[Gpdd] [health] Mimi has diarrhea

[Kay Dudman]

Hi Jaime

Here is what Peter Gurney says in The Proper Care of Guinea Pigs:

"This is something tht must always be very closely watched.  In essence, the
more fluid the diarrhea, the more cause there is for concern.  An affected
animal should be kept in islation. A little looseness in the droppings can
usually be put right with about 1.5ml of kaolin and water solution,
administered orally.  The POM Kaogel, eight drops twice daily until the
condition stabilises, is also very effective.  I rgard Bimastat, a POM, as
the next stage up, when the droppings ae runny but still formed.  
If the above does not stabilise the condition within 36 hours or the
diarrhea becomes fluid, and especially if the guinea pig fluffs up its coat
and sits in the corner, miserable and dejected, then it must immediately be
taken to a vet.  The condition could be a symptom of quite a wide range of
complaints, many of them potenitally fatal."

In Piggy Potions, Peter Gurney recommends arrowroot as a treatment, mixing a
small amount of the powder with water to a thick soupy consistency, and then
giving 1.5ml by syringe night and morning.  Here too kaolin powder at 1
teaspoon in 1 - 1.5ml of water is suggested as an alternative, twice a day.

It is important for Mimi to keep up her fluid intake; if she can take some
rehydration salts (dioralyte in the UK) that would be good for her.  Keep
her warm and clean.  If she'll take some banana that would be good for her
as it will maintain her potassium levels.

I remember taking Bess in one Sunday as an emergency with diarrhea; it
turned out she had a bladder stone, which the vet was able to remove without
surgery, and she is fine now (that was over two years ago), so it could be
linked to Mimi's existing problem of a suspected bladder stone.

Diarrhea can be caused by so many things, but change of diet is one of them;
I know you were having trouble getting her off the dry mix she was taking.
Also, too much carbohydrate could be making her droppings loose.  Other
causes include infection, parasites (rare) and reaction to an antibiotic.

Collect a sample of the diarrhea to show the vet.

Take care, get well soon little Mimi,

Kay