What kind of care do pregnant guinea pigs need? How long does a pregnant guinea pig carry a fetus?

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What kind of care do pregnant guinea pigs need? How long does a pregnant guinea pig carry a fetus?
What kind of care do pregnant guinea pigs need? How long does a pregnant guinea pig carry a fetus?

Video: What kind of care do pregnant guinea pigs need? How long does a pregnant guinea pig carry a fetus?

Video: What kind of care do pregnant guinea pigs need? How long does a pregnant guinea pig carry a fetus?
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Guinea pigs are very cute fluffy creatures that have taken pride of place among pets. Many owners are so addicted to these animals that they turn into real breeders. Sooner or later, the question arises before them: “What kind of care do pregnant guinea pigs need?”

pregnant guinea pigs
pregnant guinea pigs

Puberty of females occurs already at the stage of twenty-eight days of life. However, there are cases when this happened on the twentieth day. Sexual maturity of males occurs much later. This usually happens by the sixtieth - seventieth day of life. Despite early maturity, at this age, the female is not yet able to give birth to he althy cubs without negative consequences for her he alth. The optimal period for bearing is considered to be from six to nine months of life.

Litter duration

A pregnant guinea pig is in an "interesting" position for sixty to sixty-eight days, depending on the number of offspring. On average, this period lasts sixty-four days. However, with a smallnumber of pups, a pregnant guinea pig can remain so for seventy-two days. Already from the twentieth - twenty-fifth week, the fetus can be felt in the lower abdomen.

pregnant guinea pig
pregnant guinea pig

Food

Like a human, a guinea pig is not capable of self-production of vitamin C. During pregnancy, the need for additional intake of vitamins and microelements increases. Therefore, you need to ensure proper balanced nutrition for your pet. An adult guinea pig should consume ten to twenty milligrams of vitamins per kilogram of body weight per day. At the moment, various pet stores carry a wide range of fortified foods, so there should be no problems with the search.

Care

After the first half of the gestation period, pregnant guinea pigs need extra care. At this time, it is extremely rare to inspect the nesting house. Cleaning the cage and moving it from one place to another is done only when absolutely necessary. It must be remembered that pregnant guinea pigs are sensitive to excessive anxiety and sloppy handling. As a result of the last manipulations, a miscarriage may occur. Many are interested in what a pregnant guinea pig looks like. Do not rush to satisfy the curiosity of others. You need to take precautions and remember that this complex physiological process is extremely complex, and any stress has a detrimental effect on an animal such as a pregnant guinea pig. Photo of thisthe animal should also be done carefully, avoiding the use of flash whenever possible.

pregnant guinea pig photo
pregnant guinea pig photo

Despite this, a day or two before giving birth, the cage should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, after which it is necessary to place in the nesting house such an important detail as fresh bedding. Its basis is usually small fragrant hay.

Probable dangers

It happens that pregnant guinea pigs undergo premature birth. In this situation, it is necessary to conduct a bacteriological study. This is done in order to identify the cause of the miscarriage. Most often, these cases occur as a result of the brucellosis disease, also called infectious abortion.

Birth

The natural completion of the pregnancy of guinea pigs lasts about a day, if the litter is numerous. If there are few cubs, childbirth takes place within an hour. Normal births do not require the assistance of a veterinarian. Only in extreme cases, when the mumps fails to give birth on its own, should a specialist intervene. This happens in females with a narrow pelvis, in violation of labor, with large litter sizes or improper presentation of the fetus.

what does a pregnant guinea pig look like
what does a pregnant guinea pig look like

Usually, two to three babies are born, less often their number can reach six. Kids quickly open their eyes, and after an hour or two they begin to move around the house on their own. The cubs are already adapted to self-eating food, however, they needmother's milk. Feeding continues up to one month. After the third or fourth day of life, babies eat common food with their mother's milk.

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