MOLLY was one of the lucky ones. She had her pups before 10 months of age. A pregnant guinea pig would have had an awful death along with her pups trapped inside because a sow's pelvic bones fuse, or grow together, months before she is age one so then it would be impossible for her to give birth.
Spread the word!
Tell your local pet store, no matter what you buy there, how they will get your business when you can see them separate boys from girls. (There are so many neglected, and abandoned animals).
Urge sites to list this fact, as number one in Guinea Pig care.
You have the good reasonable expectation to be shown how to hold a guinea pig, and how to tell them apart. A competent pet store employee would be eager to teach you too. If all else fails, have a veterinarian show you.
The people who speak out for these sweet little animals have their voices heard and so, are their advocates. Thank you for reading, and we hope you spread the word.
Sable & Molly, Holly, Dolly & Bo
SERIOUS NOTE: hocus-pocus is about how Pet Store's do not practice the division of guinea pigs based upon gender. BY TEN MONTHS OF AGE A FEMALE'S PELVIS BONES HAVE FUSED TOGETHER and she suffers then dies because she cannot deliver her pups.
Dedicated to Molly & to guinea pigs everywhere :)
First there was one,
then there are four,
soft baby hockey pucks,
in modern fur
two black & white sows
and a tri-colored boar,
kept close to their mother,
the first day on earth.
But, then later on, which is so very soon,
it is now time for play, and it's not even noon.
Miniature peeps in unique musical notes,
"may I have a sliced carrot, or even a grape?"
Adorable chubby babies,
what have I done, to appreciate you?
The Guinea Pig dance,
may I have the next?
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GUINEA PIGS DIE IF BRED BEFORE OR AFTER ONE YEAR OF AGE . . . IT IS APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS AS THE 'CUT-OFF' FOR PREGNANCY.
SHOULD THAT HAPPEN, WHERE THE SOW IS PREGNANT, BRING HER TO A CAVY EXPERT ANIMAL HOSPITAL. USE THE PHONE BOOK TO FIND THE RIGHT VETERINARIAN THAT BELIEVES IN PAIN MEDICATION AND PASS UP THE PLACE THAT TELLS YOU THEY DO NOT USE ANY.
WE ALL CAN IMAGINE HOW WE WOULD FEEL IN THEIR PAWS, SO COMPASSION IS FIRST PLACE --- FOR YOUR PET.
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PERSONAL STORY
Well, I liked them all and once again found myself with a new pet who I guessed was a girl, so I named her MOLLY.
Once home and nearly two months later, MOLLY, gave birth to two girls and one boy.