Pregnant Guinea Pig Care

Female guinea pigs become fertile beginning as early as four weeks although pregnancy is not recommended until body weight has reached one pound. If the female is too small she may have trouble delivering the babies and special steps will need to be taken. Consult your veterinarian on the methods you can use to safely help a young sow if you find a pregnant one on your hands.

The average guinea pig pregnancy can last from 64 to 72 days. A female can give birth to one to six babies with three to four being average. Some sources indicate that the longer the gestation period the smaller the litter. By the time birth is eminent, the weight of the babies will account for 30% of the female's total body weight.

In order to support this growth expect your guinea pig to require more food and water as she could be supporting up to six babies. Be sure that the food being fed is particularly high in vitamin C as requirements double to 20 mgs per day during pregnancy. If food pellets are being used this is a good time to double check the quality of the product - look for 100% of the daily requirement of vitamin C as well as 20% crude protein and 16% fiber. Supplement her as usual with fresh fruits and vegetables focusing on foods high in vitamin C. Recommended foods include parsley, cabbage, and dandelion.

During this time be sure and remember to continue to let the pregnant female out for exercise and play. Be careful to avoid unnecessary stomach squeezing as well as stress on the female.

Advice about when to move the pregnant guinea pig into a separate cage is mixed. What is known for sure is that by the time the female gives birth, she'll need to be moved into a separate cage. Male guinea pigs will be a threat to the puppies and the female will be fertile again immediately. No female should have back to back litters as it is cruel and detrimental their health. Some sources indicate that if neutered the father of the puppies can remain in the cage with the mother. If the father is in the cage during birth he may assist with delivery by cleaning and warming the babies. Cooperation is not guaranteed and if the female appears distressed by the presence of the male - remove him from the cage. How early the female is moved is dependent on how much room there is in the existing cage and whether or not the pregnant female appears to be enjoying the company of others. If worried, move the female. In general though, a week before birth should be the minimum.

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All About the Guinea Pig

Today the guinea pig is known as an eminently delightful, loving pet considered well suited for children. The history of the animal, or Cavia Porchellus, is less well known. Guinea pigs originated in South America where they lived in the wild and were hunted for food until they were domesticated as early as 5000 BC. The animals were then brought to Europe in the 16th century by European traders where they then became "high status" pets - even Queen Elizabeth I had a piggie!

Why "Pig?"

The exact history of the name "guinea pig" is not well known. Some people believe the name was given because of the pig-like squeal the animal makes. Other people believe the comparison has more to do with the physical appearance, or the time spent eating.

Contributions to Science

Today the guinea pig is well known not just as pet but also as a research animal due to certain physiological similarities with humans. While this is sad for those of us who are fans of the animals, the guinea pig is directly responsible for the creation of a variety of life saving medications and medical procedures. Guinea pigs are still used in medical research for juvenile diabetes, tuberculosis, scurvy, and pregnancy complications.

The Advantages as a Pet

Guinea pigs are part of a group of pets known as "pocket pets" - small animals, usually rodents and hypothetically small enough to fit in one's pocket including rats, mice, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, and ferrets. Unlike smaller animals, guinea pigs are easier to catch if they escape and due to their size, less likely to hide within furniture or other small crevices that are hard to get to. These sweet furry friends are also less likely to destroy one's wooden furniture but they still require supervision during floor time just to be on the safe side. Guinea pigs are also happy to stay in a cage during the day and will happily return your affection using their own special language of chirps, purrs, and squeaks. Lastly, piggies are known for the adorable tendency to "popcorn" - jump in the air just like kernels of corn that become heated.

Classroom Learning Tool

For years teachers have been keeping guinea pigs in classrooms to be cared for and played with by the children. On the weekends and during extended breaks teachers or students would then take the pet home and care for him or her. While some people still consider this a useful tool for developing a wide variety of projects for students from scientific knowledge to personal responsibility, to budgeting and cage planning, there are a growing number of opponents to this use. Many people feel that being kept alone in a classroom without actual owners is too lonely and cruel. Other people suggest that animals should not be used to teach responsibility as only the animal will suffer the consequences of neglect.

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