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HOW LONG DOES PREGNANCY LAST ?

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

The length of pregnancy (also called the gestation period) varies from one species to another 

The duration of pregnancy varies from one species to another. In general, the smaller the animal the shorter the pregnancy and the duration of pregnancy may also vary slightly with the breed. For example,  in Chinese water deer the gestation period is 176-210 days; in Roe deer it is 294 days. 

Other factors that are important and influence the gestation period include the  nutritional status of the animal the number of offspring in the pregnancy. 

For most species there is a range of time during which birth may take place and if this period is exceeded there could be medical problems which need veterinary attention. Some examples (compiled from a variety of sources) are :

Species Duration of Pregnancy
Baboons 175 days
Cats 63 days
Cattle 272-290 days
Chimpanzees 227 days
Chinchilla 111 days
Chipmunks 28-35 days
Deer  176-294 days
Dogs 64-66 days
Ferrets 42 days
Gerbils 24-26 days
Goats 145-151 days
Guinea Pigs 59-72 days
Hamsters 15-21 days
Hedgehogs about 35 days
Horses and Ponies 330-345 days
Humans 280 =/- 9.2 days
Mice  19-21 days
Pigs 112-115 days
Rabbits 30-33 days
Rats 20-22 days
Sheep 144-152 days
Squirrel Monkey 165-170 days