Hi! I have two guinea pigs and I've noticed that one of them poops a lot less than she used to. The poops themselves look super healthy, but I'm worried why there aren't that many of them. I used to have to spot clean the cage twice a day, (it's fleece) but now I could get away with every other day. She doesn't seem in pain at all and still eats fine and is active. I would also like to point out that her and her cage mate both rub their bottoms over the floor or their pillow sometimes. Should I be worried? Thank you.
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Guinea Pig not pooping a lot?
- Thread starter HopeyLoo
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Less poop coming out means that less food is going in. As hay needs to make up the bulk of the diet, you cannot judge hay intake by eye. Have you been weighing your piggy weekly as a matter of routine? If so, what has happened with her weight. If not, then please start weighing her now. Weigh her daily, at the same time each day, now you have concerns over her health. It is vital to monitor their weight to ensure they are eating enough hay (veg and pellets make up such a small proportion of their daily food intake (jointly only 20% of their daily food intake) even if they seem to be eating those as normal, it simply won’t be enough to maintain them)
If her weight is dropping, which as I’ve said the fact she is pooping less suggests something is going on, then you will need to step in and syringe feed her and see a vet.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management
If her weight is dropping, which as I’ve said the fact she is pooping less suggests something is going on, then you will need to step in and syringe feed her and see a vet.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management
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Claire W
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I haven't been weighing her, but if anything she has been getting bigger which has made me suspect she could be pregnant again. I'll weigh her from now on though. I'll try slightly decreasing her pellet and veggie intake, as I already have 3 different spots around their cage that they can eat hay from.
Also, I'm 80% sure she isn't actually pregnant, but just in case I've given her some alfalfa as a little treat recently and put her favorite bed in their cage since it worked really well when she gave birth in it last time. Thank you for your advice!
Also, I'm 80% sure she isn't actually pregnant, but just in case I've given her some alfalfa as a little treat recently and put her favorite bed in their cage since it worked really well when she gave birth in it last time. Thank you for your advice!
Lifelong weighing is so important to spot health problems. Please do start weighing her. You can’t tell if she is getting bigger without weighing her.
What makes you think she could be pregnant?
Please don’t give alfalfa to a piggy who may not be pregnant. A healthy, not pregnant, piggy should not have alfalfa due to its high calcium content
Please have her seen by a vet. As I said, pooping less is a warning sign of a health issue so a vet check is necessary
A few reasons she could be pregnant are that right after she first gave birth, a male, (I thought i had two girls) was still in her cage and he could've been there long enough after the delivery to get her pregnant again. Also, she freaks when I touch her stomach even though shes tame, and she drinks a lot. I only gave her a small amount of alfalfa. And about weighing her, I can't quite yet because the scale I was going to use is broken, but I'll get a new one as soon as I can.
After I decreased the pellets and veggies, she started pooping more again and they look really healthy.
After I decreased the pellets and veggies, she started pooping more again and they look really healthy.
By the way, i don't think her stomach hurts when I touch it, I just think she gets scared because if I hold her she does't show any sign that it hurts or shes in pain and she doesn't make any noise when I touch it.
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
Guinea pigs usually don’t like being touched on the stomach anyway. Unfortunately when it comes to pregnancy it’s a case of wait and see. Hopefully she isn’t as a back to back pregnancy puts a huge strain on their bodies.