Very Soft Stool!

[KLY]

Hi there!
Sorry to be posting soo much but as an unexperienced, new guinea pig owner I need some help!

I noticed that one of my pigs (Flora) has developed very loose stool yesterday (16/4/17) just as I cleaned their cage out. Now it's not diarrhoea as it's not runny but it's like a paste and it's everywhere! I've had to wash her tummy, butt and feet 2 days in a row now and I cannot think what it could be.

Fauna has not had any so very confused.

They had a grape and greens on Saturday and I'm wondering if it is the grape...?
She isn't complaining of any discomfort, but made it very clear she didn't want a bath. She is still eating and drinking fine.

I have stopped her veggies and she is protesting very much! I have cleaned out their hay bag and put fresh hay in and more pellets in the bowl for her to eat. I also put in a vitamin C substitute in her water.

Advice would be greatly welcomed!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there!
Sorry to be posting soo much but as an unexperienced, new guinea pig owner I need some help!

I noticed that one of my pigs (Flora) has developed very loose stool yesterday (16/4/17) just as I cleaned their cage out. Now it's not diarrhoea as it's not runny but it's like a paste and it's everywhere! I've had to wash her tummy, butt and feet 2 days in a row now and I cannot think what it could be.

Fauna has not had any so very confused.

They had a grape and greens on Saturday and I'm wondering if it is the grape...?
She isn't complaining of any discomfort, but made it very clear she didn't want a bath. She is still eating and drinking fine.

I have stopped her veggies and she is protesting very much! I have cleaned out their hay bag and put fresh hay in and more pellets in the bowl for her to eat. I also put in a vitamon C substitute in her water.

Advice would be greatly welcomed!

Please stay off any fresh food until 24-48 after the poos have firmed up again. Be careful to introduce fresh veg and very little fruit (only twice a week) in small quantities, one new veg at a time. It is likely that your little girls (nor their mums) have had any veg in their life. Normally babies' guts get traces through their mum's milk and then learn how to eat veg from their mums. They start with nibbles, then snatching bits from their mums' mouths before they switch to eating solids for the rest of their lives.
However, if that has not happened, too much fresh veg or some new veg can cause diarrhea or soft poos in some piggies. Be very careful in introducing new stuff.
You may find our sample diet picture helpful. You can find it in this link: Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

Please do not add vitamin C to water; piggies will avoid it of they can! Don't panic, good pellets are reinforced with vitamin C, so she won't come to harm in such a short time.

 

[VickiA]

You've done the right thing, stopping all greens, grass and veg until all poo returns to normal. It could be that she has had too much veg or that one of the veg she has had has upset her tummy. When all poo returns to normal introduce veg again very gently i.e. One sort of veg at a time and in small amounts only. That way you can find out what veg may upset her tummy.

 

[KLY]

Please stay off any fresh food until 24-48 after the poos have firmed up again. Be careful to introduce fresh veg and very little fruit (only twice a week) in small quantities, one new veg at a time. It is likely that your little girls (nor their mums) have had any veg in their life. Normally babies' guts get traces through their mum's milk and then learn how to eat veg from their mums. They start with nibbles, then snatching bits from their mums' mouths before they switch to eating solids for the rest of their lives.
However, if that has not happened, too much fresh veg or some new veg can cause diarrhea or soft poos in some piggies. Be very careful in introducing new stuff.
You may find our sample diet picture helpful. You can find it in this link: Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

Please do not add vitamin C to water; piggies will avoid it of they can! Don't panic, good pellets are reinforced with vitamin C, so she won't come to harm in such a short time.

I should have said that they are not babies they are 3yr old rescue pigs! Fauna is the dominant one and Flora is the wee pushover... I should add that Flora has just come out of season on Friday (humping poor Fauna all the time and was quite aggressive (I hate using thay word) ) which is not like her to be that worked up. She's normally settled when in season. Could that be a contributing factor?

 

[Wiebke]

I should have said that they are not babies they are 3yr old rescue pigs! Fauna is the dominant one and Flora is the wee pushover... I should add that Flora has just come out of season on Friday (humping poor Fauna all the time and was quite aggressive (I hate using thay word) ) which is not like her to be that worked up. She's normally settled when in season. Could that be a contributing factor?

I wouldn't think so. Just follow the advice. If the soft poos keep popping up, then it may be worth investigating. Hopefully it is just a one-off. It is likely that she's never had any grapes before.

 

[KLY]

I wouldn't think so. Just follow the advice. If the soft poos keep popping up, then it may be worth investigating. Hopefully it is just a one-off. It is likely that she's never had any grapes before.

I will quarantine her tomorrow when Fauna has her veggies.
Her wee tummy was making some weird gurgling noises too. It sounds like an upset tummy!

 

[Wiebke]

I will quarantine her tomorrow when Fauna has her veggies.
Her wee tummy was making some weird gurgling noises too. It sounds like an upset tummy!

Please do not quarantine; just take your girls off any fresh food and have them strictly on hay and pellets until a day after poos have normalised.

 

[VickiA]

I will quarantine her tomorrow when Fauna has her veggies.
Her wee tummy was making some weird gurgling noises too. It sounds like an upset tummy!

Don't quarantine. No need for that. Both piggies will be fine with a dry pellets and hay diet for a day or 2. That's what I do with mine if we get this problem.

 

[KLY]

Don't quarantine. No need for that. Both piggies will be fine with a dry pellets and hay diet for a day or 2. That's what I do with mine if we get this problem.

Even if Fauna hasn't been affected?

Ok I shall do as I'm told!