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Advice needed please - bit of a dilema

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Banjo

Hello all,

I've just recently joined the forum and am sorry that my first post should be on the Health & Illness board but I would appreciate your advice.

I have a 3.5yr old boar who was diagnosed with a UTI in January. He was given Baytril 0.25ml for 5 days and seemed better after his course of antibiotics was completed.

Last Saturday I noticed he had blood in his urine. I immediately started him back on the Baytril along with bio-lapis and cranberry juice until I could get to a vet on Monday.

The vet couldn't feel any stones present and suggested we get a urine sample from him but that we'd have to stop the Baytril for 2 days before obtaining the sample. She was going to dip-stick this sample and if need be, send it away for testing. Then she would consider scanning/x-ray for a stone or tumour.

Anyway, I get a call this morning from her saying that she'd like to go ahead with the scan asap and that she would take a urine sample by syringe also while she was at it. Turns out they want to ultrasound my boy rather than x-ray him as they will see more that way and he will be sedated for up to 20mins :(

I have my reservations about this. First up, I'm not happy with the sedation aspect. Secondly, is it really necessary to ultrasound rather than x-ray first? What will I gain by having an ultrasound over an x-ray in terms of stones/tumours?

I have another vet that I usually go to who is outside London as she is very good with guineas but unfortunately she is on holiday at the moment. She treated his brother for a UTI with Septrin and gave him a very quick x-ray (a matter of minutes with a whiff of anaesthetic) to check for stones. None showed up fortunately.

I've tried to find a good guinea vet in London but to no avail :...

He is still eating and fairy bright. I haven't seen blood in his cage since Saturday. I want him to be treated but not sure this is the best approach. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks :)
 
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i think xrays are just bones, but ultra sound is muscles and organs? not sure. but sudation for 20mins? doesnt sound right to me
 
ALL your pig needs to determine presence/abscence of bladder stones is an x-ray.
A urine test will tell you nothing of particular interest in this case.
There is NO NEED WHATSOEVER for either sedation or a general anaesthetic.
Likewise, the Baytril dose of 0.25ml per day is incorrect, it is too low.
Baytril, 2.5% solution, should be given at the rate of 0.4ml twice daily.
Not only is it the wrong dose it is the incorrect antibiotic for a UTI.

Your guinea pig needs Septrin, paediatric suspension, at a dose rate of 0.5ml, twice daily for 10-14 days. Give plenty of cranberry juice, Ocean Spray is a good brand.
There is a good vet. just outside London in Broxbourne.
 
I would ask your vet to explain why she wants to sedate/ultrasound. Say that you had a piggy with a UTI before and this other vet carried out a different procedure (outline it) and, at the least, this will make her pause and think.

I think a lot of the time we as piggy owners can be a little more aware of what things could be in comparision to the vets sometimes, but all we need to do is be a little more vocal. I know I used to always be quite quiet and just "completely trust the vet" but I have now got the stage and ask "Why" and "how does that work then" and other type questions. I find they don't mind, sometimes even find it refreshing that an owner is actively thinking about their pets health.

Good luck with your boy.

And Claire: in xrays I think kidneystones etc. will show up. Also, dense, dense muscle scarring etc and bodies of liquid within organs will show up on x-rays. (different densities!)
 
alcesterpigs said:
ALL your pig needs to determine presence/abscence of bladder stones is an x-ray.
A urine test will tell you nothing of particular interest in this case.
There is NO NEED WHATSOEVER for either sedation or a general anaesthetic.
Likewise, the Baytril dose of 0.25ml per day is incorrect, it is too low.
Baytril, 2.5% solution, should be given at the rate of 0.4ml twice daily.
Not only is it the wrong dose it is the incorrect antibiotic for a UTI.

Your guinea pig needs Septrin, paediatric suspension, at a dose rate of 0.5ml, twice daily for 10-14 days. Give plenty of cranberry juice, Ocean Spray is a good brand.
There is a good vet. just outside London in Broxbourne.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your replies.
I'm at my wits end trying to find a good vet. Do you know the name of the vet/practice in Broxbourne please?

