Diarrhea is a common issue for many different kinds of pets, and guinea pigs are no exception. Soft, unformed stool is not only difficult to clean but can indicate a serious problem in your cavy. Knowing what could be causing this diarrhea and how it is safely treated can help keep your guinea pig healthy and clean.
What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is defined as loose, unformed, or watery stool. It occurs multiple times a day and unlike formed guinea pig droppings, diarrhea is messy, smelly, and abnormal.
Symptoms of Diarrhea in Guinea Pigs
If your guinea pig is not acting normally or has had recurrent diarrhea for more than a day, take it to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Symptoms Loose, soft, or unformed fecal pelletsMessy rear endDirty beddingFoul smellSunken eyes
Symptoms
Loose, soft, or unformed fecal pelletsMessy rear endDirty beddingFoul smellSunken eyes
Unformed Fecal Pellets
The most identifiable symptom of diarrhea in your guinea pig is the loose, soft, and unformed fecal pellets it will leave in its cage. Your pet's poop should not be wet or mushy. They should be a bit firm, smooth and uniform in shape (normal pellets will look almost like plump grains of rice), and darkish brown. If the shape of the pellet is not uniform in its shape and density, there is a problem.
Messy Rear End
If you aren't seeing normal, formed fecal pellets in your guinea pig's cage, you may instead find fecal matter built up on its hind end. Diarrhea doesn't easily drop off of a guinea pig as does normal poop and will instead stick to the fur and legs.
Dirty Bedding
Some soft, loose, or unformed fecal pellets will be noticeable in the cage, but guinea pigs with diarrhea often have extra dirty bedding. Normal fecal pellets do not soak into the bedding as watery diarrhea does.
Foul Smell
The messy rear end and dirty bedding will result in a foul smell in the cage. The diarrhea may have also stained the fur around your cavy's anal area which may also contribute to the smell.
Sunken Eyes
Finally, if diarrhea is not addressed, dehydration can easily occur resulting in the eyes appearing to be sunken into the head.
Causes of Diarrhea
Guinea pigs can develop diarrhea due to a variety of things. Some of the most common causes include:
Diagnosing Diarrhea in Guinea Pigs
Clear clinical signs will inform your veterinarian that your guinea pig has diarrhea; however, determining the cause requires further diagnostics. If the cause is not immediately apparent from the diet or environment, your veterinarian may need to conduct tests following a physical examination to identify the underlying issue.
Treatment
To effectively treat diarrhea, it's crucial to identify its underlying cause. Adjustments to the diet, such as increasing Vitamin C or fiber, might be necessary. Eliminating environmental stressors and treating infections, parasites, or diseases with appropriate medications can also help. If dehydration occurs, administering fluids may be required.
Prognosis for Guinea Pigs With Diarrhea
A guinea pig that is promptly treated for diarrhea and its cause will likely go on to lead a normal life unless the condition is the symptom of a more fatal disease. Untimely treatment of the diarrhea may result in severe dehydration and death.
Warning It's important to identify and act on symptoms of diarrhea as soon as they appear because they can lead to severe dehydration and death if not treated promptly. Any signs of abnormal behavior or recurrent diarrhea lasting more than a day require immediate veterinary attention.
Warning
It's important to identify and act on symptoms of diarrhea as soon as they appear because they can lead to severe dehydration and death if not treated promptly. Any signs of abnormal behavior or recurrent diarrhea lasting more than a day require immediate veterinary attention.
How to Prevent Diarrhea
There are ways to aid in the prevention of diarrhea in guinea pigs. Make it a habit to maintain these three parts of your cavy's life: