My skinny pig is pooping massive lumps. Is this a health issue?

Thanks for reaching out about Squish and including a photo. Soft stool or diarrhea in guinea pigs have many causes other than bacterial or dietary. Metabolic problems such as liver or kidney disease, bladder stones, urinary tract infections, bacterial or parasitic enteritis, dental disease, just to name a few. A veterinary visit and examination could really help you with diagnostic and treatment plans. Maintaining hydration and nutrition are very important, as you are already working on. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Milo. There are many possible causes of weight loss in guinea pigs including dental disease, metabolic disorders (liver, renal), urinary disease (urinary tract infections, bladder stones), nutritional deficiencies (vitamin C is common) and others. Many of these can also cause gastrointestinal upset, therefore treating the GI disorder is not the primary problem. It is recommended you seek a veterinary visit with one with experience in small exotic companion mammals. You can try the website for the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV.org). Try offering softer food for now. Good luck.

This can be caused by parasites, dietary indiscretion or poor diet. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. Treat if indicated. Discontinue feeding any fruits or vegetables for now. Feed only timothy hay and a small amount of pellets daily. Once the stool is normal, you can gradually offer tiny bits of vegetables. Limit fruit though to prevent diarrhea or obesity.

Thanks for reaching out about Miss Piggy. Yes, soft stool can be a result of stress, but stress also lowers the immune system that can lead to bacterial overgrowth or parasitic overgrowth. Since she is still eating well and acting well, try limiting her diet to hay only for 1-2 days, to see if that will firm the stool. Vegetables and fruit can be too rich for the diet and lead to soft stool also. If the clinical signs does not improve, seek an appointment with a veterinarian with experience in companion exotic mammals.

Hello, I would recommend having Paisley seen by a veterinarian to check the lumps. A lump could be anything from a lipoma (accumulation of fat), a spreading skin infection, or a tumor, which could be either benign or malignant. The best way to find out what a given mass could be is histopathology with a surgical biopsy, but sometimes a needle aspirate can positively identify a tumor type or skin infection. A lipoma would not require any further treatment. A skin infection may be cured with a course of antibiotics. A more serious tumor may warrant x-rays, bloodwork, and ultrasound to be sure it hasn't metastasized extensively before surgery. I think it is absolutely worth investigating the cause of growths in guinea pigs. I hope this is helpful! If you get a diagnosis and have more questions, we will always be happy to answer them! :) Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for reaching out about Wilbur and including a photo. At first appearance, two possibilities come to mind: ringworm (fungal dermatitis) and a benign tumor called a trichofolliculuma. A veterinary visit is recommended for both situations to provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Ringworm will require anti-fungal treatments, and is possibly contagious to people. The trichofolliculuma would need minor surgery to remove. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Maggie. Uterine neoplasia, urinary calculi, bladder infections are just a few of the possibilities. A veterinary visit is needed and recommended to diagnose the problems and prescribe treatment plans. Monitor for appetite, try and keep her bottom clean. Good luck.