Impaction

[amyeeclaire]

My guinea pig (boar) has just turned 5 recently.

I'm quite certain this is the start of impaction (sorry for the graphic image) I just wanted to check? It was stuck so I had to help him. (And it's quite smelly)

At first he was having funny poos with a tail on and they were quite soft, I kept an eye on his weight and took him off veggies and put him on a probiotic.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I'll tag @Wiebke for you and bump the thread

 

[amyeeclaire]

I'll tag @Wiebke for you and bump the thread

Thank you! After posting this I managed to get some more out and then another little lump.. he's fine in himself so I'm pretty sure it is, I'd just like a second opinion

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! After posting this I managed to get some more out and then another little lump.. he's fine in himself so I'm pretty sure it is, I'd just like a second opinion

It difficult to say at this stage; I would still stay off fresh veg for a day or two longer. If this is indeed the beginning of impaction, it must be the very first stages.

Try to see whether a very regular diet with mostly hay, very little grain-free pellets and limited veg (see our sample diet; take off any rich and sugary root veg, sweet corn etc.), always the same and always served at the same time can help to eliminate the symptoms again. This regular diet can actually help to fend off mild impaction. Incidentally, it won't hurt your piggy anyway as we recommend the same for guinea pigs with mild tummy upsets/tricky digestion, which is also not uncommon in older piggies.

 

[amyeeclaire]

It difficult to say at this stage; I would still stay off fresh veg for a day or two longer. If this is indeed the beginning of impaction, it must be the very first stages.

Try to see whether a very regular diet with mostly hay, very little grain-free pellets and limited veg (see our sample diet; take off any rich and sugary root veg, sweet corn etc.), always the same and always served at the same time can help to eliminate the symptoms again. This regular diet can actually help to fend off mild impaction. Incidentally, it won't hurt your piggy anyway as we recommend the same for guinea pigs with mild tummy upsets/tricky digestion, which is also not uncommon in older piggies.

Thanks for your reply

He's been off veggies since Friday and he's had probiotic since Monday morning - I gave him a little bit of green pepper this evening to make up for prodding his bum about. Would you still recommend staying off them?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your reply

He's been off veggies since Friday and he's had probiotic since Monday morning - I gave him a little bit of green pepper this evening to make up for prodding his bum about. Would you still recommend staying off them?

You can see if there are any changes if you slowly re-introduce veg. Only add one new veg with each meal to make sure that the previous one hasn't caused any new problems.

 

[amyeeclaire]

You can see if there are any changes if you slowly re-introduce veg. Only add one new veg with each meal to make sure that the previous one hasn't caused any new problems.

Yes, thank you that's why he's only had a little bit of green pepper this evening - he hasn't lost any weight, he's happy enough and been eating and drinking plenty.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Hope all goes well- though impaction could still be to blame. Please do keep us updated

 

[amyeeclaire]

@Wiebke I've been checking him every evening since (except last night as I was at a wedding). He was all fine and still pooping, checked him this morning and there were no poops in his cage - got him out and saw he had some stuck and helped him get out a lump of about 5-6 poops again, which he ate from my hand. He's still eating and drinking, not losing weight & squeaking/happy.

I assume it is impaction? I've reintroduced more veg but it hasn't caused an upset tummy. I'm not sure whether I need to take him to the vet as he's fine in himself?

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke I've been checking him every evening since (except last night as I was at a wedding). He was all fine and still pooping, checked him this morning and there were no poops in his cage - got him out and saw he had some stuck and helped him get out a lump of about 5-6 poops again, which he ate from my hand. He's still eating and drinking, not losing weight & squeaking/happy.

I assume it is impaction? I've reintroduced more veg but it hasn't caused an upset tummy. I'm not sure whether I need to take him to the vet as he's fine in himself?

It sounds like the beginnings of impaction. Please see whether the tips in this thread can help you: Impaction Recovery - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.

See a vet if you have concerns or worries about his health or if it deteriorates.

