Smelly& Soft Poop

[Fotini Rizou]

From the moment that I increased the amount of veggies I am giving to to my piggie, he started having more soft smelly and watery poop. I am giving him 2 cups of veggies everyday. One day I gave him only ohe cup, and the next day his poop weren't soft. But I can't reduce his veggies cause he is waiting so much for his veggies. His poop looks like this

 

[Wiebke]

From the moment that I increased the amount of veggies I am giving to to my piggie, he started having more soft smelly and watery poop. I am giving him 2 cups of veggies everyday. One day I gave him only ohe cup, and the next day his poop weren't soft. But I can't reduce his veggies cause he is waiting so much for his veggies. His poop looks like this

View attachment 78000

Hi! You are feeding too much veg. One cup per day is plenty. Guinea pigs should not eat too much veg, but rather a clever selection that covers different vitamins and minerals and avoids too many watery veg like lettuce and fattening/sugary veg like root veg (carrots and beetroot) and sweet corn.
Please have a look at our sample diet picture. Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

 

[Fotini Rizou]

Hi! You are feeding too much veg. One cup per day is plenty. Guinea pigs should not eat too much veg, but rather a clever selection that covers different vitamins and minerals and avoids too many watery veg like lettuce and fattening/sugary veg like root veg (carrots and beetroot) and sweet corn.
Please have a look at our sample diet picture. Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

Hi, I am giving him most of the veggies that are in the plate, but much more p.Ex I was giving him 2 big slices of bell pepper 4 leaf of of lettuce and other veggies. And right now that he ate only ohe cup of veggies, he is looking at me and squeaking for his second cup

 

[JCJ]

Most pigs will try their luck and see if they can get some more veggies from you. Mine are usually just as happy with some fresh hay. Does your pig have access to unlimited hay?

 

[Gem789]

Hi, I am giving him most of the veggies that are in the plate, but much more p.Ex I was giving him 2 big slices of bell pepper 4 leaf of of lettuce and other veggies. And right now that he ate only ohe cup of veggies, he is looking at me and squeaking for his second cup

You have to be strong and not give in.Piggies are very good at making us feel guilty when they want more food and we don’t give it.He will definatley not starve.Does he have a lot of hay in his diet?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I am giving him most of the veggies that are in the plate, but much more p.Ex I was giving him 2 big slices of bell pepper 4 leaf of of lettuce and other veggies. And right now that he ate only ohe cup of veggies, he is looking at me and squeaking for his second cup

Please only give what is shown in the sample diet, not any more! Of course, it is hard for you to stay tough at first, but keep firmly in mind that with giving him less veg, you are giving him better health and more time to live instead! Your guinea pig needs to eat hay, hay, hay, the more the better. Anything else is optional for his survival, not necessarily.

If you overfeed your piggy on veg and pellets (give only what we recommend!), it is like keeping him on a diet of cake and fatty snacks - and you will get the associated health issues and shortened life span that you see in humans on a comparable diet. You are not spoiling your piggy, you are slowly killing it with your love. Please also do not give your piggy any sugary/fatty pet shop treats. They are even worse.

 

[Fotini Rizou]

You have to be strong and not give in.Piggies are very good at making us feel guilty when they want more food and we don’t give it.He will definatley not starve.Does he have a lot of hay in his diet?

Yes he has a lot of hay. Yes whene

Most pigs will try their luck and see if they can get some more veggies from you. Mine are usually just as happy with some fresh hay. Does your pig have access to unlimited hay?

Yes he has unlimited hay. When he finish his veggies, after 1 hour he will squeak near my side to see if I have something to give him. At least I won't make this mistake with my 1month old new piggy.

 

[Fotini Rizou]

You have to be strong and not give in.Piggies are very good at making us feel guilty when they want more food and we don’t give it.He will definatley not starve.Does he have a lot of hay in his diet?

