If the labor extends longer, be prepared to rush her to the Vet. This results in a normal sized pelvis that isn't particularly flexible. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. Large pups that try to pass through this fused pelvis can have problems. If you are wondering how long it takes for guinea pigs to give birth, it usually lasts around 10 minutes to half an hour. Interesting fact – The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14! In fact it is one of the most difficult animals to accurately predict. Your pet guinea pig will live 5–7 years, on average. Let’s be clear, a newborn guinea pig should not leave its mother’s side for at least 3 weeks. A guinea pig’s pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. The first baby should appear after 5 minutes of labor. They cannot make their own vitamin C and require supplementation or they may develop scurvy. I think my guinea pig is really near giving birth. When to Get a Baby Guinea Pig. It's the first time for us as a family to be part off something so special. Not only are the signs not very obvious, but in addition the gestation period is long and a nest isn't built to house the babies. Since baby guinea pigs are born fully furred and ready to go, the mother guinea pig is at increased risk of experiencing health problems during and after pregnancy. The birth canal of the female guinea pig (also known as a sow) is relatively narrow. But if diet, environmental changes, poor care, stress or neglect occurs, sick guinea pigs are not easy to cure. Some contributing factors are malnutrition, stress, obesity, fasting, dietary changes, large fetal load, heat stress, and lack of exercise. As delivery approaches and your guinea pig increases in size, handle her very carefully or not at all. I can feel there is a little bump at her side. In this crucial period after birth, the baby cavy needs to be nursed in a safe environment with the mother. In the pregnant female, the pelvic canal relaxes and stretches in response to hormonal secretion. The time between the birth of each of the babies is between 3 and 5 minutes. Guinea pigs get various tumors, particularly skin and mammary tumors. Health problems among guinea pigs that live alone are usually related to aging, dental disease, reproductive disorders, injury, or improper care. Pregnant guinea pigs can develop serious medical problems like pregnancy toxemia and hypocalcemia. In those cavies that are not bred before 7 months of age, the developing pelvic bones will fuse together. Sometimes only 1 will be born and on the rare occasion a Guinea Pig may have up to 8. Guinea Pigs will usually give birth to 2 to 4 babies. Hoping this is normal. Guinea pig pups tend to be quite large when born and birthing problems can easily occur. Twenty four hours can bring about a lot of changes after the birth of a litter of guinea pig pups. For example, the mother guinea pig may experience a difficult birth and end up with a prolapsed uterus. Knowing when not to interfere can be the hardest part of witnessing a birth or having a litter of young pups to care for. The entire process should not … It is the first time she is giving birth. I noticed today their generals seemed swollen for a while and then by the eve they were fine. Failure … Guinea pigs also get abscesses (accumulations of pus and bacteria) in lymph nodes, skin, muscles, teeth, bones, … Once the birth begins, the guinea pig will stay immobile and the pups (name for baby guinea pigs) will be birthed quickly. Monitor the mother guinea pig for pregnancy complications. Answer (1 of 16): Unfortunately, it is very difficult to determine when a guinea pig is about to give birth. Intestinal parasites are … As the guinea pig grows, the pelvic canal fuses to become a permanent bony bridge in males and unbred females. 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