Back in May there was blood in my guinea pigs urine and he was crying and straining when passing stool, so I obviously took him to the vet. She took an X-ray and confirmed there was no stone and gave him Trimethoprim Sulfa .3mL twice a day for two weeks because she said it was probably a UTI. He was better for about a month, then he started crying and straining again and I saw spots of blood in his cage so I Took him back in June: she took an X-ray again confirmed there was no stone again and she gave him Meloxicam .38 mL this time once a day for 14 days because she had already given him an antibiotic and thought it might be cystitis. Meloxicam is an anti-inflammatory. He was still crying and straining every other day though and after a week I saw spots of blood in his cage for 4 days straight, so I immediately took him back (this was three weeks ago) This time she did a procedure on him in order to send his urine to a lab for testing. She told me as soon as my guinea pig was “out” because of the anesthesia he peed a little on the table before the procedure, but that she was still able to get a little urine for the test which she hoped would be enough. She sent me home with Baytril .35mL twice a day for two weeks, a stronger antibiotic then the first one. She called me after a week and said the Urine sample came back negative and that since he was responding well to Baytril (as in he stopped bleeding and crying and straining as much) to give it to him for an additional week. Well 4 days after she called he started crying and straining every other day again, although in those 3 weeks I only saw blood in his cage four days. I didn’t call her because I thought maybe I should give Baytril till the end of the three weeks to work. He finished the antibiotic treatment yesterday though and today I heard him straining when he passes stool. It’s weird, he doesn’t do it every time, but I wished I didn’t hear it at all. It Breaks my heart and I don’t know what else to do. I feel like I’ve done everything I can. I don’t know if it’s worth mentioning but he had surgery back in February for a bladder stone. Have you ever had this happen with any guinea pig? Should I change vets? I feel bad for the little guy. Thanks and sorry this message is so long.
Hi and welcoem!
There are several different varieties of infection in the urinary tract; unfortunately general vets are usually only aware of UTI, which is bacterial urine infection caused by faecal bacteria getting into the urinary tract and often triggered by a temporary lowering of the immune system like sitting on a cold damp lawn.
But there are also two types of bladder infection. One is a bacterial one that responds to antibiotics; it is more common in the wake of a bladder stone or slush banging into the increasingly irritated and damaged bladder walls whenever a guinea pigs urinates.
The other one - and the one you are most likely dealing with - is a non-bacterial recurring bladder infection (i.e. a sterile institial cystitis or IC) which has become much more common over the last decade and is in fact now the most common infection in well kept indoors piggies. I will either not respond at all to anttibiotics or return after it has worn off. Unfortunately sterile IC is hardly know outside vet circles that see lots of guinea pigs.
Sterile IC cannot be cured, only managed. Key is plenty of glucosamine in order to support the affected natural glucosamine coating of the walls of the urinary tract, which prevents the corrosive urine coming into contact with raw tissue. Metacam (which like any analgesic is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller) is the other medication you use to especially manage the regular flare ups. Dog metacam is better as you get it in larger amounts than cat metacam as you have to dose it pretty high at first until you get the IC under control (which will take a while) and then during flares every few week but hopefully with lengthening intervals as time goes on.
Between the two, you usually can manage to keep an IC piggy comfortable for most of the time. Very recent research has shown
that in very bad cases dog cartrofen injections (which is a strong glucosamine based arthritis medication) can help but this is so new
that so far it is not yet an established part of treatment in the UK or US - and it won't be cheap.
Much cheaper but not quite as effective (although it does work perfectly well in milder cases) are glucosamine based cat bladder supplements. Capsules are preferred as you can just mix the contents of one capsule with 2 ml of water and syringe that either once or (half the amount) twice a day. But in a pinch, human glucosamine tablets from the supermarket will do. You are looking at about 150 mg pf glucosamine per day, so you will have to mix a crushed tablet with multiple of portions you get out of it when it comes to mixing with water. Always wait until the powder is dissolved, shake vigorously before use and keep in the fridge. Because the powder base is animal based, vegan/vegetarian tablets are recommended but they are no always available. Glucosamine is classed as a food supplement and not as a medication, so you will have to get on your own but you may want to discuss it with your vet.
The good news about sterile IC is that it can eventually go away on its own, never to return and that it doesn't cause any bladder stones. However, you are looking at years rather than weeks or months.
You can find our diet recommendations for guinea pigs with urinary tract problems (including sterile IC) in this link here:
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
More information on sterile IC:
Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records
If it is any consolation to you, I currently have got another IC piggy again. Breila came with it when I adopted her; I was aware that she may end up with a sterile IC diagnosis when I adopted her - but at least she is with somebody who has the necessary experience. She's coming up to two years with having symptoms in autumn but is most times sympom-free when on daily glucosamine.
My Nerys had IC for three years in the early days before much was known but could be stabilised on the glucosamine after hald a year of nonstop infection and no repeated antitibiotics. She then lived another three years free of any urinary tract problems and died of age related issues at the ripe old age of 8 years. she is the large and very fondly remembered teddy in my avatar picture on the left. I hope that that gives you comfort. While sterile IC is not pleasant at all, it is in the vast majority not a life-threatening or life-shortening problem. it seems to affect mostly guinea pigs with a very nervous disposition - the same as sterile cystitis in cats, which is a comparable problem that your vet may be aware of; treatment is very similar. Please discuss this with your vet.
All the best!