- Provide grass hay (helps to restore gut motility)
- Remove all grain based foods (high levels of starch encourage the grown of E. coli and Clostridium spp.)
- Limit pellets
- Hydrate via subcutaneous fluids
- Supplement with vitamin C tablets or liquid (30-50mg/kg q12-24h) (besides being a nutritional requirement, it may "slow the absorption of enterotoxins through the cecal wall")
- When the droppings are firm, discontinue C supplement and give fresh dark leafy greens high in C. ...
What can I give my guinea pig for diarrhea?
You can give your guinea pig warm fluids orally. Dextrose solution (5%) will give your guinea pig some energy. Guinea pigs with diarrhea need to be kept warm so make sure you provide some form of thermal support for them.
What to do if your guinea pig has loose stools?
Look for loose stools. If your guinea pig’s feces are very loose or watery, they have diarrhea. This type of diarrhea can be life-threatening, and you should contact your vet immediately if you notice it.
When to take your guinea pig to the vet for diarrhea?
You shouldn’t try to treat diarrhea on your own if it’s too watery or has red or black discoloration; at least not in cases when the guinea pig refuses to eat or drink, shivers, or seems generally unwell. In these situations, the guinea pig should be seen and treated by a veterinarian appropriately.
Can guinea pigs get diarrhea from fruit?
If you feed too many fruits to your guinea pig, then it can cause diarrhea. So, it is advisable to feed only good food to them when it comes to guinea pigs.
Why is my guinea pig diarrhea?
Causes of Diarrhea An imbalance of good bacteria in the gut, hypovitaminosis, excess water, and a lack of fiber can cause stools to be runny. Bacterial or viral infection: Infections can disrupt a healthy gut and cause diarrhea in your guinea pig if they become a systemic problem.
How can I firm up my guinea pig poop?
1:075:38Guinea Pigs With Soft/Mushy Poops: What To Do! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what you would do is you'd buy the probiotic put a little mix it in with their pellets. And thenMoreSo what you would do is you'd buy the probiotic put a little mix it in with their pellets. And then when they're eating their pellets they're taking that in and it's going to help their digestion.
What foods are good for sick guinea pigs?
0:393:276 Tips for Feeding a Sick Guinea Pig - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd its favorite food are carrots might still be easier to start with something soft such asMoreAnd its favorite food are carrots might still be easier to start with something soft such as cucumber or tomato.
What causes stringy poop in guinea pigs?
The stringy poo and mucas poo show something is wrong with the gut. If the vet has ruled out blockage then bloat is probable. Normally this is treated with gut stimulants suck as emeprid or another gut atom to keep the guts moving. It may be a certain type of food is causing it something she could eat before.
What probiotics can I give my guinea pig?
Bene-bac Plus Pet Gel is an easy to administer probiotic designed for pets. Most guinea pigs will immediately latch onto the tube of Bene-bac and take the dispensed dose (1 gram once per day, taken at a different time from the prescribed antibiotics).
How often should I force feed my sick guinea pig?
However, for guinea pigs which are ill, they might struggle and it might take more effort to syringefeed them. Do persevere as they will need food in their system every 4 - 6 hours if they are not eating to prevent their digestive system from being affected.
Can you give guinea pigs sugar water?
Claire W said: Hi, please do no feed your piggy sugar water. You're right and guinea pigs shouldn't have a lot of sugar.
How do you rehydrate guinea pigs?
You can hydrate your guinea pig by immediately doing the following:Offering your guinea pig his water bottle.Feeding him/her water via an eyedropper or medicine dropper (if he/she is unable to drink on his/her own).Offering veggies that have high water content, i.e. cucumber, iceberg lettuce, melon.
How do you treat soft stools in guinea pigs?
If you notice your pig having soft stools, discontinue any fresh fruits or vegetables. Instead, you can begin syringe feeding Oxbow Critical Care to increase fiber content and help maintain hydration while consulting with your veterinarian.
Why is my guinea pigs poop not solid?
Many guinea pigs develop diarrhea or chronic soft stools if fed a diet high in pellets. If you wish to feed pellets, choose a brand with no less than 18% to 20% fiber that is low in protein, calories, and fat and does not contain seeds or other items.
Should guinea pig poop be wet or dry?
Healthy guinea pig poop color tends to usually be medium to dark brown (somewhere between brown and black). A normal guinea pig poop should be uniform in consistency and oval-shaped. They shouldn't break into pieces when guinea pigs step on them but at the same time shouldn't be dry.
What causes gut stasis in guinea pigs?
What is it? Gut stasis is a life threatening condition that can affect Guinea Pigs. It is usually caused by the bacteria in the Guinea Pigs gut becoming out of balance. As a result of this imbalance, the contractions of the stomach and intestinal muscles often come to a complete standstill, also known as ileus.
How to treat diarrhea in guinea pigs?
