Pregnant Guinea Pig

[Sam_h19]

Hi There

We think one of our female guineas is pregnant as she has suddenly broadened and has a huge appetite! Looking for advice whether to separate her from here relatively newly bonded sow or keep them together?

Some context to the situation. We had a pair of bonded sows that lived happily together for the 6 months or so we had them together. they were bought as a pair from Pets at home.

Due to the extreme heat we sadly lost one of the sows to heat exhaustion around 6 weeks ago. Wanting to do the right thing we wanted to get our remaining sow a new companion and I was able to buy a single sow on gumtree aged 7 months (or so told). We acquired here the 14th July and when I collected here from a farm she was living with other piggies.

Bonding over the last 5 weeks has taken some time and I'm still not sure if a dominance hierarchy has been established! No fights have taken place but rumble strutting does continue from our original piggie and our new pregnant piggie will occasionally chatter her teeth and they will face off when contesting food but they generally get on quite well and are happy to be around one another.

At night they sleep in a crate/cage indoors together and in the day they will either go into an outside run on the grass or into a large 2 storey hutch.

I have gently picked up out pregnant piggy and felt her abdomen and I'm quite sure I can feel movement/pups. I think she may well give birth in the next few days and my reason for posting this is that I want to do all I can to make her most comfortable and safe. Do you think I should separate the 2 sows in advance of the birth or leave them ?together? I'm not sure how the non pregnant sow will react if the babies are born and if there will be any risk to mum or pups by keeping them all together?

Any advice would be appreciated

Regards Sam

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry you ended up with a potential pregnant sow. Unfortunately private guinea pig owners won’t necessarily tell you the entire truth.

I would not separate her from her friend. Sometimes they can help with the pups and schooling them. How long have they actually been together? You say introduction has been slow. Do you mean they were put together then separated several times before you left them together permanently?

While you wait for one of the experienced members, have a read of the guides below. They are comprehensive and tell you what you need to do before and after birth etc.

Fingers crossed all goes well.

Pregnancy, Mother & Baby Care Guides

PS did you have her checked over by the vet? Just a general check given where you adopted her from?

 

[Sam_h19]

I’m sorry you ended up with a potential pregnant sow. Unfortunately private guinea pig owners won’t necessarily tell you the entire truth.

I would not separate her from her friend. Sometimes they can help with the pups and schooling them. How long have they actually been together? You say introduction has been slow. Do you mean they were put together then separated several times before you left them together permanently?

While you wait for one of the experienced members, have a read of the guides below. They are comprehensive and tell you what you need to do before and after birth etc.

Fingers crossed all goes well.

Pregnancy, Mother & Baby Care Guides

PS did you have her checked over by the vet? Just a general check given where you adopted her from?

Hi There thanks for the reply and the helpful link you provided.

In answer to your question, they have been living together for 5 weeks or so now. Initially with a divider but now always together. They have never been separated since.

Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm sorry you now find yourself with a potentially pregnant piggy.

You should leave them together for as long as mum is happy to be with her companion. If things change and mum no longer wants her companion around, then they may need to be separated but doing so can risk them refusing to go back together again so you don’t want to separate unless you have to.

The end of this guide explains what to do if you have had to separate them
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...y-care-post-birth-nursing-and-weaning.109389/

 

[Free Ranger]

I might be missing something here but if she's pregnant somebody must be male... are you sure your new gumtree addition is really a girl?
If it turns out that she is actually a He you will have to separate at some point as if 'mum' does give birth he might try and mate her immediately after. So maybe just double check she is a she?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I might be missing something here but if she's pregnant somebody must be male... are you sure your new gumtree addition is really a girl?
If it turns out that she is actually a He you will have to separate at some point as if 'mum' does give birth he might try and mate her immediately after. So maybe just double check she is a she?

I’ve read it that the new gumtree addition is the pregnant piggy (so must be a sow) and was living with other piggies before coming to live with the OP five weeks ago so any pregnancy would have occurred prior to coming to the OP given the OPs other piggy is a sow

 

[Free Ranger]

Oh that would make a lot more sense. That'll teach me to try and cut down on caffeine!

 

[Sam_h19]

I’ve read it that the new gumtree addition is the pregnant piggy (so must be a sow) and was living with other piggies before coming to live with the OP five weeks ago so any pregnancy would have occurred prior to coming to the OP given the OPs other piggy is a sow

This is the scenario exactly. She must’ve been pregnant already.

 

[Sam_h19]

Hi there, just an update for you. 3 little pups arrived today and all are doing great! Mum and auntie and the 3 boys all (I think!) all doing well.

The resources here were a great help so thanks for the input I received.

 

[Siikibam]

So cute! congratulations. I’m glad it all went well. Do remember to weigh them daily, including mum.

Are they now inside all the time?

 

[Sam_h19]

I know! So adorable! We’ll, they were born in the outside hutch this afternoon. We’ve brought them inside into their crate which we do every night anyway. We have put Auntie into her own crate tonight just to avoid any issues in the night but they will likely all go out into the hutch or run on the grass tomorrow. Is that a good idea?

I know I shouldn’t but This little chaps my favourite

 

[Piggies&buns]

I know! So adorable! We’ll, they were born in the outside hutch this afternoon. We’ve brought them inside into their crate which we do every night anyway. We have put Auntie into her own crate tonight just to avoid any issues in the night but they will likely all go out into the hutch or run on the grass tomorrow. Is that a good idea?

I know I shouldn’t but This little chaps my favourite

Congratulations!

They need to be kept inside. Babies can’t regulate their temperature so if it warm outside and in the hutch during the day (and hutches get warm quickly) then they will quickly overheat.

I also don’t think they should be put on grass yet. Any access to grass needs to be built up very slowly.

If mum is happy to have her companion around, then leave them together. The guide below explains keeping their bond alive.

Make sure you weigh the babies every day to make sure they are growing well but also so you can be sure not to miss the weight cut off for separation given you think they are all boys (250g or 21 days old, whichever comes first).

What is your longer term plan for living arrangements if you do have three boys?

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...y-care-post-birth-nursing-and-weaning.109389/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...on-collection-incl-help-with-any-dads.191229/

 

[Wheekallweek]

Aaaah little cuties! Well done mum and well done you

 

[Merab]

Congratulations on your new arrivals.
Glad all went well.
The babies are so cute

 

[weepweeps]

. Such cuties. Good luck.