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Guinea pigs anyone?
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<blockquote data-quote="GoingNorth" data-source="post: 176371" data-attributes="member: 1963"><p>Actually, GPs and rabbits both "eat their poop". In actuality, they have a specially designed digestive tract that produces TWO types of poops, one hard, dark pellet and the other a larger lighter and softer pellet.</p><p></p><p>The lighter ones are processessed in a special "compartment" of the digestive tract, mixed with beneficial bacteria, and loaded with vitamins. They then reingest these special pellets to extract the nutrients added to them by the specialized lower tract.</p><p></p><p>It's a similar adaptation to that which takes place in ruminants, except that in rabbits and GPs the specialized chamber is part of the lower GI tract as opposed to be a specialized stomach chamber.</p><p></p><p>It is super important that any vet you use be familiar with GPs or at least rabbits. These little guys are incredibly sensitive to any antibiotics that effect gut bacteria and to any trauma that impacts gut motility (doesn't have to be trauma to the gut)</p><p></p><p>Like I said, enjoy the little guy. They are, in my humble opinion, the best of the "pocket pets" provided you are willing to invest in the care they need and it sounds like you are.</p><p></p><p>You can't really blame the cats stalking them, they were originally raised for food in their native lands<g></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="GoingNorth, post: 176371, member: 1963"] Actually, GPs and rabbits both "eat their poop". In actuality, they have a specially designed digestive tract that produces TWO types of poops, one hard, dark pellet and the other a larger lighter and softer pellet. The lighter ones are processessed in a special "compartment" of the digestive tract, mixed with beneficial bacteria, and loaded with vitamins. They then reingest these special pellets to extract the nutrients added to them by the specialized lower tract. It's a similar adaptation to that which takes place in ruminants, except that in rabbits and GPs the specialized chamber is part of the lower GI tract as opposed to be a specialized stomach chamber. It is super important that any vet you use be familiar with GPs or at least rabbits. These little guys are incredibly sensitive to any antibiotics that effect gut bacteria and to any trauma that impacts gut motility (doesn't have to be trauma to the gut) Like I said, enjoy the little guy. They are, in my humble opinion, the best of the "pocket pets" provided you are willing to invest in the care they need and it sounds like you are. You can't really blame the cats stalking them, they were originally raised for food in their native lands<g> [/QUOTE]
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Guinea pigs anyone?
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