My guinea pig is pregnant. Should I limit her food during pregnancy?

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!

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.

If your guinea pigs are still young (under a year) then they are probably just needing extra calories because they are growing. I would recommend to offer them as much fresh hay as they want. Continue to restrict the amount of pellets because overfeeding them can cause unwanted weight gain. you can add in extra veggies as needed. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Congratulations on your new guinea pigs! They are adorable! Pups should start nursing during the first 24 hours and will continue to do so for about 3 weeks. During this time they will also start to experiment with solid food, so offer the pups fresh alfalfa hay and alfalfa pellets. You can also offer them regular timothy hay and fresh fruits such as oranges and bell peppers, which are high in vitamin C. The water bottle should be positioned so that the babies can easily reach the spout. Ensure the cage is large enough for all the adults and pups, and place it in a quiet area of the house, away from direct sunlight. Don't be afraid to start handling the pups early. This will help to socialize them with humans easier. Don't try to handle them when they are sleeping or nursing, but other than that you can try to handle them for a few minutes each day. I would advise taking them to a vet within the first 3 weeks in order to determine their sex. Boys and girls should be separated at the 3 week mark as accidental pregnancies can occur as early as 3-4 weeks. Similarly, I would separate the father now if you haven't done so already. I hope this helps! Enjoy your new babies!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Keep in mind that she just may simply not like those. I would encourage you to try other vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers or celery and also other types of dry food until you find what she prefers. Best of luck!

I do not think the pellets are bad but should be given in moderation. These are high in fat and can cause obesity. I recommend a large amount of roughage like Timothy hay all day long with moderate amount of veggies and small amount of pellets. The roughage is really good for their teeth too.

You can, but in moderation. I would stick with the recommended high calorie puppy food instead since it has all the nutrients and healthy calories that Coco needs during her pregnancy and then up until all the puppies are weaned. Congrats!