Guinea pig not pooping as much, eating or drinking.

[marshmallow2022]

My guinea pig, Marshmallow, on Sunday, 1/15/22 got ahold of the plastic wrapping of a Caprisun straw (about an inch or maybe more) and he ate it. Since, he hadn't gone poop much at all, didn't eat much nor drink very much at all and when i would check on him he would stay in his hide out, usually he could come over to me. A few days before he had gotten ahold of the straw wrapping, he was in a new environment, new cage and new room. Though, today 1/17/22, he has been running and popcorning like he usually does, has been eating and drinking more though still hasn't gone to the bathroom much. Could his bathroom issues be due to the environment change or is it for the plastic? Should I take him to the vet or can he poop out the plastic and be ok?

 

[Livia Rabideau]

I would syringe feed until you can get to a vet. I would have the vet do an x-ray. It won't show the plastic, but will show abnormalities from eating it. One of my girls ate most of a plastic glove that I accidentally left on top of the cage. It flew in when I wasn't looking. She did need gut stimulant and syringe feeding, but after a week she was good. Wishing you good luck!

 

[StayGold86]

I agree with previous post. Get to the vet ASAP.

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

My guinea pig, Marshmallow, on Sunday, 1/15/22 got ahold of the plastic wrapping of a Caprisun straw (about an inch or maybe more) and he ate it. Since, he hadn't gone poop much at all, didn't eat much nor drink very much at all and when i would check on him he would stay in his hide out, usually he could come over to me. A few days before he had gotten ahold of the straw wrapping, he was in a new environment, new cage and new room. Though, today 1/17/22, he has been running and popcorning like he usually does, has been eating and drinking more though still hasn't gone to the bathroom much. Could his bathroom issues be due to the environment change or is it for the plastic? Should I take him to the vet or can he poop out the plastic and be ok?

Hi, the fact he is not pooping normally could be due to the environmental change or swallowing the plastic. I really do think you should take him to the vet as a piggie that is not pooping normally can be serious and it could be due to a blockage or other factors. Can I ask if he is eating plenty of hay and is he maintaining his weight?

 

[marshmallow2022]

Hi, the fact he is not pooping normally could be due to the environmental change or swallowing the plastic. I really do think you should take him to the vet as a piggie that is not pooping normally can be serious and it could be due to a blockage or other factors. Can I ask if he is eating plenty of hay and is he maintaining his weight?

He didn't eat a considerable amount of hay the past two days as he wasn't eating much at all, but today, he has been eating hay like normal again. As for his weight, my scale stopped working so I am currently waiting on the arrival of a new one and am unsure of his weight changing.

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

He didn't eat a considerable amount of hay the past two days as he wasn't eating much at all, but today, he has been eating hay like normal again. As for his weight, my scale stopped working so I am currently waiting on the arrival of a new one and am unsure of his weight changing.

I know poop output is 2 days behind, so the fact he wasn't pooping normally before could be because he wasn't eating enough hay. Hopefully now you should see an improvement. If you are concerned, a visit to the vets could put your mind at ease.

 

[marshmallow2022]

I would syringe feed until you can get to a vet. I would have the vet do an x-ray. It won't show the plastic, but will show abnormalities from eating it. One of my girls ate most of a plastic glove that I accidentally left on top of the cage. It flew in when I wasn't looking. She did need gut stimulant and syringe feeding, but after a week she was good. Wishing you good luck!

If you don't mind me asking, did you guinea pig poop pit

I know poop output is 2 days behind, so the fact he wasn't pooping normally before could be because he wasn't eating enough hay. Hopefully now you should see an improvement. If you are concerned, a visit to the vets could put your mind at ease.

Yes at first with the environment change he was still going to the bathroom per usual it wasn't till maybe his 3rd or 4th day when his droppings became less and his eating around the same time. I am unable to get to his vet right now so I will wait til I can if it worsens I will go to a vet hospital, thank you very much

 

[Livia Rabideau]

I never saw the plastic glove in the poop. If you cannot get to a vet. Please syringe feed to try to push it through. Monitor poops, appetite, and activity. If anything seems off, please get to a vet asap. I have lost too many this year when I did everything right. Prayers for you and your baby!

