There is nothing cuter than a guinea pig sneezing, and the occasional sneeze is perfectly normal. Dry poo may very well be a sign of dehydration. Guinea pigs might be pocket-sized pets, but they’re professional poopers, and will do their business whenever, and wherever. We’re in a very rural area, our vet mostly works with rabbits, but occasionally sees piggies, and unfortunately he’s really all there is. Healthy piggies can poop up to 100 times in one day, which means you might be cleaning the hutch out three or four times a day. Here is an example of two poops side by side. I like it! They can sometimes lay down and create a nice little pile of poop at the same time, caused by their digestion system constantly working on processing the food they’ve been eating (and have to eat constantly to keep it up). You could also include some cucumber in your guinea pig’s cup-a-day veggie serving. http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html. Guinea Pig Poop Chart (6 Types + Illustrations) • GuineaHub They even poop as frequent as 10 times in one hour, dropping about ¼ cup of poop or 30 pellets in a single shot. Impaction can form for a … Once again ensure your piggy is getting plenty of water and fibre, as well as fruit and vegetables. Not normally. So I got my guinea pig out of his cage just to let him and then I brought him to my room and I was just trying to let him walk around because he been in his cage all day for today and so I notice when I put him on my wood floor I notice weird clumps of poop and I thought it was because of his feet from the cage so then I pick him up and I notice his butthole was … If your guinea pig’s feces is semi-formed – not fully liquid, but still softer than usual – and in normal amounts, don’t panic. This also means that their digestive system is always busy, which means that cavies poop every so often as long as they are awake. Make sure your guinea pigs have access to fresh water all the time, and if it’s from a bottle make sure it works and your guinea pigs are able to extract the water. Stinky cages are not a force to be reckoned with. Aside from observing your pet’s poo, you can also watch out for the signs of some common illnesses that inflict guinea pigs. 8% . POOP! Other than the shape, colour and texture,  there are some other interesting facts about your guinea pig’s poop. Do not touch droppings with your bare hands. What to do When Guinea Pigs Have Clumped Poop On top of my previous two recommendations (abundant hay and sufficient hydration), you should avoid feeding your guinea pigs grain. While your guinea pig’s poo is not really toxic, it is possible that you get infected with salmonella through contact with their feces. Subscribe to our FREE guinea pig newsletter. Guinea pigs need immediate diagnosis and treatment, if anything is wrong. As far as the consistency goes, it isn’t too dry or too wet and is relatively small in size. Make sure your guinea pig is getting plenty of clean water around the clock. We love guinea pigs, and have years of experience caring for them. This means that when they need to poop, they need to poop wherever they are. Replace the greens you would normally give your guinea pig with lots of hay. Q. But believe us, this is the wierdest. Brown, green or clumpy poo, it all happens in the loo. There are many factors that can result in these problems but the most common is an incorrect diet. Bunnies and guinea pigs need to eat fairly consistently to keep the intestines moving. Cavies forage and eat throughout the day, and they have high metabolisms. It’s not common to see blood in guinea pigs’ poop, but when you do, you need to act fast. Because cavies’ digestive systems are sensitive, even the slightest change or imbalance in their diet will result in soft, messy poop. Guinea pigs need fibre, and plenty of it, which they get from hay. Do The Popcorn. If your guinea pig has an issue with its guts or is dehydrated, the poop can turn dry and tear-shaped. I keep my fingers crossed that everything turns back to normal ASAP. Be aware that soft poop could be a sign of something else being off, and calling an exotic vet is always recommended in order to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. In the same guinea pig diarrhoea is a life-threatening condition, so too is bloody stools. The guinea pigs must land right next to an animal in order to splat them with bubble gum. Regarding the hand feeding, this is a good read: http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html. Guinea pig poop comes in the form of hard pellets. It’s indicative of inflammation, a tear or obstruction, and will need medical treatment as soon as possible. The picture on the left shows poop from a Guinea Pig with a good diet vs one without enough good quality hay and vegetables: In Summary Brand formerly known as Aunt Jemima gets new name A couple of the most common viruses and