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Small poos than usual

Eva121

Eva121

Junior Guinea Pig
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Oak Ridge, Tennesse
Hello!

So both of my guinea pigs have started to have smaller poo than usual, I wouldn't say the poo are half the size but almost. They are also a tad bit tear dropped shape, square but with a squished together top. This has only been going on for 2 days, there has been no weight loss, they are both active and eating veggies and hay. I have not made a change in their diet or done anything new. Does this seem worrisome?
 
Could you take a photo of the poop and upload it to the forum please so we can have a look?
 
Eva121 said:
Hello!

So both of my guinea pigs have started to have smaller poo than usual, I wouldn't say the poo are half the size but almost. They are also a tad bit tear dropped shape, square but with a squished together top. This has only been going on for 2 days, there has been no weight loss, they are both active and eating veggies and hay. I have not made a change in their diet or done anything new. Does this seem worrisome?
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Hi!

You are doing exactly the right thing to monitor the two; but whatever it is is obviously very much on the minor side.
How is the heat where you are? Have you recently had any major changes?
Please also check their water bottles (including the nozzles) for blockages, leaking etc. in case the problem is caused by mild dehydration.

Tear shaped poos can be an indication of a mild stomach upset. If in doubt, take them off any fresh food for a day or two and see whether the poos are normalising again as the gut biome settles down.
Give them some extra probiotics; ideally mixed with a little water and syringed twice a day.
They may want a little (but not too much to cause problems) rough fibre like in some brown cardboard, brown paper or toilet roll inners for them to nibble on. You can use that to serve some hay in at dinner time instead of veg. This generally helps to settle down the gut, too.
You can find ideas in this link here: Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

See a vet if there is no improvement within a day or two or anytime if your boys are showing signs of being affected by loss of appetite/weight loss or the poos are starting to look a lot worse.
 
Sorry for taking so long to reply! My phone broke down a few days ago and now I'm using an old kindle. I took the guinea pigs off veggies as you suggested Wiebke and they are doing much better! The poos are no longer tear drop shaped but still the tiniest smaller and darker than normal. It's been three days since I took them off their veggies so maybe a day or two more and the rest will clear up? Maybe after I can get them corn husks for fiber...
 
Eva121 said:
Sorry for taking so long to reply! My phone broke down a few days ago and now I'm using an old kindle. I took the guinea pigs off veggies as you suggested Wiebke and they are doing much better! The poos are no longer tear drop shaped but still the tiniest smaller and darker than normal. It's been three days since I took them off their veggies so maybe a day or two more and the rest will clear up? Maybe after I can get them corn husks for fiber...
Click to expand...

The more hay your piggies eat, the better; that is the mainstay of the diet. Feed only 1 tablespoon of pellets per piggy per day.
Corn husks are fine but leave out the sprayed out leaves if possible.
 
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