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Dry hard poops in senior Guinea pig

TheJumpingGuineapigs

TheJumpingGuineapigs

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Hi everyone!
My 5 1/2-year-old guinea pig has started to have very small, dry and light colored poops. Knowing this is a sign of dehydration, I immediately started rehydrating her, and I have been giving her critical care multiple times a day. The color and texture of her poops has not changed even with my rehydration efforts. She is still eating her hay and I have seen her drinking out of her water bottle, but she’s not her normal sassy self. If this is still occurring tomorrow, I’m going to call the vet and get an appointment. I’m very worried about her and I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences? Obviously, I’m not asking for a diagnosis. I just was kind of hoping that maybe somebody has seen something similar to this or has some tips to help her in the meantime?
Thanks!
 
I know the poop output is usually a day behind what they've eaten. So the poops today are what she has eaten/drank yesterday. You're doing the right thing by feeding her and getting a vet advice.
 
I would also switch to daily weight checks so you can monitor hay intake more closely

I hope she is ok

Wiebke

Thread 'Wiebke's Guide to Poops'

1 How the Digestive System Works
2 Poo Eating (Coprophagy)
3 Health Monitoring: Weighing vs. Poos Watching
- What does weighing do?
- What does the poop output tell you?
4 Minor Poop Issues
- How to deal with a minor tummy upset
- Funny poops: What do they mean?
- Caked on poops
5 Serious Diarrhoea
6 Impaction
7...
  • Informative
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TheJumpingGuineapigs said:
Hi everyone!
My 5 1/2-year-old guinea pig has started to have very small, dry and light colored poops. Knowing this is a sign of dehydration, I immediately started rehydrating her, and I have been giving her critical care multiple times a day. The color and texture of her poops has not changed even with my rehydration efforts. She is still eating her hay and I have seen her drinking out of her water bottle, but she’s not her normal sassy self. If this is still occurring tomorrow, I’m going to call the vet and get an appointment. I’m very worried about her and I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences? Obviously, I’m not asking for a diagnosis. I just was kind of hoping that maybe somebody has seen something similar to this or has some tips to help her in the meantime?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hi

I am very sorry. Just continue with your feeding support and keep monitoring the food intake by weighing first thing in the morning. It gives you the most reliable day to day comparison but you can then also adjust the amount and frequency for the coming day.
Wiebke

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...
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However, you need to be a bit more patient. The digestive tract in guinea pigs is a multiple in size and length when compared to their body size; especially in comparison to humans and predatory pets. It is much thinner and longer, and fermentation/break down of the nutritious but tough grass fibre that makes over three quarters what guinea pigs eat takes its due time. Yours is a very common misconception amongst herbivore pet owners.

Please be aware that today's poo output reflects what has gone in at the mouth 1-2 days before. It takes that time for any food to pass from one end to the other end of the digestive tract; and then factor in that part of the poos are eaten for a second run through the digestive tract.
The guide in the previous post explains in more detail how the digestive system works. It's worth reading.

Please also check the water bottle (especially the spout) and check whether your elderly piggy can still drink from it (arthritis etc.)

Wiebke

Thread 'All About Drinking, Bottles and Dehydration'

1 Drinking
Learning to drink and individual drinking needs
- How do guinea pigs learn to drink?
- How much water do guinea pigs need?
- How can I encourage piggies to drink from a bottle?
- Individual drinking habits
- Adding supplements or medication to the water (not recommended)
Problem areas and illness
- When do I need to be worried?
- Which health problems can be connected with marked changes in drinking?
- Signs...
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Wiebke

Thread 'Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility'

Introduction
1 Why can guinea pigs stop moving around?
- Animal attacks, severe illness or pain
- Back leg paralysis with list of potential causes
- Post-op, sudden illness or acute pining after bereavement
2 Adapting the living space
- Bedding and cosies
- Everything within reach
- Warmth and stable conditions
3 Weight monitoring and feeding support
- Weighing...
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Wiebke

Thread 'Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection'

1 Caring for Older and Frailer Piggies
- Overview of old age and its particular challenges (Guinea Pig Magazine article)
- In-depth care information
- The importance of regular health/weight monitoring and saving up for euthanasia/vet access
- Signs of illness/pain, emergency and hot weather care
- Common old age issues and practical care advice
2 Facing the End and Dealing with Dying and Loss
- Overview of the challenges and practical approaches...
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All the best. Try not to overhydrate your piggy, just because you cannot see any results. Let her drink as much water from a syringe as she wants but do not force it down her.
 
Thank you for the replies! She’s doing much better today and I have observed her drinking on her own out of her water bottle multiple times! Her poops have also improved and she appears to be much more active. I’m going to continue giving her critical care supplementally for a few days, but she seems to be feeling much better.
 
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