Need advice and help

[wooden-giraffe]

Oh my god, that picture of Tootsie looks exactly like my guinea pig who i suspect is pregnant. She has two knots on either side of her tum - one side a bit bigger.
o heck. at least i can prepare.

 

[pigluvinARK]

Ok, I think I really messed up. I feel lower than dirt right about now. I am not so sure that Tootsie isn't pregnant after all. But the sad part is that it happened here. I feel like a terrible piggie mommy. I let them all have floor time once. That was on Valentines Day. I have been weighing them just about weekly. Well this past week Tootsie gained 4 ounces. She weighed 949grams on March 23, and today she weighs 1050grams. So from 2.1 to 2.5 in one week. That would make her due around the 18th of this month. Luke is scheduled to be neutered this Friday. But I apparently wasn't quick enough.:ashamed: Here is a few pics of Tootsie from a few minutes ago. Please tell me that I am wrong and I have nothing to worry about!

 

[suzilovespiggie]

I don't think the pictures came thru. At least not for me.
I have never had babies, so I would not be much help, but am rooting that all goes well.

 

[pigluvinARK]

Sorry power went off but I will load pics now.

 

[ferndalezoo]

That looks like a pregnant pig to me. You really are going to need to work with a good exotics/small animals vet on this one, as "older" females (i've heard anything over about 6 months) often have major difficulty in delivering a first litter, which could be fatal for both mom and babies.

 

[madakri]

That sure looks like a pregnant piggie.

If the piggie is over 6 to 7 months of age and this would be her first delivery, she may have complications.

The link bellow will give you a better idead of what to expect.

Link removed by Ly: contains breeding advice.

I recently went through this in January 09.
I lost many nights of sleep watching over my Yuna.

Good luck!

 

[pigluvinARK]

That looks like a pregnant pig to me. You really are going to need to work with a good exotics/small animals vet on this one, as "older" females (i've heard anything over about 6 months) often have major difficulty in delivering a first litter, which could be fatal for both mom and babies.

That is what I was afraid of. I have a vet that is about 30 miles away. I am going to talk to her Friday when I take Luke in. I feel awful. I never meant for this to happen. Is there anything I need to do for her in the meantime? Food, supplements, or anything else? She is living with a female cage mate. Should I separate them until after she has the babies, or will they be ok together? I am going to get more coroplast this week and add higher walls to the cage. I am also going to add another 1x2 to the cage. That will give them a 2x5. Is this going to be big enough for awhile?

Sorry about all the questions, I am just so lost and mad at myself. :ashamed:

 

[madakri]

That is what I was afraid of. I have a vet that is about 30 miles away. I am going to talk to her Friday when I take Luke in. I feel awful. I never meant for this to happen. Is there anything I need to do for her in the meantime? Food, supplements, or anything else? She is living with a female cage mate. Should I separate them until after she has the babies, or will they be ok together? I am going to get more coroplast this week and add higher walls to the cage. I am also going to add another 1x2 to the cage. That will give them a 2x5. Is this going to be big enough for awhile?

Sorry about all the questions, I am just so lost and mad at myself. :ashamed:

Don't beat yourself over this, it's really not your faullt.
You need to keep it together for yuor piggie, if she's never had babies before and she's past 6 months, you really need to take her to the vet.
If it's determined, by the vet, that she might have complications, then they will probably recommend a C-section.

I don't think it will be a problem to leave her caged with the other female if there hasn't been any problems with behavior so far.
However, "DO" make sure the other piggie is a girl.

Let me look for another link for further info.

 

[madakri]

http://www.guinealynx.info/breeding.html

Handling pregnant cavies:
http://www.guinealynx.info/handling.html

 

[pigluvinARK]

I had them both to the vet a few weeks ago. The vet said that both "girls" looked really good. She said at the time that she didn't think they were pregnant. But at the time we thought that maybe they came to me that way. So now I know that it was my mess-up. But I did check the other female. And she really isn't showing any signs of being pregnant. She has gained a little but it is only like an ounce. But her weight goes up and down a little at times.

I really appreciate all the help and advice. I am going to talk to the vet Friday and see what she says. I will probably take her in the first of next week for another exam. And thank you for not slamming me about being irresponsible, I am beating myself up enough for everyone.

 

[madakri]

I had them both to the vet a few weeks ago. The vet said that both "girls" looked really good. She said at the time that she didn't think they were pregnant. But at the time we thought that maybe they came to me that way. So now I know that it was my mess-up. But I did check the other female. And she really isn't showing any signs of being pregnant. She has gained a little but it is only like an ounce. But her weight goes up and down a little at times.

I really appreciate all the help and advice. I am going to talk to the vet Friday and see what she says. I will probably take her in the first of next week for another exam. And thank you for not slamming me about being irresponsible, I am beating myself up enough for everyone.

Don't do this to yourself, accidents do happen and it's ok to make mistakes, we all do.

Just make sure you take her back to the vet as soon as you can, to avoid any delivery complications.

Keep us updated.

 

[Adorable]

The people I got them from said that their daughter lost interest in them and just did not want them anymore. I am starting to wonder if it was because she got a new younger piggie. It kind of upsets me that she would choose not to tell me everything though.

I just wish they had told me. It wouldn't of changed my mind about giving them a loving home. But I would have been watching for the signs just in case. I could of also been giving them Alfalfa hay.

I don’t understand why you started this thread by blaming the previous owners if you knew she (or they) had been exposed to a male in your care. Perhaps if you had divulged that bit of info to the vet, an ultrasound could have been done then to be sure.

