Stillborns - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**envisionary333** · #1 05-27-07, 07:07 pm

My guinea pig gave birth today. I'm sorry to say that it was an intentional pregnancy. Several months back, before I had found this site, I decided to breed my two store-bought pigs. I did not realize that guinea pigs were available for adoption at the time, and I felt that pet store pigs weren't socialized and usually skittish. I wanted the experience of raising pups that would be socialized and well cared for from birth. I intended to keep all of the babies, male or female, one or eight, no matter what happened. I have a whole room devoted to my guinea pigs with a 55-square-foot cage, and I bring them vegetables on a silver platter every morning and evening. I feed them Oxbow hay and pellets and bring them every toy I can find. I took my pregnant girl to a highly qualified vet a couple weeks ago and they said she was in optimum health. They did an x-ray and I saw three baby piggies, of good size and almost ready to emerge. I felt confident that I had done the best I could for these precious little ones.
Today, I came downstairs to find one beautiful baby pig crawling beside his mother. I looked closer and saw that there were two more, but they weren't moving. I knew something was wrong. I didn't want to believe it, but to my horror, two of the babies were born dead. I can't begin to tell you how much heartache this has caused. If only I had been there as they were born, maybe I could have saved them... They were full size and I could see the color of their fur, but I will never know if they were boys or girls. They will never have names, never squeal with joy, never taste fresh hay, never be held and cuddled.
Please don't tell me I shouldn't have bred my guinea pigs. I wish I hadn't, and I hope my story can be a lesson to everyone who reads it. Even if you do everything right, everything in your power to make sure they are healthy, it is not all in your control. I am going to do everything I possibly can to make sure that my one remaining baby survives to live a long and happy life, but I will NEVER breed again. Ever.

**GailtheGuineaPg** · #2 05-27-07, 07:13 pm

I'm sorry this happened to you, it seems like such a terrible thing to experience. I hope that the survivor does well in it's new life!

**cavyinhawaii** · #3 05-27-07, 09:11 pm

I am glad you saw the light. I hope your story will help educate how dangerous breeding can be. Too many pigs in shelters need homes that is the best way to get a pig. I am glad you have joined the rest of us on the Anti breeding stand! Sorry it took a tragedy to get you there.
I would love to see a picture of your new baby.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #4 05-27-07, 09:21 pm

I'm sorry. The overpopulation problem is a reason why people shouldn't breed but these risks to the sow are also an issue. Just keep a close eye on the momma and weigh the baby daily.

It may have been a congentital thing, and nothing you could have prevented. Pet store pigs are usually inbred already from the pet mills.

**envisionary333** · #5 05-27-07, 11:09 pm

Thank you for the condolences. I just wanted to mention that after I found this site I really felt terrible about buying from pet stores and have adopted all of my piggies from shelters since then. I hope you understand that I am an animal lover at heart and I never intended to cause harm to any guinea pig, by breeding or by supporting pet stores. I appreciate the knowledge this site has provided because it allows me to give my guinea pigs a better life. Thank you.

Wheekie · #6 05-28-07, 12:29 am

I'm so,so very sorry that you and your Mommy Piggie had to suffer through this!But I believe that everything happens for a reason and when something awful happens,there's always a lesson to be learned in there somewhere!It sounds like you understand yours!I'm not preaching...believe me,I'd be the last one to preach!I got my first 2 Piggies from a pet store,too...before I knew any better!One of them died suddenly,after only 4 months.I feel so guilty,too and that's the kind of stuff I keep telling myself to try to keep from going crazy!Hope I helped you a little bit!Again,I'm so sorry!

**ellig123** · #7 05-28-07, 02:10 am

I am very sorry for your loss, I hope the surviving baby grows up to be a happy healthy pig and that the mum is ok.

**Fay** · #8 05-28-07, 03:03 am

Sorry for the loss of your two babies, I hope the one surviving will live a long and happy life. I can't wait to see a picture of mom and baby!

**envisionary333** · #9 05-28-07, 07:38 am

Here are some photos of the dad (Turtle), mom (Feria), and baby...

