Do you have guinea pigs and a dog? Then you may have had an issue with your dog eating guinea poop. If so, rest assured this is a very common problem. While researching this article, we found many instances of pet parents who had this very same problem!
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However, will guinea pig poop make your dog sick?
Some Dogs Eat Anything & Everything
There are dogs that will eat almost anything, including poop! Why on earth would a dog find guinea pig poop something yummy? It’s hard to say. Maybe the dog likes the smell, or the taste.
There’s also a medical condition, which makes dogs eat things not normally on the menu.
Coprophagia & Dogs
Dogs are known to eat poop on a regular basis—some dogs more than others. This is a condition called coprophagia. It’s a condition that makes dogs (and people) eat things that are not normally on the menu. This can include poop from other animals, dirt, rocks, and more.
Coprophagia is sometimes a behavioral issue, for example if a dog has some type of anxiety or is depressed. It can also be caused if the dog is infected with parasites, or if he has a nutritional deficiency or doesn’t get enough to eat.
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Ask a Vet Live NowIs Guinea Pig Poop Harmful to Dogs?
Not normally. If your guinea pig is in good health and you keep his cage cleaned, then his poop probably won’t make your dog sick.
However, some guinea pigs, even if they look healthy, can carry harmful viruses and bacteria that’s excreted in their poop. A couple of the most common viruses and bacteria in guinea pig poop includes:
- Salmonella: this is a bacterium that infects and lives in the intestines. It can cause stomach pain, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and more.
- LCMV: lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a viral infection that’s very common in rodents, including guinea pigs.
If your dog’s otherwise healthy and happy, then he should be OK even if he’s been eating guinea pig poo. However, if he shows any signs of being ill, then it’s time to call the vet. The vet will be able to test your dog for infections, including those listed above.
How to Keep Your Dog from Eating Guinea Pig Poo
If your dog has a habit of eating guinea pig poo, along with other unhealthy things, then it’s time to call the vet. The vet will be able to check your dog for different conditions including infections from parasites, and more.
For dogs that have coprophagia caused by stress and anxiety, the vet may prescribe some medication to help the dog feel better. It can also help if you pay plenty of attention to your dog, go on walks, and more.
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Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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