Guinea pigs are good-natured cute animals. Individuals are ready for reproduction already at the age of one month. The gestation period of these animals largely depends on whether large or small offspring are expected.
Conception and duration of maternity leave
If a male and a pig of the opposite sex sits in the same cage, then you need to be prepared that one day mating will occur. The male himself will show when he is ready for such a crucial moment. He will run around the cage after the lady of his dreams, make whistling sounds.
If she does not immediately respond with favor, then the gentleman will whisper something in her ear in a language only they understand. If the male is still too young, then the female may not allow him to come to her. But the persistence of the latter after some time will be rewarded, and the guinea pig will become pregnant.
After the onset of this solemn moment, the male must be planted, otherwise he can provoke a miscarriage.
Depending on how many cubs the female will have, the gestational age of the guinea pig depends. The more offspring are expected, the more days this time lasts. Guinea pig pregnancy lasts 60-72 days. But 72 is very rare. If 1-2 cubs are expected, then in an interesting position the female can walk for 60-64 days. If 4-6 babies are to be born, then we should expect their appearance no earlier than in 64-70 days.
During this period, she needs to be disturbed as little as possible - not to play in her, not to pick her up.
Pregnancy ends in childbirth
It is important that during childbirth there is a person near the animal who is able to provide assistance if needed. Not all guinea pigs have the necessary skills. A newborn can suffocate if the amniotic sac in which he is born is not removed.
An intelligent, experienced female gnaws at it and frees the cub. With the help of her teeth, she frees the baby from the part of the umbilical cord with which he is connected to it. If she does not do this, then the person himself must provide first aid to the cubs. That is why it is important to know how long an animal's pregnancy lasts in order to try to be near at the right time.
The bubble is quite thin, so it is not difficult to remove it with your hands. There should be small sharp scissors ready, which must be sterilized in advance. If the female does not gnaw the umbilical cord herself, then cut it in such a way that a 1 cm part remains in the baby's navel area. This piece will soon dry out and fall off.
Inspect the cub's nasal passage, if it is clogged, then very gently wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth. If mom doesn't lick the cubs, wipe them yourself with a soft dry cloth.
If you are not confident in your abilities, then call a specialist or someone who is familiar with how to help a guinea pig during childbirth.
