Healthy poops?

[HopeyLoo]

Hi! I'm new to this forum. I have two female guinea pigs. I feed each of them about a cup of veggies per day, unlimited hay (timothy with a sprinkle of alfalfa since on is still quite young,) about 1/8 cup of pellets per day each, and unlimited water. I noticed that the older female's poops vary quite often, while the younger one's poops look healthy and very consistent. It seems like they change at different times during the day, which makes me thing it has something to do with their veggies. The poops that worry me are small, thicker, light colored and often dry. But then later on, I'll notice that they have gone back to dark brown and normal shaped. The veggies they get most often are romaine lettuce, cilantro, green bell pepper, spinach, celery, and cucumber. The only ones they have been getting every single day are lettuce, cilantro, and peppers. I'm not sure what to do. If it is the veggies, am i feeding too little or too many? Thanks!

 

[Siikibam]

The veggies sound fine. But spinach shouldn’t be more than once a week - high in calcium - and only one leaf each time. If you’re feeding alfalfa I wouldn’t give it as well. How old is the other piggy and how old is baby? Perhaps post a photo of the poo you think isn’t normal.

 

[Claire W]

I agree that the veg apart from the spinach which should be fed sparingly ie once a week is perfectly fine. How old are your piggies? The alfalfa hay may not be necessary. Post a photo of the poop that you’re worried about if you can

 

[HopeyLoo]

I was feeding a few leaves of spinach about 2-3 times a week. I'll definitely cut down on that. One is about eight months I'd say and the young one is only about 5 weeks old. I was also going to point out that the older one was having very few poops, but this morning it looked like a normal amount again, so maybe she was just holding it for some reason. Her poops also look better shaped this morning too. I'm just having trouble figuring out why a lot of them are light colored. I'll post a pic of some of them.
I think the darker ones are more recent. Also, they look a lot lighter in person. I’ve been cutting back on veggies in general a little bit. Thanks!

 

[Siikibam]

They look okay to me but wait for someone else to answer. A few leaves 2-3 times a week is definitely too much. A leaf a week is enough. But as I said I wouldn’t give along with alfalfa.

Is the older piggy the mum or just the cage mate? I would try and limit access to alfalfa for the older piggy. Maybe put in a box that only baby can get into.

 

[HopeyLoo]

That's a good idea. Usually what I do is when the baby is eating hay, I put a little bit of alfalfa in front of her so that way the baby gets some and the older one doesn't get too much. The older one is the mom, and since they no longer nurse I've been slowly giving less and less alfalfa. I'm mainly worried because the her poops have been a lot worse in the last few days. And they are a lot lighter than her baby's, who eats the same things. Also, don't worry, I didn't breed her. The pet store gave me a pregnant piggy.

I will most likely stop feeding alfalfa soon and spinach now, since their pellets are part timothy part alfalfa. I will try to make sure almost all of the alfalfa hay goes to the baby too. I might hand feed it since I don't thing I have a box that will work.

 

[Claire W]

They look like normal healthy poos to me. I really wouldn’t worry

 

[Siikibam]

If the pellets are part alfalfa then I don’t know if I’d even bother with the handful of alfalfa. Those more experienced with babies can advise you better though so ignore what I say for now.
@Wiebke @VickiA

 

[VickiA]

I can’t see anything wrong with the poos in the photos. The ones on the right are a bit dark - usually caused by a bit too much veg. The ones on the left don’t look too pale to me.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

The pellets are a good size and shape; I would not worry.

 

[HopeyLoo]

Okay, thank you! They seem more consistent and better shaped now than when they were the worst, which was before I took the photo. I'm glad I don't have to worry.