Breeding Guinea Pigs

If you are considering breeder from your pet guinea pigs then my advice is to first consider whether or not you have loving and responsible homes lined up for any offspring and, perhaps more importantly, are you prepared to risk the life of the mother?

Pregnancy carries a number of risks for the guinea pig sow.  The first is the risk of a caesarian section being required if the sow is too old when mated because the pelvic bones of a guinea pig start to fuse towards the end of her first year of life.  The second is from pregnancy toxaemia and the third from post partum infection.

Female guinea pigs, called sows, must be mated at 7 -10 months.  Mated too young, under 5 months, the risk of pregnancy also increases because of the sheer size of the babies versus the size of their mother.

Guinea pigs give birth to fully furred babies with their eyes open and ready to rock and roll.

Litters range from single babies through to litters as large as seven, although 2-4 is average.  The image above shows a newly born Rex litter.  (Image courtesy & copyright of Bivoir Cavies- used with permission)