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Irregular Shaped, Smelly Poops

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katanamoon

katanamoon

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Widget piggy has been doing some absolute monster poops in the last week, ranging from small, squishy blobs to long, thick ones that smell terrible. Sometimes they're in a big clump too.

She seems quite normal in herself, still glossy and alert, interested in food, not losing any weight and popcorning as much as usual (which admittedly isn't much but she is the quietest of my three). She isn't hunched, teeth look fine (front ones at any rate) and I haven't noticed her straining or making any noises of discomfort.

I've tried cutting veg right down and sometimes it seems to work and other times the poops are just as bad as ever.

Sorry, bit gross, but here's a comparison of what she's done today (middle and right) compared to a normal poop:
20150806_183413.webp

I guess we're getting into vet visit territory now, but does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
 
We have been having problems with poop too this week, not clumped though like the photo.
Has there been any change in diet, or opportunities where stress may arise?
 
No, nothing stressful and no changes in diet. Saying that though, I do buy hay from various places depending on the day of the week - if I run out mid-week it's the garden centre near my office, otherwise it's from Jollyes. Last week's bag was from the garden centre and the bad poops started some time last week as well. I wonder if there's a connection? I've been using different hay again this week though.

I've got her in a large upturned pigloo at the moment to have a look and see what's going on - she doubled over and spat out the first one and then went under again for round two, so I guess at least she's going for the special ones too?
 
Awww she's gorgeous! :D Strangely one of mine has had odd poops for about a week or so, I can't tell yet what's wrong, apart from one of them is doing slightly softer ones than normal, so I cut all the veggies out but after 5 days we aren't any better off knowing :( I think it could be Petal,my bladder pig, but whenever I've watched her like a hawk she has left a load of normal ones behind her so I am wondering if it is the weather maybe? She has a vet's appointment soon anyway so I will monitor her & take her in earlier if required .
 
Mine all have the grumps tonight, I've not given them their night time veggies to see if cutting out and starting again slowly will make any difference. Some very angry wheeking going on whenever I move or talk!
 
Definitely a good idea to stop the veg, no matter how much they protest ;) It could be the hay, maybe it was a dodgy batch, did it smell musty at all? Otherwise it may just be a touch of gas that has upset the gut. I would give lots of fibre and cardboard for her to chew and add in a probiotic. Dioralyte may help too.
 
Thanks Helen. It didn't smell bad to me but I guess I'm not the one that has to eat it! I've given them a paper bag stuffed with hay and an empty cardboard box to chomp on - if nothing else, at least it's distracted them from the veggie deficit!

What is the best/easiest probiotic to get hold of?
 
My Enoch occasionally has poops like that. I usually cut down the veg, increase the fibre and give a probIotic like fibreplex http://www.vetuk.co.uk/rabbit-suppl...ibreplex-for-rabbits-and-small-rodents-p-1180 or Avira plus go for a few days and it usually sorts him out. You can buy both from vetUK.

If you want probiotics without ordering online, you can either purchase from your vet (although they may want to see the patient first) or pets at home sell ProC probiotics for small animals. It comes in powder form.
 
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One jumbo poop and some smaller blobs this morning. I've piled on the hay and given them some dried dandelion salad as a consolation for having no veggies. Will pick up probiotic after work.

How long should I let this go on for before a vet visit? :hmm:
 
If they are ok otherwise i'd give it a couple of days of no veg and lots of fibre first, give their guts time to settle again.
 
Aghh it's probably my fault but they had a teeny bit of cucumber and pepper this morning and Widget's poops have gone from being almost normal to small and squishy again :(

I got a box of FibaFirst yesterday but couldn't get probiotic - P@H had sold out and the other pet shops nearby don't stock it. The vets had a single sachet that said it contained probiotic but I didn't want to just go and buy it in case it wasn't right.

Ooohhh it's all very frustrating - poor poopy Widget! :(
 
At least you know what's doing it now then and can rectify it :D
 
Small glimmer of improvement this morning - a LOT of mostly-formed Widget-poops, just a few with tails and the odd squishy one. They're all enjoying the increased access to dry dandelion salad (usually reserved for treats) and the FibaFirst is going down a treat.

I've also never seen Widget popcorn so much - I wonder if she's never felt very well?
 
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