Guinea pig may have rectal prolapse

[QueenFan200]

Hi, I have a male Guinea pig who is about 2 or 3 years old. He began eating less and he hasn't drank water today. I checked him over for signs of illness and it seems like he may have a rectal prolapse. He is going to the vet as soon as possible, but I can not find the causes of rectal prolapse via google and I am very scared that I may have caused it. I read that feeding too many veggies too fast can cause this and I recently added veggies daily to his diet, not knowing before that guinea pigs require veggies in their daily diets. I am really hoping this isnt my fault, as rectal prolapse sounds like a very serious thing from the information I have been able to find. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[QueenFan200]

Hi, I have a male Guinea pig who is about 2 or 3 years old. He began eating less and he hasn't drank water today. I checked him over for signs of illness and it seems like he may have a rectal prolapse. He is going to the vet as soon as possible, but I can not find the causes of rectal prolapse via google and I am very scared that I may have caused it. I read that feeding too many veggies too fast can cause this and I recently added veggies daily to his diet, not knowing before that guinea pigs require veggies in their daily diets. I am really hoping this isnt my fault, as rectal prolapse sounds like a very serious thing from the information I have been able to find. Thank you in advance for your help.

I am also hoping someone can tell me that this is not as serious as I have read it is. I am very worried!

 

[Tigermoth]

I’m afraid because of the geography, you posted at 3am here so there was no one around. I wonder if you explain why you think there is a prolapse and add a picture but of course it goes without saying that this little one needs to see a vet urgently if this is your suspicion.

 

[Siikibam]

If he’s stopped eating you’ll have to step in and syringe feed to help him maintain his weight. You’ll also have to weigh him daily at the same time.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[Wiebke]

I am also hoping someone can tell me that this is not as serious as I have read it is. I am very worried!

Hi!

A prolapse is very serious and has to be treated as a life and death emergency. The prolapsed grey tissue will swell up and be impossible to fit back in and stitch in place. Prolapses are thankfully rare (they are most commonly a birthing complication) but they can sometimes happen to other piggies, too. I have however never heard or come across about a link to overfeeding veg in the cases we have seen on this forum over the years, though; so please do not beat yourself up over it - that is one of these urban myths that are making the rounds online when people are putting 2 and 2 together in the wake of a sudden unexplained loss and come out with 125.

80% of a piggy diet should consist of of unlimited hay and fresh growing grass - hay is the one food that guinea pigs cannot do without. A SMALL bowl of preferably green mixed veg and herbs should only make about an afternoon snack (it replaces the wild forage that guinea pigs would supplement their grass/hay based diet for trace elements) and 1 tablespoon of pellets per piggy per day be their daily dessert course. Overfeeding on veg is not at all good because the digestive system and the rate of tooth growth is laid out for dealing with the silica and vitamin C rich tough grass fibre, which is the reason why guinea pigs never had the need to make their own vitamin C in the first place and why a grass hay based diet can add 1-2 years to a healthy life span.
Here is more information on a healthy balanced diet: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Here is our one-stop emergency care advice and tips link: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

I am sorry for us not answering but we are based in the UK and you posted in our middle of our night.

 

[QueenFan200]

Thank you very much for your replies. He went to the vet right away the following morning. He did not have a rectal prolapse, just a vitamin C deficiency. We felt awful, as we were just unaware of the vitamin C diet requirements for Guinea pigs. We feed unlimited hay and water and a small amount of grain food each day and had just begun to add greens into his diet before he ran into this deficiency problem. I think he will be ok as he received a vitamin C injection at the vet and since being home, we have been checking on him hourly and he has slowly begun to eat again. Thank you all again.

 

[Siikibam]

How did they diagnose the vitamin c deficiency? There’s vitamin c in hay, that’s how they adapted to suit their needs. What was he eating previously in terms of veg?

And do you plan to get him a friend?

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Hope piggies continues to improve,
Little piggies you munch away, x

 

[Marlee and Fluffy]

I hope that your piggie will stay safe, best of luck!