bacteria in guinea pig poop includes: But before we get to the how-to bit, let’s take a look at the most frequently asked questions we receive on this particular topic. Guinea pigs poop… a lot. So I couldn't really understand it, but … Popcorning pigs might accidentally get hay, food or poop in their drinking bow, so it needs to be changed regularly. Timothy hay is a good choice, as it can be used as bedding, and provides guineas with the crude fibre they need for healthy digestion. Dry poop Signs of Stasis for Bunnies or Guinea Pigs Not Pooping. Guinea pigs literally poop whenever they feel like it so it is not necessary for them to poop exactly where they eat. Medium to dark brown, oval-shaped poop pellets is a sign that all is well with your cavy. So not only is it okay for guinea pigs to eat their poop, it’s essential they do. However, most cavies prefer to do their business in specific areas of the cage. Trump now the ‘mayor’ of Mar-a-Lago, lawyer claims. Below are some sign of stasis for a bunny or guinea pig not pooping. As a first time pawrent, you may be shocked to discover that worms and other creepy crawlies, such as ticks, fleas and mites aren’t uncommon in cats and kittens. We’ll be getting in touch with him first thing Monday to see if there’s an alternative to the Baytril, and hopefully it’s not suspended in something milk containing! Impaction is the build up of faecal material in the anal sack of the guinea pig. This type of poop is usually smaller than healthy poop. See ya!!!! It’s smellier than usual and is a clear sign that there’s a problem with nutrition. My guinea pigs poop is very soft is that normal? We have a step-by-step guide that will help you get the job done, quickly and easily. Diarrhoea in guinea pigs, however, is a serious problem and can be potentially fatal. They could be hard to find in your local area, but they are very likely to offer you a bit of advice over the phone if you call them. Carry on reading to find out how much cavies poo, why they might do it on you, and why they sometimes pig out on their own poop. Before we get started, we thought we’d share a poem all about the number two. 1. Let’s take a look at the guinea pig poop chart and see what they could mean about their health! Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is a rare viral disease that can be transmitted through the urine, droppings, saliva, or cage material of infected wild and domestic rodents, including hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and other small rodents. Sometimes bringing the pigs to an exotics vet is just easier said than done. Posting Guidelines & Forum Help. It’s a common mistake to give them food formulated for rabbits, hamsters or other small rodents. Thank you for all the informative articles. Tfwadmx Rabbit Litter Box, Rat Toilet Ferret Litter Pan Potty Trainer Corner with Rabbit Poop Scoop for Small Animals Rabbits Guinea Pigs Chinchilla Ferret 4.2 out of 5 stars 42 $14.99 $ 14 . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If your piggy looks particularly uncomfortable while pooping, we suggest a visit to your local vet as soon as possible. Water dispensing bottles and heavy, ceramic bowls are best as they are not as easy to topple over. Do guinea pigs poop where they eat? A. While many people living in the UK allow their cats to roam freely outdoors, there are those pet owners who prefer keeping theirs indoors. Guinea pigs in the wild didn’t have an abundance of food with them. If your cavy is healthy, the majority are oval-shaped, dark brown, and are uniform inconsistency. Guinea pigs typically have two types of poop. They were sometimes quite small and had like a little point on them instead of being completely round like the other pigs. If your guinea pigs suffer from diarrhea, it should be considered an emergency situation and you need to see a vet immediately for diagnosis and treatment. It will be very smelly and will make a mess. If you notice your cavy’s poop is teardrop-shaped, it could be a sign that there’s a problem in the gut. Please know: ALWAYS call a vet if you’re unsure about anything. This is both painful for the guinea pig and at its worst can kill your guinea pig. Most guinea pig parents notice quite fast, how much their new guinea pigs poop. Guinea pigs have always been the victim of weird experiments. You see, your guinea pig’s droppings tell you a lot about your pet’s overall health, long before other symptoms start to show. I don't like it! So, if your guinea pig is on antibiotics, for whatever reason, offering some of the poop from another, healthy, guinea pig will help their body replenish the good bacteria that should be found within their digestive tract. Learning as much as you can about guinea pig poop, from its shape and texture, to the colour will help you identify any health issues your guinea pig might be suffering from before they become