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Guinea pigs make glorious pets, particularly for first-time pet homeowners, like youngsters. These cute little animals have few well being issues, are low-maintenance, and are nice for youths because the guinea pig isn’t as delicate as another small pets. When you have a number of guinea pigs in your house—and these guinea pigs are of various sexes—you’ll want to watch out about the way you’re housing them, although.
The guinea pig, like different smaller rodents, matures fairly rapidly. Meaning in case you have women and men housed collectively, they may find yourself breeding prior to you assume. In actual fact, guinea pigs usually attain sexual maturity round 3–4 months, so it’s greatest to deal with women and men individually from the get-go.
Inquisitive about guinea pigs and once they’re in a position to breed? Then, maintain studying to search out out every thing you’ll want to know.
The Estrus Cycle in Guinea Pigs
Although guinea pigs often attain sexual maturity across the 3–4 month mark, some might mature sooner and attain maturity across the 2–3 month mark. However what occurs after they attain maturity? For females, the estrus cycle begins.
The estrus cycle is just the cycle between ovulation (the reproductive cycle). For guinea pigs, as soon as a feminine reaches sexual maturity, she’s going to go into warmth each 13–21 days. The feminine is then fertile for six–11 hours, throughout which period she might be mated (this era usually happens at night time). Male guinea pigs don’t have any cycle; as an alternative, the males of the species will mate with any feminine in warmth it comes throughout at any time.
Being pregnant in Guinea Pigs
So, how lengthy does being pregnant in guinea pigs final? The gestation interval of the guinea pig can final wherever from 59 to 72 days. And guinea pigs will give beginning to litters that modify in dimension from a single pup to eight pups (the norm is extra like two to 4, although). Plus, feminine guinea pigs can have litters as much as 5 instances a yr!
Nonetheless, one factor to learn about feminine guinea pigs, significantly in the event you’re purposely attempting to breed one, is that it’s greatest if she offers beginning to a litter earlier than she reaches 8 months. After that, if the feminine has not given beginning, the bones of the pelvis grow to be extra tightly fused collectively, making the birthing course of harder.
One other necessary factor to know is that giving beginning may lead to one thing often known as being pregnant toxemia. Being pregnant toxemia is a life-threatening metabolic dysfunction that leaves the mom guinea pig with hypertension and low blood calcium. This could result in lack of urge for food, twitching of muscle tissue, coma, and demise. So, in case you have a pregnant guinea pig in your fingers, make sure you give it numerous water and greens which can be excessive in calcium all through the being pregnant.
Can I Get My Guinea Pig Spayed to Keep away from Being pregnant?
You will get your guinea pigs spayed or neutered to stop undesirable being pregnant, however it is best to know that it is probably not the perfect answer. As a result of guinea pigs are so small, the dangers of castration are usually greater than these of a cat or canine (particularly since they have an inclination to not do effectively below anesthesia). The related prices will also be greater than a spay or neuter for a bigger animal.
In the event you do wish to get your guinea pig spayed slightly than housing sexes individually, it’s really useful that the males be neutered. Neutering a male is a neater and shorter process than spaying a feminine. Separate housing is your greatest and most secure means for avoiding undesirable pregnancies.
Remaining Ideas
Guinea pigs attain sexual maturity very early, usually round 3–4 months. That’s why it’s important to deal with women and men individually early on; this fashion, you possibly can keep away from undesirable being pregnant. As a result of females go into warmth roughly each 13–12 days, it may be fairly straightforward for them to grow to be pregnant if residing with males. And females can have litters as much as 5 instances a yr (which equals numerous child guinea pigs so that you can deal with)!
Whilst you can have your guinea pigs spayed or neutered, it comes with a variety of well being dangers—greater than with cats or canine. One of the best and most secure solution to keep away from undesirable being pregnant in your guinea pigs is just by way of separate housing.
Featured Picture Credit score: Charleen Magne, Shutterstock
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