Specialist Guinea Pig Eating But Popping Twice A Day.

[Shubhi]

Hello, I'm a newbie here.
My two year old baby (a male), has been pooping very little past 3-5 days. He had been eating a little as well, but has increased his diet today.
Other than this, he's behaving very normally. He's his happy little self but fluffs himself up when he sits down.
I read about impaction, but he doesn't seem to be needing one. I come from a place where there are hardly any vets, let alone to have anyone advice me on an animal as exotic as a guinea pig.
I have been giving him gripe water. 2 drops, four times a day to ease indigestion, if any.
I love him dearly, please help me understand his problem.
Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I'm a newbie here.
My two year old baby (a male), has been pooping very little past 3-5 days. He had been eating a little as well, but has increased his diet today.
Other than this, he's behaving very normally. He's his happy little self but fluffs himself up when he sits down.
I read about impaction, but he doesn't seem to be needing one. I come from a place where there are hardly any vets, let alone to have anyone advice me on an animal as exotic as a guinea pig.
I have been giving him gripe water. 2 drops, four times a day to ease indigestion, if any.
I love him dearly, please help me understand his problem.
Thanks!

Hi! whenever you see decreased eating or pooing, please switch to weighing daily at the same time instead of usual weekly check-up and weigh-in. See a vet as soon as the short term weight loss passes 50g/2 oz. The majority of weight loss/loss of appetite is caused by a pain issue somewhere in the body, struggling to breathe or a problem in the digestive system, ranging from overgrown premolar spurs in the mouth to bloating or a blockage in the guts. Your boy is a bit too young for impaction, which usually affects only about 10% of older boars.

At that stage of weight loss, you may also want to step in with support syringe feeding. Since hay is ideally making over 80% of the daily food intake, there is no other way of judging the intake than weighing. Just watching a piggy nibble on a bit of veg can be very deceptive! You can always use mushed up pellets and a 1 ml needle-less syringe from a pharmacy in an emergency, as long as you prep the tip as shown in our syringe feeding guide.

Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

 

[Shubhi]

Hi! whenever you see decreased eating or pooing, please switch to weighing daily at the same time instead of usual weekly check-up and weigh-in. See a vet as soon as the short term weight loss passes 50g/2 oz. The majority of weight loss/loss of appetite is caused by a pain issue somewhere in the body, struggling to breathe or a problem in the digestive system, ranging from overgrown premolar spurs in the mouth to bloating or a blockage in the guts. Your boy is a bit too young for impaction, which usually affects only about 10% of older boars.

At that stage of weight loss, you may also want to step in with support syringe feeding. Since hay is ideally making over 80% of the daily food intake, there is no other way of judging the intake than weighing. Just watching a piggy nibble on a bit of veg can be very deceptive! You can always use mushed up pellets and a 1 ml needle-less syringe from a pharmacy in an emergency, as long as you prep the tip as shown in our syringe feeding guide.

Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

Thanks for replying so quickly.
He makes weird faces when he eats, as if he jaws is locked!
I'll weigh him now, I think it's a good idea to tap his weight.
I shall seek a vet's help tomorrow, although I doubt the competence of the vets here. I shall tell you how it goes.
Fingers crossed!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for replying so quickly.
He makes weird faces when he eats, as if he jaws is locked!
I'll weigh him now, I think it's a good idea to tap his weight.
I shall seek a vet's help tomorrow, although I doubt the competence of the vets here. I shall tell you how it goes.
Fingers crossed!

It may be something stuck in his mouth by the sound of it.

 

[Shubhi]

It may be something stuck in his mouth by the sound of it.

Do you think this may be the reason of him eating less food than usual and hence pooping a little?

 

[Shubhi]

Hi! whenever you see decreased eating or pooing, please switch to weighing daily at the same time instead of usual weekly check-up and weigh-in. See a vet as soon as the short term weight loss passes 50g/2 oz. The majority of weight loss/loss of appetite is caused by a pain issue somewhere in the body, struggling to breathe or a problem in the digestive system, ranging from overgrown premolar spurs in the mouth to bloating or a blockage in the guts. Your boy is a bit too young for impaction, which usually affects only about 10% of older boars.

