Benebac equivalent UK

[Piggywheekers]

Hello UK piggie owners. Our boy Squash was recently on antibiotics and his poops are still a little soft and smelly. We saw that lots of people recommend benebac probiotic, however it will take over a week to ship to us as the only suppliers are in the US

I’ve seen some other probiotics in my searches but they seem very catered to cats and dogs and I wouldn’t want to give Squash anything that’s not designed for guinea pigs.

Does anyone have and recommendations?

Thanks

 

[Free Ranger]

My vet stocks something called Bio-lapis which is a powder we mix into syringe food when they are on it. But Fibreplex has a good reputation - it comes as a paste in a massive plastic syringe so you can either mix it in with other stuff or some pigs eat a dose straight from the tube. That hasn't been mine though - they never make life easy!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes, BeneBac is a US product. There are several others in the Uk.
The guide below details
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

 

[PigglePuggle]

Fibreplex is excellent, and we are going to try Biolapis- I've just ordered both from Amazon for UK delivery, the fibreplex said 4 days for delivery but the Biolapis has next day delivery option.

 

[Merab]

I used Fibreplex and mixed it in with the syringe feed.
It certainly helped when we had a squishy poop issue.
It can also be ordered from Hyperdrug.

Hope your boy recovers quickly

 

[Wiebke]

Hello UK piggie owners. Our boy Squash was recently on antibiotics and his poops are still a little soft and smelly. We saw that lots of people recommend benebac probiotic, however it will take over a week to ship to us as the only suppliers are in the US

I’ve seen some other probiotics in my searches but they seem very catered to cats and dogs and I wouldn’t want to give Squash anything that’s not designed for guinea pigs.

Does anyone have and recommendations?

Thanks

Hi

You can get benebac online but fibreplex or bio lapsis are probiotic products with 'extras' in the UK.

There is however quite an effective free way of helping your piggy, which mimics natural behaviour in recovering piggies. It is live healthy gut microbiome transfer from a companion not on medication (especially not on antibiotics) and goes by the descriptive but not very appetising name of 'poo soup'.

You can find more information, including the little tricks on how to make poo soup properly so the quickly perishing microbiome reaches the digestive system in time to be every bit as effective in re-stocking the gut with exactly the 'right' species appropriate stuff in this link here: Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

You can find more very practical and very helpful tips for medicating/syringe feeding piggies off their food and how to monitor the food intake in an ill piggy/piggy on antibiotics in our comprehensive Syringing guide, including how to improvise in an emergency/while waiting for a delivery: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

All the best!

 

[Piggywheekers]

Thank you so much! I’ll look into getting some fibreplex, and those links are super helpful, I should have known there’d already be an amazingly detailed post somewhere!

I’d never heard of the poop soup method, that is fascinating and gross haha. I can never be sure who’s poop is who’s but I think I’ll give that a go if the probiotics don’t work

Thanks again

 

[Piggywheekers]

Thank you all for your helpful replies! Much appreciated x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much! I’ll look into getting some fibreplex, and those links are super helpful, I should have known there’d already be an amazingly detailed post somewhere!

I’d never heard of the poop soup method, that is fascinating and gross haha. I can never be sure who’s poop is who’s but I think I’ll give that a go if the probiotics don’t work

Thanks again

You take the 'donor' piggy out of the cage, feed them a little grass or whatever which inevitably triggers totally fresh poos that are perfect for soaking shortly in a little water.
It is the still live microbiome in the water (and not the poos themselves) that you want to get into the struggling piggy within 10-15 minutes after the poos have been dropped; ideally sooner as the quicker, the more bacteria will reach the gut alive and working. It is one of the few home remedy measures that really have stood the test of time.