Guinea Pig Not Pooping Much?

[Leila]

Hello, guys. So, I'm a new guinea pig owner. I've never had one. Last year, I was planning on buying one and did a lot of research, however since it was a very busy year, I decided to postpone getting a piggy. However, last week, I heard of a friend who was putting her pig up for adoption and since I have more free time now, I decided to adopt him. In spite of having done my research, I'm still very new to everything. I got Jamie last thursday and everything seemed alright. I picked his poop everyday in the morning and there always seem to be a rather large amount of it.

However, after cleaning his cage yesterday at 2 pm, by 10 pm there were no poops at all. Which made me worried. He's eating pallets and veggies. I've ordered hay but still it hasn't arrived. In his old house, he ate hay from time to time. I also ordered vitamin C, which will arrive today.

Today when I woke up there were 10 poops. But still is very few when compared to the quantity he was producing in the days prior.

I'm guessing it's the lack of hay. However, if it was the lack of hay, wouldn't his poop pattern have changed since day 1? Plus, the hay will only arrive this thursday. What should I do until then to make him poop?

He is happy, eating and drinking water. Doesn't seem to be sick. Also, I know piggies need a companion. However, I was told he doesn't do great with other piggies. But I'm planning on possibly getting him a friend.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Has he got no hay atm then? If so, please get him hay today asap. It's 80-90% of their diet so is incredibly important, far more so than pellets and need a lot of hay to live.

Depending on how long he's been without hay, their poos reflect what was eaten a few days prior to pooing so he wouldn't have reduced poos right away.

I'm sure he'd love a friend

 

[DM030819]

Poop output can reflect what they ate 2 days ago so it could be possible that the lack of hay is causing it.

You can get hay from many shops so I suggest you pop to your local petshop or supermarket and get him some.

Hay should be at least 80% of their diet.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, guys. So, I'm a new guinea pig owner. I've never had one. Last year, I was planning on buying one and did a lot of research, however since it was a very busy year, I decided to postpone getting a piggy, However, last year, I heard of a friend who was putting her pig up for adoption and since I have more free time now, I decided to adopt him. In spite of having done my research, I'm still very new to everything. I got Jamie last thursday and everything seemed alright. I picked his poop everyday in the morning and there always seem to be a rather large amount of it.

However, after cleaning his cage yesterday at 2 pm, by 10 pm there were no poops at all. Which made me worried. He's eating pallets and veggies. I've ordered hay but still it hasn't arrived. In his old house, he ate hay from time to time.

Today when I woke up there were 10 poops. But still is very few when compared to the quantity he was producing in the days prior.

I'm guessing it's the lack of hay. However, if it was the lack of hay, wouldn't his poop pattern have changed since day 1? Plus, the hay will only arrive this thursday. What should I do until then to make him poop?

He is happy, eating and drinking water. Doesn't seem to be sick. Also, I know piggies need a companion. However, I was told he doesn't do great with other piggies. But I'm planning on possibly getting him a friend.

Hi and welcome

Please make sure that you get hay from a pet shop or supermarket ASAP; it doesn't matter what kind of hay, any is better than nothing at all!
Unlimited hay at all times makes around 80% of the daily food intake and is the one single thing that keeps the teeth ground down, which have adapted to the very abrasive silica in hay and grass and are the fastest growing of all rodents. Chewing toys are useless for keeping the dental system balanced. Hay is also absolutely essential in keeping the guts balanced.

A good diet is absolutely vital for long term health and a long life. Guinea pigs have evolved to live in grasslands; hay is what they live on. Fresh veg and pellets only make 10-20% of the daily diet. This also explains the lack of poos - your guinea pig is not getting enough food.It takes 1-2 days for the poos to come through; what is showing now, reflects a problem that has started earlier on.
Please take the time to carefully read our very detailed diet guide. It tells new owners exactly what, how much and how often to feed and covers all food groups. You will find it very helpful: Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

You may also find our collection of guides for new owners interesting and helpful. They answer the most often asked questions by new owners and also contain vital information how you can prepare for and spot problems as soon as they arise. Please make sure that you save up some money every week to be able to afford vet care whenever needed; illness and emergencies NEVER happen at a good time and they can run quickly into the hundreds of dollars.
New Owners' Online Starter " Booklet" For Really Helpful Advice

 

[Leila]

Has he got no hay atm then? If so, please get him hay today asap. It's 80-90% of their diet so is incredibly important, far more so than pellets and need a lot of hay to live.

Depending on how long he's been without hay, their poos reflect what was eaten a few days prior to pooing so he wouldn't have reduced poos right away.

I'm sure he'd love a friend

He's got no hay. I live in a city where hay is quite difficult to find for sale, you have to order it first and then buy it. People from here usually order before actually getting the piggy. But since I didn't get the chance to plan ahead since he really had to leave his owner's house asap, I didn't get to order the hay first. That's why I need a solution while his hay isn't here.

And I hope he does! Someone I know just got piggies too, so I want to introduce them and see how Jamie reacts to a new piggy. (:

Poop output can reflect what they ate 2 days ago so it could be possible that the lack of hay is causing it.

You can get hay from many shops so I suggest you pop to your local petshop or supermarket and get him some.

Hay should be at least 80% of their diet.

I live in a small town in Brazil. Definitely very few hay supplies here. I looked up in many petshops but I could barely find the pallets, let alone the hay. I'm going on another hay hunt this afternoon but I'm worried that he gets very sick untill then.

 

[Leila]

Hi and welcome

Please make sure that you get hay from a pet shop or supermarket ASAP; it doesn't matter what kind of hay, any is better than nothing at all!
Unlimited hay at all times makes around 80% of the daily food intake and is the one single thing that keeps the teeth ground down, which have adapted to the very abrasive silica in hay and grass and are the fastest growing of all rodents. Chewing toys are useless for keeping the dental system balanced. Hay is also absolutely essential in keeping the guts balanced. A good diet is absolutely vital for long term health and a long life. Guinea pigs have evolved to live in grasslands; hay is what they live on. Fresh veg and pellets only make 15-20% of the daily diet. This also explains the lack of poos - your guinea pig is not getting enough food.
Please take the time to carefull read our very detailed diet guide. It tells new owners exactly what, how much and how often to feed. You will find it very helpful:
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

You may also find our collection of guides for new owners interesting and helpful. They answer the most often asked questions by new owners and also contain vital information how you can prepare for and spot problems as soon as they arise. Please make sure that you save up some money every week to be able to afford vet care whenever needed; illness and emergencies NEVER happen at a good time and they can run quickly into the hundreds of dollars.
New Owners' Online Starter " Booklet" For Really Helpful Advice

Thank you so much for all the helpful links. I'll read them all right now!

 

[Leila]

Update: After a few hours I was able to find 10kg of hay about 30 mins away from where I live. Jamie loved it and seems to be pooping a bit more. Thanks for all the help. xx

 

[Betsy]

That's good news! it's good to know your hard work in finding Jamie some hay has paid off.

 

[DM030819]

@Leila Fantastic news. I didn't realise it was so difficult to find hay there. Well done for going out and finding some for him, his stomach will definitely appreciate it! x

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

That's fab news! Hope he's enjoying it!