At that stage of weight loss, you may also want to step in with support syringe feeding. Since hay is ideally making over 80% of the daily food intake, there is no other way of judging the intake than weighing. Just watching a piggy nibble on a bit of veg can be very deceptive! You can always use mushed up pellets and a 1 ml needle-less syringe from a pharmacy in an emergency, as long as you prep the tip as shown in our syringe feeding guide.

Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

Hi! Just came back from the vet.
My boy's temperature is 102.9 F. The vet said he's a little feverish.
He gave the following meds:

MOXIKIND-CV (amoxycillin and Potassium Clavulanate Oral Suspension IP)
Digyton (Digestive stimulant antiflatulent bowel regulator)

Are these medicines okay?

 

[DM030819]

@Shubhi No, penicillin is toxic to guinea pigs. Please seek out a different vet asap before giving any of the medication.

From your description he doesn't sound like he has an infection but could have a teeth issue. That won't need medication.

Please DO NOT use the medicine before contacting the vet.

Google 'penicillin guinea pig' and you will find nunerous links about it being toxic.

Here is a link from Guinea Lynx

Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications

 

[Shubhi]

@Shubhi No, penicillin is toxic to guinea pigs. Please seek out a different vet asap before giving any of the medication.

From your description he doesn't sound like he has an infection but could have a teeth issue. That won't need medication.

Please DO NOT use the medicine before contacting the vet.

Google 'penicillin guinea pig' and you will find nunerous links about it being toxic.

Here is a link from Guinea Lynx

Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications

Thanks, Jaycey! I'd just been googling the meds 'cause I'm always skeptical about the vets at this place. Furthermore, there aren't any good vets available at all.
He also makes little painful noises while trying to poop... Nothing comes out though.
He just poops once and very little.
The other medicine 'Digyton'is for cats and dogs. Can the guinea pigs be administered the same?

 

[DM030819]

There aren't many medications licensed for guinea pigs so many vets use cat and dog medicine.

I've never heard of Digyton so have just Googled it. It seems like it's a herbal medicine containing dill oil so it sounds very similar to the gripe water you have been using.

If he is eating less then he will be pooping less. Are you giving him additional food by syringe feeding it to him?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Just came back from the vet.
My boy's temperature is 102.9 F. The vet said he's a little feverish.
He gave the following meds:

MOXIKIND-CV (amoxycillin and Potassium Clavulanate Oral Suspension IP)
Digyton (Digestive stimulant antiflatulent bowel regulator)

Are these medicines okay?

Please DO NOT give any amoxillin to rodents - penicillin is a killer!

Here are lists of dangerous medications for guinea pigs. Please print them and take them with you whenever you see a vet.
Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications
Guinea Lynx :: Medications

 

[Shubhi]

Please DO NOT give any amoxillin to rodents - penicillin is a killer!

Here are lists of dangerous medications for guinea pigs. Please print them and take them with you whenever you see a vet.
Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications
Guinea Lynx :: Medications

Hello, thanks! No, I didn't... I googled it and found it's toxic to guinea pigs. I want to sue the vet who prescribed it to my baby.
I gave him two slices of apple today, he pooped and they are not their usual moist jelly beans but good enough in shape then what I'd been seeing these days.
He ate his cucumber and chappatti as well.
So far, I think he's getting better.
Should I go on with gripe water?

 

[Shubhi]

There aren't many medications licensed for guinea pigs so many vets use cat and dog medicine.

I've never heard of Digyton so have just Googled it. It seems like it's a herbal medicine containing dill oil so it sounds very similar to the gripe water you have been using.

If he is eating less then he will be pooping less. Are you giving him additional food by syringe feeding it to him?

No, I didn't syringe feed him 'cause he has been eating more than yesterday. He also pooped! And the beans are in a better shape. Can't decide whether it were the two slices of an apple or the gripe water, but whatever it is, it's working.
He's munching on his cucumber right now. I think he's getting better.
Should I continue with the apples and gripe water?

 

[DM030819]

Is apple part of his usual diet @Shubhi ? If it is then I would continue as he's obviously enjoying it. If it's not then I wouldn't give him too much just incase it adds to his stomach issues.

