Unusual stool? Help!!

Robodwarfs18 · 10-04-2015, 02:45 AM

I recently made a thread about Cookie's stool being soft/squishy and I never got an answer for why he was doing it. Well, It hasn't improved. Today I took a picture of his stool while he was in his playpen and it was soft/squishy and had what looked like snot or slime in it. Also gad wee bits of orange/green. It was quite worrying so if anyone can help me out here, that'd be great so please get back to me as soon as you can! Thanks x (P.S. Picture below is quite disgusting, be warned)

Jeir · 10-04-2015, 03:01 AM

Have you been giving him any fresh fruit/veg? If so, stop for a few days, removing anything in his cage, and give him a bit of wholemeal or similar bread. Most of the time a hamster has diarrhea/sticky green poo, it's due to too much fresh fruit/veg when their system can't handle it (I can give mine fresh stuff daily without any ill effects because I started early, giving them some around 3 times a week, then increased to every day over time).

cypher · 10-04-2015, 03:36 AM

This seems to have been going on for a little while now, in the other post (you did have replies btw!) you were worried he wasn't eating or drinking normally either, if that's still the case then as I said before if there's no obvious cause in his diet or in his environment, anything he could be eating that might upset him get a vet to have a look at him.
You could try giving some probiotics in the mean time if you haven't tried that already.

Robodwarfs18 · 10-04-2015, 03:40 AM

He's eating and drinking fine and is acting perfectly fine. Doesn't get fed veg/ fruit like ever. The only thing I've given him that could've upset his stomach is a Hearty Nibbles Pick n Mix treat from P@H. It had green and orange pieces in them but I gave him that like 1 or 2 weeks ago. Cypher, I got loads of replies on the other thread and people were very supportive and helpful but I haven't found the exact reason yet. Thanks though

I'll try the bread thing and see how it goes.

peasypea · 10-04-2015, 05:57 AM

Looks as though some of the food is passing through and not being digested properly - hamsters ferment their food in an organ called the caecum (basically what our appendix used to be!) using bacteria. Any thing that passes through and isn't fully digested comes out as a caecotroph which is a squidgy poo, which they normally eat straight away, so its hard to see them do it. These get digested again to maximise the nutrition from them (gross, I know!). Have you been seeing normal poos too? This looks like a caecotroph which are often covered in mucus (explains the sliminess) so maybe he isn't eating them like he should be...
I would keep an eye on his weight and make sure he isn't losing any - if he isn't eating the caecs then he might not be get enough nutrients. I would also get some probiotics as others have said, in case the balance of the bacteria in his gut isn't quite right. Other than that some fibrous food (wholemeal bread as suggested, or pasta) might help keep the gut moving nicely. If their guts aren't working properly they can get ill quite quickly.

Hope he gets better!!

WinnieTheHam · 10-04-2015, 06:13 AM

I agree with what Peasypea has said, try giving him something that's probiotic - this could be Natural yogurt or fresh coconut (the flesh inside the shell of the nut, not the dried flakes) If he hasn't had these before introduce them slowly to let his digestive system get used to it. I know natural yogurt can cause runny stools but it's up to you which you prefer to feed.

What is the main food you feed him? and how much fibre does it contain? Hamsters need quite a bit of fibre in their diet, and fibrous foods (like grasses) are broken down in the ceacum.

What species is he? I'm just wondering if he's getting too little fibre in his diet. Probiotics will aid in his digestion.

Hope he'll be better soon!

cypher · 10-04-2015, 08:15 AM

If he's eating & drinking ok then trying the probiotics would be the best next step, it may not be a good time to introduce new foods though so it might be better to start with some probiotic powder, it's stronger & more effective but less likely to cause any more upsets.

Once you get this sorted & he's back to normal I wouldn't continue to exclude veg from his diet, the fibre vitamins & minerals in veg are really good for them & so long as you begin slowly it shouldn't cause any problems, try the probiotics first though & see how he goes with those.

WinnieTheHam · 10-04-2015, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

If he's eating & drinking ok then trying the probiotics would be the best next step, it may not be a good time to introduce new foods though so it might be better to start with some probiotic powder, it's stronger & more effective but less likely to cause any more upsets.

I had no idea there was such thing as probiotic powder! Thanks for that

Robodwarfs18 · 10-08-2015, 03:38 PM

Thanks everyone!! He's only really doing those types of poo, not seen any normal ones. Can you tell me more about probiotics?? Not had any experience with it or anything. Wherw could I get it etc.

cypher · 10-08-2015, 10:22 PM

You can get probiotic powder from P@H, just put a little in water or on food, if you put it in the water bottle be sure to clean the bottles well daily though.
I know you're not giving any veg right now but it can be easier to make sure they actually get it into their system by putting a little pinch on some wet food, if he'll eat a little porridge you could put some on that (cold not hot).