serious or life-threatening. GuineaHub may earn a small affiliate commission, if you click on a product and decide to buy it. With this chart you can learn more about the different types of poop, and what they mean. In a matter of minutes they’ve already decorated their cage with a bunch of oval-shaped brown droppings, but don’t worry: It’s normal! Think your cat may have worms? One way you can monitor their overall health, is to look at their poop and keep an eye on any irregularities. You can very quickly see if your guinea pigs are suffering from diarrhea if they’re getting smeared in poop on their feet and fur. It shouldn’t be a problem as they are herbivores but any change with their poo really does indicate illness. Let it sit for 1-2 days. Sorry for my late reply. Be aware though that it will take some time and a fair amount of patience, however, it’s worth the effort. If their poop is soft, mushy and smelly, they might have diarrhea. However, when the sneezing becomes more frequent, and there are accompanying symptoms, you should take action as soon as possible. 2. What should guinea pig poop look like? If your guinea pig is moving about with its head in one position, tilted, there could be several causes. Breeds & Varieties Polls. I know this reply isn’t much of a help, unfortunately I’m not a vet myself but can only say from personal experience that it might help getting a second opinion form another vet — especially one with a proven track record with guinea pigs. If you have a plastic scoop or spoon handy, you can scoop up any poop pellets. Wheek wheek! When you look at your guinea pig you may notice that there is a big ‘plug like’ area that is full of poop. I worry the Baytril may be doing more harm than good with all the lactose and sugar. While this survival tactic might have kept them safe in the wild, it means piggy parents may only know there’s something with their pet when it’s too late. But for temporary relief, you can apply some coconut oil to your guinea pig’s poop chute. Based on my personal experience, Baytril could cause a lack of appetite. She prefers greens to her hay at this point; how much greens should we be allowing her to have right now? Cecal pellets hold valuable nutrients, that are only absorbed when passing through their digestive systems twice. My guinea pig who is a male about 3 years old, has had an issue with smellier than usual poop that is darker than usual, as well as it has a tendency to come out and clump and/or come out in really tiny poops. It’s a dangerous condition, and should be treated as such. Let’s get started. If their poop turns red and bloody, it’s usually caused by some kind of obstruction, inflammation or a tear in their intestines. Although it doesn’t provide a lot of nutritional value, it’s got a lot of water which will keep your pet hydrated. I wish everything works out for the little one, and hope she gets well soon! So, they developed a habit of absorbing the leftover nutrients by consuming their poop. Diarrhea is usually caused by an unhealthy diet, or they may have eaten something bad. If you notice soft and smelly or bloody poo, it is a clear sign to bring your guinea pig to see a vet immediately without delay. What is my Guinea Pig? Hey guys! For this purpose, we’ve made a poop chart for you. This is a great question and one we get often. You could try calling around and ask them about their professional opinion on the medication your guinea pig is receiving, and they’d most likely be able to assess whether it makes sense or not. If it doesn’t look close to that then it can be a sign your guinea pig is facing some digestion issues. They eat their own poop, but not just any poop. Unfortunately, it’s entirely normal for your piggy to poop on you. If you want to learn more about guinea pigs, GuineaHub is the best place to be! Bubble Guinea Pop. Despite their rather laissez-faire attitude towards pretty much everything, cats can get stressed quickly and for a lot of reasons. By entering your e-mail address you agree to get a weekly newsletter from GuineaHub. But something else you can do to help with any digestive problems is to remove grain from your cavy’s diet. Staff Board. Oval-shaped poop. Dropping the kids off at the pool, having a number two, These are just a few ways to say we’re having a poo, It can be flat or round like a ball, as hard as a nut and that’s not all, Torpedo-shaped, soft and runny, squirty, squishy, smelling funny, Talking about poop is kind of silly, but it’s essential for your piggy, Sometimes messy, sometimes not, without saying a word, guinea pig droppings say a lot, To find out more about a poo, there’s something simple you can do. Make sure you carefully check what food is safe for guinea pigs, and always offer them a balanced diet with unlimited hay. If you have a specific time when you feed your Guinea pigs , you will notice that this is the time of