**Fay** · #10 05-28-07, 08:45 am

AWWW! that's the cutest baby ever! That is so cute haha! Makes me want to pig nap. How adorable, lucky piggy mom you are!

**masher** · #11 05-28-07, 09:25 am

Gorgeous baby

I'm very sorry to hear about the other 2 babies - I understand how terrible you must be feeling right now

Hopefully sometihng good can come out of this story and it will help to put others planning on breeding off of it.

**seagirl96** · #12 05-28-07, 10:42 am

You have three beautiful piggies. The baby is adorable! You have to look on the bright side now. After all, the mother could easily have died too. Thank you for being honest about starting off with the wrong idea. It will save someone from the same bad experience.

I bought a pregnant pet store piggy when I didn't know to adopt and when I was naive enough to believe she was too young to be pregnant. Watching my poor baby piggy go through pregnancy was sooo scary. She lived and the three babies were healthy but the strangest looking pigs I ever saw. It seemed to change the mama too. She is still sweet but not especially friendly with me or with other piggies. She lives with my neutered boar who is my avatar. She isn't very friendly to him, but he loves her madly.

**squeak3r** · #13 05-28-07, 05:26 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know that you feel bad about breeding them, so I won't comment on that.
On the interesting side: the baby looks like my FT pig! (oh, Fat Troblemaker pig -- all loving of course!)
Check this out!

FT has the same funky checkered pattern... his back legs and (excuse me pighood) are split down the middle, one black one white...
Do you know if the baby is a boy or a girl? Enjoy him/her, I know after all this that pig will be very loved!

Again, sorry you went through that.

**Piggersrule** · #14 05-28-07, 06:21 pm

Your new little piggy is adorable and he/she will have the best of both worlds living with you. I am so sorry for the loss of the other 2, it is a tragic thing to happen. Keep us updated on mama and her baby.

Wheekie · #15 05-29-07, 01:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by envisionary333

Here are some photos of the dad (Turtle), mom (Feria), and baby...

Awwww!!!!Soooo Sweet!!!!Even tho' two of the babies died,I'm glad the Mom survived...for her sake,your sake and for this little one's sake!

**piggly wiggly** · #16 05-29-07, 08:04 am

AWw baby is so cute, dad has some handsome colouring on him, and mom is beauiful. Does baby have a name yet? How about chubby checker..

**robinspiggies** · #17 05-29-07, 08:17 am

What a cute baby. Sorry for your loss.

**envisionary333** · #18 05-29-07, 11:24 am

Thanks to everyone again for the kind words. It really is helping me to appreciate how lucky I am to have these wonderful piggies even through the tragedy of losing two babies. I really hope this story will help someone else who is unaware of how many guinea pigs out there desperately need homes, as I was when I decided to breed.
I still can't tell if the baby is a boy or a girl, so I am holding off on names for now. I call the baby a "he" though because I find it impossible to just say "it!" Both mommy and baby are doing really well and I'm convinced he's going to make it. Daddy is just next door and he comes over to sniff the baby through the bars and he seems very proud! I will keep you updated on their progress.

**Percy's Mom** · #19 05-29-07, 12:08 pm

Has Turtle been neutered, or are you planning on it? Especially if you determine that the little one is a girl, you would be able to keep the whole family together if he was altered.

**envisionary333** · #20 05-29-07, 01:26 pm

Turtle is not yet neutered, and I will definitely want to have it done if the baby is a girl. It would be great to let them all have full run of the entire 55 square feet! I checked today and I believe the baby is a girl, but I will need confirmation on this in a week or two. The baby is still very small and it's hard to tell, even though I used the Cavy Spirit "sexing" page to try multiple methods of checking. Once I have confirmation I will go ahead and schedule a general checkup for Turtle, and hopefully a date for neutering can be set at that point. I'm sure he would love to be with them! He sleeps right by the cage divider so he can watch them all day, poor thing.

"Thank you, Wheekie, for this useful post," says:
envisionary333 (05-28-07)