Advice Should I adopt a pregnant pig? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Xebby** · #1 09-29-09, 07:56 pm

I have been looking to adopt a third female guinea pig to add to my little community of two girls.

I found a sweet little 3 month old girl from a person who's guinea pig anciently had babies (pet store accident). The momma pig had two babies one boy and one girl, however, they were not separated in time and now the girl is most likely pregnant. I had already made arrangements to pick up the girl before I was told this. The owner already has two adults and doesn't have room/money to house the two young piggies she's trying to re-home.

I really think I can take the girl in but worried about what to do with the babies. I have a good vet who I can trust with pigs and I can manage my money to afford the cost. I don't mind baby-proofing the cage if I need to. What worries me is the health of the pig and finding the babies GOOD homes.

I'm sure I have the room for babies since I've expanded my cage to have a bottom level of 3 x 5 cubes with the second level sightly smaller then the bottom. I also have an additional third level that works as the hay loft.

Any suggestions or comments on what I should do/expect?

**Paula** · #2 09-29-09, 08:03 pm

I think if you have the time, money, and patience, you should do it. In fact I think it's admirable that you're even considering it. Many would just deem it someone else's problem and skip past her.

**jamie15701** · #3 09-29-09, 08:11 pm

If you have the time and resources, I think it would be a great idea. Do you have a large enough cage? Hopefully, she isn't pregnant (but more than likely is)...

**sdpiggylvr** · #4 09-29-09, 08:15 pm

NO!
Not unless you want several babies that you may not be able to give away. And then you won't know how they are taking care of the pigs, what they're doing with them, etc.

**Paula** · #5 09-29-09, 08:29 pm

I think you're obviously a caring person who has thought out the potential ramifications of this decision.

As to the question of the health of the female pig - it's always a gamble, really. In this case you happen to know what you're dealing with.

If you really feel you'll be tempted to keep the babies, that's something to consider, but I don't know that it's a 'what-if' that should necessarily be a deal breaker.

**Xebby** · #6 09-29-09, 08:42 pm

I think with the size of cage I have I could keep about 5 piggies conformably and could always expand my cage even more. If boys, I might consider neutering or re-homing but I can't say for sure right now on anything until it happens.

Either way she will still need a home along with the babies and if she stay at the home she's at it's not a the best environment for her.

**Peggysu** · #7 09-29-09, 08:44 pm

I think that if you have the patience, time, space and money that you should definitely do it. When the babies are born you can always post on this site in the adoptables section.

Like Paula said, it's definitely admirable that you would even consider this as she will probably be looked over by other people.

**vicky2** · #8 09-29-09, 09:02 pm

Ditto to the above. Besides, if you will end up re homing one or more, you can always rehome through this site or guinea pig home.

**Ly&Pigs** · #9 09-29-09, 09:27 pm

I commend you for wanting to take on that responsibility. You have a good heart. I also say if you have the money, time and a good vet and are ready for that kind of responsibility, go for it!

**Wodentoad** · #10 09-29-09, 10:02 pm

Wow, a 3x5?! Awesome. Once you've babyproofed and--just--well.....

Awwwwwwww!!!!

Much praise for your willingness to bring the mommy and her babies into your home. You must have a good heart. I look forward to updates.

**fieryone** · #11 09-29-09, 10:07 pm

Ditto to what everyone else has said. It sounds like you have the resources and the patience to do so and I think the mama pig would be lucky to have you and her possible babies would be lucky to have you to re-home them instead of someone who would give them away to the first person who came along.

**Xebby** · #12 10-01-09, 12:45 am

Well, she's home and yup, she so round that I have almost no doubt that she's pregnant.

She's so big for only being 3 months old. She's more then twice the size in length then my other two 6 month old females so she's probably going to be a huge piggy. I'm going to start weighing her.

I'll post some pictures soon but I want to let her get settled in first. She's hiding in a hidey right now so I'd rather not bother her for a picture.

**Peggysu** · #13 10-01-09, 12:49 am

Aww Congrat's on the adoption!! Good for you.

**Xebby** · #14 10-05-09, 12:13 am

Oh no, she's dead! I'm so sad, I don't know what I could have done differently. I had a vet appointment scheduled for her on Tuesday but guess it's too late now. I found her tonight in a hide-away and she was so stiff. She looked so peaceful with her head laying on the soft fleece. She was so young. Could it have been because she was pregnant? I thought that she was hiding so much because she was just getting adjusted to the new place and almost ready to give birth. I didn't even have a chance to get a good picture of her.

Her name was Iggie... :-(

**leyley904** · #15 10-06-09, 05:46 pm

I'm so sorry