To treat diarrhea in guinea pigs, withhold greens until the diarrhea passes and be sure to increase its water intake, since your pet will need to replace lost fluids. If the diarrhea is watery and constant, it's best to take the guinea pig to the vet right away. Ask your vet to perform a fecal float and bacteria culture so you can pinpoint ...
What does it mean when a guinea pig is watery?
If your guinea pig’s diarrhea is constant and watery, it can mean your pig has a pretty serious health issue, so you need to take it to the vet right away. Make sure you note when diarrhea started and any other unusual behavior in your guinea pig.
What to do if your pig has diarrhea?
If your piggy's diarrhea is semi-formed, keep an eye on your pig. If it doesn't clear up in a few days, make an appointment with your vet.
What is the best grass hay for guinea pigs?
Timothy hay is the best grass hay variety. Increase their water intake. Guinea pigs need a considerable amount of water to survive, so they should always have access to a water bottle with clean, clear water. If your guinea pig has diarrhea, refill the bottle more often than usual to ensure your pig gets enough water.
Can you take antibiotics for guinea pigs?
It can be tempting to treat your guinea pig on your own with antibiotics you might have from a previous bout of diarrhea, but you shouldn’t. Certain antibiotics can make diarrhea worse – even life-threatening – so see a vet if your pig's diarrhea doesn't clear up within a few days.
Can guinea pigs get diarrhea?
If it gets too bad – especially if it seems pretty runny – you should take your guinea pig to the vet for treatment.
Do guinea pigs need water?
Guinea pigs need a considerable amount of water to survive, so they should always have access to a water bottle with clean, clear water. If your guinea pig has diarrhea, refill the bottle more often than usual to ensure your pig gets enough water. Avoid treating your guinea pig on your own.
Why does my guinea pig's abdomen hurt?
Guinea pigs in pain change their posture constantly. Because the diarrhea is watery and sticky, your guinea pigs’ anus will quickly become inflamed and sore. If you try to wipe or clean it expect a painful reaction.
How long does guinea pig diarrhea last?
Guinea pig diarrhea can last from 24 hours to a few weeks. It all depends on the cause of diarrhea, the intensity of the symptoms, and the appropriate treatment. After a vet will check your pet, he or she will give you a prognosis on the expected duration of the problem.
What is guinea pig diarrhea?
Guinea Pig Diarrhea – What to Do? Guinea pig diarrhea is a fairly common condition that most guinea pig owners and exotic pet veterinarians encounter. The situation easily becomes messy and smelly and can spread in a herd of guinea pigs with lightning speed. That’s why you need to react appropriately and fast.
Why is my guinea pig's stool watery?
Disruption of the digestive flora can be a result of both infectious and non-infectious diseases. Bacterial enteritis (inflammation of the bowels) is the most prevalent cause of diarrhea in guinea pigs. Less frequently guinea pig watery stool can be caused by viruses (coronavirus in weanlings) and parasites (Coccidiosis and Cryptosporidiosis).
What causes diarrhea in guinea pigs?
The most frequent of all bacterial caused types of diarrhea in guinea pigs is the one caused by Clostridium Piliforme. The most vulnerable are immunocompromised, young and, stressed guinea pigs. Infected guinea pigs shed the bacteria through the feces and others can easily be infected.
What happens if you wipe your anus?
If you try to wipe or clean it expect a painful reaction. The longer the diarrhea is present the more inflamed the area around the anus will become. Profuse diarrhea leads to severe dehydration, hypothermia, electrolyte imbalances, and hypoglycemia.
Do guinea pigs have a watery stool?
Cryptosporidium Wrairi produces similar effects as Eimeria caviae. The guinea pigs fail to gain weight and have a watery stool.
How to keep guinea pigs from getting diarrhea?
In doing this, properly disinfect the pens with pet-friendly disinfectants. Remove uneaten feeds from the pen as soon as possible to prevent them from rotting inside the pen. Good sanitation will definitely help to control and prevent your guinea pig from contracting infectious diseases that may result in diarrhea.
What antibiotics should I give my guinea pig for diarrhea?
Recommended antibiotics for guinea pigs include chloramphenicol and enrofloxacin. 4. De-wormers. Infectious agents such as viruses, fungi, parasites, and bacteria can cause diarrhea in guinea pigs. In cases where the vet can identify the diarrhea-causing organism, you can perform deworming to flush out the organism.
How to tell if guinea pig is in pain?
You can watch out for these signs to determine if your guinea pig suffers pain. These include teeth grinding, hunched appearance, drooling, reluctance to move, and squeaking in pain. 10.
How to keep guinea pigs healthy?
You can work on the following healthy routines to keep your guinea pig from diseases: 1 Provide clean and fresh feeds daily (don’t give your guinea pig leftovers) 2 Provide clean water daily 3 Clean and arrange the bedding every 7 days 4 Gently brush its furs every 7 days 5 Trim your guinea pig’s nail every 14 days 6 Guinea pigs are healthy pets, you can decide to bathe your pet every 3 to 12 months
Why is my guinea pig stressed?
