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Poop Problem?

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GuineaPig24

GuineaPig24

Junior Guinea Pig
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My pig's poo is small and slimy and smells AWFUL. I'm concerned for his health. Is he okay?

Edit-
He's also been having extraordinarily disgusting gas. It smells strongly of garlic, but I'm positive he hasn't eaten any.
 
Last edited:
I'm sorry that he's having poo problems.

I'm no expert, but I have experienced this and these are not good signs. It may indicate that his gut isn't working properly, but in any case I would recommend that you see a vet asap, because these can be life-threatening conditions.

Has he been eating and drinking ok? Has his weight been stable.

I hope you can get a quick vet appt and that he's gets much better soon
 
GuineaPig24 said:
My pig's poo is small and slimy and smells AWFUL. I'm concerned for his health. Is he okay?

Edit-
He's also been having extraordinarily disgusting gas. It smells strongly of garlic, but I'm positive he hasn't eaten any.
Click to expand...

Please take him off any fresh food, weigh him daily to control his food intake and if necessary syringe feed and water him (our guide has tips for what you can do in an emergency).

It sounds like also has got bloating issues. Can you get to a vet over the weekend? ideally, the sooner the better, as this sounds rather like an emergency case.
 
Wiebke said:
Please take him off any fresh food, weigh him daily to control his food intake and if necessary syringe feed and water him (our guide has tips for what you can do in an emergency).

It sounds like also has got bloating issues. Can you get to a vet over the weekend? ideally, the sooner the better, as this sounds rather like an emergency case.
Click to expand...
I cleaned his cage and gave him more hay and less food. I also moved his bowl to another area in his cage where he doesn't poo in. He's acting a lot better than he did earlier, and seems to be doing fine. I'll make sure to regulate how much he eats a day, and I won't give him as many treats. His weight since the gas started has remained the same, and I'll make sure he doesn't gain or lose any. We can't get a vet this weekend, but if I notice any other issues, I'll definitely contact one.
 
GuineaPig24 said:
I cleaned his cage and gave him more hay and less food. I also moved his bowl to another area in his cage where he doesn't poo in. He's acting a lot better than he did earlier, and seems to be doing fine. I'll make sure to regulate how much he eats a day, and I won't give him as many treats. His weight since the gas started has remained the same, and I'll make sure he doesn't gain or lose any. We can't get a vet this weekend, but if I notice any other issues, I'll definitely contact one.
Click to expand...

Yes, please do!
Please make sure that hay makes up to 80% of the daily food intake and PLEASE stay off pet shop treats; they are junk food for guinea pigs and only serve to impact on their health and lifespan. :(

Here are our diet recommendations. Please still stay off any veg and fresh food until your boy has settled down at least 24 hours. If the bloating or the diarrhea picks up at any point, as well as the lethargia, see a vet promptly.
 
Wiebke said:
Yes, please do!
Please make sure that hay makes up to 80% of the daily food intake and PLEASE stay off pet shop treats; they are junk food for guinea pigs and only serve to impact on their health and lifespan. :(

Here are our diet recommendations. Please still stay off any veg and fresh food until your boy has settled down at least 24 hours. If the bloating or the diarrhea picks up at any point, as well as the lethargia, see a vet promptly.
Click to expand...
After the one outbreak of his poo, he doesn't see to have been popping since. But, he's back to his greedy little pig self for the most part. He does seem a little worn out but he did jump out of the sink multiple times earlier when I gave him a bath to help the garlicky smell buried in his fur.
 
When did he last poo? It isnt safe for him not to pass anything- the gas may have gotten worse and caused this. Is his tummy bloated or hard? Sit him on a hard flat surface and gently tap his sides with your fingers- does it sound hollow?

If so, he is bloated and will need help to get things moving. Do u have any woodwards gripe water for babies at home? Can u massage his tummy to help things move? Placing him on some sort of heat pad (please ensure it is no too hot and is covered so he cant burn himself) can help move the gas too.
 
Wiebke said:
Yes, please do!
Please make sure that hay makes up to 80% of the daily food intake and PLEASE stay off pet shop treats; they are junk food for guinea pigs and only serve to impact on their health and lifespan. :(

Here are our diet recommendations. Please still stay off any veg and fresh food until your boy has settled down at least 24 hours. If the bloating or the diarrhea picks up at any point, as well as the lethargia, see a vet promptly.
Click to expand...

I did some unprofessional research and came up with the conclusion that he possibly ate something bad for him. Hopefully whatever it is will pass through his intestines within a few days and he'll be better soon. I'll wait some time and see his actions to determine whether to take him to the vet or not.
 
GuineaPig24 said:
After the one outbreak of his poo, he doesn't see to have been popping since. But, he's back to his greedy little pig self for the most part. He does seem a little worn out but he did jump out of the sink multiple times earlier when I gave him a bath to help the garlicky smell buried in his fur.
Click to expand...

Please bathe him in a basin in the bathtub or shower; this prevents him from injuring himself in case he jumps blindly. The sink is unfortunately not a safe place for bathing guinea pigs.

