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Soft Poops - At a Loss

A Guinea Pig

A Guinea Pig

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone.

My three girls have been having soft poop for the last two weeks, and I'm at a real loss while trying to figure out the cause. :(

Baby Opal has it the worst with poop on her bum; next is Ella (3 years old), and Lulu (2) also has the soft poop just not on their fur.

I've changed their hay to orchard hay recently, but I never had problems with it before. I introduced it slowly, and soft poop appeared two weeks after.
I have given them all Bene-Bac (twice daily for a week) and some Critical Care, and it did nothing.
They haven't had vegetables for the past two weeks, nor have they had any supplements (which I can give, Child's Life Liquid or Oxbow Vit C Cookies).
I've tried stopping pellets altogether, feeding more than normal (still under a tablespoon).
They are drinking water and eating hay normally.

I feel so bad because their entire cage is full of these stinky, soft, holey, and long poops (which they do still eat). It's just not fair for them because it has been so long :(.

Everyone's weight has stayed the same (which is problematic for Opal since she is only 7 months old). They are all lively and pass their health check with flying colors, though, besides the poop.

Thank you, I would love any advice.
 
As you have done everything we would suggest and there is no improvement, it is now time to have them checked by a vet.
A few days off veg is usually enough to cure a minor digestive upset but if it goes only longer than that they do require a vet check.

What type of hay were they having before?
Were they ok with that?
Have you tried giving their old hay to them again?


I would just mention that we do not recommend piggies are supplemented with vitamin c at all. Piggies with a healthy balanced diet do not need it.
We actually only tend to see issues with scurvy in piggies who have been supplemented. The sudden stopping of long term supplementation is actually where we see such issues occur - their bodies become used to levels beyond what they actually need and if that then drops or stops their body responds with scurvy. Not because their levels are low but because they have been artificially kept too high.
As they haven’t been having it, I would suggest that you don’t restart any form of supplementation going forward.
 
Piggies&buns said:
As you have done everything we would suggest and there is no improvement, it is now time to have them checked by a vet.
A few days off veg is usually enough to cure a minor digestive upset but if it goes only longer than that they do require a vet check.

What type of hay were they having before?
Were they ok with that?
Have you tried giving their old hay to them again?


I would just mention that we do not recommend piggies are supplemented with vitamin c at all. Piggies with a healthy balanced diet do not need it.
We actually only tend to see issues with scurvy in piggies who have been supplemented. The sudden stopping of long term supplementation is actually where we see such issues occur - their bodies become used to levels beyond what they actually need and if that then drops or stops their body responds with scurvy. Not because their levels are low but because they have been artificially kept too high.
As they haven’t been having it, I would suggest that you don’t restart any form of supplementation going forward.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the quick reply, @Piggies&buns.

They had timothy hay prior; I'll run by the store tonight and grab some. It's just so weird to me that out of nowhere this happened. I feel like an idiot for not doing this sooner.

The information on supplements is very helpful as well. They haven't had any recently, so I'll continue to keep it like that.

I'll book an appointment with the vet if the hay doesn't clear it up within the next three days (is that a fair number since intake to output is 1-2 days?). I can usually get into the vet within a few hours for regular checks if needed.
 
It may not be linked to the hay but given it is the only thing you changed in the diet; and that it is the only thing you have continued giving (ie you have removed veg) throughout this, and that it is affecting all three - it is worth removing it and seeing if it helps
 
Do I need to remove the dried poop off other feet? I feel like it would just stress them out because it's not harming them at all how it is now.
 
Dried poop can give them bumble foot as the skin stays damp under the poop and can crack, allowing bacteria to infect their feet.
 
Did everything work out for your pigs. My pig pip is going through that now
 
PipSqueak20 said:
Did everything work out for your pigs. My pig pip is going through that now
Click to expand...
Yes, it did! I have 25 pounds of orchard hay now though that is not currently in use… It took around 5 days for them to go back to normal and I gave them more benebac, but the poops look healthy now. It's super strange that it even happened but I’m glad they are back to 100%.
 
A Guinea Pig said:
Yes, it did! I have 25 pounds of orchard hay now though that is not currently in use… It took around 5 days for them to go back to normal and I gave them more benebac, but the poops look healthy now. It's super strange that it even happened but I’m glad they are back to 100%.
Click to expand...
I don’t know whether to get the hay they were on and see if that helps. I changed it over a month ago due to continuous poor quality by the previous hay provider but I don’t know
 
PipSqueak20 said:
I don’t know whether to get the hay they were on and see if that helps. I changed it over a month ago due to continuous poor quality by the previous hay provider but I don’t know
Click to expand...
What type of hay do they have right now? Are there any other sellers you could purchase from that have their original hay type?
With that said, as Piggies&Buns has mentioned, it could not be linked to the hay at all.
 
A Guinea Pig said:
What type of hay do they have right now? Are there any other sellers you could purchase from that have their original hay type?
With that said, as Piggies&Buns has mentioned, it could not be linked to the hay at all.
Click to expand...
A blend of course and soft Timothy hay with a mix of meadow hay (from haybox uk) It’s been suggested that soft hay can cause soft poop in some pigs so I may change the hay to meadow hay and see how it goes. I’ve checked her for everything ( sent of stool samples, ultrasound etc) doing poo soup and no veg for a while to see how it goes
 
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