Here we can see, “What Should You Do If Your Guinea Pig Develops Diarrhea?”
Diarrhea is a common problem in many different types of pets, including guinea pigs. Soft, unformed stools are difficult to clean, but they can also suggest a major cavy condition. Knowing what’s causing diarrhea and how to manage it safely will help keep your guinea pig clean and healthy.
What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is characterized as a stool that is loose, unformed, or watery. Diarrhea is messy, smelly, and abnormal, and it happens several times a day, unlike formed guinea pig droppings.
Symptoms of Diarrhea in Guinea Pigs
Take your guinea pig to the veterinarian as soon as possible if it is not acting properly or has had recurring diarrhea for more than a day.
- Loose, soft, or unformed fecal pellets
- Messy rear end
- Dirty bedding
- Foul smell
- Sunken eyes
Unformed Fecal Pellets
The loose, soft, and unformed fecal pellets that your guinea pig will leave in its cage are the most obvious symptom of diarrhea. The excrement of your pet should not be wet or mushy. Instead, they should be firm, smooth, consistent in shape (typical pellets will resemble plump rice grains), and dark brown. There is a problem if the shape and density of the pellet are not uniform.
Messy Rear End
If you don’t see proper, formed fecal pellets in its cage, you may see fecal waste build up on your guinea pig’s hind end. In addition, diarrhea is more difficult to remove from a guinea pig than typical excrement and instead sticks to the fur and legs.
Dirty Bedding
Some fecal pellets will be mushy, loose, or unformed in the cage, but guinea pigs with diarrhea will have more soiled bedding. Unlike watery diarrhea, normal fecal pellets do not seep into the bedding.
Foul Smell
A foul odor will emanate from the cage due to the untidy rear end and dirty bedding. Diarrhea could also have stained the fur around your cavy’s anal area, contributing to the odor.
Sunken Eyes
Finally, dehydration can quickly set in if diarrhea is not treated, causing the eyes to sink into the skull.
Causes of Diarrhea
Diarrhea can strike Guinea pigs for a variety of reasons. However, the following are some of the most common causes:
Improper diet: Diarrhea might lead to a guinea pig not eating properly. Runny stools can be caused by a lack of fiber, an imbalance of good bacteria in the stomach, hypovitaminosis, excess water, or a lack of fiber.
Infection caused by bacteria or viruses: If an infection becomes a systemic concern, it might alter your guinea pig’s gut health and cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by respiratory problems, bacterial overgrowth in the intestines, or even untreated infected wounds.
Parasitic infection: While guinea pigs are not commonly affected by intestinal parasites, they can be infected with external parasites such as mange and lice. These parasites can irritate or even hurt your guinea pig, making them agitated and causing diarrhea.
Stress: Any sickness or infection can stress animals. Environmental stressors, on the other hand, can cause diarrhea. In addition, new cage mates, other pets, youngsters, noises outside the cage, relocation, temperature changes, and other factors might produce soft and poorly shaped feces in your guinea pig.
Other illnesses include: Depending on how your guinea pig is affected, various malignancies and other diseases might cause diarrhea.
Diagnosing Diarrhea in Guinea Pigs
Your veterinarian will be able to tell if your guinea pig has diarrhea based on the clinical indicators. On the other hand, the doctor will have to figure out what’s causing the problem. If the cause of the diarrhea is not tied to diet or environment, your veterinarian may need to run some tests after a physical examination to discover the cause.
Treatment
You’ll need to figure out what’s causing diarrhea before curing it. Environmental stressors may need to be eliminated, and infections, parasites, and diseases may necessitate various treatments. If your guinea pig has been dehydrated due to diarrhea, fluids may be required.
Diarrhea in Guinea Pigs: What to Expect
Unless diarrhea indicates a more serious disease, a guinea pig who is properly treated for it and its cause will likely have a normal life. However, diarrhea that is not treated promptly can lead to serious dehydration and death.
How Can Diarrhea Be Prevented?
You can do a few things to help avoid diarrhea in guinea pigs. But, first, make it a habit to keep these three aspects of your cavy’s life in good shape:
- Diet: To maintain a healthy gut and avoid diarrhea, a guinea pig’s diet should be heavy in fiber and dark, leafy vegetables. A poor diet is a typical cause of diarrhea, but it may also be avoided.
- Cage: To keep your guinea pig from getting sick, keep their cage away from draughts. In addition, place the cage away from any areas where cats, dogs, or other pets may feel threatened regularly. Cages should also be cleaned regularly to minimize an infection-prone environment.
- Quarantine: Before introducing new guinea pigs to your older pigs, they should be confined for at least a week. This can help prevent parasites from spreading, which might stress a guinea pig and cause diarrhea.
User Questions
Why is my guinea pig pooping so much?
Guinea pigs, in general, poop a lot because their food is heavy in fiber. They poop a lot because of the fiber in their meal. Guinea pigs poop more than 100 times every day on average. The number of times they poop each day is ultimately determined by their health, exercise, age, and diet.
What happens if your guinea pig has diarrhea?
Diarrhea can be caused by several factors, including bacterial, viral, and parasite illnesses. Digestive problems and a bad diet can also cause the illness. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you more about the particular reason for your pig’s problem.
Why is my guinea pig poop slimy?
Mucous in the stools can be caused by gastrointestinal parasites or faulty hindgut physiology that results in impacted material in the cecum. It’s always better to get guidance from your veterinarian if you detect more than a few mucous-covered poops.
Can guinea pigs have Gatorade?
A cavy may drink but not eat, and they will be unable to fight illness without an adequate amount of this vitamin. If you think your cavy isn’t drinking, use a syringe to administer Gatorade or vitamin C water.
Can I give my guinea pig ice?
Ice cubes should not be fed to guinea pigs because they are unhealthy for their teeth, ice can cause digestive problems, and their tongue and lips can become stuck to the ice. Plus, ice isn’t as healthy as vegetables, and there are plenty of other methods to keep your little ones cool in the summer.
Conclusion
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