Guinea pigs have a fast metabolism, they eat constantly, which contributes to them pooping and urinating very often. Guinea pig droppings can be a very good indicator of whether they are in good health or have problems.
Sometimes guinea pigs have stringy poop, you must be wondering if this is okay or if it is the beginning of some problem with their health.
Why do guinea pigs have stringy poop?
When guinea pigs have string poop it can be for a number of reasons such as stress, infections, parasites, changes in diet, and other health problems.
When the guinea pigs eat healthy food and have normal poop, then everything is fine with them, but if you notice that they have stringy poop, you should check the reason for this phenomenon.
In any case, any occurrence of stringy poop that does not go away in a short period of time is a sign that you should take your guinea pig to the vet for an examination and to see if treatment and therapy are needed.
in today’s article, you will learn why guinea pigs sometimes have string poop and what to do in such a situation.
What are the causes of string poop in guinea pigs?
When guinea pigs have string poop it can be caused by a number of reasons.
Here are some of them:
- allergy
- parasites
- infection
The most common cause of string poop in guinea pigs is parasites, such as roundworms or tapeworms.
When guinea pigs have a certain food allergy, too much bacteria in their intestines, or when they have inflammation of the intestines themselves from infection, these can be causes of string poop.
When guinea pigs have string poop they show certain symptoms such as:
- diarrhea
- lethargic behavior
- losing their weight
When your guinea pig has a food allergy then they start to itch a lot more and have watery diarrhea. When a guinea pig has stringy poop from an infection then gets fever or vomiting occurs.
Each of these different symptoms requires you to take your pet to the vet immediately to examine him and see if he needs to be given some therapy to normalize the condition.
Most of the time, when guinea pigs have string pooping, this condition passes for a short period, but if this problem lasts for a long time, then a veterinarian must see if it is something serious or not for the guinea pig.
So let’s find out in more detail about the reasons for string pooping and how to help the guinea pig in such moments.
Bad diet
A poor diet that is not mixed with different foods contributes to string poop in guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs need food rich in plant fiber that allows their digestive system to work properly.
In order to not have stringy poop, guinea pigs should eat food with higher humidity, so that their poop will have the correct shape, color, smell, and dimension.
Infection or parasites
If the guinea pig has an intestinal infection or parasites it leads to stringy poop.
When guinea pigs have an intestinal infection or parasites they have other accompanying symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, lethargy, and poor appetite.
If you notice any of these symptoms along with stringy poop then take your pet to the vet immediately for examination and treatment.
Insufficient hydration
Guinea pigs must drink enough water daily to stay hydrated and poop normally.
When guinea pigs don’t drink enough water it can have a negative effect and they have a stringy poo.
Apart from the fact that they should always have fresh and clean water, it is necessary to give them food with a larger amount of water so that they are sufficiently hydrated.
Less stress
Sometimes stress can be the cause of string poop in guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs are upset by:
- loud noise
- other pets near them
- unknown people
All these reasons can act on your pet and it will get the stress that will negatively affect its health and get string poop.
Therefore, provide them with a calmer environment, which will help your pet to be healthy, without problems and diseases, and without the appearance of string poop.
How do you know if a guinea pig has string poop?
Sometimes many guinea pig owners are not sure if their guinea pig has string poop. Therefore, here are some signs that will help you know that your pet has string poop:
- Poop size – when a guinea pig has a stringy poop then their poop will be smaller in size than normal poop.
- The appearance of poop – when a guinea pig has string poop their poop will appear lighter in color and long thin pieces, while normal poop is darker in color.
- A different smell – then the poop of the guinea pigs smells much more than usual because there are more bacteria in their feces.
- Amount of poop – if a guinea pig has a small amount of stringy poop then it means they have a problem digesting their food, while larger amounts mean they have an infection inside their body.
- The moisture of the poop – when a guinea pig has stringy poop then their poop will be much wetter and watery as opposed to normal poop.
All of these signs of string poop mean it’s time to visit the vet to have your pet examined.