 

[marshmallow2022]

I never saw the plastic glove in the poop. If you cannot get to a vet. Please syringe feed to try to push it through. Monitor poops, appetite, and activity. If anything seems off, please get to a vet asap. I have lost too many this year when I did everything right. Prayers for you and your baby!

My last question, just to ensure, is it possible the glove was out of her system in the poop and you couldn't see it? I just want to know if the straw wrapping can come out without me noticing.

 

[Livia Rabideau]

My vet said that in order for her to eat it, she would need to chew it up well. He thought it would pass with no issues. Her poops were odd and her appetite was off for sure, but she ate a lot of the glove. I just kept syringe feeding her for the week or so. Then she was fine. It was a food prep glove if you know what that is. They are thin, but it was still a lot. I was so mad at myself. I use them to clean cages. I use a new glove for each cage. I had it sitting on the top of the cage. The gloves are lightweight. It flew right into the cage while I was cleaning other cages.

 

[marshmallow2022]

My vet said that in order for her to eat it, she would need to chew it up well. He thought it would pass with no issues. Her poops were odd and her appetite was off for sure, but she ate a lot of the glove. I just kept syringe feeding her for the week or so. Then she was fine. It was a food prep glove if you know what that is. They are thin, but it was still a lot. I was so mad at myself. I use them to clean cages. I use a new glove for each cage. I had it sitting on the top of the cage. The gloves are lightweight. It flew right into the cage while I was cleaning other cages.

That's the problem with marshmallow, I'm not sure if he bite it into pieces or kind of ate it whole if that makes since. I'm not sure if he broke it up into pieces or not... or if that's possible... but thank you so much

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

That's the problem with marshmallow, I'm not sure if he bite it into pieces or kind of ate it whole if that makes since. I'm not sure if he broke it up into pieces or not... or if that's possible... but thank you so much

My piggies started chewing the plastic from their cages and I asked the vet about it, she told me that guinea pigs chew things into tiny pieces and cannot swallow things like what a dog would. If that makes sense? Just keep an eye on him and monitor his pooping, if you are concerned see the vet. Checking his weight is the only way to tell if he is getting adequate hay intake so as soon as your scales arrive check his weight. You could try putting him some probiotics in his syringe food incase he has an upset tummy.

 

[Piggies&buns]

As above, lack of poop output means hay intake has been considerably reduced and already has been for a few days.
This is urgent and requires immediate stepping in with daily weight checks and syringe feeding.
Please also see a vet if you are concerned.

I’m glad you’ve got nee scales arriving because you can never gauge hay intake by eye so unfortunately you can’t know she is eating hay like normal again.
Please do weigh her asap.

 

[marshmallow2022]

My guinea pig, Marshmallow, on Sunday, 1/15/22 got ahold of the plastic wrapping of a Caprisun straw (about an inch or maybe more) and he ate it. Since, he hadn't gone poop much at all, didn't eat much nor drink very much at all and when i would check on him he would stay in his hide out, usually he could come over to me. A few days before he had gotten ahold of the straw wrapping, he was in a new environment, new cage and new room. Though, today 1/17/22, he has been running and popcorning like he usually does, has been eating and drinking more though still hasn't gone to the bathroom much. Could his bathroom issues be due to the environment change or is it for the plastic? Should I take him to the vet or can he poop out the plastic and be ok?

For those reading this having a similar problem I wanted to update. My babies vet was closed and I couldn't afford to take him somewhere I didn't have help paying for, so I waited and payed close attention hoping for the best. Fortunately, his appetite stayed the same and over a few days he started pooping per usual, I never saw any plastic and he had gone back to normal until about 4 weeks ago I'd say. As I said above, I'm not 100% sure he ate the plastic or not. But I found the plastic in his cage, same exact piece about a month after the incident. I am unaware of it was stuck in one of his blankets or if he ate it or what but it is out and he is normal again.

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Thankyou for the update, I am glad he is ok