Soft poops

[weepweeps]

Hello. Percy’s poops have been softer and smaller today and yesterday so I was going to stop fresh veggies for him for a day. But my question is..... he never drinks so gets his water from his veggies. Is it safe to stop them or will he get dehydrated? Or should I just cut them down a bit? Thanks for any replies.

 

[Claire W]

If his poos are soft, stop all veg for 24-48 hours feeding only hay and pellets until his poos firm up. He will drink if he’s thirsty

 

[Wiebke]

Hello. Percy’s poops have been softer and smaller today and yesterday so I was going to stop fresh veggies for him for a day. But my question is..... he never drinks so gets his water from his veggies. Is it safe to stop them or will he get dehydrated? Or should I just cut them down a bit? Thanks for any replies.

Hi!

Please switch from weighing once weekly to once daily at the same tme in order to minotr his actual food intake. Keep in mind that around 80% of what you should feed is hay and not veg; but that you cannot control his hay intake by eye.

Please leave off any fresh food until 24-48 hours after the poos have firmed up again, the overgrowth of bad bacteria (dysbiosis) has settled down again and the normal gut microbiome, which is laid out for mainly processing grass/hay fibre has rebalanced and then reintroduce fresh food slowly at first, starting ideally with fresh herbs and adding one more veg with every passing meal that does go down well.

You are dealing with only a mild tummy upset. If your piggy is still eating, they will simply drink more if they are not getting their fluid from veg. The need to drink comes before the need to eat; only if their is major loss of appetite and the risk from acute dehydration is drinking an issue - but in either case, you need to see a vet as soon as possible anyway!

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

 

[weepweeps]

That’s brilliant. Thank you for your advice.

 

[weepweeps]

I’ve felt so bad today not giving them their nummies for breakfast or tea. But Percy and Pepper don’t seem bothered at all! Bless them. I’ve put extra hay in with them today. Percy only did 1 poop at play time this evening. But it was firmer than yesterday so that’s good. Pepper has even drank from the bottle for the first time since we got him in November. That’s amazing. I’m hoping Percy will copy him. Still no veggies again tomorrow.

 

[Claire W]

I’ve felt so bad today not giving them their nummies for breakfast or tea. But Percy and Pepper don’t seem bothered at all! Bless them. I’ve put extra hay in with them today. Percy only did 1 poop at play time this evening. But it was firmer than yesterday so that’s good. Pepper has even drank from the bottle for the first time since we got him in November. That’s amazing. I’m hoping Percy will copy him. Still no veggies again tomorrow. ☹

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. I had to do the same thing a few weeks ago. It’s good the poos are firming up

 

[weepweeps]

A miracle has happened. They are now both drinking from the bottle. I can’t believe it. I’ve had Percy since August and he’s never drank anything. Got a Pepper in November after Percy lost his very young mate Pippin .

 

[weepweeps]

Obsessive drinking going on at the moment. Every time I go to see them they are drinking. Both of their poops are of a good consistency but quite black. Is this normal? They are both very happy though.

 

[weepweeps]

Quick update - I took them both off veggies for two days (sat and sun) and have been slowly reintroducing it. Today was weigh in day (wed) and they have both lost weight. Percy 55g and Pepper 35g. I thought they’d eat more hay if veggies were stopped but obviously not. I’m not too worried this week but I hope they don’t lose any more! On a positive note their poops are back to normal colour and consistency