Let’s get POO & Wee Savy When It Comes To Our VIPS!

Well now there is a title I never thought I would write lol.............no but seriously, if you’re

screamish or so OCD you feel faint by the sight of poo then owning a guinea pig or a rabbit or any small fury for that matter, really isn’t for you! For starters monitoring your pets poo is one of the most accurate and reliable ways of understanding their health status and is also a critical indictor for many illnesses so basically you either get POO surveyor happy or these pets aren’t for you. This article could have ended up being pretty long (Who knew there was so much to say about poo?) but I’ve managed to trim it down to the bare essentials.

So sticking with the focus of these articles being mainly on guinea pigs and rabbits- let’s start with guinea pigs: Guinea pigs poo a lot! And I mean a lot, in fact they can poo an

impressive 100 times per day! Their toilet routine can change throughout their life as with a rabbit so it’s important to get to know what is the norm for your piggy. Normal poo is dark brown, firm, oval, and slightly shiny, while changes in shape, color, or consistency can signal dehydration (dry, crumbly), dietary issues (soft, wet, or smelly), or illness (diarrhea, blood, or small/absent droppings). Green, teardrop-shaped poo consists of normal cecal pellets that guinea pigs eat for nutrients, but if you see many of them, it can indicate a digestive issue. And yes even if your new to the world of small furies, you’ll already know that they eat their own poo, it’s vital for a healthy gut even if it may seem a bit gross to you!  It goes without saying that any significant or

sudden change in poo warrants a vet visit to diagnose underlying problems like dental issues, diet imbalances, or infections.

It’s important to glance over their poo ideally once a day as sudden illnesses like gut stasis can on really quickly! Guinea pigs are great at hiding illness (being a prey animals in the wild)! The bedding you use can make it easier or harder to check but even though guinea pigs don’t really litter train unlike rabbits, it’s still worth having some litter trays available to them as if filled with hay and bedding, they are likely to poo there!

Like I said, they poo a lot! But if you notice poo frequency decreases or increases then this can indicate illness or it could also just be them getting used to something new you added to their diet so close monitoring is key. Sudden changes which are very noticeable suggest illness and contacting your vets is the best cause of action. Pooing less can also suggest a loss of appetite which in turn may suggest an underlying illness. Pooing too much can again be due to diet change or gut irritation.

The photo above shows nice healthy guinea pig poo!

Right so let’s look at bunnies now- healthy rabbit poo consists of small, hard, round, dark-colored pellets that should have a mild odor and break apart easily when pressed (see photo). The more golden in color, the better as this is a strong indicator that your bunny is eating plenty of hay and getting a good amount of fiber through their

gut which is key to a healthy long living rabbit. If it’s much darker in color, even almost black and you can’t make out many of the fibers of hay in it then your rabbit isn’t getting the fiber they need (this may be due to a range of issues with dental problems being one of the leading reasons). If you think your bunnies poo doesn’t look right, always seek advice.

Rabbits also produce soft, nutrient-packed, dark, shiny clusters of droppings

called  cecotropes , which they eat for essential nutrients and should not be found in large quantities in the litter box. These poos are completely normal, usually bunnies eat them to ensure that they get enough protein and B vitamins in their diet. Sometimes bunnies will make more than normal when they're stressed or are getting too much sugar in their diet.

This is okay as long as the bunny doesn't get a messy bottom and it doesn't happen all the time. Bunnies who are EC positive may also produce more cecotropes then normal (please refer to EC article).

Changes in poo consistency, size, shape, or the presence of blood or mucus can indicate a health issue, such as a diet imbalance or illness, which warrants a vet visit. It’s also important to remember that poo size for rabbits or guinea pigs needs to be considered according to their size, for example a baby rabbit will of course have much smaller poo’s. And just like with guinea pigs, checking them daily is an important part of being a responsible bunny owner. Darker, moister poo may be a sign that your bunny is getting too much protein in their diet. So you see poo really can give you all sorts of insights into their health status.

Poo that is linked by fur: These poo’s are linked together by shed hair. This isn't a problem - the spacing suggests that the bunny's gut is working normally and the hair is getting pushed through with all the other fiber. But its best to keep a close eye on this and groom them often, too much fur ingested can cause gut stasis if the bunny doesn’t have a very strong gut. Making sure that they are hydrated is also key to helping their gut clear this out without any blockages forming.

True diarrhoea is very rare in rabbits and is cause for alarm. Rabbits with diarrhoea may be infected with deadly parasites or possibly have been exposed to poisons. Very young rabbits with watery runny stools may have been weaned before they're ready. Regardless of the cause, it is a vet call straight away.

To summarize: the best way to keep your rabbit’s or guinea pigs poo’s in the healthy zone is by giving them the right diet and environment to thrive. And if something doesn’t look right then by having this knowledge, you can nip it in the bud early, seek the right advise and hopefully figure out the cause and treat.

Lastly, I figured that since we are talking about poo, now might be the best place to put in a few lines about urine too (you know, keep all the none dinner table chat in one article). Rabbit urine color and consistency vary, ranging from clear to deep orange and cloudy due to plant pigments and calcium, which are usually normal and diet-related. Red urine is often caused by food, but watch for dehydration indicated by dark or strongly-smelling urine, and see a vet for symptoms like straining or thick, sludgy urine, which can signal a bladder problem. Always provide fresh water from a bowl and ensure a diet rich in hay and varied vegetables to encourage hydration

and prevent urinary issues.

Cloudy of white wee urine is often due to the natural excretion of calcium carbonate and is generally not a cause for concern. Red or orange hues can be a result of eating certain plant pigments from foods like cabbage, broccoli, or dandelion greens. 

Signs that things aren’t right and warrant more investigation

• If the urine is very dark or has a strong odour, it could mean your rabbit is dehydrated.

• Thick, chalky, or gritty urine, sometimes described as peanut butter-like, indicates a build-up of calcium in the bladder or even bladder stones which is a vet emergency. 

• Difficulty or pain while urinating, dribbling, or avoiding the litter box are signs of a potential bladder issue. blood in urine is also a call to the vet right away.

Ways to help: offer a water bowl, bunnies often drink more from a bowl then they do from a hanging bottle. Monitor diet closely, cut down on high calcium foods, encourage exercise which can help to prevent becoming over weight which in turn can also lead to bladder issues too. Consult your vet if something isn’t right and always trust your gut, you know your pet best at the end of the day. Monitoring wee color can be made easier by using beddings which don’t mask the color like litter or piggy mats.

And lastly- Guinea pig urine: it can be clear, yellow, orange, or pink, depending on their diet, and may have a milky or chalky appearance from calcium. Orange or red colors can be harmless, especially if caused by oxidation or pigments from vegetables like carrots and tomatoes, but red urine can also signal blood, which requires a vet visit. Cloudy or white urine indicates excess calcium, which can lead to stones, so monitor their diet and consult a vet if it's persistent or gritty. Look out for signs of distress, such as squeaking during urination, a hunched posture, or loss of appetite, as these could indicate a urinary tract infection or bladder stones and require prompt veterinary care. 

 If your guinea pig is straining to urinate, appears to be in pain, or is squeaking while urinating, it could indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI) or stones and requires a vet visit ASAP. Hunched Posture or Loss of Appetite are general signs of illness and should be checked by a vet, especially if accompanied by urinary issues. 

Summary of how to keep their wee happy: your guinea pigs diet should be balanced; too much calcium can lead to bladder problems. Always ensure your guinea pig has constant access to fresh, clean water, as dehydration can sometimes cause urine to appear brown. Monitor and adjust diet where needed and always remember to seek advice from your specialist exotic vet if you are worried, even if it seems small or silly!