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Post by xxlunaxx on Mar 11, 2009 14:03:55 GMT
Hi guys, So i have a new problem this week. I am starting to feel like a failure as a piggy mommy at this stage  We have had major problems with hay in the last few months. I used to get it in Tesco but they rarely have it anymore so i was buying a really good hay from Petstop which smelt so yummy. anyway both places have become very inconsistent with their supplies and when i went back to petstop on sunday they had a different brand called Flamingo. It is so green and smells so sweet and fresh. Anyway a day later i notice lots of really black shiny poops that are irregular in shape and there are bits and pieces of poops all over the cage. they seem to be very sticky as they are stuck on all the piggies feet and nails  On closer inspection of their litter boxes there are lots of clusters of shiny soft poops so i am wondering is this diarrhoea or what could it be? Also any tips on cleaning their feet....i tried cleaning Lola earlier but it is very messy and i only got half off. I will wait until Danny is home as 4 hands are better than 2! I am so tired this week as morning sickness has set in and everything just seems like the biggest deal to me and all this worry with Annie is just stress i could have done without. I have switched hay before and this has never happened. Should i completely cut out that brand of hay or mix it gradually with another one?I never thought buying hay would be such a dilemma.... Thanks and sorry for the long post! xx |
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Post by cavymaniac on Mar 11, 2009 16:09:55 GMT
(((((hugs))))) When it rains, it pours doesn't it?! But you are most certainly NOT a failure! These things just happen sometimes. It could be the hay if they all have the same poo problem, it doesn't sound quite like diarrhoea and I should know as Jack had very bad diarrhoea last week and it was so sloppy and messy (luckily, he's ok now). Cleaning their feet can be awkward I know, I usually put a small amount of water (just enough to cover their feet) into a washing up bowl and stand the piggy in it (I usually have to hold them as they want to jump out) and let their feet soak for a few minutes so the poop drops off. Maybe someone else here will have a better idea though!
As for the hay, I would be tempted to stop feeding it and see if you can get a different brand? Getting a decent, reliable source of hay can be a pain I know. I'm getting mine online at the moment because I can't find any decent hay in the shops, it's always yellowy and musty smelling....gross.
I hope the morning sickness doesn't last too long (((((hugs))))), I was worried about how the stress of Annie would affect you. You defintely deserve a break. xxx
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Post by sweetpigsrescue on Mar 11, 2009 16:24:10 GMT
Oh my goodness...it has just been a really unlucky time for you! I hope it all gets better really soon! It never fails though seems everything always happens at once, but you are certainly not a failure! So no more thinking that! ;D Hopefully the morning sickness will pass soon as well! I am sorry I can't help you out with getting better hay! I would have no idea where to get it over there! I know...I am not really much help at all  Best wishes to both you and your piggies...keep us posted on how all of you are doing. |
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Post by luvcats22 on Mar 11, 2009 18:08:47 GMT
awww luna, it never rains hun does it....
the poops dont sound too bad yet, so maybe try to change the brand a bit slowly or even try a different one. as the summer was so wet last year,decent hay is really hard to get hold of at the moment.
if you have an old soft bristle toothbrush and let the piggies feet soak in the warm water it should brush off, but beware it will tickle their feet!!!!!
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Dawn - Admin
Administrator 
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Mar 11, 2009 20:43:45 GMT
Oh I am sorry to hear you are having a bad time just lately, and morning sickness too I can certainly emphasize with that  Maybe it is new hay, I read somewhere once that rabbits cant have new hay that has just been cut as it can upset their tummies, so maybe it's the same for piggies. |
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Post by Niki on Mar 11, 2009 22:43:30 GMT
I'm thinking along the same lines that the hay is maybe too rich for them & the poops you're seeing are cecal pellets that they're not eating. I'm not sure in piggies but when buns get too much rich food they produce too many cecal pellets which are dark, soft & clumped together like grapes  |
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Post by celia on Mar 11, 2009 23:46:44 GMT
I would say its your hay with it being nice and fresh with nice green grass in its stronger than hay that is a golden colour . I have noticed when my pigs get spring greens or broccolli they have really dark poo , they dont have the runs so dont panic . If you can get some other hay thats not so green to mix with it then that would be better x
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Post by xxlunaxx on Mar 12, 2009 12:22:44 GMT
Hi guys, Thanks for all your replies For the last two days i have been giving the Tesco hay with the tiniest amount of the green hay and the poops are still jet black. I came down this morning and Lola had poops embedded in her feet and nails and there was also pieces of carrot and lots of hairs stuck to her feet too. Yuck We are going to bathe their feet later and use a tooth brush or sponge to ease it off. I have been feeding the bunnies the same hay and their poops are much darker too. not runny or stuck together but they are very dark and a bit stinkier than usual. Luckily i didnt buy a few bags of the hay. My boyfriend said to just get the one in case it had high dust and i might be allergic to it. phew!!! Thanks for your kind words and reassurance that im not failing my little guys but its certainly true that when it rains it POURS!!!! My best friend was freaking out on the phone this morning saying there is an outbreak of mumps in her college and she is afraid she has it.. ... I was just thinking...gosh please dont be telling me this. we meet up all the time and last thing i need now is to be exposed to mumps too. Scary thought So now im not gonna be able to see her for a while because i just cant take the risk right now at such a crucial stage in the pregnancy (doctors advice) and she doesnt understand! Anyway thanks again for the great advice guys... i dont know what i would do without this forum xx |
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Post by Orlaith on Mar 12, 2009 16:32:51 GMT
Eeep! Poor piggies! I'll drop over some bags of plospan hay at the weekend if you want. I'll probably be over in Borders getting my fix of books and Starbucks anyway so it' no bother.
And I got my mumps vaccine three years ago (I'm great for the old vaccines!) so I won't be any risk!
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