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Bladder issues ? Chronic Cystitis ?

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Jebebr

Jebebr

Junior Guinea Pig
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Nr Stirling, Scotland
After my last update Jerry has been at the Vets twice in the past two weeks.

The Vet reckons the weight lose and not eating as much nuggets (10g in 24hrs) is down to whatever is going on with his bladder. 1st visit weight 820g general health fine. Checked teeth, eyes, breathing etc. She extracted urine from him, dip sticked it and also put a sample through the "spinning machine" (can't remember the name) High blood traces found in dip stick sample and she said she'd call if there was anything worrying found in the other sample. No call so at that point presumed everything was ok. Jerry was prescribe Metacam and Baytril.

In the past two weeks he was been is usual cheeky self. Metacam and Baytril is finished just last weekend. His nugget intake is up to approx 20g in 24hrs.

Took him to the vets this morning to get his nails clipped and a general check up. Still a high amount of blood in his urine via the dip stick but the vet will call later after she has spun the sample to see if there is actually blood cells in it. Weight is 800g this morning vet doesn't seem too bothered about his weight at the moment. She has given me two options. 1st Give him and xray to see what is actually going on and look at his bladder and take a uncontaminated sample Or 2nd treat with metacam and see what comes of it.

She did mention the word tumour but I think she was saying this as worse case scenario (there is nothing at this stage to give this impression). The vet reckons it could be chronic cystitis.

I am going to go for the X-ray as I would do anything for him but I am worried and 4 and half and at 800g its too much. To look at him, his personality and no stop squeaking you won't think there is anything wrong with him.

Is the X-ray necessary or has anyone had dealings with chronic cystitis? Is it something that is curable or something Jerry is going to have to live with?

Thanks
 
I also have a guinea pig called Jerry with chronic bladder problems. In fact the situation that you have described is almost identical to my own! Since January Jerry has suffered with painful wees and poos, blood in his urine and fluctuating weight. Initially we suspected a UTI and he was on and off antibiotics for a few weeks. Jerry had an xray and an ultrasound to rule out a bladder stone, and at the same time urine was extracted directly from his bladder. Although there wasn't a stone present, there was a substantial amount of 'sludge' in his bladder which was making it difficult for him to pass urine. It was also irritating the bladder walls and causing the blood in his urine.

For Jerry the only option was to operate to remove the sludge as we feared he would only continue to get more uncomfortable as the sludge built up and we were worried that it would develop into a stone. He had his operation in May which has helped enormously, but he still has some days when there is blood in his urine.

Jerry will now be on medication for the rest of his life, but he doesn't seem to mind. He's such a happy pig and his weight has now stabilised around 810g. We give him Metacam for the pain, and Dibenyline and Cystaid to line the bladder walls.

If it is only cystitis then it is possible that the pig will be happy enough if you can keep him comfortable with the right medication. Metacam is an absolute must for Jerry. We've tried to wean him off it in the past, but he very quickly starts to suffer. I've also found Cystaid to be very helpful. Perhaps you could suggest it to your vet?
 
Yeah it does sound very similar. Last Oct it started and it's been on/off since. The vet initially said there was sand but there doesn't same to be as much trace of this. Thank you for sharing Jerrys bladder issue. How old is he? I'm now happy to go ahead with the X-ray. Thanks again
 
No problem. Fingers crossed for you! Jerry has just turned three years old. We lost his brother in October due to a bladder stone that couldn't be removed. Surgery was attempted, but he was too weak to recover. Unfortunately we've had our fair share of bladder problems :(

I'm sure you've already heard this, but unsweetened cranberry juice is also believed to help pigs with cystitis. Mine can't stand the stuff (everything in a syringe is the enemy!), and I can't seem to find fresh cranberries anywhere, but if yours will take it then it can only help.
 
Should I ask the vet about cystaid first or go ahead with the X-ray regardless? Yeah he loves carnberry juice he sucks it out the syringe! But I feel that only helps if I see him struggling to urinate. I don't keep him on it long term just because I'm not sure it benefits him long term.
Thanks again :))
 
If he were my guinea pig I would go for the x-ray to rule out a bladder stone, but I'm now incredibly weary about anything bladder-related. I do worry that Jerry's brother (Benny) would have survived the operation if we'd discovered the stone sooner. The vet that previously treated our pigs kept handing out antibiotics believing it to be cystitis or an infection (even though he kept deteriorating while being treated) and only x-rayed when he was very ill. Benny was incredibly weak going in for the surgery, and the bladder stone that was discovered couldn't be removed because it had moved out of the bladder into one of the adjoining tubes. I believe that there would have been a better chance of successfully removing the stone if we'd acted sooner while the stone remained in the bladder. But that's just me.

The x-ray itself carries its own risks, particularly if your vet is only prepared to carry it out under general anaesthetic rather than keeping the pig awake. So you will need to weigh up the pros and cons. Sorry I can't be more help!

Cystaid certainly seems to help Jerry (though it is probably the combination of Metacam/Cystaid/Dibenyline that keeps him comfortable) but he has an irritated/inflamed bladder as a result of the sludge, and not cystitis as such, if that is indeed the case with your pig. The good thing with Cystaid, though, is that it is a supplement, rather than a medication, so I feel a bit happier about him having it every day.
 
If a bladder infection doesn't go down well or comes back, please have an x-ray done re. bladder stone/sludge - it is important to exclude this possibility early on.

Generally, UTIs take about at least a 3 week course of antibiotics (septrin seems to work better than baytril), as they can be very persistent. There also seem to be more strains around that are resistent to baytril.

Here is more information and further links:
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html
 
The vets has not long called. Apparently there is low blood cells in his urine when the vets looked at it through the microscope. We are going to pick up some more metacam this afternoon and the X-ray is booked for Monday! Thanks guys. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of it and it's nothing too sinister.
 
