Impaction? Maybe, Not Sure

[Franah]

Hello! I have two male guiena pigs which help me spot the difference in there health, both are health happy, eat well are fed plently of hay and fresh fruit and veg every other day. I got them from Jollyes pet store as a friend recommended, and at first all was well, I got them about 5-4months ago, they were not tiny little babies but still only small and definately have matured.

Heres a picture of them both:

The problem is Kinder (the dark and baileys) his anal passage (I dont know how to explain very well) has signs of impaction but it normally occurrs in older boars? I washed it out with warm water and gentley clean it with a swab so does this look like a problem I should take to the vet, He still poos fine and his poo looks very normal sized and he doesnt wince or show any discomfort when the area is touched?
pictures of the problem:

Please help!

 

[theoretikos]

I would take him to the vet.
I haven't dealt with this myself but someone more experienced should be able to help!

 

[sport_billy]

Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately I don't have boys so am totally clueless when it comes to these things but I think impaction is likely.

Just tagging in a few members for you
@helen105281
@Pebble

They are not online at moment but are sure to be later so please check back in.

Here is a link to details on impaction at Guinea Lynx an excellent Medical Website http://www.guinealynx.info/impaction.html I would certainly get Kinder checked over by a vet ASAP. He is stunning by the way!

Could you add your location to your profile also? It allows us to tailor any advice to your geographical location - thanks

 

[helen105281]

I don't have that much experience with impaction. However I too am surprised that he is impacted at such a young age. I definitely think a vet visit is needed. Have a look on our vet locator, however Scots in Bedford come highly recommended on here. I am not sure which part of Bedfordshire you are in.

If this is something he is prone to though you will most likely need to clean him out every day. I have a friend who has to clear her impacted boar at least once a day, though he is older and has severe heart issues. She offers him the poo to eat as it is usually their special poos that are impacted.

 

[Franah]

@helen105281 I live in central bedford so Scots vets4pets pets at home vets are all really easy to get to so Ill try get him to a vet, I'm confused aswell, so young aswell as no discomfort and he is pooing fine and I also see him easily eating his poo

 

[helen105281]

I would go to Scots if you can. Think the vet to see may be Natalie.

 

[Pebble]

Well it certainly looks like there is a blockage of some sort that needs assistance! But is it actually impaction? Given the age, probably not.
Sorry to be pedantic but it is really important if you are speaking to a vet that you don;t miselad them by using "forum speak" instead of "vet speak" and in-advertently send them off in the wrong direction.

Impaction, is a defined chronic older boar problem caused because the rectal muscles have lost their strength and the guinea pig can't adequately expel the (proper) faecal pellets. These then back up and accumulate in the anal sac. Note - it is a chronic condition of the rectal muscles requiring regular (daily or weekly) intervention from slaves for the life of the piggie.

However a "Temporary Blockage" can be caused by
a) an accumulation in the anal sac of the soft caecotrophs the piggie normally re-eats. These can get proper faecal pellets stuck on the outside to also resemble the piccies you have put up. The reason the piggie might not be able to extract and eat the caecotroph pellets at such a young age "could" be because of a dental (Incisor) problem. Or it could just be that they are lazy..or that they just don't like/need caecoptrophs (well boys will be boys LOL!)
b) you just have a very very rude hormonal boy (suspect un-neutered) who likes wiping his boy bits on the ground to "scent-mark", produces a lot of "stinky white gunk" from the glands within the anal sac and this picks up the hay/wood shavings etc in doing so ...which the normal poos then stick to ...creating an offensive "plug" in the anal sac( I have several naughty boys like this - clean out with a cotton bud every 1-2months or as necessary)
c) more serious - there is some kind of gut motility problem - getting the guts moving with a pro-kinetic (gut stimulant) would be the first step - but you need to find why they stopped moving properly in the first place (pain? UTI? dental?)

First thing is to get cotton buds soaked in lukewarm water and gently clear the blockage. (Have kitchen towels and nice veggies handy!) Then give plenty of hay (reduce veggies), make sure they are drinking water and give an egg-cup of pellets each day. Re-inspect daily - and clear again if necessary. Also weigh daily at the same time each day.
Continue this for a week - if the blockage re-accumulates each time or the piggie is losing weight in the interim then go to the vet.
HTH
x

 

[Franah]

@Pebble @helen105281
I came down this morning and he has half cleared it himself to my surprise I sat him on my lap and feed him some cucumber and cleaned the rest with a cotton bud, all good now, Ill keep an eye out but hopefully he will be fine! Thankyou for all the advice, also I rang Scots yesterday and they said to see how he is over the weekend