Toilet Trouble?

[Elfyn&Hayley]

I've noticed twice in the past week that Skunk has looked like he's struggling to poo. He stays very still and his bum goes up in the air about 3 or 4 times like he's pushing hard before finally pooing.

I've only noticed this on 2 poos, the rest of the time he goes fine. Is this normal, or should I be altering his diet to avoid this?

 

[Wiebke]

Have you had a look at his bits and into his pouch to see whether he is impacted? (i.e. has a horrible, stinking mess in there)
http://www.guinealynx.info/impaction.html

Perhaps you can give him more watery green veg to loosen his stool?

 

[Elfyn&Hayley]

I do check his bits everytime they have floortime (which is at least every other day), but I'm not sure that I'm doing it right? I just hold him up and have a look at his bum and everything seems fine (to me) - I've had a look at that link and from what I can distinguish from the photos, Skunk isn't swollen or anything like that - also he's only 5 months old.

I will give him some more green veg though - he usually just munches on carrots or goes straight for the Timothy Hay. I did give him a large piece of cucumber after I saw him do it the 2nd time so I'll give him some more for teatime.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Does he eat those poops that he seems to struggle on or just leave them?

Does he drink well? (Thinking along similar lines to Wiebke here!)

 

[Elfyn&Hayley]

He does eat those poops that he struggles on - he pushes a few times (or seems to, his behind goes up and down a few times) and then he reaches underneath himself and eats it.

I think he drinks well - they both share one of those large bottles which is always filled as them going thirsty is one thing I worry about. I'm always checking that bubbles are coming up when they drink from it, so he does drink (not as much as Fudge though)

I'm just hoping that they are a couple of hard poos - I've been giving them both more peppers now and trying to limit the carrots to a couple of times a day. I tried to get a look under him last night and nothing seems swollen under there.

 

[flintstones]

He does eat those poops that he struggles on - he pushes a few times (or seems to, his behind goes up and down a few times) and then he reaches underneath himself and eats it.

I think he drinks well - they both share one of those large bottles which is always filled as them going thirsty is one thing I worry about. I'm always checking that bubbles are coming up when they drink from it, so he does drink (not as much as Fudge though)

I'm just hoping that they are a couple of hard poos - I've been giving them both more peppers now and trying to limit the carrots to a couple of times a day. I tried to get a look under him last night and nothing seems swollen under there.

Did you check out the link Wiebke gave you for impaction? Turn him over and check his sac? Which I must add is not pleasant and I'm having my own problems doing this :red!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Some of mine also seem to 'work' harder on the poops that they eat. The caecal pellets are very soft, so perhaps it takes a bit more effort to expel them to a position they can be eaten? (Just throwing ideas out here now!)

 

[Elfyn&Hayley]

Thanks Laura and Joanne

I hope it's just the soft poo thing - it doesn't seem to bother him otherwise!

I did check out that link, and I check underneath them - but I'm not sure how to check the sac?!

 

[alisont]

Hi My Monty who will be 5 early next year gets all impacted, since he was 4. I have to check him twice a day and usually you can feel the lump of poohs and I have to help him - as in remove the poos. You can feel if there is a lump of pooh, and see them too with Monty as he has become very lazy and does not make much effort to lift himself. When this first happened I was really worried but its one of those things we just get on with now, he doesnt seem bothered by it.

I did find that giving him spinach seemed to help but that might not suit all guineas especially younger ones as It is a rich green food.

Monty has probiotics in his water - got these from Thistle cavies in Scotland from the online shop. Do think these help Monty.

Hope you get on ok with your guinea

 

[teadragon]

Spinach as a food should be avoided unless you're also providing veggies to balance out the Cah ratio because it is extremely high in calcium.

Have you checked his weight to make sure he's still eating enough? Sometimes when pigs reduce the amount of food they're eating they can become impacted; especially if they stop eating as much hay.

Try to pack him full of fiber (hay) to keep his gut moving and water to make sure things are flowing. Also be sure to clean out any impactions that may have gathered.

 

[alisont]

Spinach as a food should be avoided unless you're also providing veggies to balance out the Cah ratio because it is extremely high in calcium.

Have you checked his weight to make sure he's still eating enough? Sometimes when pigs reduce the amount of food they're eating they can become impacted; especially if they stop eating as much hay.

Try to pack him full of fiber (hay) to keep his gut moving and water to make sure things are flowing. Also be sure to clean out any impactions that may have gathered.

Yes do be careful with spinach - it is given with other veggies in small amounts - it does seem to suit Monty but only give small amounts and not every day - the others dont have it or Leo rabbit, too rich!