Is My Piggy Pregnant or Anti-social

[bluemeanie]

I'm pretty new to being a piggy mommy and I don't know what to make of my little girls behavior. When I first got her (3 weeks ago) she loved to be picked up and held, but lately she dosen't want to be held at all. As soon as I pick her up she is desperately trying to get back down and into her pigloo she goes. She has no problem with people petting her, she sits perfectly still for that, until she has enough then she's off again. She is eating fine, runs around her cavy kingdom, everything is normal except for not wanting to be held. This is starting to create a problem because she has really long, wavy hair that has to be combed regularly and I haven't been able to give her a good brushing and I don't want her to end up matted. The guy I got her from thought she was a boy and I'm almost 100% sure he had her caged with a male pig, if I remember right. Can someone please tell me what the signs of a pregnant piggy are. Does this sound like pregnant pig behavior? Any info would be a great help. Thanks

 

[C&K]

Pregnant guinea Pigs often get very cranky with pregnancy, and not wanting to be held and even biting are common side effects. However, I think it usually more so with the later stages.

I am not up on the gestation period, but I think it is around 70 days. If she was with a male, she is almost for sure pregnant.

They don't hide prenancy very well usually, unless they are only having one baby. If you look at them from straight above, with a birds eye view, they get very pare shaped. Also, later on you will fell little lumps to the sides which are the babies. Like with humans you should feel fetal movement, especially if there is more then one, and unlike humans, (thankfully) right near the end, you will hear grinding of teeth.

How old is she? If she has not had pups before and is over 8 months - 1 year old, you may run into problems.

Here is a good link:
https://guinealynx.info/breeding.html

 

[bluemeanie]

She is 5-6 months old. She is also cranky. I also found it odd that when I put her and Patrick together for hang out time, he was eager to "befriend" her but she would just nip at him and was totally uninterested in his advances. Poor pigs have to live apart because I didn't want baby piggies and I may end up with them anyways. Luckily for Patrick he got fixed on Tuesday so he will be able to live with her in a few weeks. I hope they become best buds :hug: once they move in together. Maybe I can ask Fluffy Fluffersons if she can pee for an EPT!

 

[Kriket]

Maybe I can ask Fluffy Fluffersons if she can pee for an EPT!

I had actually thought of that with mine, but I figured that they definitly don't have the same hormones as us, or even if they do they're so small that it wouldn't register on there. If I had any extra just laying around I would have done it anyway though. :sarcastic

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Mites comes to mind. Pigs with mites don't often like to be held. Does she ever squeal when you hold her or does she have any small balding spots (other than behind the ears)?

 

[bluemeanie]

She doesn't have any balding spots,just long beautiful hair everywhere, I checked her after reading your post Ly. No squealing either. I read some things about mites on GL and she doesn't present with any physical signs of mites. She is a picture of piggy perfection until you try to handle her.

 

[aqh88]

If you can pet her without her getting upset it's probably not mites. Otherwise I would suggest treating her anyway since often times the only sign of a mild mite infestation is them not wanting to be touched.
Most guinea pigs don't like leaving their safe spot. That being their cage or their house and most don't like being in the open such as in the middle of the room even if it's in the middle of the room on your lap. It might help to take her farther away from her cage so she can't see it and try to get to it. When you first get a guinea pig they are scared and often won't move because of that but when they get more comfortable they'll try to escape back to their cage, loose onto the floor to play, or into a hiding place like a blanket. Even mine that like to be held will run under a blanket if given the chance. They are prey animals and just don't like being in the open unless they have been handled alot and are very comfortable with the environment they are in.