I feel terrible...

[Sopher7132]

I have always taken excellent care of my guinea pigs and have provided them with a great home. Well, I adopted Harley, who is the only boy and I was going to have him neutered over the summer but I had some health problems that arose and his neutering had to be put on hold until I was feeling better.

Well, one day during floortime, he broke through the divider, which he has never done before. He got to the girls and unfortunately one of my girls is pregnant. Peanut. She is about 9 months old and we are prepared for vet costs if complications arise and thankfully my vet is right across the street from where I live so if something happens, running her over there will not be an issue.

I feel so awful. I am so against breeding and even though this was unintentional I just feel like a terrible owner. Even though I was very ill this past summer with cancer scans and what not, I should have kept a closer eye on the pigs and their floortime. I literally only left the room for ten minutes and he broke through. I am so scared I might lose Peanut if any problems arise, I just wish this never happened. I'm glad only one of them got pregnant and not all five of the girls but either way, this is not something I would have liked to happen. I'm so afraid of the problems that may arise with the pregnancy. This happened on July 25th and now I have noticed that she is pregnant as she is already showing and I can feel kicking in her belly. So far she is doing well. She is getting extra vitamin C and Im giving her some alfalfa hay along with her normal timothy hay, pellets, and extra veggies. Is there anything else I should know about caring for a pregnant pig?

I will be able to take care and house all of the babies if nobody I know does not want them. So luckily these babies will not end up in shelter and I have space to make my cage bigger and can definately afford to keep them, with money on the side incase of any emergencies and all the vet bills.

If Peanut has any boars I will house them with Harley and from now on, floortime for the girls will be during one time of the day and floortime for the boys will be at another time of the day. But from now on, never will I allow males and females out together, even if there is a divider. Depending on how many babies she has and if she has any boys I will look into neutering both Harley and the babies or either that I will make Harleys cage bigger and house the boys with him. I know that I have to be prepared to do seperating as fighting may accure. If she has only girls then Harley will definately be neutered so that he can live happily with the girls.

I know a lot of people are going to chew me out for this mistake, which I diserve for being careless, but I just wanted to post this so that people realize how fast a pregnancy can happen and even when you think you are being as careful as possible, things can happen. It's EXTREMELY important, if you have male and female guinea pigs to ALWAYS supervise.

I just feel so awful because I added to the guinea pig overpopulation problem. Even though none of these pigs will end up in a shelter, I feel like if this never would have happened maybe I could have adopted a few more pigs so that a cage would open up in a shelter. If they arrested people for this I would turn myself in. I feel so awful.

[JennG]

You know it was not done on purpose. Don't beat yourself up. You are obviously a good piggie parent and are well prepared for the pregnancy! It was an accident and accidents happen. My goodness! You were ill. It's not like you didn't do it because you wanted to breed them or that you were too busy by nonessential things to have taken care of this. Luckily, your vet is across the street for when she does have the baby(ies). And she's under 1 year of age, so hopefully things will go well. It will be ok!

[Mommy Of One]

Don't worry so much. You sound like you are doing your best now and since you were sick ofcourse it isn't your fault at all. This is off topic but I really do hope you are doing better now? We are all here for you. I am assuming you are going to keep any babies? Don't even think about it because it is no use and will likely just get yourself upset. Take care, and just know we are willing to help you get through this.

[ginniemama]

I am still new to this forum but I can tell from reading different posts and different tones to the posts that there are genuine individuals including yourself that is against breeding such as myself. I bought my first little girl at a pet store before I found this site and my neighbor trying to cheer me up after a family tragedy bought me another little girl from a pet store that is now pregnant. If I would have found this site prior to purchasing my little girl I would have adopted from a shelter. I have 2 dogs and have adopted them from shelters. I have always been against breeding and am appalled at myself for purchasing my girls. In saying this, accidents happen. You are in a position where you can take care of the babies. Please do not beat yourself up about this. It was not intentional and I can tell by your tone that you feel absolutely horrible. You are not a breeder, you are a loving mother that has been ill and an accident happened. I will keep your angel in my prayers that she and her babies will be okay. Please keep us posted on the health of all your angels.

