Sick Cavy

Question
Hi,
I have a 1 year old male, which has been acting strangely for the past 4 days.  Every once in a while he lets out a half-hearted squeal while at the same time moving his body forward.  It doesn't seem to occur when he urinates, and he still has an appetite, though not as strong as before.  It occurs every half hour or so.  Other than that, he looks healthy.  Is he having trouble with digestion?  He lounges forward with his body and lets out a little squeal, as if whatever it is, is hurting him inside, or making him uncomfortable.  He is not as active as usual.
Thank you so much for your help.

Answer
Magda --

Have you noticed if he is defecating as usual?  I think perhaps he might be constipated or experiencing a condition known as an impacted rectum.  If you notice he's not going as usual, here's what to do:

First, check his "rear" to see if there is a large block of feces blocking his vent.  If so, remove it by gently swabbing with mineral oil to soften it and then kind of pry it out of there.

If this is not the issue, then what you need to do is make sure he is getting plenty of fiber.  You can do this by feeding extra timothy hay, greens (such as lettuce, etc).  I would also suggest yogurt or bananas.  If you do not notice any improvement with the constipation, you may need to take him to the vet.

In the event that he is not constipated, I would check to see what else may be the problem by taking him to the vet.  It is the easiest and safest way to guarantee you will catch whatever is wrong.

Hope this is helpful.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me again.  Good luck!

Lorena