She does look pregnant to me now (in my very limited experience) and I hope there are no complications.

 

[pigluvinARK]

I don’t understand why you started this thread by blaming the previous owners if you knew she (or they) had been exposed to a male in your care. Perhaps if you had divulged that bit of info to the vet, an ultrasound could have been done then to be sure.

She does look pregnant to me now (in my very limited experience) and I hope there are no complications.

I didn't know what I was looking for to be honest. I am a very new cavy owner. I didn't know that all it took was one second of action for one to get pregnant. But I wont apologize for my outlook on the previous owner. I seen another post that they had made a week ago looking for a guinea pig. So like I said, they were not little and cute no more to them.

But I am taking action to ensure that this never happens in my home again. Luke is getting fixed this Friday. I was going to get him fixed sooner but he was sick. And like I said before I did not mean for this to happen. I wish I could magically make her unpregnant.

At least I am willing to admit that I was wrong and that this is my fault. That is alot more than most would of done. I called the vet today and they said that I could bring her in and they would check her and make sure that everything is ok with her. So I am going to try to get her in the first of next week.

Sorry if I offended you, but I didn't intentionally start this thread to blame someone else for my mistake. The reason she was getting fat to start with was because of the proper food. They were not getting the proper diet at their previous owners home. No hay, no veggies, just Walmart pellets. So due to getting all the nutrition they needed it caused them both to gain weight, which I mistook for pregnancy.

But I guess I learned a valuable lesson, just sad to say at my piggies expense. :ashamed:

 

[akstrohm]

It sounds like you're on the right track; don't be too hard on yourself. Hopefully the vet appointment goes well.

 

[Paula]

In case you don't know, after you have him neutered, you have to wait 3-4 weeks before he should be exposed to females because he's still fertile until the sperm in the reproductive tract dies completely. My vet always says 5-6 weeks to be on the safe side, but GL says 3.

Going forward, common sense suggests not to put an intact male with females - no matter how limited the duration - unless you want pregnant pigs. But there's no going back, sadly, and so the best thing to do is move forward and make sure you are doing everything you can to keep the pregnant pig(s) comfortable and healthy to (hopefully) ensure a safe delivery for mother(s) and babies. It does sound like you're on the right track for that, so best wishes to you and to them.

 

[pigluvinARK]

In case you don't know, after you have him neutered, you have to wait 3-4 weeks before he should be exposed to females because he's still fertile until the sperm in the reproductive tract dies completely. My vet always says 5-6 weeks to be on the safe side, but GL says 3.

Going forward, common sense suggests not to put an intact male with females - no matter how limited the duration - unless you want pregnant pigs. But there's no going back, sadly, and so the best thing to do is move forward and make sure you are doing everything you can to keep the pregnant pig(s) comfortable and healthy to (hopefully) ensure a safe delivery for mother(s) and babies. It does sound like you're on the right track for that, so best wishes to you and to them.

I have been cramming up on neutering so yes we are planning on keeping him separate for at least 4 weeks. So he has another 5 weeks before him and Layla can live together.

As far as the others go, we were watching the whole time they were in the pen. Tootsie was the only one that he mounted. And he only got about 2 seconds with her when he was whisked away. I held him for a little while then he went back to his cage until the girls were done with floor time. Then he was put back out. So we only have Tootsie that could possibly be pregnant. And yes it was stupid on my part. I should have known better. But I honestly didn't think that 2 seconds would cause this. Now I know better.

My only concern is making sure Tootsie comes through this ok. Because like I stated before, I don't know anything prior to them living with me. So I don't know if she has had any litters or not. But hopefully the vet can help us make a plan just in case anything does go wrong. Plan for the worst but hope for the best.

Is there anything I should increase with her veggies? I had seen somewhere to give kiwi a few times a week, not sure though.

 

[Paula]

Extra alfalfa and calcium rich veggies.

Here's a good GL thread on pregnancy:
http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2734

 

[katiewilson]

Tootsie was the only one that he mounted. And he only got about 2 seconds with her when he was whisked away.

It's unfortunate that you're learning this lesson the hard way, but it's good that you're taking care of it the right way and vowing to be more careful.

But since it's all said and done...am I the only one that thinks it's kinda funny that Luke finally got his wish and had 2 glorious seconds with Tootsie...on Valentine's Day?

Seriously though, good luck with everything.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

You only need to keep them separated for 3 weeks. The sperm will be dead by then.

Accidents happen. It doesn't matter if it was the previous owners fault or yours. Don't beat yourself up over it. I've had 2 accidental pregnancies because of my son.

What you can do is focus on what is to come.

 

[CavySpirit]

In case you don't know, after you have him neutered, you have to wait 3-4 weeks before he should be exposed to females because he's still fertile until the sperm in the reproductive tract dies completely. My vet always says 5-6 weeks to be on the safe side, but GL says 3.

The reality--despite your vet's advice--is 2 weeks. Not any sooner, but you DO NOT need to wait more than two weeks. Between me and the other major rescues around the country who regularly neuter, we've concurred on this in the past. Together we have experience in neutering over 1000 guinea pigs. Far, far more than any vet--and we all wait two weeks and we've never had a pregnancy as a result. Waiting longer, is unnecessary stress for the guinea pigs. However, on my website, I say 3 weeks just for those who cheat by a few days. You can't cheat on 2 weeks, but you don't have to wait any longer than that.