[Sopher7132]

Thank you so much for the kind posts. I was honestly expecting a verbal beat down! And I am starting to get better so in a few weeks I will definately be feeling great again, thank you for asking. I will definately be keeping the babies if a few friends of mine decide they are not ready for a guinea pig or two. At least I learned a lesson and I know Peanut will be in the best possible care I can give her. I hope she isn't mad at me for losing her slim figure =D. You all have made me feel a bit better about the situation. I know this wasn't done on purpose and accidents do happen so I guess the most important thing now to do is follow the pregnancy and I have been writing down her weight each week and keep an extra close eye on her.

Her personality has changed though. It's as if she has already begun to be showing motherly ways. She always used to pick on Gizmo and barber her and now she doesn't anymore. I find her snuggling with the other girls and normally if one of the girls is in her way she will give them a little nip to make them move but now she patiently waits her turn.

It was quite neat to feel the babies kick the other night. I've never felt something like that before so it was neat. I got all emotional about it haha. It's as if she is giving birth to MY babies. I'm just VERY glad I found this forum to help me with any questions or concerns I may have to give my pigs the best possible care.

I've been doing as much homework as I can on guinea pig pregnancy and I'm glad I will be able to keep the babies, I would feel ten times worse if this happened and I would have to end up giving them to a shelter.

Thanks so much again for the kind thoughts, it has helped me not to beat myself up about it too much. Hey, maybe I'll even throw a piggy baby shower! =D

[Mommy Of One]

Haha.
I know if there are any other member in your area they will be willing to help out with the piggie shower. Haha. So glad you are feeling well. You sound like your doing an excellent job so keep it up. Maybe tell your vet and get a check up as she goes along into the pregnancy?

[Sopher7132]

Oh yes that's a great idea! I'm going to take Peanut to the vet in a few weeks and let my vet know whats going on so she is aware. Thank you for reminding me!

[Fluffy_Guinea]

Don't feel bad it was an accident and you were sick it is not your fault don't beat yourself up. By your posts I can tell you are a very loving and caring cavy mother. I know you will make a great mom for those future baby piggers to.

[pignewton]

I dont think anyone here is so cold that they would give you a hard time about a very honest mistake. Only intentional breeders and people that take careless chances are likely to be chastised. Dont be too hard on yourself. You have learned your lesson and are willing to be responsible for the consequences. Also, you are providing an educational service to the rest of us that may have never considered that a boar could break through a divider. Good luck on the babies and I hope that you 100% well now too.

[thalestral]

I think it's amazing that you are going to keep all the babies and make space for them. I don't mean to sound condescending but you are setting such a good example for all who read this

Accidents happen but few are as happy to accept the consequences as you. Your piggies are so very lucky to have you as a piggie momma and I hope you and Peanut continue to do well

[piggiesinpa]

Don't beat yourself up over this. You already have a plan for what may happen and everything else is out of your control. You can't change what happened but at least you are conscious of what happened and have a plan from here.

[envisionary333]

Wow, what a heartfelt and touching post by a member who clearly adores her guinea pigs and wants nothing but the best for them. Please, please, please don't be so hard on yourself. Before I found this site, I intentionally bred my piggies with the hopes of raising well-socialized and healthy babies to keep for myself. When I found this site my girl was already pregnant, and I was so ashamed that I didn't say anything. I felt like the worst person on the planet. My girl gave birth to two stillborns and one healthy girl, who is now a very sweet little treasure of mine. You have NO idea how guilty I felt after I realized how many piggies need homes and how much risk I was putting my girl through.

When I finally mustered up the strength to make a post about my experience, I did it so that others who are considering breeding wouldn't make the same mistake, and every word of it was pained and tearful. Amazingly, the members here have been so supportive and helpful through the whole experience. I have since adopted seven piggies who desperately needed homes, including two four-year-olds that were on death row. While I still can't forgive myself, I'm doing everything I can to make up for my mistake and help prevent others from breeding intentionally.

