aaah yes I see what you mean with cleaning out - I think my mum used to do it about once a week 😬

marshmallowfinder · 14/02/2024 09:46

InAPickle12345 · 13/02/2024 21:21

Ah, that would be amazing... I think the only instance I would keep any of the babies is if it is an only girl and could live with my current 2.

Stop... I told myself I was keeping NONE of them 😂

Day 59 with us folks... no babies yet!

She's eating great and is the thirstiest pig I've ever seen. (Doesn't help that she's also the loudest drinker I've ever heard, didn't realise water bottles could make such a loud noise!)

Hope it's nothing to be concerned about?

Show quote history

Is the bottle releasing water well? Is it one of the big glass ones with a flat back and a ball in the spout or a crappy plastic one?

Original poster

InAPickle12345 · 14/02/2024 13:33

@marshmallowfinder yes, the bottle is fine and she's flying through the water. I think she's just really loud! 😂 She didn't seem to know how to use a bottle when she came to us, maybe drank from a bowl?

OP posts:

greengreengrass25 · 14/02/2024 18:26

I think the GPs like the ting ting sound of the bottle