Dark and soft poos

[Eva121]

I have had my guinea pigs since September and they have always had dark poos. I didn't think much about it until I saw other threads discussing it. How can I fix the dark poo situation? I heard its because the guinea pig may not have enough fiber but I dont know if that is accurate. My guinea pigs barely eat hay, they just arent that interested. So thats probably why they have a lack of fiber? How can I make my guinea pigs eat hay? I would buy a new brand but where I live only sells Timothy Gold hay. Another stool issue is that the guinea pigs poops are a bit squishy. It isnt like diarrhea or anything, it looks normal except for when you squish it. I have taken away the guinea pigs veggies until the poo problem gets better but its been a few days and no progress. I don't have vitamin c tablets or drops (they dont sell them where I live) so I just give them bell peppers. Bell peppers are watery so it probably isnt helping that they are eating it. I have been giving them hay and pellets. Some of their poos are small so I am worried about their food intake, but thats only 2 in 20. Please share your knowledge! Thanks in advance!

 

[Eva121]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Wiebke]

I have had my guinea pigs since September and they have always had dark poos. I didn't think much about it until I saw other threads discussing it. How can I fix the dark poo situation? I heard its because the guinea pig may not have enough fiber but I dont know if that is accurate. My guinea pigs barely eat hay, they just arent that interested. So thats probably why they have a lack of fiber? How can I make my guinea pigs eat hay? I would buy a new brand but where I live only sells Timothy Gold hay. Another stool issue is that the guinea pigs poops are a bit squishy. It isnt like diarrhea or anything, it looks normal except for when you squish it. I have taken away the guinea pigs veggies until the poo problem gets better but its been a few days and no progress. I don't have vitamin c tablets or drops (they dont sell them where I live) so I just give them bell peppers. Bell peppers are watery so it probably isnt helping that they are eating it. I have been giving them hay and pellets. Some of their poos are small so I am worried about their food intake, but thats only 2 in 20. Please share your knowledge! Thanks in advance!

Hay fibre should make over 80% of the daily food intake. If that is not the case, then the poos turn dark. Too much fresh food like veg or fruit (which should be fed in moderation and in the case of fruit only very sparingly) can cause soft poos if the fresh food starts fermenting in the gut. Veg and pellets are often massively overfed in a guinea pig diet.

We usually recommend to take your guinea pigs off any fresh food until the poos have firmed up and are normal for 24-48 hours. Aee a vet if there is no improvement within the first 24 hours or if the consistency is getting worse.

It can be tough if your piggies aren't eating enough hay. Please do not overfeed veg and pellets and see whether they will eat more hay that way.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[Eva121]

Hay fibre should make over 80% of the daily food intake. If that is not the case, then the poos turn dark. Too much fresh food like veg or fruit (which should be fed in moderation and in the case of fruit only very sparingly) can cause soft poos if the fresh food starts fermenting in the gut. Veg and pellets are often massively overfed in a guinea pig diet.

We usually recommend to take your guinea pigs off any fresh food until the poos have firmed up and are normal for 24-48 hours. Aee a vet if there is no improvement within the first 24 hours or if the consistency is getting worse.

It can be tough if your piggies aren't eating enough hay. Please do not overfeed veg and pellets and see whether they will eat more hay that way.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

It has been 24 hours and no change. Should I book an appointment with the vet?
My friends keep saying it because they drink so much water but it couldn't be, right?

 

[Eva121]

Hay fibre should make over 80% of the daily food intake. If that is not the case, then the poos turn dark. Too much fresh food like veg or fruit (which should be fed in moderation and in the case of fruit only very sparingly) can cause soft poos if the fresh food starts fermenting in the gut. Veg and pellets are often massively overfed in a guinea pig diet.

We usually recommend to take your guinea pigs off any fresh food until the poos have firmed up and are normal for 24-48 hours. Aee a vet if there is no improvement within the first 24 hours or if the consistency is getting worse.

