All my piggies!

[Maz]

Ivy is such a gorgeous colour!

 

[Member ID2]

Any idea when the babies are due or is it hard to guess?

 

[Eriathwen]

I've noted down the 3rd of September as my best guess on due date at the moment but there's such a big window of when they give birth depending on litter size, whether they've had babies before etc there's probably a week each way where it could happen. I'll know better when I can feel defined babies in there which usually happens in week 6, and when the babies begin moving around, which is usually week 7.

Just to add to the fun Poppet and Bailey went to the vet today due to suspecting ovarian cysts which of course, ended up being the case. In a way, its exciting because it means the exotics specialist will be teaching my regular vet how to do an ovariectomy over a full spay which is quicker, less invasive and the incisions are on the flanks not the belly so less chance of issues from that too, but it isn't ideal timing!

Poppet has a 2cm cyst on the right side so my vet will be observing while the specialist drains the cyst and how she performs the surgery on the 1st of September, and then on the 11th Bailey will go in for my vet to have a go while the specialist watches.

So I'm glad they get to be educational and helpful for other piggies in the area! But surgery is always a worry.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Sorry to hear Poppet and Bailey have ovarian cysts. I know what a worry the surgery is. I really hope all goes well. That is a gorgeous picture of them.

 

[Frida]

Lovely photo of the piggies. I hope all goes well with their surgery.

 

[Member ID2]

Sorry to hear about the upcoming surgeries and hope all goes well for those beautiful piggies.

How did the vet diagnose ovarian cysts? Did they do an ultrasound scan?

 

[Eriathwen]

Poppets one was large enough to be felt when palpating her abdomen luckily. Bailey however is acting hormonal, shes developed crust around the nipples, thickening of the mammary tissue and her hair in thinning on the sides of her abdomen which are all telltale signs of cystic ovaries sadly. Apparently pea sized and smaller cysts cant be palpated but are still capable of full blown symptoms so it's likely Baileys are just very small, as her behaviour changes were about 2 weeks behind Poppets. The end result would still be surgery for anything found doing diagnostics so it seemed silly to put her though the stress of it.

 

[Member ID2]

Thank you for the info. It was interesting to hear about the symptoms and something to be beware of in female hamsters as well i can imagine.

 

[Eriathwen]

Poor Ivy has grown so much in just 2 weeks, with still 4 weeks at minimum to go!

 

[Frida]

Poor Ivy has grown so much in just 2 weeks, with still 4 weeks at minimum to go!

View attachment 3672

Gosh, how many babies do you think she's going to have?

 

[RainbowBrite]

Poor Ivy. I really hope the birth goes well.

 

[Maz]

Shen is certainly a lot larger. Does she seem fine in herself? Can piggies have Caesarian’s early?

 

[Eriathwen]

Gosh, how many babies do you think she's going to have?

I've no idea I still can't feel any babies which means we aren't at the 6 week mark just yet, but the size of her I'd imagine we're looking at maybe 4? I was really hoping we would be looking at a small litter of 2 or 3, but I've a feeling she's going to be having a good few now given how fast she's growing.

I recently saw a 1200g piggy pre birth about the same age as her have a litter of 5, Ivy is 1030g today, so she may end up a similar weight by the time she hits 10 weeks

 

[Eriathwen]

Shen is certainly a lot larger. Does she seem fine in herself? Can piggies have Caesarian’s early?

In herself she's doing wonderfully! She's still active and jumping around, but does enjoy a lie down as well eating and drinking lots bless her.

Generally cesareans are done only in emergencies due to the rather large difference between birth times depending on litter size, amount of previous litters etc it can be a difference of 2 weeks or more! I'm very glad that she has grown herself, too, her pelvis area is much wider and chunkier, she was rather skinny to start with so I am a bit less worried she may end up needing surgical help.

 

[Member ID2]

Maybe she's further on in her pregnancy than you thought. It may be difficult to calculate when they come to us pregnant. In hamsters anway.

 

[Eriathwen]

Yeah it definitely can be tricky, luckily week 6 you can almost always feel them as their bones calcify and then week 7 they begin to kick and move around quite visibly so it's a matter of waiting until you hit those milestones. Unless there's just one in there.. which is probably worst case scenario because they'll likely be a very large baby making them harder to birth.

But I suck at waiting I'm so anxious for her to get to the other side of this pregnancy so I know everyone is safe and healthy. It doesn't help that there really isn't all that much I can do to ensure she does OK.

 

[Frida]

You say "there really isn't all that much I can do to ensure she does OK".

You're doing a great job Eriathwen while giving love and care

 

[Member ID2]

I totally get that as i'm also rubbish at waiting.
You mentioned birth time differences. Are you saying that multiple babies could be born on different days?

 

[Eriathwen]

I totally get that as i'm also rubbish at waiting.
You mentioned birth time differences. Are you saying that multiple babies could be born on different days?

Funny you should ask that, that isn't what I meant but they do have 2 uterine horns and while rare, it's totally possible for them to carry 2 different litters at the same time! One on each side.

But by birth time differences though I meant some piggies will give birth after 8 weeks, whereas some piggies can hold onto the babies for 10 weeks. Smaller litters or first time mothers tend to hold onto them for longer whereas larger litters and after multiple pregnancies they're pregnant for a much shorter time. I'm not entirely sure exactly why there's such a difference in how quickly babies become fully developed but it's interesting. It would be like a human mother giving birth at 11 months instead of 9.. I think

 

[Eriathwen]

You say "there really isn't all that much I can do to ensure she does OK".

You're doing a great job Eriathwen while giving love and care

Thankyou!! I really hope the good diet she's getting now will help and that she feels safe at the very least.