Diarrhoea (Scouring)
Rabbits and guinea pigs produce two types of
droppings, the hard waste pellets and soft, moist pellets containing part
digested food, B complex vitamins and good gut bacteria which they eat
direct from the anus as part of their digestive process. Baby rabbits and
guinea pigs will often eat their mothers soft pellets to get their gut flora
off to a good start.
Sometimes these 'squidgy' droppings become matted into the fur around the anus. This is common in rabbits and long haired guinea pigs. In boars it may be a result of impaction. In rabbits common causes are being overweight and not being able to reach that far. Large dewlaps can cause this and may need to be removed surgically.
In rabbits scouring can be caused by too much green food. In both rabbits and guinea pigs scouring can also be caused by an infection which may well require veterinary treatment.
Astringent herbs such as agrimony, avens, raspberry leaf and shepherd's purse can be fed. See photo of Shepherd's Purse with classic 'heart shaped' seed pods above.) Arrowroot biscuits can be given in mild cases or powdered arrowroot mixed with warm water. Galen's Garden ASAP Powder contains powdered astringent, demulcent and antibacterial herbs which can be mixed with a little water and fed by spoon, dropper or syringe if the rabbit or guinea pig isn't eating or scouring is more worrying. Remove all hard food and feed only good quality hay and hay 'tea' made by pouring boiling water over a handful of hay in a jug and adding it to the water bottle when cool.
A veterinary probiotic should be given in the drinking water to help redress the balance of bacteria in the gut in favour of the beneficial bacteria. A few drops of Garlic Juice, 6-12 drops of Orego-Stim oregano extract or one drop of grapefruit seed extract added to the drinking water also help fight infection.
Where scouring has been profuse the animal should be given an electrolyte solution to drink to replace lost water, energy and minerals. Veterinary electrolyte solutions are best but you could also use a human rehydration solution suitable for infants.
When recovering from a bad bout of scouring or for impacted boars that don't appear to be eating their soft droppings, give 0.5ml Feroglobin B12 liquid or other B vitamin and iron supplement once a day for seven days and add a probiotic to the drinking water for the same period.