Hi,
We got Nico 4 weeks ago this Sunday - the lady we got her from said she was "about a month" old - it was a quick pick up due to Covid and a long drive home. The second 2 weeks have been very different then her first 2 weeks - she may just be more comfortable in her home, but she was quite comfortable to begin with. She eats way more - and is way more vocal about needing/wanting greens. She drinks and pees a lot more. She doesn't love to be picked up but loves to be held. We have started picking her up in something - letting her walk into a cozy then lifting that up. She has gained a lot - I know this can vary, especially with little ones. But here is last couple of weeks:
5/3: 11.1oz
5/10: 12.8
5/12: 13.4
5/15: 14.9
We weigh her about the same time each time.
She lays down a LOT! and falls asleep quickly when cuddling. She is happy, popcorns a ton (would she do this if she were pregnant?) and loves affection.
My question - I called the exotic pets vet last week - and he made it seem highly unlikely she could be pregnant. Given her age (about a month) when we got her. I was under the impression that piggies could get pregnant as young as 4 weeks? But vet said highly unlikely. He said he wouldn't recommend an xray until later - like 7 weeks and beyond as it wouldn't show much until then. He said he could attempt an ultrasound, but didn't want to waste our time as, again, unlikely she would be and didn't think he would have much success at this time.
So - my questions are: is it that unlikely for her to be pregnant? I didn't see her living situation - but from the sounds of it the woman had boys and girls together - I might have misheard her on that one - but pretty sure they were all together.
2nd question - IF she is pregnant - she is eating alfalfa based pellets - as she is young and was recommended to get that - and she gets a combo of timothy and alfalfa hay - I read recently that the babies can gain too much weight if her diet is too fatty and then can have troubles giving birth if they are too big - is this true???? Has anyone had experience with this? Should I switch her pellets to just timothy based pellets?
My daughter is in LOVE with her piggie - and honestly so are her dad and I. She is so affectionate and my daughter spends all day cozied up with her. I would hate for something to happen to her in all this.
Here are a few pics - sometimes I think she is and then sometimes I think she isn't. Her tummy is sooo round when she lays in my hand and I can feel lumps when I pet her down her side...but then I think maybe that's just her body??? I know time will tell - but if I think she might be - I want to make adjustments to her diet that may be needed. Plus - I want to start investigating possible homes for any boys that may come - I know this will need to happen at 3 weeks. Last two pics are just cuz I think she is mighty adorable
Thank for any advice
PS - sorry I just realized I didn't post this in the pregnancy sub-forum - not sure how to move it over or delete it. Please delete if needed.
We got Nico 4 weeks ago this Sunday - the lady we got her from said she was "about a month" old - it was a quick pick up due to Covid and a long drive home. The second 2 weeks have been very different then her first 2 weeks - she may just be more comfortable in her home, but she was quite comfortable to begin with. She eats way more - and is way more vocal about needing/wanting greens. She drinks and pees a lot more. She doesn't love to be picked up but loves to be held. We have started picking her up in something - letting her walk into a cozy then lifting that up. She has gained a lot - I know this can vary, especially with little ones. But here is last couple of weeks:
5/3: 11.1oz
5/10: 12.8
5/12: 13.4
5/15: 14.9
We weigh her about the same time each time.
She lays down a LOT! and falls asleep quickly when cuddling. She is happy, popcorns a ton (would she do this if she were pregnant?) and loves affection.
My question - I called the exotic pets vet last week - and he made it seem highly unlikely she could be pregnant. Given her age (about a month) when we got her. I was under the impression that piggies could get pregnant as young as 4 weeks? But vet said highly unlikely. He said he wouldn't recommend an xray until later - like 7 weeks and beyond as it wouldn't show much until then. He said he could attempt an ultrasound, but didn't want to waste our time as, again, unlikely she would be and didn't think he would have much success at this time.
So - my questions are: is it that unlikely for her to be pregnant? I didn't see her living situation - but from the sounds of it the woman had boys and girls together - I might have misheard her on that one - but pretty sure they were all together.
2nd question - IF she is pregnant - she is eating alfalfa based pellets - as she is young and was recommended to get that - and she gets a combo of timothy and alfalfa hay - I read recently that the babies can gain too much weight if her diet is too fatty and then can have troubles giving birth if they are too big - is this true???? Has anyone had experience with this? Should I switch her pellets to just timothy based pellets?
My daughter is in LOVE with her piggie - and honestly so are her dad and I. She is so affectionate and my daughter spends all day cozied up with her. I would hate for something to happen to her in all this.
Here are a few pics - sometimes I think she is and then sometimes I think she isn't. Her tummy is sooo round when she lays in my hand and I can feel lumps when I pet her down her side...but then I think maybe that's just her body??? I know time will tell - but if I think she might be - I want to make adjustments to her diet that may be needed. Plus - I want to start investigating possible homes for any boys that may come - I know this will need to happen at 3 weeks. Last two pics are just cuz I think she is mighty adorable
Thank for any advice
PS - sorry I just realized I didn't post this in the pregnancy sub-forum - not sure how to move it over or delete it. Please delete if needed.
Last edited: