Sensitive Stomach

[BlueBird]

Hi Guys,

So one of my guineas over the past couple of months seems to have developed a sensitive stomach. Every 2-3weeks or so he goes through a period where is poos get really soft. They aren't cow pats but they are soft enough to no longer be classic guinea poo shaped (they end up more like wine bottles) and are soft enough to get them stuck on his paws. I can't really work out what it is as we don't really change his diet all that much and the veg we give him is limited to Lettuce, cucumber and peppers. I appreciate these are quite watery veg but we don't give them much maybe a handful of veg between 2 guineas. If we do vary from those 3 veg, it tends to be the off cuts from our own dinner prep (for e.g. tops of carrots) so are tiny amounts and on the odd occasion.

The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is that this has roughly coincided with the introduction of our new guinea Petal (who's since developed ring worm). So either: she's not quick enough eating her portions of veg and Harvey is eating way too much in one sitting and upsetting his stomach; or, because I've had to take all the wood out of the cage (to reduce ringworm hidey spaces) he's replaced it with chewing cardboard boxes which we never previously gave him in large quantities and that is upsetting his stomach; or, he's not reacting well to the anti-ringworm medicine we are giving him as a preventative measure.

I deal with the upset stomach by following forum advice and stopping all veg for 48hrs and reintroducing slowly but because it's happening semi regularly and I can't nail it down to a single event I'm wondering whether I should start to be concerned about his digestive system. I give his tummy a feel every so often when we are spraying him with the anti-fungal stuff but it feels fine to me (no weird lumps and bumps and not to bloaty).

Do you guys know what might be causing it? Should I be concerned or is this just a quirk he's developed in his middle/old age? Stopping veg seemingly randomly really knocks out their routine and it's confusing for Petal being the newbie. Non-surprisingly, they get really beggy when I've not given them veg. "Excuse me Slave! I can hear you chopping in the kitchen and you've forgotten our veg!"

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Guys,

So one of my guineas over the past couple of months seems to have developed a sensitive stomach. Every 2-3weeks or so he goes through a period where is poos get really soft. They aren't cow pats but they are soft enough to no longer be classic guinea poo shaped (they end up more like wine bottles) and are soft enough to get them stuck on his paws. I can't really work out what it is as we don't really change his diet all that much and the veg we give him is limited to Lettuce, cucumber and peppers. I appreciate these are quite watery veg but we don't give them much maybe a handful of veg between 2 guineas. If we do vary from those 3 veg, it tends to be the off cuts from our own dinner prep (for e.g. tops of carrots) so are tiny amounts and on the odd occasion.

The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is that this has roughly coincided with the introduction of our new guinea Petal (who's since developed ring worm). So either: she's not quick enough eating her portions of veg and Harvey is eating way too much in one sitting and upsetting his stomach; or, because I've had to take all the wood out of the cage (to reduce ringworm hidey spaces) he's replaced it with chewing cardboard boxes which we never previously gave him in large quantities and that is upsetting his stomach; or, he's not reacting well to the anti-ringworm medicine we are giving him as a preventative measure.

I deal with the upset stomach by following forum advice and stopping all veg for 48hrs and reintroducing slowly but because it's happening semi regularly and I can't nail it down to a single event I'm wondering whether I should start to be concerned about his digestive system. I give his tummy a feel every so often when we are spraying him with the anti-fungal stuff but it feels fine to me (no weird lumps and bumps and not to bloaty).

Do you guys know what might be causing it? Should I be concerned or is this just a quirk he's developed in his middle/old age? Stopping veg seemingly randomly really knocks out their routine and it's confusing for Petal being the newbie. Non-surprisingly, they get really beggy when I've not given them veg. "Excuse me Slave! I can hear you chopping in the kitchen and you've forgotten our veg!"

Hi!

Here is our advice on digestive problems. If they are ongoing or recurring, then a poo lab test may help wo work out whether there is an obvious issue. Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

Please always take a piggy with digestive issues off fresh veg until 1-2 days after the poos have normalised and reintroduce ideally just one more per meal in a small quantity to test whether the belly is holding up.

Cardboard is increasingly treated with chemicals (including during recycling or prevent Covid/infection transmission), so I would recommend to stay off any that is not specifically pet safe.

