How do you treat ketosis in guinea pigs?
Your veterinarian can diagnose ketosis by a blood test, and may also be able to identify a fatty liver and bleeding or cell death in the uterus or placenta. Treatment does not usually help, but options include giving your pet the medications propylene glycol, calcium glutamate, or steroids.
How do I know when my guinea pig will give birth?
If you touch her underbelly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it won’t be long until birth. You should also provide the sow with a stress-free environment.
Can guinea pigs die from being pregnant?
Pregnancy toxaemia (pregnancy ketosis) This is a potentially fatal condition seen in some pregnant guinea pigs during late pregnancy or within a few days of giving birth.
When do guinea pigs pelvis fuse?
about eight months
After about eight months of age, the female guinea pig’s pelvic bones become more tightly fused, and if she has not had a litter by that time, giving birth can be more difficult.
How do you treat toxemia in guinea pigs?
Once a guinea pig has begun to show signs of pregnancy toxemia, the outcome is usually not good. Treatment does not usually help, but your options may include giving your guinea pig the medications propylene glycol, calcium glutamate, or steroids.
Do guinea pigs need vitamin C supplements?
Guinea pigs and primates, including humans, cannot manufacture their own vitamin C, therefore it is essential to supplement their diet with vitamin C. Vitamin C is vital for the normal development and maintenance of skin, joints, and mucosal surfaces, like gums.
Can I touch newborn guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs enjoy being handled – but not in all circumstances. If you have a pregnant guinea pig, it’s best not to handle them unnecessarily during the month before they give birth. Baby guinea pigs should not be held at all for at least one week after birth, and must always be handled very gently.
Does a guinea pigs water break?
You might see the guinea pig arrive into the world in an amniotic sac. This is normal, and the new mother will normally make a concerted effort to break it for the new guinea pig to emerge and take their first breath!
How do I make my guinea pig go into labor?
Labor was induced by giving the timed-pregnant guinea pigs oxytocin (1.0 mg/kg body weight) every 15 min for 45 min. The fetuses were delivered vaginally or surgically after a maximum of 45 min of oxytocin treatment.
What is dystocia in guinea pigs?
Incidence. Dystocia is defined as the inability of a sow to deliver her litter normally. In breeding colonies, maternal mortality and loss of the pup is an important and common problem in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) (Fig 1) (Williams 2012, Brower 2006).
What is guinea pig Toxaemia?
Ketosis, also known as pregnancy toxemia, often occurs when a guinea pig’s body produces too many ketones, an otherwise normal byproduct of metabolism. Underlying factors include: Loss of appetite during the late stages of pregnancy (leading to low blood sugar levels)
How do I stop my guinea pig from going into ketosis?
To prevent ketosis, make sure your guinea pig eats a high quality food throughout pregnancy, while limiting the amount in order to prevent obesity.
What are the signs of a sick guinea pig?
In other cases, a sick guinea pig may display signs such as: Loss of energy. Lack of appetite. Lack of desire to drink. Muscle spasms. Lack of coordination or clumsiness. Coma; death within five days of coma.
When does pregnancy toxemia occur in a guinea pig?
Under certain conditions the level of ketone bodies produced may exceed the body’s capacity to excrete them efficiently, resulting in excess ketone bodies in the blood, clinically referred to as ketosis or pregnancy toxemia. Ketosis usually occurs in the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, or in the first week after a guinea pig has given birth.
How can I keep my guinea pig from getting toxemia?
By keeping your sow at a proper weight and not allowing a pregnant sow to become overweight, the risk of toxemia can be reduced. Unfortunately, many sows do not respond to treatment. Prevention is crucial in maintaining health of your guinea pig. Was this article helpful?
What happens when a guinea pig goes into ketosis?
In addition, pregnant guinea pigs ketosis may lead to death of the fetuses while still in the uterus. In other cases, a sick guinea pig may display signs such as: Loss of energy. Lack of appetite. Lack of desire to drink. Muscle spasms. Lack of coordination or clumsiness.
