Wheektown - Research on Obstetrics

Research on Obstetrics

Share information on your guinea pig's pregnancy, labour, babies, and related health

If you have had more than one pregnant guinea pig, please fill out a separate report for each guinea pig. If your guinea pig is currently pregnant, please wait until after birth and weaning to fill out this report.

Submit a report

Please note that this is quite a long form. You may want to grab a cup of tea.

Sow information

Name *

* Indicates required field

Breed *

Pattern and/or colour *

Sow history before pregnancy (if known)

What was the sow's environment like as a baby and juvenile? *

What was the sow's environment like as an adult? *

Has the sow ever sustained an injury or contracted a disease relating to the genitals, reproductive organs, or hormones? *

List all of the known medications, medical chemicals (e.g. dye), and radiation (e.g. x-rays) that the sow has received before. *

Does the sow have any congenital abnormalities (had since birth) or genetic diseases? *

Any other pre-existing medical conditions *

Boar history (if known)

Breed *

Breed and/or colour *

What was the boar's environment like as a baby and juvenile? *

What was the boar's environment like as an adult? *

Has the boar ever sustained an injury or contracted a disease relating to the genitals, reproductive organs, or hormones? *

List all of the known medications, medical chemicals (e.g. dye), and radiation (e.g. x-rays) that the boar has received before. *

Does the boar have any congenital abnormalities (had since birth) or genetic diseases? *

Any other pre-existing medical conditions *

Sow history during pregnancy

Age when she fell pregnant *

Was the sow kept indoors or outdoors, and what was the climate like while pregnant? *

Was the sow ever dropped while pregnant? If so, was she injured? *

Was the sow ever exposed to any kind of smoke (cigarette, marijuana, fire) while pregnant? *

Was the sow ever exposed to radiation while pregnant (including x-rays)? *

What was the sow fed while she was pregnant? Be as specific as possible with her diet, including chews and hay variety. *

Was your sow kept with other guinea pigs while pregnant? What sex and were they de-sexed? Were any also pregnant? *

Previous pregnancies (if known)

Is this the guinea pig's first pregnancy? *

Yes - continue to next section I don't know - continue to next section No - fill out this section and continue

How many times has the sow been pregnant? *

How old was the sow when she fell pregnant for each of the pregnancies? *

How many babies and what sexes were the babies (where known) in each of the previous pregnancies? *

Did any of the babies in any of the pregnancies have congenital abnormalities or diseases when born? *

Were any of the babies in any of the pregnancies stillborn? If so, how many in each of them? *

Did any of the babies in any of the pregnancies die shortly after birth? If so, how many in each pregnancy and what were the causes (if known)? *

Did the sow suffer from any conditions or diseases (no matter how minor) during these pregnancies? Be as specific as possible. *

Did the sow suffer any complications, no matter how minor, during any pregnancies or labours? Be as specific as possible. *

Did the sow ever have problems with milk production, or aggression or abandonment toward the babies? *

How soon after giving birth did the guinea pig become pregnant again for each of the new pregnancies? *

Any other information relevant to previous pregnancies *

Sow health during pregnancy

Did the sow display any abnormal behaviour (e.g. aggression) toward other guinea pigs during the pregnancy? *

Did the sow ever develop any skin problems or bad spots during pregnancy? If so, where and how long for? Be as specific as possible. *

Did the sow take any medications or have any medical procedures (e.g. blood tests, x-rays, surgeries) while pregnant? If so, what? *

Did the sow suffer from any pregnancy-related conditions such as toxaemia or prolapse while pregnant? *

Did the sow suffer from any other conditions or diseases (no matter how minor) during this pregnancy? Be as specific as possible. *

Any other relevant information *

Labour

What time of the day did the sow go into labour (eg. morning, afternoon, night)? *

Did the sow go into labour within a few hours of another cagemate going into labour? *

Were you there for the labour? *

Yes - fill out the rest of the section and continue No - continue to next section

How long did the contractions go on for before the first birth? *

How far apart were the contractions before the first birth? *

How much time passed between each birth? *

How long did the full labour go on for? *

Were any babies born breached (legs-first)? *

Did the sow pull any of the babies out with her teeth? *

How much bleeding was there? *

Did the sow attend to each baby as they came out? *

Did you interfere with the labour in any way? If so, provide details. *

Was the father present for the birth? *

Yes - fill out the next 4 questions No - continue on

Did the boar interact with the mother while she was giving birth? *

Did the boar assist in cleaning the babies or in eating the placentas? *

Did the boar show any aggression toward any of the babies or the mother? *

Did the mother show any aggression toward the boar if he interacted with the babies? *

Were other sows present for the birth? *

Yes - fill out the next 5 questions No - continue on

Did the sow(s) interact with the mother while she was giving birth? *

Did the sow(s) assist in cleaning the babies or in eating the placentas? *

Did the sow(s) show any aggression toward any of the babies or the mother? *

Did the mother show any aggression toward the sow(s) if they interacted with the babies? *

Did the sow(s) attempt to nurse any of the babies? If so, were they also pregnant and/or lactating? *

Were there any complications during the labour? *

Yes - fill out the rest of the section and continue No - continue to next section

What complications occurred during the labour? Be as detailed as possible. *

Did you take the guinea pig to a veterinarian? If so, what did they do? Be as detailed as possible. *

Is the cause of the complications known? If so, what were they? Be as detailed as possible. *

Any other relevant information *

Sow health after pregnancy

Did the sow survive labour? *

Yes - fill out this section and continue No - continue to next section

Did the sow suffer from any sort of blood loss or haemorrhaging? *

Did the sow contract any sort of infection after labour? *

Did the sow display any abnormal behaviour (e.g. aggression) toward other guinea pigs after the pregnancy? *

Did the sow ever develop any skin problems or bald spots after labour? If so, where and how long for? Be as specific as possible. *

Did the sow display any aggressive or fearful behaviour toward the babies? If so, did it lead to abandonment? *

Did the sow suffer from milk production problems? If so, how did you realise, how severe was it, and how long did it go on for? *

Did the sow suffer from any pregnancy-related conditions such as toxaemia or prolapse after labour? If so, was it treated successfully? *

Did the sow suffer from any other conditions or diseases (no matter how minor) after labour? Be as detailed as possible. *

Baby health

How many babies were there and what sex were they (including stillborns)? *

Were any of the babies stillborn? If so, how many? Were they very small or deformed in any way? *

Were any of the babies born with congenital abnormalities? *

If the babies were weighed, what weights were they when they were born (within 12 hours of birth)? *

How long did it take after they were born for them to start suckling at the mother? *

How long did it take after they were born before they showed an interest in solid food or the water bottle? *

Did all of the live babies survive to weaning? If not, what was the cause of the deaths (if known)? *

If the babies were not reared by the mother

If the mother survived labour, at what age were the babies abandoned or lost their mother? *

If the babies were fostered by another sow, was she a relative? How old was her current litter? *

If the babies were hand fed, what formula was used? How much and how often were they fed? *

Any other relevant information *

Your contact details

Name *

Email address *

Submit