What you have done is completely understandable and not your fault in any way. I am genuinely sorry to hear that you have been going through some health issues, and beating yourself up over something like this is the last thing you need on top of it all! You are a fantastic owner, and I have been amazed at the kindness and enthusiasm you demonstrate, as well as the great cages you have constructed and the responsibility you clearly display.

I wish you nothing but good wishes with your girl's pregnancy, and if any questions come up please don't hesitate to ask! Having gone through it myself, I can completely sympathize with how nerve-wracking it can be. We will help you out every step of the way so you can stay positive and focus on getting yourself healthy!

[clotho]

I hope you will read all these kind posts and really take them to heart. You are not a terrible, heartless person. You made an honest mistake and you will never let it happen again. We can tell you love your piggies very much and you are taking responsibility for the consequences by being willing to keep the babies and give them a good home.

If you do give any away, please make certain they go in same sex pairs or to someone who has a lonely piggie, so they won't live alone. And please make sure they will have big cages & all the right care just like they would if you kept them.

I will share my story with you too. I bought my daughter our first piggie, Cookie. We were assured it was definately a male by the petstore. I knew next to nothing about piggies, and shamefully she was kept in poor conditions. As she grew, I wanted something bigger for her to live in, so we adopted a piggie from one of my daughter's friends. They didn't want him anymore. Assuming we had two males, we let them live together in the petstore cage that came with him. I am disgusted with myself now for letting them live in such small, terrible conditions.

They lived together for almost a year before we were surprised with 3 little presents just before Christmas last year. Imagine my surprise when I saw the babies in the cage! I knew I had to get the male out of there - but which one was the male?! I scrambled online to get some pics and got the male separated. I needed bigger cages - I could see that - so I set out looking and finally found this site. It has changed my and my piggies lives dramatically (for the good).

I kept all three babies, built huge C&C cages, separated the males from the females, and all was well. Then I discovered that cavies can get pregnant immediately after the birth, and my Cookie was pregnant a second time. She was already pregnant again before I even knew the babies were in the cage. I was terrified - I was reading all the risks - especially for back to back pregnancies. Luckily she had three healthy babies. I kept them too, separated the male and put him in with the other boys.

These piggies are my responsibility and I take very good care of them now. But I still feel guilty about how I treated them before, and how Cookie had two pregnancies. I feel terrible that I could have rescued some piggies if we hadn't had 6 babies.

And now to make matters worse, a couple months back my wonderful daughter made a terrible mistake and accidently put one of my males into the girls' cage. I discovered him about 10 min later, but still - he had managed to try to mate with all four girls. I am still in the midst of vet visits now trying to determine what is going on with one of those girls, Zoro. I was positive she was pregnant, but she didn't gain the weight she should have etc. So maybe the babies died in her, I'm not sure yet. My vet was on vacation and I tried taking her to another vet in the practice, but she had NO experience with pregnant piggies and couldn't help me. I have an apt this afternoon to finally find out what's going on with my little Zoro.

I don't know if reading any of that will make you feel any better - other than the fact that many of us have made mistakes. I think it's important to own up to those mistakes and take responsibility for them as you are. I commend you for that.

I also hope that you make a full recovery and feel better very soon!

As an aside from my long story, if this incident happened on July 25th, that would make your piggie only 4 weeks pregnant. You may notice some weight gain by then, but I would think only someone very experienced would be able to feel the babies. It's more like 7 weeks where you can feel the babies starting to move. Is it possible she's farther along than you think? Or perhaps what you are feeling isn't actually baby movement?

[JennG]

You do know that there is a rule about babies.....We want to see lots and lots of pigtures! And if one of those babies born turns out to be a himi girl, I would more than happy take her off your hands. hahaha! Good luck. How long do you think she's been pregnant? Sounds like she's pretty far along.

