Behavior: Poo eating? Is it okay for our piggies?

[patteh]

I noticed yesterday that my piggie eat her poo. Is it okay to eat their poos? I'm really worried because my hay rack which is a litter box, she eats there and also poo there. >.< That's the only place where she pee and poo but there's also hay in there and she might accidentaly eat her poo again...

[SLS5173]

From what I have read it is fine. Its call Coprophagy.

Coprophagy (eating the soft cecal feces) is vital to the good health of all cavies as it provides them with necessary nutrients. Cavies may eat the soft cecal feces 150 to 200 times in a day, usually directly from the anus. If an animal is obese or pregnant, they maybe expelled and eaten from the floor. Very young cavies may also eat their mother's soft droppings. Some cavies have been known to snatch cecal feces from other pigs. These feces are supposedly the best ones to feed a sick cavy on antibiotics in order to reinoculate good bacteria into the digestive system. The drier fecal pellets are also used but do not contain as many beneficial bacteria.


Hope this helps.

[fieryone]

It's normal. They all do it and it's necessary for their health.

[Cogni]

Hm, mine don't seem to do it at all--if they do it must be in the middle of the night. So now I wonder if mine will be as healthy without this behavior which is "vital to the good health of all cavies".

[fieryone]

Originally Posted by Cogni

Hm, mine don't seem to do it at all--if they do it must be in the middle of the night.

Do you ever see your pig tuck its head between its legs? It looks almost like it's bathing but they're really eating a poo.

[fridzalone]

I ever read that food which contaminated by poo could cause coccidiosis in guinea pig. I just confused, if the poo itself could cause such serious problem, how can poo eating behavior included as a normal behavior?

[Djglide]

It is Called Cecotropes Here here is how it is made and how it is done:
Several Decades ago, Researchers discovered that some small mammals have an unusual way of supplementing their diet. Instinctively which contain speacial nutrients, pass from the anus and are then instinctively eaten by the guinea pi. It might seem strange to you but it is perfrectly normal

[Seonta]

Originally Posted by fridzalone

I ever read that food which contaminated by poo could cause coccidiosis in guinea pig. I just confused, if the poo itself could cause such serious problem, how can poo eating behavior included as a normal behavior?

There are two types of poop, The softer ones are the ones that guinea pigs generally eat. It could be that the uneaten ones slowly gain bacteria that thrives on feces but rubs off on the food. If it's left in there long enough it's a health risk if they eat it right away maybe it's not.

[ILHoneyandCustard]

Originally Posted by fridzalone

I ever read that food which contaminated by poo could cause coccidiosis in guinea pig. I just confused, if the poo itself could cause such serious problem, how can poo eating behavior included as a normal behavior?

Coccida is not CASUED as such by eating poo..

COCCI as it is called is a single celled parasite that lives in the animals intestines.
When the infected animal poo's some occyst of the cocci are shed.
Then if an amimal come in to contact with the infected fecal matter THEN the get infected. You have to have an animal WITH the cocci in order for the poo to be contaminated with it.
BUT yes if the one piggie has cocci and then another piggie so much as walks on the poo then the cocci is spread.
I have delt with Cocci not a nice illness at all.. it takes EXTREAME cleaning and sterilization of the cage in order for it to be killed off..

So in conclusion if a healthy non cocci pig eats his own poo then no cocci will not be a result but it is best to keep the pigs as clean as possible as Cocci thrives in unhygenic condions..


OH yeh eating the poo is normal HAHA

[patteh]

I see so its normal for them to eat their poo. I was really worried that it may affect their help.

Thanks for the info guys!