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 4 month old 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't 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've had a pregnant guinea pig before, so I have a little experience.  I think you should seperate them.  I don't think they would get stressed out, and when the babies are born keep the mom in them in their own cage, because I heard that male guinea pigs eat the babies.  

Answer 2

i'd keep the two in seperate cages. (one in each) cage, but i'd put them next to each other or have a door so they can come and go as they please. so when one has their baby, take out the door and make sure that the other doesnt really see whats going on.

good luck!

Answer 3

First of all, I'd fire that sitter.

Secondly, don't panic. Although I am against intentionally breeding guinea pigs, the girls are at a very good age for breeding.

As long as you have adequate cage space, the girls should not be separated. The stress of separation will not cause toxemia, but they would be very lonely. Even in a pregnant state, they still need interaction from another piggie for comfort. But to answer your question, no they would not fight if put back together after the litters were born.

Assuming that they both became pregnant at the same time (since the sitter mixed them up at the same time, right?) both of the litters should be born within days, if not 24 hours, of each other. I would not worry about premature labour in the second sow since they were both impregnated at the same time. The difference in one day's time is not significant enough to warrant separating them.

Be sure the girls are receiving the very best nutrition you can give them. This includes one cup of fresh veggies (especially ones that are high in Vitamin C) per pig each day, unlimited Alfalfa hay (they need the higher calcium to support the growing pups), and 1/2 cup of high quality pellets per day per pig. Oxbow and Kleenmama's are the best. They both contain excellent quality nutrition in addition to stabilised Vitamin C. Give them each small fruit treats a couple of times per week (a slice of apple) toward the last month of pregnancy and continue two weeks after the births to help prevent toxemia.

Good luck! Enjoy your baby piggies!

Answer 4

Hhmm..

I would try separating them slowly.

Do what you would do to introduce them, but the opposite.

Slowly separate their time together. Have cages next to each other, then at separate sides of a room, etc.

Good luck!