[Fluffy_Guinea]

Yeah we need to see lot's of pigtures or we'll hunt you down and steal your piggies. Hehe just kidding I would never take anyone's babies away I know how it feels except there's no chance of getting mine back but that's off topic so make sure we have plenty of pigtures and it's not your fault don't beat yourself up

[TX_2_Pigs]

I know that you did not intend for that to happen and I hope everything goes well.

Experiences like yours and Clotho's is exactly why I refuse to even let another piggy of the opposite sex into my home. I know my children. I know my guests and I guarantee that I would have babies if I had opposite sexes in the house. I have already almost lost one of my boys because when one of the nephews was visiting, he got Harry out of the cage and then put him down on the floor in my son's room. AND LEFT! He left him running loose in the bedroom! I was so panicked until we found him running around under the bed.

[jilovecavies]

I can't say anything that the other members haven't said, but just know that we're here for you. You really are a great piggie mother, and I'm glad that if this had to happen, it happened to someone who genuinely adores piggies and won't abandon them. Thank you for your post-pregnancy really can happen very quickly. Don't beat yourself up-no one is perfect, and you did NOT do it intentionally. Everything will be ok, and we really are here for you. We're a family!

[Ly&Pigs]

The moral of the story is that you are learning from your mistakes and are taking the correct steps to see that it doesn't happen again, you are going to keep the babies and you've learned supervising during floortime if both sexes are involved is extrememly important. For it truly does only take a moment for a pig to get pregnant.

I hope all goes well with your sow and that she delivers fine.

[naturegal592]

I just may have been hit with a double wammy! I rescued a little female that was kept with her litter mates, I noticed she is starting to poof out in the back and her nipples are swollen. I too will keep the babies if I can't find a friend who wants one. My mom will take one or two, she fell in love with mine. Then, my cockapoo got her first heat cycle and a very clean one at that, my vet pointed it out while getting shots. The people next door don't know how to keep there pug (Rocko) home and I think he got my Sophie. So now I might end up with baby piggies and "Pugerpoos." I feel just awful too, I had no idea that she was in-season! She is my first female dog and I didn't notice or look for the swelling and there was no mess. I used to work at out local shelter and am very aware of our overcrowding problem and now look at me. I just prey that everything goes OK for all of our babies.

[Sopher7132]

I honestly can't not express my thanks enough to you all. You all have been so supportive and I feel so much better for what happened. Thank you for sharing you stories as well. I realize that even the best piggy owner can make mistakes. I will DEFINATELY post pigtures of the little ones and videos as well (since I'm already a pyscho with the video taping even though there aren't babies yet!) Peanut got pregnant July 25th, so she is about almost exactly a month pregnant. Her babies are already kicking! I am very very careful handeling her and now I only pick her up if it is nessecary. Once the babies are two weeks old and hopefully are healthy I'm going to run them over to my vet and have the sexed. I do NOT want something like this happening again.

I do have a question though. Peanut is living with four other girls. Two of those girls are about 5 months old and a little wild. When Peanut is getting closer to giving birth, should I house her seperately? I know my two older females would do just fine with her but the two little ones I'm a bit concerned about. I dont want peanut to be giving birth and crazy Gizmo jumping all over her.

Also, once the babies are born, is it okay to have Peanut and the babies living in the same cage as the other girls? Or should I put together a whole new cage so that Peanut can be alone with her babies while she nurses them and what not?

Or should I house Peanut with Harley so he can be with the babies as well?

When I was little we had a pig who had babies but I was too young to remember exactly how we dealt with it. So, this is technically my first time playing piggy "grandma"

I really appreciate all the positive posts and also the stories from everyone. It really has helped me stopped beating myself up as much and get a bit excited about the little rugrats coming. Your posts and the stories that were posted have helped me take even more precautions and I think the most important thing that I gained out of this whole experience is a good lesson. Guinea pigs can mate SO quickly in the blink of an eye.