Offer him lots of his favourite foods. If you give him lots to choose from then he might eat more.

If you think he's improving then I would reduce the gripe water, maybe give him a smaller dose or less often. When he seems completely back to normal then I would stop. Does the vet want to see him again?

It sounds like you have everything under control and are doing really well. I hope he continues to improve and is back to his usual self very soon.

 

[Shubhi]

Is apple part of his usual diet @Shubhi ? If it is then I would continue as he's obviously enjoying it. If it's not then I wouldn't give him too much just incase it adds to his stomach issues.

Offer him lots of his favourite foods. If you give him lots to choose from then he might eat more.

If you think he's improving then I would reduce the gripe water, maybe give him a smaller dose or less often. When he seems completely back to normal then I would stop. Does the vet want to see him again?

It sounds like you have everything under control and are doing really well. I hope he continues to improve and is back to his usual self very soon.

Thank You, I hope he will.
Yes, he did... He said, "if required." To be honest, he's a competent fellow with the canines, but not so much with cavies, owing to the fact he prescribed amoxycillin to my boy.
I offer him apples once or twice a week, not more than two slices in a go. He seems to enjoy it, he also loves to eat cucumbers these days, since it has got hotter here.
He doesn't eat his hay, why, that I can't understand. My girl of two loves to eat it, so if the hay was bad, she would have turned it down as well. So this rules out my doubt of the quality of hay.
He pooped this evening, very moisty and kind of shapeless. Did the apple upset him? I read that apples cure constipated guinea pigs if given in a moderate quantity. He had two slices in the afternoon and a slice in the evening.
Also, will you please suggest as to what amount of gripe water can be administered to him in a day, and how many times?

 

[DM030819]

His stomach upset will have caused the shapeless poops. I wouldn't offer him any more apple at the moment.

You have been giving him 2 drops of gripe water 4 times a day? If he is pooping now then I would reduce it to twice a day. If he shows any signs of getting worse increase it back to 4.

Can you offer him different types of hay to try to get him to eat more? Hay should be 80% of their diet so the fact that he isn't eating any suggests that he's not getting enough fibre, which could cause the stomach issues.

 

[Shubhi]

His stomach upset will have caused the shapeless poops. I wouldn't offer him any more apple at the moment.

You have been giving him 2 drops of gripe water 4 times a day? If he is pooping now then I would reduce it to twice a day. If he shows any signs of getting worse increase it back to 4.

Can you offer him different types of hay to try to get him to eat more? Hay should be 80% of their diet so the fact that he isn't eating any suggests that he's not getting enough fibre, which could cause the stomach issues.

I'll try to follow the measures you suggested and will get back to you for futher suggestions.
Can't thank you enough for all your help when I needed the most!

 

[DM030819]

You're very welcome @Shubhi . I hope he feels better soon!

 

[Shubhi]

You're very welcome @Shubhi . I hope he feels better soon!

Hello, Jaycey! I'm back...
He's not touching his hay at all! I gave him coriander leaves, to which he ate a little. He eats a little of tomatoes, cucumbers and chappatti daily. I also gave him a small slice of an apple yesterday, in addition to the gripe water which I have been giving him.
He pooped one big jelly bean yesterday, and a smaller one this afternoon! That's it!
I tried to find new variety of hay for him (like you had suggested) but in vain.
It really worries me to the core as to what could be wrong with him?! The girl is healthy eating the same food and in the same environment but he is not.
Is this seasonal and will go away? The temperature here is around 36 C.
Is his behavior just a response to changing weather or something I should be worried about? I'm in such an agony, 'cause I'm failing to understand his behavior.

 

[DM030819]

Is the chappatti you are feeding him a flatbread? Guinea pigs aren't supposed to eat flour and dough so maybe that is causing a problem.

36 C is very hot. My pigs wouldn't be able to handle that temperature. Are you providing air conditioning for them? Is 36C normal or excessively higher than usual?

Are you weighing him so you can track any weight loss @Shubhi ? If he's not eating then his digestive system will slow down and eventually stop. If he's losing weight then you will have to syringe feed him. There are specialised foods for this so you can use his usual food watered down.