Guinea pig becomes stressed from sudden changes in their pen, water, and their food. Also, dogs and cats are potential stressors, so you will want to keep them away from your pet. A little distance from these stressors can work magic alongside other treatments. 10. Treat Underlying Disease.
What fruits can guinea pigs eat?
You can try out the following fruits: apples, bananas, blueberries, cucumber, cantaloupe, strawberries, and watermelon, but make sure they are in small quantities. 2. Fluid therapy or rehydration.
Is diarrhea a disease in guinea pigs?
But the chances are uncommon. Diarrhea is rare in guinea pigs as an independent disease. Most of the time shows as an overlay of another disease the guinea pig suffers. Treating that secondary or underlying condition means solving the root cause of the problem and treating diarrhea.
How to prevent diarrhea in guinea pigs?
Diarrhea due to an infection, on the other hand, may be prevented by keeping the guinea pig's bedding, water bottle, and living environment clean and sanitized; prompt ly removing uneaten food before it rots can also reduce the level of disease-causing organisms.
What to feed guinea pigs?
Feeding your guinea pig plain yogurt with active cultures, or the commercial supplement probiotic, may help restore the healthy balance of "good" bacteria in its digestive tract. Otherwise, provide plenty of water for your guinea pig to drink.
Why does my guinea pig have diarrhea?
Diarrhea often occurs as a symptom of a secondary condition, including disease, infection or improper diet, all causing the guinea pig's digestive system to become upset. Whatever the reason, diarrhea needs to be treated promptly, as it can lead to dehydration and even death in severe cases.
How to diagnose guinea pig diarrhea?
Other than observing your guinea pig's clinical signs, your veterinarian will confirm a diagnosis of diarrhea by completing a dietary history of the animal and examining its blood and stool samples for infectious organisms.
What do guinea pigs eat?
Guinea pigs are born to eat only herbs and grass hay. Also, vegetables have many benefits in the diet of guinea pigs, and it appears that they love to eat fresh vegetables.
What is the cause of diarrhea in guinea pigs?
The pinworms can affect the young guinea pigs more as compared to those guinea pigs who are old because the younger guinea pigs do not have stable microflora in their gut to fight with the infestations.
Why do guinea pigs have cecotropes?
A lack of exercise can also cause Cecal dysbiosis due to health issues that arise from obesity and neurologic disorders. The obesity of guinea pigs is connected with some diseases related to health. Obesity can also be the cause of soft cecotropes. It is not possible to take your guinea pig for a walk around the area.
What is a soft cecotrope in guinea pigs?
The unformed cecotropes are dark, smelly piles of a soft, wet, pulpy mass, which can be mashed into the fur of your guinea pig’s feet and back end or else into the floor. These can make you confused as diarrhea.
Why do guinea pigs have runny stools?
Runny or soft stools can be caused by an improper diet or a change in diet. But this does not mean that it is real diarrhea. These can be unformed cecotropes, which is another kind of feces that guinea pigs eliminate.
What is the name of the bacteria that causes watery diarrhea in guinea pigs?
You can be aware of the shortened name of Escherichia coli as E. coli. This kind of bacteria will infect the guinea pigs and cause watery diarrhea. These kinds of stools can contain blood or mucous.
What is the disease that causes a guinea pig to bloat?
Bacterial Disease . The bacterial disease is very harmful and can affect the young guinea pigs between the ages of 7-10 weeks. Intestines of guinea pigs can be affected by this infection which leads to excess mucous production. That always leads to mucous-laden diarrhea, bloating, and jelly-filled belly.
What is diarrhea in guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs have a very distinctive stool, although it bears a resemblance to rabbit feces. This animal produces torpedo-shaped pellets which are quite hard due to the large amounts of fiber they ingest from their diet. We can even see guinea pigs eating their stools.
The importance of guinea pig diet
Diarrhea is a symptom of a gastrointestinal problem. This means poor diet is a common cause of diarrhea in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs need a significant supply of fiber to regulate their intestinal transit. It also helps to wear their teeth down and maintain proper dentition.
Parasites
Another common cause of diarrhea in guinea pigs is intestinal parasites. To avoid the development of both internal and external parasites, it is important we deworm our guinea pig regularly. To do so, we must follow the instructions of our veterinarian.
Scurvy
We mentioned the importance of vitamin C in a guinea pig's diet since they cannot synthesize it naturally themselves. The reason for this is because a deficiency of vitamin C results in a disease known as scurvy, a problem which is relatively common in cavies.
Bacterial infections
It is also possible that the explanation as to why our guinea pig has diarrhea is in the bacteria that can proliferate in its digestive system. As always, the vet will diagnose and treat accordingly. We must bear in mind that some bacteria can be transmissible, so we must take proper hygiene measures.
Side effects of medication
Finally, sometimes the explanation for why our guinea pig has diarrhea is due to the side-effects of certain medication. Not every animal will react the same to a certain medication, so it is possible one will develop diarrhea where another one doesn't.