The vets has not long called. Apparently there is low blood cells in his urine when the vets looked at it through the microscope. We are going to pick up some more metacam this afternoon and the X-ray is booked for Monday! Thanks guys. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of it and it's nothing too sinister.
 
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Don't know why previous post is posted twice. Thanks Jellybelly. BTW our Jerry had a brother called Ben too (he died last year also). My husband choose the names and named them after his favorite ice cream! rolleyes
 
Can i ask what vet you are using as there are some extremely experienced cavvy savvy vets in your area. Its surprises me baytril is used. Septrin is the drug of choice for UTI's. Its better on the guts and well tolerated and easier to administer due to sweet taste.
Is ** vet towel wrapping or giving a GA for the xray? An xray can be done without GA but unless piGgy stays very still it can be inaccurate.
Please feel free to PM. If he loses more than 50g I would watch his eating and perhaps begin syringe feeding x
 
Jerry X-ray is now tomorrow and its being done via GA. His weight is the same if not slightly more approx 830g. The vet suggested giving him muesli and corn on the cob if he is eating. She also suggested treats but Jerry almost looks at me in disgust when I try to give him them. So he is still eating his nuggest and selectively choosing what he wants from the muesli and loving the cob.

Baytril was give at that point for an swollen toe and not the bladder issue.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow. Slightly anxious but so want to know what is casuing his discomfort and final be able to start treating it properly. :...
 
hazeyg said:
Can i ask what vet you are using as there are some extremely experienced cavvy savvy vets in your area. Its surprises me baytril is used. Septrin is the drug of choice for UTI's. Its better on the guts and well tolerated and easier to administer due to sweet taste.
Is ** vet towel wrapping or giving a GA for the xray? An xray can be done without GA but unless piGgy stays very still it can be inaccurate.
Please feel free to PM. If he loses more than 50g I would watch his eating and perhaps begin syringe feeding x
Click to expand...

I can't PM yet hazeyg, I haven't made 50 post :(
 
No word yet. He was dropped off at the vets at 9.15 this morning by my husband. I had phoned a 3pm to see how he was. Apparently there was a big dog operation 1st :( So as I type this they will hopefully find out what's up and he's ok. Just want him home. Lunch was very quite at home today. First thing I get when I walk through the door is loud squeaks for him. Wasn't the case today.

He's been good Jerrybelly. Just his usual self. Although think the muesli and cob have helped. Vet weighed him in at 860g this morning.

Just don't like the waiting game. Thanks for your thoughts guys :)
 
Hi Jeb,

Do let us know how your little one get's on, my Patrick had chronic cystitis for 11 months, he would urinate blood and squeak well tioleting.

He was Xray'd every 4 week's, i use Apex vets. We see Glenn when Patrick had his bladder problems his teeth also overgrew, thankfully Glenn was able to Xray and file Patrick's teeth without using a GA.

We used many treatments for Patrick, he was on Trama dol for roughly 4 months before we found 2 stone's in uretre. Glenn performed life saving surgery on my Patrick 6 months ago. He is now pain free.

Patrick's thread was called 'crystal formation', it's very long but all the info is there.

Good Luck x
 
Hope everything has gone ok x
 
Update

Picked up Jerry from the vets last night. Glad to have him home even tho he looks a bit shell shocked and has a shaven chin! Plenty of hugs, dandelion leaves and groundsol so made him forgive us lol


So... well the vet could not find any signs of stones or sludge and his bladder appears to be all alright and nothing stuck in his urethra either. She also said there was no signs of tumours in bladder or abdomen. She also took blood hence the bald chin and ground down his back teeth as a precaution while he was under GA.

So from the bladder side good news that there isn't anything sinister there and whatever he has had is now gone. Also glad he has no tumours what is a bonus too. In general is health is good. There has been UTIs in the past but nothing to be worried about now.

My vet isn't Cavvy Savvy but she does have GPs herself and I believe at the this time he is fit and healthy even though his weight is around the 830g. So this is our my goal to get him up to 900g. He has become a fussy eater now preferring Muesli to nuggets and is loving corn on the cob at the moment. I am reluctant to syringer feed him just now if there is nothing wrong with him. Can I give him Alfa Alfa hay to bulk him up too?

So thank you have your in put and support. Glad I have piece of mind at present. If you have any suggestion etc please let me know.

Thanks again :)) x
 
That's wonderful news, Jebebr! I'm so pleased! :))

I wouldn't worry too much about his weight. All of my boars are between 810-840g and all eat well. The weight varies a great deal by breed. I don't believe that Jerry is underweight, and as long as he has a good, balanced diet and a healthy appetite then his weight may increase steadily on its own.

When my Jerry had his tests and operation he returned home from the vet with a shaved chin and a shaved belly (from the ultrasound scan) I couldn't help thinking that he looked like he was wearing a scarf :(|) Though Jerry wasn't very impressed...
 
Jerrybelly said:
That's wonderful news, Jebebr! I'm so pleased! :))

I wouldn't worry too much about his weight. All of my boars are between 810-840g and all eat well. The weight varies a great deal by breed. I don't believe that Jerry is underweight, and as long as he has a good, balanced diet and a healthy appetite then his weight may increase steadily on its own.

When my Jerry had his tests and operation he returned home from the vet with a shaved chin and a shaved belly (from the ultrasound scan) I couldn't help thinking that he looked like he was wearing a scarf :(|) Though Jerry wasn't very impressed...
Click to expand...

Thanks Jerrybelly.

Now that I have a piece of mind like you said it may start increasing. Think I'll take a wee step back and see how he gets on think a lot of this has happened since losing his brother. Even tho we give him plenty of interaction I feel guilty he doesn't have another play mate.

Thanks again
 
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