 

[Shubhi]

Is the chappatti you are feeding him a flatbread? Guinea pigs aren't supposed to eat flour and dough so maybe that is causing a problem.

36 C is very hot. My pigs wouldn't be able to handle that temperature. Are you providing air conditioning for them? Is 36C normal or excessively higher than usual?

Are you weighing him so you can track any weight loss @Shubhi ? If he's not eating then his digestive system will slow down and eventually stop. If he's losing weight then you will have to syringe feed him. There are specialised foods for this so you can use his usual food watered down.

For March, 36 C in India is normal... But it's the changing temperature from February to March has caused a slight raise.
Chappatti is an Indian bread, no sugar is added. It's just wheat flour, rolled like a pastry and baked on Indian tava, and he had been eating it throughout his life. So I wouldn't worry about that.
As for the weight, I'll weigh him down today and report it back to you.
He's not giving up on food, he's eating but his rejection to hay is utterly confusing to me. I gave him a little spinach today, he ate two leaves.
But an animal that poops every 15-20 mins is pooping only twice, is worrisome.

 

[Shubhi]

For March, 36 C in India is normal... But it's the changing temperature from February to March has caused a slight raise. My cavies live in the basement, which is pretty cooler than the rest part of the house and outside. There's no AC.
Chappatti is an Indian bread, no sugar is added. It's just wheat flour, rolled like a pastry and baked on Indian tava, and he had been eating it throughout his life. So I wouldn't worry about that.
As for the weight, I'll weigh him down today and report it back to you.
He's not giving up on food, he's eating but his rejection to hay is utterly confusing to me. I gave him a little spinach today, he ate two leaves.
But an animal that poops every 15-20 mins is pooping only twice, is worrisome.

 

[Shubhi]

PS. He still makes weird faces sometimes. As if something is stuck in his mouth. I can't take him to the vet, for the obvious reasons I've mentioned time and again.
The weighing machine that I've weighs only human beings, it didn't detect his weight I when I put him on it. He seems to shed a little weight, but not so much. He had shed a little weight last summer as well.
What should I do? Is it something fatal? Or he'll eventually adjust himself to it?

 

[Shubhi]

PS. He still makes weird faces sometimes. As if something is stuck in his mouth. I can't take him to the vet, for the obvious reasons I've mentioned time and again.
The weighing machine that I've weighs only human beings, it didn't detect his weight I when I put him on it. He seems to shed a little weight, but not so much. He had shed a little weight last summer as well.
What should I do? Is it something fatal? Or he'll eventually adjust himself to it?

I just got to learn from my sister that he had eaten lots of carrots this winter when I was away. I googled it, and found out Carrots can be very sugar-y for guinea pigs, he was in love with carrots this whole winter and he literally lived on it, his chappatti and hay.

Now that spring/summer is here, the carrots are gone and I guess the sugar may have given him sore mouth or something... Is this why is digestive system has taken a swing? Is this why he is rejecting his hay 'cause soft cucumbers don't bother him but chewing on hay does?

 

[Wiebke]

For March, 36 C in India is normal... But it's the changing temperature from February to March has caused a slight raise.
Chappatti is an Indian bread, no sugar is added. It's just wheat flour, rolled like a pastry and baked on Indian tava, and he had been eating it throughout his life. So I wouldn't worry about that.
As for the weight, I'll weigh him down today and report it back to you.
He's not giving up on food, he's eating but his rejection to hay is utterly confusing to me. I gave him a little spinach today, he ate two leaves.
But an animal that poops every 15-20 mins is pooping only twice, is worrisome.

Wheat grain and any derivatives like flour are not recommended for guinea pigs. They are too fatty and high in protein for a long term diet.

The fact that he is still not eating hay means that his tummy upset has not yet settled properly.
Please be aware that the poo output always lags 1-2 days behind the corresponing food intake.

