How Long Are Guinea Pigs Pregnant?

Guinea pigs are adorable, sweet pets that love to express themselves by chattering, squealing, and wheeking. Some guinea pigs have swirls of long hair, while others have coats of soft, short hair. They can be one solid color, two colors, or multicolored. Many owners could spend hours watching their furry friends jump, run, hide, and chomp on the hay in their cages.

Some guinea pig owners take their pet adventure a step further by breeding their guinea pigs. Naturally, someone who is new to guinea pig breeding has a lot of questions. One of the most basic questions is: How long is a guinea pig pregnant? Keep reading to find out how long you have to prepare for your new arrivals, the signs your guinea pig is about to give birth, and what to do after the babies are born.

How Do I Know If My Guinea Pig Is Pregnant?

With all of that fur, it can be difficult to determine whether a female guinea pig is pregnant. Fortunately, there are some specific signs to look for. Weighing a female guinea pig once a week is one idea. If she starts out as a two-pound guinea pig and her weight slowly increases each week, it can be a sign of pregnancy. A pregnant guinea pig can sometimes see an 80% weight increase.

A kitchen vegetable scale with a bowl or dish on top is appropriate for weighing a guinea pig. The bowl or dish can be made of stainless steel or plastic. Be sure to keep your hand close to the guinea pig when she is on the scale to keep her from jumping out and injuring herself. Putting the scale on a low table or even on the floor can help to keep your pet safe during the weighing process.

A second way to tell whether a guinea pig is pregnant is to watch her eating habits. A pregnant guinea pig is going to eat more than usual to nourish the young developing inside of her. She may eat three times as much as she usually does. Give her the normal amount of food, then observe how long it lasts.

Seek Veterinary Care

If you suspect your guinea pig is pregnant, take her to a small animal veterinarian. A vet can perform a physical examination to determine whether a guinea pig is going to have babies. He or she may even be able to give you an idea of the due date. Furthermore, a veterinarian can offer tips on how to take the best care of your pet during pregnancy and afterward.

Proper veterinary care is especially important if your guinea pig is over 8 months of age. As female guinea pigs mature, the tough cartilage between the pubic bones of the pelvis stiffens. If a female has not already had a pregnancy before this occurs, there can be serious complications.

How Long Are Guinea Pigs Pregnant?

As with most animals, the length of gestation can vary to a degree. However, most guinea pigs have a pregnancy that lasts from 59 to 72 days. A litter typically ranges from 1 to 8 pups. However, 2 to 4 pups are more common.

Female guinea pigs can have up to 5 litters each year. However, experts warn that breeding can reduce your guinea pig’s lifespan. To avoid future pregnancies, it is best to house guinea pigs of opposite sexes separately.

Caring for a Pregnant Guinea Pig

Stress can cause health issues for a pregnant guinea pig. As the due date approaches, avoid holding the pregnant female unless it’s necessary. Her body is vulnerable to injury, and it can be very stressful for her. One way to lessen a pregnant guinea pig’s stress is to put the cage in a quiet environment. If the cage is in a family room where the guinea pig can hear doors slam and the television blaring, move the cage to a quiet bedroom.

A pregnant guinea pig needs to get enough rest. Putting the cage in a quiet room is going to help your pet get the proper amount of sleep. Also, in a room with less activity, the guinea pig won’t be disturbed by lights being turned on and off at all times of the day or night.

Make sure your pregnant guinea pig has unlimited hay, supplemented with alfalfa hay, which has more protein and calcium. Feed your guinea pig plenty of vegetables and fruits. It’s also important to ensure she receives calcium and vitamin C supplements for the developing pups. The more vitamins and nutrients the mother consumes, the healthier her babies will be. Avoid overfeeding pellets, however, as this can result in larger babies.

How Can You Tell When a Guinea Pig Is Ready to Give Birth?

Now that you know approximately how long a guinea pig is pregnant, you know when to start looking for signs that the guinea pig is close to giving birth. A guinea pig that’s close to giving birth is likely to keep to herself. She may lie around in her cage and not respond to your words or efforts to play. She is likely conserving her energy in preparation for giving birth and nursing her young.

When your guinea pig goes into labor, her body may make hiccup-like motions. This means she is having contractions and the birthing process is moving forward. When this happens, it’s best to avoid touching the female. She is doing the serious work of giving birth, and she may see your hand in the cage as a risk to her babies. She has natural instincts and knows what to do.

What Should I Do After the Babies Are Born?

After the babies are born, the mother starts to nurse them. In terms of caring for the babies, the mother does all the work. The newborns nurse until they are around 3 weeks old. However, they can eat some solid foods, such as moistened pellets, within the first 2-3 days.

Give your pet healthy food and fresh water every day. Eating nutritious food allows her to give her babies enough milk whenever they need it. Wait at least two weeks before trying to hold any of the babies. It may be tempting to hold them right away, but their bodies are delicate. In short, they can be hurt very easily if handled too soon. Furthermore, a new mom is likely to become stressed out if you try to reach into the cage and take one of her babies.

You can clean the cage of a female and her new babies, but do it carefully. Instead of giving it a full cleaning by removing all of the bedding, gently scoop out wet or soiled shavings and replace them with fresh ones. You’ll be able to give the cage a thorough cleaning after the babies are a few weeks old. However, when a female has newborns, it’s best to avoid disturbing her as much as possible.

It is worth noting that a new mother can become pregnant again soon after giving birth. Additionally, the newborns themselves mature quickly and can become parents at a young age. Female guinea pigs reach sexual maturity around 2 months of age, while males mature in 2-3 months. Therefore, it is important to monitor their ages closely and separate males and females promptly to prevent unwanted pregnancies.