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loose poo...nice!

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hils78

One of my rescue pigs seems to have loose poo.
Its the one who is half bald and is struggling a bit. (half bald from a fungal infection which has been treated at CCT).
I have been introducing a few new foods - and the recent one is strawberries.
I wouldn't say she has the runs and has just done a okish poo on my knee!

I'm 99% sure it was the strawberries. Just so I know, at what point do you take an GP to the vet when it has the runs (can't spell diarreah!)?

Obviously you isolate the animal etc but as in this case she has quickly got better. I would always be the first to go to the vet for the smallest thing. But having been to CCT & seen Vedra in action my faith in my vet has somewhat diminished & wouldn't want to be given a death sentance for no reason.

Views greatly recieved

H78
 
I think that as well as taking into account a loose poo, you need to take a good look at the animal. If it's a couple of loose droppings in the bottom of the pen (especially after introducing a new food) and the guinea is bright eyed and bushy tailed, I wouldn't worry too much and keep an eye on the situation.

However you say this one is "struggling a bit" so if she is a bit off anyway, this could be a sign that there is more going on there?
Hopefully not though. If it were me ~
I'd clean her pen, so you know exactly what is being passed form this moment.
Give plenty of nice hay and usual dried food. (Some people will say remove dry food, I wouldn't if we are just talking loose droppings. and she is acting normally)
Keep her warm and quiet.
Observe carefully. Is she eating, drinking, moving around normally and interested in her surroundings? If not ~ Vet.
If it's to do with the strawbs I would expect her to be back to normal in the morning. If she isn't she may need antibiotics.

Generally speaking, I would take any guinea pig with real loose diarrhoea to the vet as soon as I was aware of the problem. Just to be on the safe side. It's a bad sign and a guinea like this can go down hill in hours.
The odd loose dropping I'd treat as above.
As always if in doubt seek professional advice.

hope all goes well,

Barbara
 
As Barbara has said there is a real different between soft poos and full on diarrhoea.

In this case I would be witholding all fresh food for 24 hours and just giving hay and mix. Lot's of water too.

Keep her warm and quiet for the next 24 hours. If it is food related she should soon be back to normal.

If there is no improvement or she goes downhill she needs to go straight to the vets.
 
You would have been better giving the leaves rather than the fruit. If you have any blackberry leaves in your garden try giving her a couple, as they stop the runs. Charcoal biscuits do the same but are a bit harder to come by! If you are sure it is proper runny, you need to get her to the vet pretty soon as they can go downhill fast.
 
if I notice loose poo or very soft uneatable poo I always give them probiotics this should straighten things pretty quick as it did with dobby if not and its bad even after one day its vet time, they lose weight so fast you cant take a chance.
 
linda.b said:
If you have any blackberry leaves in your garden try giving her a couple, as they stop the runs.
Click to expand...

Wow! I'll never moan about the invasive bramble bush coming through from next door again :) That's really good to know.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I have been on poo patrol over night and things seem to be back to normal. I'll hold back on the fresh food for toady I think. The deli where I work sells charcol biscuits at £3 for 12! I've always fancied them but always thought them too expensive - but now I have a reason to get them I'll have a pack in just in case...as for blackberry leaves I've got 100's!

The pig in question was with Vedra for a week and her health really had taken a battering (bearing in mind she came in with a bowl full of shreddies as her food). Its her breathing that is my main concern as her hair is growing back nicely. The movement of her stomach is hard to explain - almost sharp breaths in. When I questioned this with Vedra she said that no antibiotics needed just time to get over her past 4 years. I have tried them on several beddings & I've come to the conclusion that it is a shavings allergy causing this breathing because of low immune system. Hemcore was too prickly for their sore feet as they'd been paddling in wee for god know how many years. So I used the last of my shavings for softness - breathing went down hill. Got hold of some Megazorb & she's picking up now.

I can't wait to put in some time in with my girls now!
 
Pleased to here that your little one is back to her normal poos :)

If she has lived in such terrible conditions, the ammonia and irritation may have contributed to a deterioration in her lungs and caused emphysema. A condition where the lungs lose their elasticity and the air sacs become enlarged and damaged, limiting the oxygen exchange. Might be worth asking Vedra if this is possible? Just thinking aloud ::)
If she has had a systemic fungal infection, this too may have caused long term damage to her lung tissue?

Hope she continues to improve with you :)

Barbara
 
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