Ideally you cover the period when hay is not eaten by recovery formulas that consist mainly of ground up hay to get the necessary fibre volume into the gut. Ideally he needs to eat the equivalent of 40-60 ml in 24 hours just to stay alive. A healthy guinea pig at its peak eats up to 120 ml in a day in solids and fluids.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

As long as the cause of what is causing his diminished food intake is not removed, the problem is going to continue. Is there a way you can gently explore his mouth with a cotton bud and clean our his pouches so you can have a better look in his mouth if you cannot see a vet?
You weigh your guinea pigs in a bowl on kitchen scales that you use for cooking or on baby scales. Piggies are too light for human scales.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Guinea pigs should not eat human food like bread, that really won't help his eating so I would definitely stop that ASAP. He needs piggy appropriate food to be healthy. They should only really have grass based foods (like hay or grain free nuggets) and veggies.

Piggies shouldn't be above 25 degrees celcius so that probably be helping. Can you put him in an air conditioned room? He could even be suffering from some kind of heat stroke? He'll need regularly water syringes if he's not drinking either.

He sounds like he's in a really bad way so he needs help soon, it's never a good sign when they're not eating or pooing. He needs syringe feeding but I guess you don't have any fibrevore recovery foods there

 

[Wiebke]

Hot Weather Management And Heat Strokes

 

[Shubhi]

Wheat grain and any derivatives like flour are not recommended for guinea pigs. They are too fatty and high in protein for a long term diet.

The fact that he is still not eating hay means that his tummy upset has not yet settled properly.
Please be aware that the poo output always lags 1-2 days behind the corresponing food intake.

Ideally you cover the period when hay is not eaten by recovery formulas that consist mainly of ground up hay to get the necessary fibre volume into the gut. Ideally he needs to eat the equivalent of 40-60 ml in 24 hours just to stay alive. A healthy guinea pig at its peak eats up to 120 ml in a day in solids and fluids.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

As long as the cause of what is causing his diminished food intake is not removed, the problem is going to continue. Is there a way you can gently explore his mouth with a cotton bud and clean our his pouches so you can have a better look in his mouth if you cannot see a vet?
You weigh your guinea pigs in a bowl on kitchen scales that you use for cooking or on baby scales. Piggies are too light for human scales.

Hmm, I could try that!
He has been eating his sister's poop. I read that sick guinea pigs tend to eat the poop of healthier guinea pigs, to recover the good bacteria in their system.
Can I make him some poop soup? How many times can I feed him this mix?

 

[Shubhi]

Guinea pigs should not eat human food like bread, that really won't help his eating so I would definitely stop that ASAP. He needs piggy appropriate food to be healthy. They should only really have grass based foods (like hay or grain free nuggets) and veggies.

Piggies shouldn't be above 25 degrees celcius so that probably be helping. Can you put him in an air conditioned room? He could even be suffering from some kind of heat stroke? He'll need regularly water syringes if he's not drinking either.

He sounds like he's in a really bad way so he needs help soon, it's never a good sign when they're not eating or pooing. He needs syringe feeding but I guess you don't have any fibrevore recovery foods there

Hi! He is eating but less than usual. Hay.. Not at all! Pooping, once or twice a day... 2-3 or sometimes just one jelly bean. Fluffs himself up when he sits.
He asks for food, gets excited when it's supper time, and the rest behaviour like his flirting and playing is normal.
This is utterly confusing to me.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Hi! He is eating but less than usual. Hay.. Not at all! Pooping, once or twice a day... 2-3 or sometimes just one jelly bean. Fluffs himself up when he sits.
He asks for food, gets excited when it's supper time, and the rest behaviour like his flirting and playing is normal.
This is utterly confusing to me.

If he's only pooping twice a day his body will probably shut down soon. You really need to make sure he's getting more food in him and a cooler room.

He's fluffing himself up because he's very ill and he needs help

If he's not eating or pooping then you could end up looking at gut stasis and without a good vet and experience there's not a lot you can do once that happens so it's crucial you get it sorted now before it's too late

 

[Shubhi]

If he's only pooping twice a day his body will probably shut down soon. You really need to make sure he's getting more food in him and a cooler room.

He's fluffing himself up because he's very ill and he needs help
If he's not eating or pooping then you could end up looking at gut stasis and without a good vet and experience there's not a lot you can do once that happens so it's crucial you get it sorted now before it's too late

Oh my! You have had me more worried than ever....
I can't get a good vet at this place, can neither switch the hay to make him eat.
I don't know what to do to save my child!