Please help

[Guineapoops2022]

Hi guys I’m not getting any replies on another thread I’m totally stuck with what to do here I have 4 female piggy’s around 8 months they are currently going through Zeno 450 treatment I’m not sure could this have triggered dark squishy poos… and I changed their hay a few weeks back Timothy blend from haybox they have been off all veg for almost a week I have some fibreplex but not much left they have had maybe 2ml each since Sunday as I don’t want to use it all incase I need more… should I start veg and change hay or mix another hay in with this haybox stuff or stop haybox all together? Please help I am very stressed they haven’t had veg for almost a week I feel terrible the poos aren’t very wet but they are dark and squashy

 

[weepweeps]

I suppose it’s possible the xeno could affect their poops and also the hay could if it’s richer than what they have been used to. All you can do is try giving them the hay they are used to to see if their poops return to normal. Is it all 4 of them that are having the problem? Did it start with the hay swap or when the mite treatment started? Have you spoken to the vet to rule out a medical issue.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I cannot think the mite treatment would have any effect whatsoever.
The hay change may have caused a bit of an upset if it is richer than they are used to but I know you changed hay source to hay box because of the mites.
A plain meadow hay (from Haybox if you like using them) may suit your piggies better than the blend you are giving

If their poops haven’t normalised after a week off veg then they ought to be seen by a vet

 

[Guineapoops2022]

They hay and Zeno was around the same time I’m afraid so I couldn’t know but I’m thinking it surely is the hay… I think I will need to put them back on Timothy/meadow from pets at home and see what happens and hopefully things return to normal I’m just fretting because of the veg I’m not sure can you return hay to haybox that’s unopened as I have a full box and half a box open :/ yes I would say it’s all 4 pigs thanks for your advice

 

[Piggies&buns]

Are the poops still very soft?

My guess would be that if it is the hay causing it, it is likely to be the soft cut element of the blend (the haybox blend being a mix of coarse and soft cut timothy).
My lot all eat a mix of Haybox soft cut timothy and up until recently I was also giving haybox meadow but I’ve now changed to a local farm bale of meadow hay (still alongside the haybox timothy).
You can certainly ask about returning it, but I wouldn’t think it would be possible unless the hay itself was faulty (ie mouldy etc)

 

[Guineapoops2022]

I would say the poops aren’t really soft but not very firm still a bit squishy and dark in colour I’m going to get the old hay today and get them back on it and see how things are by Friday I’m hoping a couple of days of old hay will get things back on track and hoping to start up veggies Friday too I’m just hoping they are ok having been off veg for almost a week but I gave them a small piece of pepper lastnight which was greatly appreciated felt bad for them x

 

[Piggies&buns]

They’ll be fine having been off veg.
Can you post a new picture of the poops. If they aren’t soft anymore then they are likely adjusting and getting back on track now

 

[VickiA]

I've never noticed any changes to the gut as a result of using Zeno, either. Soft squishy poops are usually a result of a gut disturbance and keeping off the veggies and encouraging them to eat hay but a change in hay can also cause a gut disturbance if it's too rich for them. Mine have Haybox meadow hay as their main hay. I then throw in a handful of Timothy hay (also haybox) every evening which they scoff. But if they have nothing but the Timothy (eg if I've been away and a family member has given them Timothy hay exclusively) I have noticed that their poops are softer.