It can be tough if your piggies aren't eating enough hay. Please do not overfeed veg and pellets and see whether they will eat more hay that way.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Also, something ive noticed is that older and smaller poops are normal and firm. Bigger and possibly fresher ones are squishy. I'm doing an experiment and seeing if the poops harden after awhile. If they do does that still mean they still need less veg or ever things fine? This past day they have been devouring hay so I think not giving them vegetables has opened their eyes to the hay world. I also think its weird their poops are a bit smaller, some are still big but most are small. Before cutting off veg they were bigger. Is this because they haven't been eating as many fresh vegetables? Heres a photo just in case.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Small poops can be not enough food. Output is about 24 hours behind what goes in. If they’ve only been eating more hay yesterday then it’s going to take a day to come out. I would make a vet appointment though, it’s always best to get these things checked. Make sure their diet remains 80% hay but I wouldn’t reintroduce veggies yet.
You will find they drink more when they eat more hay, particularly when they aren’t getting the water from the veg.

 

[Wiebke]

Also, something ive noticed is that older and smaller poops are normal and firm. Bigger and possibly fresher ones are squishy. I'm doing an experiment and seeing if the poops harden after awhile. If they do does that still mean they still need less veg or ever things fine? This past day they have been devouring hay so I think not giving them vegetables has opened their eyes to the hay world. I also think its weird their poops are a bit smaller, some are still big but most are small. Before cutting off veg they were bigger. Is this because they haven't been eating as many fresh vegetables? Heres a photo just in case. View attachment 102955

Smaller and harder poos point to a diminished food intake. Poos dry out and become harder the older they are. If your piggies have less veg and smaller poos as a result it means that they are not compensating with hay or pellets, which is the normal reaction that helps to stabilise the guts again.

I would recommend to see a vet and speak with them about your dietary issues, but you can try to introduce fibre by syringe feeding a hay based recovery formula and hopefully encouraging your piggies to start eating it by themselves. I would also recommend a course of fibreplex to help settle guts.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide (inludes a section on recovery, probiotic and vitamin C products)

 

[Eva121]

Do you have any hay based recovery formulas you could suggest? I looked on Amazon and found one but it has some iffy reviews. The fibreplex is on the way! I also booked an appointment with my vet, cant wait for the car ride with the guinea pigs!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Do you have any hay based recovery formulas you could suggest? I looked on Amazon and found one but it has some iffy reviews. The fibreplex is on the way! I also booked an appointment with my vet, cant wait for the car ride with the guinea pigs!

Oxbow Critical Care or Supreme Science Recovery

 

[Eva121]

Thank you!

 

[Eva121]

I ordered the fibreplex but it might not get to my brothers house in time since I wanted him to bring it down here when he comes on Saturday. If it comes late would Benebac work?

 

[Eva121]

I guess I am restarting this thread!

I went to the vet and she suggested some Garden Acidophilus (I bet I bombed that spelling lol) type thing but it won't arrive till February! I wanted to ask if I could use PB8? it's a probiotic for humans, its in a small capsule. I just don't want the pigs to have squishy poos for so long!

 

[Wiebke]

I guess I am restarting this thread!

I went to the vet and she suggested some Garden Acidophilus (I bet I bombed that spelling lol) type thing but it won't arrive till February! I wanted to ask if I could use PB8? it's a probiotic for humans, its in a small capsule. I just don't want the pigs to have squishy poos for so long!

Probiotics are pretty much all the same. For guinea pigs they are ideally vegetarian and do not contain animal products.

 

[Eva121]

Hiya!

I have gone to the vet once more as the problem has not been resolved.
My vet suggested Equine Bio- Sponge for the guinea pigs, she did not talk about why.
I have ordered it and it will arrive February 5th, I hope! What are your opinions on this product?
Are there any side affects I should worry about?

 

[Wiebke]

Sorry, I have no experience with that.