Help! I Think Rex has Anal Impaction

[Stewybus]

I'm not very well up on male guinea pigs but think that Rex has Anal Impaction. About 2 hours ago we heard a crying like noise & realised it was coming from Rex's cage. He was just neutered last Tuesday & also had a sebaceous cyst removed from his lower back. He was only back at the vets yesterday for a post-op check-up & given a clean bill of health.

I picked him up & he had some poo sticking out of his anus which fell out when I gently squeezed. I repeated this & another piece came out. I put him down & watched him & 2 more pieces came out. He seemed OK but my wife shouted me to say he was crying again so I checked him again& managed to release three more poos. I'm not certain about how far I can go so have only examined the opening of his anus & there doesn't seem to be anything else there at present. There is a hole further inside but should I probe this? I'm only his fosterer so have tried to contact Gwen at the rescue but cannot get hold of her. I looked up on Guinea Lynx a section on impaction & it mentioned cleaning with mineral oil, is there a brand name I can use. Are there any foods I should avoid & any foods that may help. When he was brought into the rescue 3 weeks ago we were told he was about 2 but boars don't usually get impaction till they're much older. Any help would be really appreciated.

 

[Jerrybelly]

I use baby oil and cotton buds to gently clean out piggy bums. Although it may sound unpleasant, if done properly it doesn't cause any pain or discomfort for the piggy.

An impaction is a solid mass of ceacal pellets (the poo that piggies eat), that builds up over a few days (or a few hours in severe cases) and is common in older boars due to a weakening of the muscles. The area around the anus usually feels hard until the impaction is removed.

Just a thought, but crying when pooing can also be a sign of bladder issues

 

[Wiebke]

I would have him checked by your vet in case there are post op complications (internal swellings etc.)

 

[Stewybus]

I use baby oil and cotton buds to gently clean out piggy bums. Although it may sound unpleasant, if done properly it doesn't cause any pain or discomfort for the piggy.

An impaction is a solid mass of ceacal pellets (the poo that piggies eat), that builds up over a few days (or a few hours in severe cases) and is common in older boars due to a weakening of the muscles. The area around the anus usually feels hard until the impaction is removed.

Just a thought, but crying when pooing can also be a sign of bladder issues

I'll get some baby oil in for their first aid kit, if we haven't got some tucked away somewhere. I don't think it's his bladder as he wee'd while he was on my knee & didn't seem in any discomfort. Because he's only two I don't think it is impaction as this tends to occur more with older boars..

I would have him checked by your vet in case there are post op complications (internal swellings etc.)

I took him to the vets at 4.30 yesterday for post-op check & he was given the all clear. I've been checking him tonight since I first put this post on & he's had no more poos stuck. It may have been a one-off or not even impaction but I'll check him again in the morning. If there's still a problem I'll phone my vet.

 

[jenniferanneharris]

How is Rex today? x

 

[funnehmare]

As Jerrybelly said it tends to be a solid mass of ceacel poo rather than individual poops. Having said that my boy will often have a clear blockage but several unpassed non ceacel poops too! I too use baby oil. He is only two to three (not sure as he is a rescue) but suffers from bad impaction. Usually it'll be a daily clean up operation but at times he can it require multiple times of day, particularly if he's been more sedentary throughout the day. Moving/running about seems to help alleviate it slightly. Regards to foods, I find with Churchill if he's had a particularly wet diet combined with drinking lots (he likes to, on occasion, sit at the water bottle and play with it by emptying the contents into his cage but also consumes a fair amount) then he blocks up with increased frequency but overall I find his diet doesn't have that much impact on it. His impaction developed several months after he had the snip, I'm still not entirely convinced whether it is a result of the surgery or not or if it would have happened regardless. Prior to the surgery he didn't suffer from impaction per say but he was messier than my other boys.

Fingers crossed it was just the one off for your foster boy Rex. Glad it went well at the vets though

 

[Stewybus]

I checked him after breakfast & he had piece of poo sticking out. He seems well in himself & eating OK. I'm going to take him to the vets tomorrow afternoon when I take 2 of my other piggies. It may be just a swelling from his neutering op which is causing pressure but it all looks OK in that area. I've also been told that this can happen after they have a change in diet especially onto more fresh food & hay.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

my pig savvy vet has also suggested GOOD quality olive oil can also make a good substitute for baby oil. I've been using something special we bought in a spanish delicatessen for my boar and he's doing really well with it! Maybe because we started helping him sooner than later but his impactions are becoming less frequent.

 

[jenniferanneharris]

How is Rex today? x

 

[Stewybus]

He's OK in himself & ate most of his food overnight. There was no poo sticking out last night or this morning but it does look a little swollen down there. Probably nothing serious but I'm taking him to the vets this afternoon. If it is impaction I'll get the vet to show exactly what to do. It may be a post-op swelling so would need looking at in any case.

 

[jenniferanneharris]

Glad he is ok in himself etc Poor little love bless him- as you say hopefully its just post-op swelling...and hopefully that goes down quickly. Sending gentle cuddles to Rex.

 

[Stewybus]

I've been cleaning Rex once or twice daily. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this with their boars but there seems to be a smell resembling the smell of fermentation. It's similar to the smell I used to get when making home brew back in the 70's. I don't know if this is normal but I'll ask the vet today.

 

[jenniferanneharris]

Good luck at the vets. Gentle hugs to Rex.

 

[Tbag]

It could be the sign of a UTI - Tango is prone to them but never exhibits symptoms when weeing, only when he's trying to pass number twos. Just like you describe he'll cry a bit and struggle to pop them out. The smell is probably normal, my boys bums stink to high heaven but also could be a sign of yeast infection. Hope you get some answers at the vets!

 

[Rodentopia]

having dealt with impaction lots of times in the past I can't say that's a way I would describe the smell myself. Goodluck at the vets

 

[Stewybus]

I spoke to the vet today & she said it could have a smell of fermentation depending on his diet, He does have fresh grass, kale & sometimes a little cabbage or Cauli leaves. He due back there at the end of the week when I take Minky back.