Help, my guinea pigs are pregnant and I'm worried about toxemia!

Question

Our baby sitter accidentallyy mixed up our boars and sows, so now we have two pregnant guinea pigs! In a panic I've done a bunch of research, and so I know that if one guinea pig goes into labor, it could induce labor in the other even if she isn' at the end of her pregnancy causing premature babies, but would the stress of seperating them cause pregnancy toxemia? Would they fight if after the babies are born we put them back togeter? HELP!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I'm no expert on pregnant guinea pigs by any means so my advice is research and theory really.  It is by no means a guarantee that one sow going into labour will induce labour in another sow.  However, even if this were the case I would assume that your two sows were impregnated at the same time so the labour would not be overly premature.

The main causes of toxemia seem to be obesity, malnutrition and stress.  Personally, I would not separate the sows and cause undue stress particularly if they are closely bonded.  Make sure they are getting a quality diet (switch to alfalfa pellets, lots of healthy veggies and fruits) and that they are getting plenty of exercise.  Observe them closely and if you are even slightly concerned consult with a vet right away.

If you separate them before they give birth then you will need to go through an introduction again to house them together after birth.  They may fight, they may not as with any introduction.

Some great information on pregnancy and labour:

http://www.guinealynx.info/labor.html

Just in general I would recommend going to the guinea lynx forum and asking for advice.  There are tons of people there who are far more knowledgeable than me:)

http://www.guinealynx.info/fourms

Answer 2

how old are the guinea pigs????

the best age to breed is 12 weeks otherwise once fully grown the pelvic bones fuse, leaving her with a rigid, prehasps under sized pelvis and this caused difficult births book no1 said that

book 2 says  sows sould always be breed before the age of  6 months because by that age he symphysis pubis narrows he passogway of the pelvic canal making it impossible for the cavy fto farrow

.this condition always results in death  unless emergency sugery(cesarean section) and if the sow has not been bred before 8 months then sould never be bredd as her symphysis pubis will be fused

so i don't think toxemia is your biggest problem