My guinea pig mated while pregnant. What is the white plug?

If they have been together for a month, it certainly is possible that Candy is pregnant. The good news is that it's better for guinea pigs to get pregnant when they are young like five or six months of age; in fact, if you plan to mate guinea pigs, it should be done before the female is eight months of age. This is because that is the time when their pubic symphysis is open to allow normal delivery of the guinea pig pups. After eight months of age, it fuses and they should not be mated at that time. Candy and the male will have to be separated when she gives birth to the pups, as the male should not be in the cage with them all. You will also have to separate any male guinea pig pups from the mother by three weeks of age because this is when they reach sexual maturity. They will mate with their mother. In addition, the father guinea pig should not be around the female guinea pig pups because they reach sexual maturity at four weeks of age, and he will mate with them. I would start saving money to get a new cage for the male so you can move him as soon as possible, and save money to get him neutered. If Candy is pregnant, you will need to have cages for the pups as well once they are old enough to be separated from their mother so they don't mate with their parents or each other. I would take Candy into the vet to confirm if she is pregnant or not. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Unfortunately we cannot diagnose pregnancy without examining a pet in person. If they were always supervised together and you did not see any mating occur then not likely, but if they were unsupervised it is always a possibility. If you want to know for certain a visit to the vet is needed.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Bear. Don't think it is a worm. Could be a vaginal plug. She should be taken back to the store or seen by a veterinarian to look at it. Does she seem uncomfortable or straining? Good luck.

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.

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!

Thanks for reaching out about Bear. If she is doing well, eating and active, probably not. Young female guinea pigs will often pass a single mucous plug from the vaginal vault, but only once. Monitor her, but schedule a veterinary visit if you are concerned. Good luck.