the day they usually wheek the loudest. Yes, you can use a vacuum to clean up guinea pig poop. Great article Melinda. NBA player will be going to jail after season. This is where the muscles that control the anus loose the strength to empty the anus and the poo backs up in big balls often the size of a ping pong ball.You need to push on the side of his anus all the way around it and push out the big ball of poo.. I’m not really sure what the Ensure drink would benefit, but if you worry that your guinea pig doesn’t get better within the time frame estimated by your vet, I would strongly advice that you get a second opinion from another exotics vet. So for the past few weeks my guinea pig had veryy soft wet smelly poops. If you do not have a scoop, you can use a paper towel to pick them up. Sometimes they were so soft that it basically came out like wet mud. Clumped poop, big poop, and blocked poop could be an indicator of a gut problem or point to aging rectal muscles in your guinea pig. I hope she’s doing better now, and I can imagine the challenges you’re facing when living in a rural area with limited access to the expertise needed. Never try to seek alternative solutions to any illnesses or conditions, and never take medical advice from anyone besides experienced veterinarians. Put your guinea pig poop in a bucket or can, then add water in a 2:1 ratio (2 parts water to 1 part guinea pig poop). In other words, no rice, bread, seeds, granola or chips. And if you would to learn more about your cavy check out our guinea pig library here. Having a large amount of faecal matter in this area makes your guinea pig vunrable to fly strike. How to play Bubble Guinea Pop Click the lever above the snake to launch the guinea pigs. My healthy guinea pig has light brown normal sized poop and my other is … The best type of hay for guinea pigs is grass hay. guinea pig fight, pig pulling out stitches, help!! Any healthy guinea pig do this, and they should never be restricted from this. Breeders tend to use the word cavy to describe the animal, while in scientific and laboratory contexts, it is far more commonly referred to by the colloquial name guinea pig. Thankfully, these infestations can be managed and treated easy enough. Normal guinea pig poop should be oval-shaped with a medium brown color. Sarcoptic mange is rare but has been associated with guinea pigs. Take a look, get up close, and always remember to block your nose! Breeds of Guinea Pigs. Time is essential with a poorly guinea pig. Pay attention and seek urgent medical care. I think sometimes guinea pig owners don’t realise the importance of weighing their guinea pig and the importance of checking their poo. If your guinea pig is in good health and you keep his cage cleaned, then his poop probably won’t make your dog sick. CAVY INFO. No matter the reason, it is always advised to see a vet if you encounter this problem. Knowing what signs to look out for and how to calm your cat will reduce unnecessary anxiety and stress and prevent more severe health issues down the line. Perhaps adding vitamin C pellets to her daily diet could be recommended, at least until she’s better. I hope you’ve been able to source a better alternative to Baytril at this point! It may be a difference between life and death for these pocket pets. Hopefully, we’ve covered all your concerns about the different types of guinea pig poo, and what they could be telling you about your pet’s health, If you think there’s something we’ve missed or want to suggest poop-related topics, feel free to leave a comment below. It’s important to understand that guinea pigs are prey animals, and as such they may not show any signs of illnesses and/or weaknesses until it’s almost too late. Because some guinea pigs poop more than others, it’s not that easy to say how much they should poop in a day. Poop can also turn red if they’ve eaten beetroot, although their poop will quickly turn back to normal again afterwards. Normally, guinea pig droppings will be small, solid droppings, and it will be easy to pick them up. She has continued to eat and drink on her own throughout, but she was prescribed Baytril just in case of a bacterial overgrowth along with some metacam for pain and a gut motility drug. We respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time. There are even vacuums made specifically with small pets in mind. Are you ready for the scoop on your guinea pig’s poop? With the number of emails we receive asking about guinea pig castration or neutering, we thought it would be a good idea to put a ‘frequently asked questions’ type article together. Our little Pipsqueak did badly yesterday, so we had to handfeed her and syringe water in her, but there is still some pee and poo, so we hope we can keep her afloat until Monday when vets are available. Medium to dark brown, oval-shaped poop pellets is a sign that all is well with your cavy.