 

[Sunnyandbutch]

Sometimes one of my piggies has this problem and it can last for a couple weeks. I would definitely stop feeding cucumber as this has been something that has upset my piggies stomachs before. Stop veggies for a couple days. If the poo is watery than go to a vet immediately. Otherwise, I would try probiotics Ben-a-bac works very well with my pigs. I would feed 1 g a day for up to 5 or so days. If your pig is on meds it is very common and probiotics will do the trick. I would not be too concerned as long as the poops aren’t watery and you don’t notice any other abnormal behavior. I hope your pig feels better soon!

 

[BlueBird]

Thanks Both of you! You guys are an invaluable font of knowledge as always.

I would not be too concerned as long as the poops aren’t watery and you don’t notice any other abnormal behavior.

I thought this might be the case. They aren't cow pats but it was just the frequency that was starting to concern me and I've sort of fallen out with my vets a bit recently since the knowledgeable guinea vet left. If I took him there they'd only prescribe probiotics and not tell me anything I don't already know and charge me an arm and a leg for the privilege. Certainly if this continues any longer I'll take him to the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton where he's already registered to see whether we can get his poo tested as Wiebke suggests.

Cardboard is increasingly treated with chemicals (including during recycling or prevent Covid/infection transmission), so I would recommend to stay off any that is not specifically pet safe.

Oh Crikey! I didn't know this! That might be the reason then. He LOVES chewing the cardboard. What would you suggest I give him to chew on since I've removed the wood from the cage due to the ringworm issue and cardboard is off the menu due to chemicals? I'd added the cardboard to give them something to chew on while we dealt with the ringworm issue. I don't really want to just leave only the fleece in the cage because inevitably the correx will get chewed (he does that on occasion but prefers the wood/cardboard). Surely the correx isn't great for his stomach either? Do I just give them willow sticks again but chuck them out daily instead to keep the ringworm spores down? (Aren't piggies talented at getting conflicting problems all at once. lol)

 

[Sunnyandbutch]

My pigs are big chewers too. I would try condensed Timothy hay sticks, sweet bamboo or bamboo chews and apple tree branches. My pigs really enjoy chewing on those items.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Both of you! You guys are an invaluable font of knowledge as always.


I thought this might be the case. They aren't cow pats but it was just the frequency that was starting to concern me and I've sort of fallen out with my vets a bit recently since the knowledgeable guinea vet left. If I took him there they'd only prescribe probiotics and not tell me anything I don't already know and charge me an arm and a leg for the privilege. Certainly if this continues any longer I'll take him to the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton where he's already registered to see whether we can get his poo tested as Wiebke suggests.



Oh Crikey! I didn't know this! That might be the reason then. He LOVES chewing the cardboard. What would you suggest I give him to chew on since I've removed the wood from the cage due to the ringworm issue and cardboard is off the menu due to chemicals? I'd added the cardboard to give them something to chew on while we dealt with the ringworm issue. I don't really want to just leave only the fleece in the cage because inevitably the correx will get chewed (he does that on occasion but prefers the wood/cardboard). Surely the correx isn't great for his stomach either? Do I just give them willow sticks again but chuck them out daily instead to keep the ringworm spores down? (Aren't piggies talented at getting conflicting problems all at once. lol)

The soft poo issue is very much on the mild side but it keeps cropping up persistently even a while after your have removed any cardboard, and you have tested whether it is a sensitivity to one of his foods, then I would recommend to have him vet checked eventually.

Once acute ringworm is over and you have deep cleaned (i.e. you have made sure that there are no ringworm spores stuck in a piggy coat nor in their housing so there are no spores left in their environment that could be carried across; see our very detailed step-by-step ringworm guide) you can re-introduce wooden furniture again. I've never had any issues with my wooden furniture, which has survived having carried in ringworm spores in their coat into their new home twice by new piggies. All it takes is thorough deep clean.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

Or opt for safe carrot huts and similar or cardboard tubes, which you can easily order online if you prefer safe cardboard.
Apple, pear and willow are safe woods, even if you just offer a twig if you know somebody with a tree in their garden.

Keep in mind that chewing is good enrichment but it is not crucial for dental health because the incisors are self-sharpening in a balanced dental system and the crucial back teeth are in truth being ground down by silica in hay and fresh grass, against which they have evolved and which should make the majority of the food intake (about 80% of the daily food intake).