Pregnant Pregnancy Advice - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

hayhay · #1 07-25-09, 12:11 pm

I am fairly new to piggy's but had one dumped off at my work, I of course had to take him home, next thing you know I have rescued 5 piggies and of course one very pregnant piggy 4 girls and one boy, he is housed seperate. I can feel a gap in her pelvis about one finger tip wide, any thoughts about when she could deliver? I see babies moving all over her and she seems to get frusterated when they move a lot, she even lays to eat now. She is in a cage alone but in the same room as the others.

**Seonta** · #2 07-25-09, 05:08 pm

She can be housed safely with the other 4 girls if she has gone through quarantine even after she has the babies (quarantine is supposed to be in a separate room but it's a little late for that).
Even after she has the babies they can all remain in the same cage provided it is large enough. The male should be kept separate and the babies seperated at 21 days old (males taken out of female cage).

**akstrohm** · #3 07-25-09, 06:52 pm

It sounds like she could deliver pretty soon. You should be feeding her (and the pups when they are born) either veggies with extra calcium, alfalfa based pellets, or some alfalfa hay in addition to grass hay. Don't forget to baby proof the cage. Also, make sure you have a vet experienced with cavies lined up. Pregnancy complications (including death) in guinea pigs are very common.

hayhay · #4 07-26-09, 12:49 am

I give them oranges, romaine, a great mix from Costco, some carrots and Timmy hay every day. We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will deliver ok and happy to know that she will never have to do this again and will get to live a great life inside with great food and not out in an outside cage in the heat ever again. Any thoughts as to when to introduce her to the other girls? I dont want to stress her but dont want her to have to stay alone? After the babies are born?

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 07-26-09, 01:53 am

Oranges are acidic and sugary so they are not good for daily feeding. Fruits should be fed in very small portions no more than once or twice a week at most. Most people are led to believe they are high in Vitamin C but in all actuality, they don't contain much C at all. You'd be better off giving bell pepper daily instead of oranges because bell peppers contain more C. You also need to limit carrots to no more than 1 small/medium sized baby carrot per pig per day. You could use a bit more variety in the diet. Especially since she's pregnant. A few extras like kale and parsley 3-4 times a week will benefit her because they are good sources of calcium.

hayhay · #6 07-26-09, 09:02 am

That is exactly what I was led to believe. I will switch it up, thank you very much for the advise, bell peppers, kale and parsley it is for my little fatty momma!

hayhay · #7 07-28-09, 11:21 am

Hello, well another 2 days and no babies. I knew for sure she was pregnant when I rescued her and one other from a horrible outside habitat at a dairy where she and 15 other piggies were kept, we live in an area that gets 110F in the summer, anyhow I could feel the babies when I palpated her belly (used to be a vet tech) that was about 5 weeks ago. She is so big and can hardly get around, babies are very active, lays to eat or even drink, am concerned as this morning she has a goopy eye. She is eating well and often, any thoughts?

**Ly&Pigs** · #8 07-28-09, 01:30 pm

Please keep all threads related to this pig and her pregnancy here on this thread instead of creating separate threads. Your threads have been merged. Thanks.

Pregnancy lasts from 59-73 days so there is no way to say exactly when she will have them.

I would be concerned about the goopy eye though. Often, signs like that could be an early indication of a URI.

hayhay · #9 07-29-09, 12:21 am

Thank you. Amazingly she had 6 little ones today in about 13 minutes, absolutely incredible. Everyone appears healthy and momma seems as if she is a professional. For all I know she has done this before, fortunately for her she will never have to again. I will seperate the babies at 21 days. When is the easiest time to sex the babies? She doesnt seem to mind if we touch them especially if we give her something. I have been keeping her in a space of her own, any thoughts on how long i should wait to put her in with my two other girls? She has not meet them yet, two young sisters, thought I would put up a barrier for them to meet when I figure out when that should be......I am very new at this but will do all the research needed.

**akstrohm** · #10 07-29-09, 08:25 am

I would try to sex them several times over the next few weeks and make sure that you are getting consistent results. It can be difficult the first few days. If you aren't sure at 21 days, ask a vet. Do you have a vet appointment to check out her goopy eye?

hayhay · #11 07-29-09, 10:19 am

I will do that, actually today her eye is fine, I do have some drops my vet gave me previously I used them yesterday and today and she looks great. Eating and hangin out with her babies. I will definately take the advise and chart my results because right now it is not easy as they are so little

**Ly&Pigs** · #12 07-29-09, 12:59 pm

I've found waiting until they are a week old to sex them helped me a lot.

6 pups, wow! I bet you have your hands full now. Congrats on all the new pups.

**NicholsS10** · #13 07-29-09, 02:34 pm

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would love to see some pictures!

"Thank you, akstrohm, for this useful post," says:
gooberific (07-29-09)