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Black Poop

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Maddykins

Maddykins

Junior Guinea Pig
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I've noticed over the last 2-3 days my boys' poops are black instead of their normal brown colour. Their diet has been pretty much the same as normal except for getting a fair amount of strawberry tops recently sometimes with a tiny bit of strawberry attached to it. Is there something in strawberry/strawberry tops that has made their poops darker than normal and does this mean they've had too much of it? Basically I am just wondering if this is anything to worry about or if it's just colouring from something they've eaten. Thanks!
 
Hi, I don't think you have anything to worry about, their poo can vary between dark brown and black, I'd be more worried if they had gone soft but if they are nice and solid you should be fine,..it's probably the red strawberries....I copied this from Guinealynx site for you:
Guinea pig stool color varies between black or dark brown and anywhere in between that scope.
Depending on what you are feeding your guinea pig the color may vary. If you are feeding your guinea pigs a lot of beets, for example, the stool will have a hue of dark red or purple.
Solely a lighter brown stool may point to bloat or another illness.
Hope this helps!
 
because it is both of them, i would be more inclined to think it is food related. some poops can be very dark. sometimes grass can make poops darker than normal aswell as other foods. is the consistency normal and is the amount of poops the same as normal aswell? do they eat enough hay? :)
 
Hi, I will get my partner to take a picture of them later and upload it as I'm a bit of a technophobe!

Yes, the consistency/amount/size of the poops etc is normal, and they are eating fine (lots of hay, with some pellets and veg). Just usually their poops are dark brown (sometimes with red tinges if they eat red pepper or something red haha!), but now they are more like black.

They have had a bit of grass recently as well actually it could be that! I was trying to introduce them gradually to it as I read they can get diarrhea if they get loads of grass too quickly. I think you are right and it is probably that. I put them on the grass for about an hour yesterday (longest time yet) and they ate none stop! I kept thinking they would stop eventually but when they got tired they just lay down and continued eating whilst stretched out! I'm staying at my parent's for a bit now and they have a garden so they are enjoying mowing the lawn for them ;)
 
Maddykins said:
Hi, I will get my partner to take a picture of them later and upload it as I'm a bit of a technophobe!

Yes, the consistency/amount/size of the poops etc is normal, and they are eating fine (lots of hay, with some pellets and veg). Just usually their poops are dark brown (sometimes with red tinges if they eat red pepper or something red haha!), but now they are more like black.

They have had a bit of grass recently as well actually it could be that! I was trying to introduce them gradually to it as I read they can get diarrhea if they get loads of grass too quickly. I think you are right and it is probably that. I put them on the grass for about an hour yesterday (longest time yet) and they ate none stop! I kept thinking they would stop eventually but when they got tired they just lay down and continued eating whilst stretched out! I'm staying at my parent's for a bit now and they have a garden so they are enjoying mowing the lawn for them ;)
Click to expand...

it does sound like diet related then, but keep an extra close eye just incase (i'm sure you are anyway :) )
 
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