Choosing a pet for yourself, his gender is usually a decisive factor. Because for many breeders, it is fundamentally important what gender their pet will be. Usually this happens if the buyer is engaged or just plans to breed one or another type of animal.
If the owner plans to take only one animal, then its gender does not matter. when guinea pigs live alone, their behavior differs little from each other. It is worth noting here that males are usually a little more active than females; this is perhaps the only difference between them.
But, if there will be several animals, it is worth remembering the following:
1. To breed offspring, a male and a female are needed.
2. If the offspring are not planned, it is recommended to choose guinea pigs of the same sex.
So, if the owner still needs to choose an animal of a certain gender, it is worth turning to the practical tips that are described in the article.
Determination of the sex of guinea pig in young children
Determining the sex of a guinea pig is sometimes extremely difficult, especially if the animal is too small. The problem is that at this age, the animals have poorly expressed external sexual characteristics.
Inspecting guinea pigs younger than 3 weeks of age is strictly prohibited. The smell of human hands remains on the fur of the animal. For this reason, the mother may refuse to feed the cubs.
If for some reason it is necessary to conduct an examination, it must be done with gloves and very quickly, since small guinea pigs have very poor thermoregulation, and therefore they quickly freeze. In view of this, a pet with immature immunity can seriously become ill; often this results in death.
Inspect the animal at any age is with great care, so as not to harm him.
Note: Guinea pigs do not like to be in the air. Raising the animal, the owner may notice that after some time the animal begins to spin and kick (unless, of course, it is too small for this). Therefore, experts advise taking the animal in its arms not far from the floor or table so that it sees the surface and understands that it is not far from the ground.
So, the sex of a guinea pig is determined in several ways.
Method 1
This method sometimes misleads newly-minted hosts, but in most cases it helps to determine the gender correctly.
Inspect a newborn animal. The guinea pig should be placed on the palm of the abdomen upward and the distance between the anus and the urethra should be estimated. In males it is much larger compared to females.
Method 2
This method usually gives the correct results, in contrast to the above.
The animal should also be placed on its palm upside down and gently press on the lower abdomen, closer to the genitals. In this case, males can notice a small external genital organ, similar to the letter "i"; in females, not far from the anus, there is a faint gap in the shape of the letter "y". You can also see a visual photo:
In addition, males in the genital area have several skin folds that are absent in females.
Method 3
The method is considered the simplest of all.
The animal is picked up, laid abdomen up. It is necessary to consider the area around the anus, called the anal sac. In a female, he is completely atrophied and does not stand out. In males it is large, so it is clearly visible.
Method 4
The sex of the mumps is also determined by its litter. To do this, the animal must be placed where no one else goes to the toilet (separate cage, for example).
Having examined the litter of the animal, its gender is determined; feces in shape resemble small ovals. In male pigs, such ovals slightly bend around the edges; in females they are straight. You can see the photo demonstrating this method here:
Method 5
If you need to take a guinea pig of a certain gender, and the results of examinations do not give a definite result, you can contact a veterinarian or consultant in a store where animals are sold.
Determining the sex of guinea pig by indirect signs
To determine sex by indirect signs, guinea pigs need to be monitored for some time. Here are some things to notice during observations:
· Females are friendly and calm.
· Males show dominant behavior, growl.
· Sometimes males jump on other guinea pigs. This happens once or twice every few weeks, when the period of conducting sexual hunting begins.
Gender determination of guinea pig in older age
In adulthood, choosing an animal, focusing on the floor of the animal, is easier. In males, the scrotum becomes pronounced, as do the external genitalia. In females, when pressed on the tummy, the genital gap becomes visible. It is worth noting that the genitals of males are much larger than those of females.
An important role is also played by the weight of the animal. Females usually do not weigh more than 1.2 kg, but males very often weigh about 1.5 kg. That is why males are much larger than females.
In pigs of both sexes, papillae can be found. But in adult females they are more pronounced and have a brighter color.
Note: when examining a guinea pig at any age, you need to pay attention to the reaction of the animal. If the guinea pig is anxious and irritable, it may be sick. For this reason, it is advised to show the animal several times a year to the veterinarian as a routine inspection. Often, it is the vigilance of the owners that can prevent or timely begin treatment of a pet.
I would like to say that a guinea pig of any gender can bring joy to its owners. Therefore, if there is no fundamental difference in the choice of the animal, you should not torment him with constant examinations, especially at an early age.