You may not see any or any normal poos if he has hardly eaten over the last day or two, but it is a very encouraging sign that he is lively again.
It takes time for the guts to stabilise and to process food; the output tends to lag one to two days behind. You can help him if you have got a brown paper bag at home (cut through any handles); nutritionally poor fibre is often what guinea pigs with a tummy that is out of order crave.
Or has he got a companion? In that case, you can soak some fresh healthy poos in a little bit of water and syringe that. It is a bit gross, but it contains all the right stuff to re-stock the guts. A probiotic from the pet shop can also help prop up the guts.

Here is our diet guide for a healthy long term diet. Stay off any veg until the poos are looking normal again for a whole day.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
 
Adelle said:
When did he last poo? It isnt safe for him not to pass anything- the gas may have gotten worse and caused this. Is his tummy bloated or hard? Sit him on a hard flat surface and gently tap his sides with your fingers- does it sound hollow?

If so, he is bloated and will need help to get things moving. Do you have any woodwards gripe water for babies at home? Can you massage his tummy to help things move? Placing him on some sort of heat pad (please ensure it is no too hot and is covered so he cant burn himself) can help move the gas too.
Click to expand...

He last pooed maybe one-two hours ago, but it was a lot of poo. He pooed now too but it was one very thin small pellet.

I tapped his belly and it sounds like lightly hitting a stuffed animal. I'm scared, because I can't do anything to help him now, and I don't want him to get worse. I lost a Guinea pig I knew for five days and was so sad for quite some time. If I lose this Guinea pig that I've known for 4 years, I'd be devastated. The most I can do is monitor him and make sure he eats.
 
GuineaPig24 said:
He last pooed maybe one-two hours ago, but it was a lot of poo. He pooed now too but it was one very thin small pellet.

I tapped his belly and it sounds like lightly hitting a stuffed animal. I'm scared, because I can't do anything to help him now, and I don't want him to get worse. I lost a Guinea pig I knew for five days and was so sad for quite some time. If I lose this Guinea pig that I've known for 4 years, I'd be devastated. The most I can do is monitor him and make sure he eats.
Click to expand...

He sounds bloated. Can you get hold of some ranitidine based product and/or a baby's colic-soothing prescription? Both will help to break up bubbles and ease any cramps.
Here is a link to the "gripe water" that we find helpful; can you find something similar in the baby section in your supermarket?
Homemade Natural Gripe Water for Colic in Babies

You can also help by massaging/vibrating; if necessary, a cheap electric toothbrush can help. Do it ever half hour.

Continue to syringe feed and water to keep the guts going, little but often round the clock. If the bloat is not going down quickly, please see a vet as an emergency. This is serious!
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Wiebke said:
Please bathe him in a basin in the bathtub or shower; this prevents him from injuring himself in case he jumps blindly. The sink is unfortunately not a safe place for bathing guinea pigs.

You may not see any or any normal poos if he has hardly eaten over the last day or two, but it is a very encouraging sign that he is lively again.
It takes time for the guts to stabilise and to process food; the output tends to lag one to two days behind. You can help him if you have got a brown paper bag at home (cut through any handles); nutritionally poor fibre is often what guinea pigs with a tummy that is out of order crave.
Or has he got a companion? In that case, you can soak some fresh healthy poos in a little bit of water and syringe that. It is a bit gross, but it contains all the right stuff to re-stock the guts. A probiotic from the pet shop can also help prop up the guts.

Here is our diet guide for a healthy long term diet. Stay off any veg until the poos are looking normal again for a whole day.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
Click to expand...
I normally would bathe him in the bathtub, but it was filled with dirty water and I had to unclog and clean it. The sink was just the second best option for me at the moment.

I can definitely give him a brown paper bad to chew on, and for the companion part- he's a lone little pig. We tried to get him a friend, and he got jealous of the other Guinea pig and was extremely displeased. He's more of a people Guinea pig.

If I notice he doesn't eat any food at all today, I'll definitely syringe feed him.
 
I can get the pig to eat small amounts of food without a syringe, and he seems to be eating a lot better now.
 
Wiebke said:
He sounds bloated. Can you get hold of some ranitidine based product and/or a baby's colic-soothing prescription? Both will help to break up bubbles and ease any cramps.
Here is a link to the "gripe water" that we find helpful; can you find something similar in the baby section in your supermarket?
Homemade Natural Gripe Water for Colic in Babies

You can also help by massaging/vibrating; if necessary, a cheap electric toothbrush can help. Do it ever half hour.

Continue to syringe feed and water to keep the guts going, little but often round the clock. If the bloat is not going down quickly, please see a vet as an emergency. This is serious!
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Click to expand...

I gave him a paper lunch bag, and he immediately took it from me and ate the whole top off of it.

He also just pooped a little, which is much more like him.image.webp
 
GuineaPig24 said:
I gave him a paper lunch bag, and he immediately took it from me and ate the whole top off of it.

He also just pooped a little, which is much more like him.View attachment 42277
Click to expand...

Please read my recommendations on how to deal with his gassing problem to make sure that it goes down again and until you can see a vet. it is very encouraging that he still has got an appetite.
 
Update- Guinea is doing better. He's pooping more and his pellets aren't as wet, but are still pretty small. He's also eating and drinking regularly without any help..
 
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