Degu... nipples?

[thedreamer12]

I just had a quick question.

When pregnant female nipples are enlarged, how big are they? They are very, very small when not engorged, so how noticable are they when they're engorged?

[Ady]

Very tiny. Nipples will enlarged about 1-2 weeks befire giving birth. Could be as small as sesame seeds (at least at begining) or bigger. There are 8 nipples. In line in between front and hind legs, there is 3 at each side and 2 more between hind legs. I would say, run your finger undet her chest every day and when you feel the nipples, remove the male 6-7 days afterward to prevent another pregnancy. You can put him back in 2-4 days after she gives birth.

[thedreamer12]

I found the nipples, but I can't tell if they're the normal size or if they are large. They seem very very small.

[Ady]

I think you not able to find them by touch if not swollen because of pregnancy. I think, your female will give birth soon. If you been checking for them regulary and this is first time you found them, you have about 1-2 weeks before babies. My girls nipples were very very tiny, about 2-3mm when I spotted it first.
Hope this helps! Do you have more questions? Don't worry degus can take care of babies themselves, you just make sure, male is not there when/after she gives birth.

[thedreamer12]

Thank you. So, you can't find them by touch if they aren't engorged?

[deguconvert]

You can, but you have to have a delicate touch and search the area minutely. I sort of think that finding them may differ from one degu to another. We have two females that have both had two litters. The first one we knew she was quite pregnant and found her nipples about a week before delivery, so then my daughter was very enthused and decided to check out the second girl, as she was suspected pregnant. Well, her nipples were found as well, but she was at least a month from delivery at that point, so hers seemed to be showing up earlier than was expected. So, I think it can depend on the degu, and may also depend on the size of the litter she is carrying inside.

[thedreamer12]

Hmm. I'm not sure how big pregnant degus are suppose to get, but I think Dexter's litter is small. She's due around June 17th (Estimate), and she's not very big yet at all. I noticed her becoming a slight pear shape about a week ago. Around what time did your females get large?

[deguconvert]

WELL!!! Depends on the degu . . . again!!! Pumpkin lives up to her name and looks plump fairly early, I would say about 6-7 weeks we started thinking, ooooooo!! she's getting bigger!!! But then, I should tell you that my daughter developed this method of holding them that would have their hind feet resting on a lower hand while their fore feet would be resting on a somewhat higher other hand, which would stretch out their bodies and much more clearly show the state of their bellies. Apricot, a naturally smaller degu in every way, she would be 9 weeks before clearly showing some increase. With the last (there will be NO MORE) litters, Pumpkin had 7 pups, while Apricot only had 3, so the difference in size was very noticable. Poor Pumpkin, by the time she delived she looked like a small furry head perched on a large furry grapefruit . . . with a short expanse of ribs in between! I am POSITIVE that delivery couldn't have come soon enough in her estimate. She was definitely GRUMPY the last four weeks of her pregnancy, and the pups little bumpy bodies could easily be seen and felt under her skin. SO glad I was NOT her!!!

[thedreamer12]

Awh, poor Pumpkin!

I tried that method with Dexter, and I think my estimate is correct. She's been eating so much lately. He mate, Connor, is taking wonderfully good care of her as well.

[thedreamer12]

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