Guinea Pig Poop Color Chart: Normal vs Abnormal Droppings

What normal guinea pig poop looks like

Healthy droppings are oval or slightly bean shaped, firm, uniform in size and medium to dark brown. A healthy adult produces a lot of them every day, because hay keeps the gut moving constantly.

Counting is not necessary, but noticing the usual amount in the cage each morning gives you a reliable baseline.

Color guide

• •Medium to dark brown: normal.
• •Lighter brown or slightly green: often diet related, such as lots of fresh grass or greens. Watch for a day.
• •Very dark, almost black and dry: may suggest low water or hay intake.
• •Pale, yellow or mucus coated: unusual. Check appetite and contact a vet if it continues.
• •Red streaks or blood: contact an exotic vet promptly.

Shape and size guide

• •Small, hard or fewer droppings: gut may be slowing down.
• •Teardrop or tapered droppings: often linked to low intake or pain.
• •Clumped or stuck together: may be soft stool or cecotropes; check the bottom area.
• •Soft, shapeless or watery: diarrhea, which needs prompt attention.
• •Very large, misshapen droppings in older boars: may point to impaction.

How to build a useful baseline

Look at droppings when you spot clean, at the same time each day. Note any food change, because new vegetables are the most common reason for small shifts. A photo log makes it much easier to describe changes to a vet.

When to call an exotic vet

This guide is general education, not veterinary advice. If your guinea pig stops eating, stops producing droppings, struggles to breathe, bleeds, or seems suddenly quiet, contact an exotic vet the same day. Guinea pigs hide illness, so small changes matter.