average age for boars with impaction?

[Dusty_bugs]

I was told Appa was 2 yrs old approx. when we got him from the rescue. His age doesnt bother me. But I'm wondering if he is infact older. He has alot of soft poos which are massively stinky (not diarrhoea, he gets good poos just as much). If you press around his bum or when you lift him up, it sometimes causes him to express these soft poos.. some of which have a mucousal string attached.

I'm thinking he has the start of impaction and that, if its only older boars who get it.. he might be more like 3 to 4 not 1 to 2 years old.

Does anyone have any idea how old a boar normally might be before he suffers impaction?

 

[Dusty_bugs]

PHWAAR! definitely impaction. Big ol' hard lump of poop just came out of him when I gave his little bum a squeeze. All mixed in with stuff. The moment i put him down he waddled over to his bed and went straight to sleep.. completely unfazed. Weird little man.

 

[Rodentopia]

Mines started when he was 6/7 and he lived till he was 9 so didn't bother him too much. Its not nice but its an easy job once you get the hang on it. I used to put it in front of him see if there was any he wanted to eat, you can give them supplements to help them with the vitamins they are missing

 

[Dusty_bugs]

I'll ask my vet on tuesday what vit B supplement is pig safe thanks.

... I don't think Appa is 6 haha, but congratulations on having your pig for so long! What a privilege!

 

[MargaretB]

My Dougal had a similar problem when I got him and he was only 10 months old. He has had it once more since then, but I check him regularly. I think some are more prone to it than others and that it's not just restricted to the older pigs.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

wow, wasn't expecting that!

 

[Dindypig]

Here is a link to a good article, don't be fazed by it and most piggies do not need the frequency of cleaning that is suggested, use your common sense.
http://www.guinealynx.info/impaction.html

 

[MargaretB]

wow, wasn't expecting that!

I know! I wasn't expecting it when I first got the boys. I didn't cherish the thought of having to deal with that sort of thing on a regular basis, but as I say, Dougal has only had it once more in the year I've had them, thank goodness.

 

[AbiS]

ummm... at risk of asking a really silly question - but how do you know if they are impacted? If you have 2 of them running around you will not necessarily know who is or is not pooing. Or do you watch out for misshapen poops?

 

[Dusty_bugs]

ummm... at risk of asking a really silly question - but how do you know if they are impacted? If you have 2 of them running around you will not necessarily know who is or is not pooing. Or do you watch out for misshapen poops?

Hi Abis, I know it's the male not the female because when you support his rear as you pick him up there is a lump behind his gentleman's area. I normally pick him up by putting my middle two fingers between his legs (and try to avoid his gentleman's gentleman!). The pressure around this area has often made the lump of stanky poop come out, it's hard, sometimes it has white stuff in it, and he often looks a little weak in his hind legs until the mass is out.

I had them at the vets last wednesday anyway for their last mite jab. He agreed that impaction was afoot. The female has a nice tidy little bum.

 

[Zapbash]

When I had my first guinea pig he became impacted around the age of 5? It was pretty gross but unfortunately it does happen to some piggies. I just kept the area clean and had to 'squeeze' (not the nicest of jobs...) poop out of him, then he'd be okay for a few days. I would keep your eye on it though as it provides a huge discomfort for the animal as well as makes the area prone to infection.