Hello!
While I am not new to guinea pigs, I just recently took in my first ever girl piggie! I have many reasons to suspect pregnancy, but I am woefully inexperienced in this area and predisposed to self-doubt, so I'm unsure.
Quick preface-- she is a pet store piggie (yes, I know, not ideal, but let me explain.) This pet store is small-town and fish based, by which I mean unsuited to other pets, and Henrietta and her pal were squeezed in a dirty, square foot box without food available. The store evidently knew nothing about guinea pigs, and didn't seem to care much. It was horrible. When i sexed them, i discovered yet another unethical practice-- Henrietta's pal was a boy. I hated the idea of a probably pregnant girly stuck in those conditions, and worse, babies being born in that filth.
I know, I know, you should always rescue first. But I took her in anyways. And, of course immediately upon getting her, I began to doubt myself. What if she isn't even pregnant? Did I overreact?
I have had Henrietta for a week now. She is supposedly 6 mo, and if so is very large for her age. She's like a little furry mini van. She is not eating much and is quite skittish, but I have no way to tell if this means anything more than regular "I am a new piggie and am not sure about this whole deal yet" behavior.
I know she was in the container with the male for at least two weeks, and likely longer. They seemed bonded, always cuddling, but they did not have much choice-- their house was so small. What is the likelihood she is pregnant? I've familiarized myself with the science, and am looking for answers more from experience. For now, I have been treating her as though she is: alfalfa hay, gentle handlng, vitamin c, ect. Just got a new scale yesterday for regular weighing.
(More context: Henrietta is 1008 g as of yesterday. She is not obviously pear shaped, but she has firm love handles on an otherwise thin frame.)
So, what's your guess on chances of pregnancy? Alas, the only sure way to know will come with time, but I welcome yoir speculation.
Thanks!!
While I am not new to guinea pigs, I just recently took in my first ever girl piggie! I have many reasons to suspect pregnancy, but I am woefully inexperienced in this area and predisposed to self-doubt, so I'm unsure.
Quick preface-- she is a pet store piggie (yes, I know, not ideal, but let me explain.) This pet store is small-town and fish based, by which I mean unsuited to other pets, and Henrietta and her pal were squeezed in a dirty, square foot box without food available. The store evidently knew nothing about guinea pigs, and didn't seem to care much. It was horrible. When i sexed them, i discovered yet another unethical practice-- Henrietta's pal was a boy. I hated the idea of a probably pregnant girly stuck in those conditions, and worse, babies being born in that filth.
I know, I know, you should always rescue first. But I took her in anyways. And, of course immediately upon getting her, I began to doubt myself. What if she isn't even pregnant? Did I overreact?
I have had Henrietta for a week now. She is supposedly 6 mo, and if so is very large for her age. She's like a little furry mini van. She is not eating much and is quite skittish, but I have no way to tell if this means anything more than regular "I am a new piggie and am not sure about this whole deal yet" behavior.
I know she was in the container with the male for at least two weeks, and likely longer. They seemed bonded, always cuddling, but they did not have much choice-- their house was so small. What is the likelihood she is pregnant? I've familiarized myself with the science, and am looking for answers more from experience. For now, I have been treating her as though she is: alfalfa hay, gentle handlng, vitamin c, ect. Just got a new scale yesterday for regular weighing.
(More context: Henrietta is 1008 g as of yesterday. She is not obviously pear shaped, but she has firm love handles on an otherwise thin frame.)
So, what's your guess on chances of pregnancy? Alas, the only sure way to know will come with time, but I welcome yoir speculation.
Thanks!!