Is My Guinea Pig Poorly?

[Jessica Wells]

My female guinea pig is called Minnie and she is 1. She is a Peruvian. This morning I spotted her doing the tuck under when she goes to eat her poop, but I then heard her squeak like she was in pain, so I went over to see and she came up to me like she usually does but there was a really mushy poop where she had just been. I picked her up to check and at the bottom of her stomach there was a brown patch which wasn't there when I got her, she hasn't pooped since then and it looks like something is blocking her bum and she keeps tucking under trying to pull it out but she squeaks every time. We give her some parsley and she ate it and she is eating her hay like normal but I'm just concerned with what I saw.

 

[Tiamolly123]

Sounds As though it is impaction, sometimes you can help him but you possible should try & get him to the vet. @Wiebke

 

[Jessica Wells]

she is a female, I googled it and it said only males can get it

 

[Tiamolly123]

Maybe be an urine infection or tummy upset, I've notified Wiebke. She knows far more than me. Hope she's Ok

 

[Jessica Wells]

Okay thank you

 

[Wiebke]

I would recommend to see a vet, as always when in doubt.

The thing with poos is that is takes several hours to day (or even two days if the guts are very sluggish) until poos are processed. A guinea pig is not eating constantly, so poos come in batches.
Guinea pig also produce two types of poos at different times. The first type, the caecotrophs which are full of once digested matter get eaten by picking them straight from the opening. The caecotrophs are usually lighter in colour. Older guineas may need to turn around and pick them up from the ground if they become to stiff; they can get rather upset if they can't find a caecotroph!
The second variety, the ones that you normally see lying around, are the ones that carry the indigestible waste.

The problem can be caused by a problem in the digestive tract, the reproductive tract (womb or ovarian cysts) or by an issue in the urinary tract; the latter two can push on the guts and can cause soft poos or pain when pooing. Only a vet can tell.

However, I would strongly recommend to take your girl off all fresh food for the time being, switch to weighing daily at the same time and if necessary top up with syringe feed (recovery formula, mushed pellets or a mix thereof), as always when there is a potential tummy upset. I hope that is just a minor issue.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

 

[Jessica Wells]

She has started pooping again but they are really dark and mushy

 

[Wiebke]

She has started pooping again but they are really dark and mushy

Just take her off any fresh food until the poos have firmed up again and normalised for at least 24-48 hours. then re-introduce them only slowly. See a vet if there is any deterioration/more signs of pain or if the poos are not starting to firm up again within 24 hours.
Weigh daily at the same time and top up with syringe feed if she is losing 50g or more from one day to another (or has already lost that). Also make sure that you offer water.

 

[Adelle]

Just a thought, could you see her bits clearly? Check she isnt matted (what with being a long haired girl) that could have occured if she has soft poo and everythings got a bit stuck together! The hair should fall away from that area and should be clearly visible. Knotted and matted hair pulls on the skin which would be uncomfortable and possibly stopping her from retrieving poos herself x