When guinea pigs have stringy poop, it must not be underestimated because it can sometimes mean a serious problem with their health.
How do you know what is normal guinea pig poop?
Many owners have trouble knowing whether a guinea pig is pooping normally or not.
The answer is that there are a number of factors that affect how guinea pigs poop, and there are a number of situations where they have normal poops, although there are some differences that do not cause concern.
For example, the very size, shape, and texture of poop in guinea pigs can vary depending on what kind of food they are fed.
A guinea pig that mostly eats hay usually has smaller and drier feces, unlike those guinea pigs that eat much more pellets, then they have a darker colored poop, but that does not mean that they have pooping problems.
Since sometimes guinea pig poop can change color and size it is best to take your guinea pig to the vet for any changes.
The vet will tell if everything is fine with the guinea pig or if changes in shape and color and other signs could be the beginning of problems with their health.
Why does a guinea pig poop strings?
Since the most common cause of a guinea pig pooping strings is an intestinal blockage, you should take him to the vet immediately.
Sometimes an intestinal blockage can be caused by parasites, by swallowing a piece of wood or fabric, or it can also be by swallowed hair.
After examining your pet, the veterinarian will tell you how to cure this condition of the guinea pig, it can be done with:
- medicines
- change in diet
- operation
In order to prevent string pooping, there are several preventive measures that you can take for your pet:
- always have enough hay to eat
- give them fiber food
- avoid hard pieces of vegetables or fruits
- clean the cage so that there are no objects that can be swallowed by the guinea pigs and cause string poop
Whenever you notice that your guinea pig is pooping stringy it is best to consult a vet.
This is important because stringy pooing can be a sign of a more serious illness that will require treatment and care.
How do I prevent string poop in my guinea pig?
No matter how much you try to pay attention to their diet and all the other factors that affect pooping in guinea pigs, they will still have stringy poop at some point in their lives.
However, with proper care of the guinea pig, such occurrences can be reduced to a minimum.
One of the most important ways to prevent string poop in guinea pigs is their diet.
You need to give them food with a lot of vegetable fiber that helps their digestive system to work properly and will reduce the risk of stringy poop.
In their diet, hay should be the most represented with 70-80 percent, and the rest of the diet should be supplemented with pellets, vegetables, and fruits.
Also drinking enough water is important to have a proper poop.
Guinea pigs should drink 10-15 ml/ on 100 grams of their weight daily to be sufficiently hydrated and have a proper digestive system.
The better you take care of their proper nutrition, the less likely they are to get string poop.
Because when they have string poop it can be a sign of the beginning of serious problems and diseases in their body.
Read more: Do Guinea Pigs Smell? All You Need To Know
What can I give my guinea pig to help him poop?
When guinea pigs have a problem with pooping you should give them food that has more vegetables rich in water such as cucumber.
You can also increase the intake of fruits, especially those that have more water, such as watermelon.
When guinea pigs have a pooping problem they have wet poop because they don’t have enough fiber in their diet. Guinea pigs should be fed a high-fiber diet, or it should contain about 70% fiber.
Read more: Do Guinea Pigs Clean Themselves? Find Out Now
Conclusion
When guinea pigs have problems with their digestive system and the appearance of stringy poop it can be for several reasons such as stress, infections, parasites, changes in diet, and other health problems that affect their pooping.
If the guinea pigs eat healthy food and have completely normal pooping, then everything is fine with them, but if you notice that they have problems and stringy pooping, the cause of this phenomenon should be checked.
There are many reasons that result in stringy poop in guinea pigs such as parasites, stress, poor diet, and infections that can seriously affect their health.
Improving nutrition, less stress, and drinking enough water are some of the things you must pay attention to so that the guinea pig can poop normally.
In any case, any appearance of string poop that does not go away in a short time is a sign that you should take your guinea pig to a veterinarian, who will do a proper examination and see if treatment and therapy are needed.
Read more: Can A Dirty Cage Kill Guinea Pigs? Answers And Advices