He has plenty of hay. Yes he makes me feel bad most of the times, I went shopping before 2 days and when I came back to open the bags he started squeaking like crazy, also when I try to eat something in my room, he will look at me and trying to escape from his cage

 

[Fotini Rizou]

Please only give what is shown in the sample diet, not any more! Of course, it is hard for you to stay tough at first, but keep firmly in mind that with giving him less veg, you are giving him better health and more time to live instead! Your guinea pig needs to eat hay, hay, hay, the more the better. Anything else is optional for his survival, not necessarily.

If you overfeed your piggy on veg and pellets (give only what we recommend!), it is like keeping him on a diet of cake and fatty snacks - and you will get the associated health issues and shortened life span that you see in humans on a comparable diet. You are not spoiling your piggy, you are slowly killing it with your love. Please also do not give your piggy any sugary/fatty pet shop treats. They are even worse.

Well I will give him exactly the veggies in the photo tomorrow, only 1 cup. But I am scared that he is going to get depressed. He will hate me for a while, but it's for his own good. I've just felt that I am not feeding him enough when I was giving him less veggies, at least I am not going to do the shame with my new piggy

 

[Wiebke]

Well I will give him exactly the veggies in the photo tomorrow, only 1 cup. But I am scared that he is going to get depressed. He will hate me for a while, but it's for his own good. I've just felt that I am not feeding him enough when I was giving him less veggies, at least I am not going to do the shame with my new piggy

Why not make feeding a game? Split the veg into two portions and feed at separate time. Also put pieces of veg into different places your boy has to search and forage for them. This resembles more his natural behaviour, and it keeps him occupied for longer. You can do the same for pellets. They should not be unlimited. Less last longer if you sprinkle them around for your guinea pig to sniff our and find. It is actually good stimulation for his senses.

But most important of all: make sure that he has always plenty of fresh hay; that is is bread, rice, pasta and potatoes for him! If you want to spoil him, you can offer him different varieties of hay at different times - that is a wonderful, but healthy treat, and he will love the variety in his life!

 

[Katiedid]

Put the veg into paper bags so he has to work for it? I agree it’s hard, one of mine is on no veg as she is ill and she screams for veg, but it’s best for her. You really don’t want him to be ill do you?

 

[Betsy]

Mine love hay stuffed into paper bags and cardboard loo roll inners too. Cut down the side of the cardboard loo roll and stuff with hay. Put treats like small cubes of cucumber inside as well for him to sniff out and find.

 

[Fotini Rizou]

Why not make feeding a game? Split the veg into two portions and feed at separate time. Also put pieces of veg into different places your boy has to search and forage for them. This resembles more his natural behaviour, and it keeps him occupied for longer. You can do the same for pellets. They should not be unlimited. Less last longer if you sprinkle them around for your guinea pig to sniff our and find. It is actually good stimulation for his senses.

But most important of all: make sure that he has always plenty of fresh hay; that is is bread, rice, pasta and potatoes for him! If you want to spoil him, you can offer him different varieties of hay at different times - that is a wonderful, but healthy treat, and he will love the variety in his life!

Thanks a lot for your good advices, I really appreciate that! Also his poop today was normal, not smelly and watery...

 

[Fotini Rizou]

Put the veg into paper bags so he has to work for it? I agree it’s hard, one of mine is on no veg as she is ill and she screams for veg, but it’s best for her. You really don’t want him to be ill do you?

I am sorry, what happened to her? Of course I dont want him sick.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks a lot for your good advices, I really appreciate that! Also his poop today was normal, not smelly and watery...

All the best! It really makes a huge difference if you see hay as the main diet (around 80% what he eats in a day) and veg and pellets just as a supplement and as a treat.

Be especially careful with how much lettuce you feed; ideally not every day. You can switch the lettuce in the daily diet say with a bit of fruit once a week, like a strawberry (with the green bits), a halved grape or two, or a bit of organic banana skin. Or if there are carrots for dinner, put aside a little chunk for your boy instead of the lettuce. If you want to make him a special joy, grow fresh herbs like parsley, mint or dill in a pot, so he can have some of that instead of the coriander twice a week.