 

[amyeeclaire]

It sounds like the beginnings of impaction. Please see whether the tips in this thread can help you: Impaction Recovery - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.

See a vet if you have concerns or worries about his health or if it deteriorates.

Thank you for your reply I feed him burgess excel nuggets & burgess excel feeding hay with dandelion & marigold and obviously fresh veg which he's being reintroduced to! Would you recommend a different hay or nuggets?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your reply I feed him burgess excel nuggets & burgess excel feeding hay with dandelion & marigold and obviously fresh veg which he's being reintroduced to! Would you recommend a different hay or nuggets?

I would recommend to try to switch to a timothy based low calcium, ideally grain and definitely alfalfa/lucerne free pellet brand. I would also try to feed more good quality timothy hay. They more hay an impaction piggy has in its diet, the better as it is the redigestable poos that are getting stuck - the ones that need a second run through the guts to extract as many nutrients as possible.
Try these; he may not take to them straight away, though!
JR Farm Grainless Complete Guinea Pig | Free P&P £29+ at zooplus!
Versele-Laga Cavia Complete Guinea Pig Food | Free P&P £29+

 

[amyeeclaire]

I would recommend to try to switch to a timothy based low calcium, ideally grain and definitely alfalfa/lucerne free pellet brand. I would also try to feed more good quality timothy hay. They more hay an impaction piggy has in its diet, the better as it is the redigestable poos that are getting stuck - the ones that need a second run through the guts to extract as many nutrients as possible.
Try these; he may not take to them straight away, though!
JR Farm Grainless Complete Guinea Pig | Free P&P £29+ at zooplus!
Versele-Laga Cavia Complete Guinea Pig Food | Free P&P £29+

I may go and buy some today but pets at home don't stock those brands, would this be okay?

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/rosewood-naturals-meadow-menu-grain-free-guinea-pig-2kg

 

[*kate*]

Sometimes Colin's impaction is a largish, stinky lump sometimes it is merely a few normal poo's that are stuck.

They seem to vary daily!

 

[amyeeclaire]

Sometimes Colin's impaction is a largish, stinky lump sometimes it is merely a few normal poo's that are stuck.

They seem to vary daily!

Thank you he's just had two that are a few normal poo's stuck together!

 

[*kate*]

Thank you he's just had two that are a few normal poo's stuck together!

When Colin's are normal poo's it appears that one or more kind of move and block the exit! I assume his butt muscles are weak and he can't pass them through!

I don't know how long Colin has had the problem as the rescue told us about it before we adopted him.

 

[amyeeclaire]

When Colin's are normal poo's it appears that one or more kind of move and block the exit! I assume his butt muscles are weak and he can't pass them through!

I don't know how long Colin has had the problem as the rescue told us about it before we adopted him.

That's exactly what Fudge's are like, I think I'm just such an over cautious piggy mum that I caught it early so it didn't get too bad.. haha!

He sadly lost his cage mate a year and a half ago, so he doesn't run around as much as he used to and even floor time doesn't really tempt him.. may try and get a new toy to see if that encourages him..

 

[*kate*]

That's exactly what Fudge's are like, I think I'm just such an over cautious piggy mum that I caught it early so it didn't get too bad.. haha!

He sadly lost his cage mate a year and a half ago, so he doesn't run around as much as he used to and even floor time doesn't really tempt him.. may try and get a new toy to see if that encourages him..

Have you considered getting him a new friend?

 

[amyeeclaire]

Have you considered getting him a new friend?

He's so bossy I don't think he'd take to a new friend. ): He's done perfectly fine on his own, he probably just doesn't run around as much as he used to as they used to chase each other.. haha.

 

[Gem789]

He's so bossy I don't think he'd take to a new friend. ): He's done perfectly fine on his own, he probably just doesn't run around as much as he used to as they used to chase each other.. haha.

If you could take him to one of the recommended rescues listed on here, you could find him a friend that he could chose himself as a lot of the rescues Do boar dating x