Intolerant To Grass?

[VirgoViolets]

My piggy Maggie seems to have a problem with eating grass, at least that's the only connection between that and a poorly tummy that is clear.

I have been putting her and her cage-mate out in their run on the lawn for no more than a couple of hours a couple/few days a week for the last few weeks. Then Thursday afternoon last week after being out in the run the day before, Maggie started looking uncomfortable and hunching a bit when trying to go to the toilet and her poos were lighter, softer and had no defined shape, they also smell. I booked a vets appointment for the following morning, but then later that afternoon and into the evening, she went back to doing normal poos and had no signs of discomfort, so I cancelled the appointment.

She has since been fine, and has not been out on the grass for a week. But earlier today she has started showing the same discomfort signs and her poos are even softer and smellier. So perhaps she could have picked something up off the grass last Wednesday but seems unlikely as I obsessively check the grass, her symptoms are on and off and her cage-mate is never affected.

I am convinced there's a problem with grass as she started being affected like this 2 summers ago. Her tummy got so bad that I thought there was nothing to be done - we tried various treatments thinking she'd picked up something called Giardia from the grass somehow. It took nearly 6 months for her tummy to settle.

Last year she did not go out on the grass at all (which I know is not nice for her to miss out on), and her tummy was absolutely fine all summer.

So really, I just wanted to know if digestive intolerance to grass has been documented at all by anyone? And since things like Fibreplex and/or antibiotics and even Flagyl (for Giardia) didn't really help last time, what treatments anyone might suggest? I have a vets appointment tomorrow morning, but sadly with a not very cavy-savvy vet as my usual one is on holiday.

 

[Kerrie74]

I've not read all of your post because I have awful concentration, but there is a post about grass time on here, I wonder if that will help you?

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-preparing-your-piggies-for-lawn-time.111844/

 

[Kerrie74]

Oh and welcome to the forums!

 

[VirgoViolets]

Hey thanks for the reply and info. I'm not technically a newbie, I just keep forgetting my log-in details lol

I followed all the advice in that thread before I put my pigs out this summer, as I was dreading risking putting Maggie out again on the grass this year, and wanted to eliminate as many causes for her tummy problems as possible. But the only problem seems to be the grass itself... I've had 7 guinea pigs including Maggie over the years and never had one have a problem with the grass.. Just completely stumped and worried. Really need some advice and help!

 

[Kerrie74]

Ohh maybe @Wiebke can advise you

 

[biscandmatt]

my rabbit bisc has a very sensitive tummy and has this issue with grass aswell. he can have it but we have to introduce it extremely slowly so his tummy has chance to adapt and even then, he cannot tolerate large amounts of it. some pets are just alot more sensitive. with him, each spring we start by picking very small amounts of grass - starting with a small amount every week and gradually increasing over time. i'm talking about introducing for weeks and weeks before he is able to go outside and at that point we have to build up from a very small amount of time outside, something like 15mins, and again increase very slowly. it is just the way he is. very food sensitive and it doesn't take much for his tummy to become completely unsettled. eta: he then needs extra help with meds and it takes him a long time to get back on track.

so i would let her tummy settle for now and give it one last try doing things extra slowly, perhaps providing her with a probiotic aswell and see how she goes. if it happens even doing it this way then i would think she is just one of the few who just cannot tolerate the richness of grass unfortunately and i wouldn't risk feeding it at all.