Constipation

[Alivia.davis.23]

I took my guinea pig to the vet a few weeks ago because I suspected a uri and I was right. The vet gave us some antibiotics and now that the treatment is over I’m holding her for a while and noticing she isn’t pooping. She’s a small baby so I can also definitely tell she’s kind of swollen. The vet said to give her some mineral oil and that it would help resolve its self. Is mineral oil safe to put in their water?

 

[Siikibam]

Please don’t give her mineral oil. How long has she not toileted? Is there none in her cage or are they smaller than usual? If she’s not pooping that means she’s not eating enough. Poop output is 1-2 days behind. You have to step in now and syringe feed her. If you don’t have any critical care then you can use mushed pellets. Switch to weighing her once daily at the same time (preferably in the morning) and adjusting the syringe feed accordingly. You’re aiming for minimum 60ml in a 24 hour period.

How long was she on the antibiotics for and which antibiotic was she given? If she appears swollen I would get that checked out as well.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Guinea pigs don’t get constipated. If they are not pooping, it’s because their food intake has dropped and there is a potential medical problem.
You say she is swollen - do you mean her tummy feels bigger? If so, please have her vet checked for bloat. I’ve added our digestive disorders guide in below for further help and information. If she is confirmed to have bloat, she will need medication including pain relief. Please also stop giving any veg until you get a diagnosis. If she does have bloat, then she will not be able to have veg until a few days after the episode has passed.
Don’t put oil in her water.
Please switch to weighing her daily so you can monitor her hay intake more closely, and step in with syringe feeding (guide added below to help). Mushed pellets (with water) can be used in the absence of a recovery feed. You need to syringe feed as much as necessary to maintain her weight (if she isn’t eating enough, then her weight will continue to drop).
I would also suggest you see a more knowledgeable vet.


Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Wiebke]

I took my guinea pig to the vet a few weeks ago because I suspected a uri and I was right. The vet gave us some antibiotics and now that the treatment is over I’m holding her for a while and noticing she isn’t pooping. She’s a small baby so I can also definitely tell she’s kind of swollen. The vet said to give her some mineral oil and that it would help resolve its self. Is mineral oil safe to put in their water?

Hi!

Guinea pigs don't suffer from constipation; their digestive system is very different to that of dogs or cats. Please DO NOT give the mineral oil.

They can suffer from bloating, a blockage or the guts stopping to work.
Is your piggy still eating? If nothing has gone in at the front, nothing will come out at the back.

Please take the time to carefully read the information in these guides here:
Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment (includes practical tips on how you can improvise in an emergency)