I had spoken to the local vet this morning saying i would prefer an x-ray first to determine whether stones were present. she said he would be sedated for 20mins even for an x-ray so I'm not really happy about her doing this. They also don't keep Septrin at their practice as its not routinely used so I can't even get an antibiotic!:(
 
Change vets.
20 minute sedation for an x ray?
Yet again, I am lost for words.Makes a change for me!

Vets and Pets: Tel
 
Sorry about that computer decided to update as I posted!
Tel: 01992478657
Amir has done a lot of work for the CCT and sees pigs from all over England.
He doesn't regard guinea pigs as disposable animals. Decent vet.
 
They also have a guinea pig clinic, run by a rodentologist.
 
Agree with what has been said-20 mins sedation ?? :o

My vet is in Ewell, Surrey, just off the A3 about 1/2 hour or so from SW London. This may have been the one you mentioned but if not, her name is Anne Taylor and the vet surgery is O'Meara tel no 020 8393 6049.

She does dentals without anaesthetic etc..

Septrin may not be kept at some surgeries as it is a human AB but they can get it in or give you a prescription for it and you can pick it up at a chemist.
 
Welcome to the forum Banjo, I am sorry to hear of the health troubles you are having with your piggie.

Karen Malt, who runs the guinea pig welfare clinic at Vets & Pets, is a Rodent Health Advisor. I always assumed rodentologist but she's said RHA. The vet, Amir, comes highly recommended by Vedra also.

I can second Fi's suggestion of O'Meara surgeries also. A Reiki client of mine goes to see Anne Taylor there with a piggie with many dental issues, and I have heard nothing but good about her.
 
How interesting this thread has been. My piggy was also given baytril for suspected UTI. My piggy has blood in his urine and my vet also wants to sedate for an x-ray. I wont be allowing this. If you dont sign the consent form for sedation it just means that they may phone and say that they were unble to get an x-ray as the animal was moving. In my experience, a piggy is strange surroundings is more likely to be frozen to the spot than running around. Apart from the blood my piggy has no other symptoms. In fact I suspect that the blood is secreted when he gets excited in the prescence of my females. When I put him in the cage for a runaround he seems to leave trail of watery blood after him. Anyway, good luck with your piggy.
 
Thank you all so much for your replies :)

I made a decision not to go with the local vet who wanted to sedate him for 20 mins for an x-ray.

I mentioned that my other vet was on holiday who is coincidently Anne Taylor which some of you recommended. I phoned the practice where she works this morning to ask whether her colleagues would take the same approach to sedation. The nurse told me that they try and x-ray piggie while still conscious so on that note, I have made an appointment with one of the vets there tomorrow. I just hope it all goes ok as I have to take my poor boy by train and cab to get there as I don't drive.

On a positive note, I have seen no more blood in his urine (although he is still quietly squeaking while passing urine occasionally). He still looks bright, is moving about ok and hasn't gone off his food. With a bit of luck, all he'll need is some Septrin.
 
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Just to let you know that the good news is my boy has no stones!

But the bad news is that he does have a bad UTI and has to have baytril and septrin for 2 weeks poor thing. I have to go back in 2 weeks to make sure he is clear. I hope they don't upset his tum too much and hopefully the bio-lapis will help prevent that.

I was very happy with the way my piggie was handled today. It was worth the long trip :)

Now, fingers crossed my boy makes a full recovery xx>>>

Thanks to everyone who offered advice on this topic. It's a real comfort to know that there are like-minded people around xx>>>
 
I am sorry to hear he has a bad UTI but good there are no stones! who was the vet that saw him out of interest?
 
lavenderjade said:
I am sorry to hear he has a bad UTI but good there are no stones! who was the vet that saw him out of interest?
Click to expand...

It was a locum covering Anne's holiday.

Yes, a big relief there are no stones! Thanks to all for your well wishes :)
 
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