Do I need to be with my guinea pig during birth or leave her?

Normally guinea pig labor should be short, around 40 minutes, so if an hour has passed since Elsa has her baby with no sign of the other, I would take her into the vet immediately. It could be that her second baby is too big to come out, and she may need a c section to deliver that baby safely. I would take her into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see her now.

Hello. I am concerned about Sylvester. Is she in any distress? Is she straining as if trying to deliver? Any bleeding? Are the 2 remaining pups still viable ( were heartbeats confirmed )? You do not say what the injections were & how long ago they were administered, but in general, GPs do not have too many problems giving birth. I think my biggest concern is she already delivered a dead pup quite some time ago. I would recommend a C-section at this time, especially if there is any bleeding or she is showing any signs of distress. I hope all turns out well & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This could be a malformed baby in the afterbirth or a mummified baby. As long as your Copiyo feels good, eats, drinks and appears lively, you don't have to worry. Should she appear I'll, she needs to be seen by a vet.

Hello. I advise keeping the male & female separate until the pups are of a little size. The pubic bones start to separate 3-4 days before birth & stand apart 1-2 cm at term. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Guinea pigs reach their adult weight around eight months of age, and it is for females, on average, 1.5 – 2.5lb. If Coco is 2.6lbs, she likely isn't pregnant. It is never recommend to breed a guinea pig past eight months of age due to the pelvic symphysis fusing. I would not keep her in cage with an intact male guinea pig.

Hello and congratulations! My first recommendation to all guinea pig owners that may have a pregnant guinea pig is to visit the veterinarian to confirm the pregnancy. Knowing approximately how far along she is and how many pups to expect can be very helpful when it's time for mom to give birth. Additionally, guinea pigs have been known to have difficult births on occasion, especially if they're over 7 months old in their first pregnancy. Having a relationship with a veterinarian can be useful if there's a crisis during the birthing process. At the vet's office, you can expect that they will perform an ultrasound to see if there are babies present and if so, how many there are. If she's later in her pregnancy, they may be able to take an x-ray. Guinea pig litter sizes range from one to six pups, and the gestation period is 59 - 72 days. The fewer pups she is carrying, the longer the gestation will be. For example, if she has one pup, the gestation will be closer to 72 days. During the pregnancy, Jenny's belly may get very big. She should be provided with a high-quality pelleted diet that is made specifically for guinea pigs, Timothy hay, and regular supplements of fruits and veggies that are high in vitamin C (a small amount 3-4 times weekly). Guinea pigs, like humans, cannot synthesize vitamin C, and so it must be provided in their diet. Dark, leafy greens, orange slices, strawberries, and broccoli are great choices to provide Jenny with that extra vitamin C she needs. Starting at around 60 days, you should check on Jenny as frequently as possible. Guinea pigs tend to make interesting groaning noises when they are going into labor. The entirety of labor should not take very long once it starts - no more than an hour. When she's having a contraction, she might make a kind of "hiccuping" movement. From this point, if Jenny appears to be struggling to give birth for more than 15 minutes, if there is more than a tablespoon of blood, or if she becomes lethargic or is drooling, please bring her to the veterinarian immediately. These could be indicators of dystocia (difficult birth) or pregnancy toxemia, both of which are life-threatening conditions. Once a pup is born, Jenny should clean off the birth sac within a couple of minutes. Generally, we don't recommend intervening in this process, however sometimes first-time moms need a little bit of help. Be prepared to assist with this process, as well as with cutting the umbilical cord with a sterilized scissor about 1/2 inch away from the pup's abdomen. Only do this if Jenny does not. You may also need to stimulate the pup by cleaning it's mouth out and gently rubbing its body. This will hopefully encourage breathing and movement, at which time Jenny should take over. Be careful of the pups' eyes as they will be open. Of course, if she doesn't appear interested in the pups at all, you should contact your vet as soon as possible. Furthermore, if there is still a male in the same cage as Jenny, I highly recommend separating them before she gives birth. Guinea pigs have what is called a postpartum estrus - this means that she can get pregnant again right after giving birth. Additionally, the more adult animals that are in the cage with the pups, the more likely they may be accidentally trampled. A really wonderful thing about guinea pig pups is that they are precocious. This means that they are born fully furred with ears and eyes wide open, and they will start eating solid food within a few days of birth - sometimes on the very next day! Jenny will still nurse and care for the pups until weaning, which should be around 3 weeks of age. It's very important to separate babies from mom at this age as the males become sexually mature around this time, meaning that they could impregnate Jenny or their siblings. I realize that this is a lot of information - if you are at all concerned about Jenny's health at any time, give your vet a call! Good luck to you and mama Jenny!

You are right that the typical gestation of guinea pigs is 63-65 days. If she is showing no indication of entering labor, there could be a problem. The Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV.org) probably has a "Find the Vet" section. Otherwise, not sure where the closed veterinary school is to you. A small animal veterinarian with an ultrasound might be able to determine if there are any fetal heartbeats. Many small animal veterinarians could have oxytocin, which could be given to stimulate uterine contractions.