Bladder issues in male piggy

[Smileylou11]

Hello, I was wondering if I could ask for some advice about my male guinea pig, Rocky, who has not been well recently.

A few weeks ago he was occasionally squeaking in pain when weeing and/or pooing (it’s difficult to tell which, as it doesn’t happen every time and I’ve seen him both wee and poo on other occasions without showing any sign of pain). We also noticed some blood in his urine, which was obviously very worrying as well. We took him to the vet, who explained that it may be a bladder infection or a bladder stone. A urine sample showed more blood but also some bacteria, so the vet advised that it could well be an infection and prescribed antibiotics (sulfatrim) and an anti-inflammatory (meloxaid). After seven days on the antibiotics, the vet asked for another urine sample – this one showed no blood so the vet said to stop the antibiotics as he thought the infection had cleared up. He advised us to continue the anti-inflammatory for a few more days which we did.

However, a couple of weeks later Rocky started squeaking in pain again when weeing/pooing. Again, it wasn’t every time, but maybe once or twice a day. We were concerned that it was a bladder stone after all and took him back to the vet (with another urine sample). The vet did an ultrasound of Rocky’s bladder and said there was no sign of stones. He also did a microscopy of the urine sample and said there were no calcium crystals, but there was a small amount of blood and some bacteria again. He said that the original seven-day course of antibiotics probably just wasn’t enough to clear the infection up completely, and prescribed another two week course of the same antibiotics and anti-inflammatory.

We started this latest course of medicine last Tuesday 17th, but Rocky doesn’t seem to be improving in the way we’d hoped. He still seems to be in pain at times - yesterday he was really squeaking a lot He was perkier this morning, eating hay and running around, but in general he still seems subdued and uncomfortable. I’ve spoken to the vet today and he advised us to take Rocky to a specialist, as he’s not responding to the treatment in the way the vet hoped he would. I’m currently waiting for a call back from the specialist to book an appointment.

Throughout all of this Rocky has been losing weight. He is still eating his greens and hay, although probably not as much as normal. I’ve started syringe feeding him mushed up dry food several times a day to try and maintain his weight. I’ve also been giving him some probiotic an hour or two after his antibiotics (although he's not keen on this so doesn't take much of it - which is a shame as my other piggy loves the stuff!)

I just wondered if anyone had similar experience with something like this? Is it likely to be something other than an infection, if the antibiotics haven’t cleared it up by now? Although the ultrasound showed no stones in his bladder, and the urine sample had no calcium crystals, I’m worried there could be a stone elsewhere. Is there anything else I should be doing to help my piggy? I just want him back to his happy little self

 

[piggieminder]

Sending Rocky healing vibes.
Peanut had a urine infection in September, he had Sulfatrim and Meloxicam for 14 days.
Sulfatrim is normally a 10 or 14 day course. He had a strong reaction to the Sulfatrim (he always does with antibiotics) and had probiotics, poo soup and syringe feeds. He dropped a lot of weight and was syringed top ups for 6 weeks until he started to hold his lower weight for himself and stop dropping. I would suggest you syringe him some Catease (available on line) it coats the sore bladder walls, it's a food supplement so doesn't need a prescription. I open one capsule and mix the powder with 2mls of water and syringe 1ml 2x daily.
It may well be that Rocky needs the full 2 weeks of Sulfatrim for it to make a difference and the first course was not enough.
I've also had piggies with bladder stones but they have always shown on a scan.
It's horrible when they are ill, we just wish they could tell us what's wrong!

Good luck I hope Rocky gets well very soon.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

You may want to try another course; 2 weeks may not be enough.

if that doesn work and there are no bladder stones or sludge, then you are most likely dealing with a sterile interstitial cystitis (i.e. a non-bacterial recurring bladder infection). It is an issue that has become a lot more common over the last decade in guinea pigs but is not well known outside vet circles that don't see guinea pigs all the time.

Treatment for sterile IC is via glucosamine as it affects the natural glucosamine coating of the walls of the urinary tract that prevents the corrosive urine coming into contact with raw tissue as well as metacam. It is generally diagnosed by default after all other potential issues have been excluded. it cannot be healed, just managed; especially the acute flare ups every few months until it goes away on its own but more in a matter of years rather than months.

 

[Smileylou11]

Hi piggieminder, thank you so much for your reply and advice - I will order some Catease now. I haven't given him any poo soup but that might do him some good, I'm sure my other piggy will happily oblige! We've managed to get an appointment with a specialist tomorrow so hopefully they can tell us if there is something else going on, or if, as you suggest, he just needs a full 2 weeks of the Sulfatrim to clear up the infection.

Yes it is awful when they're ill, especially knowing he is in pain/discomfort.

Thanks again for your help and kind words!

 

[piggieminder]

There is also a product called Cystease that does the same job and may be easier to find.
Just noticed you are in Bristol too. Hello neighbour!

 

[Smileylou11]

Hi Wiebke, thank you for your reply - it is certainly useful to know that 2 weeks may not be long enough. I have read that urine infections can be stubborn to treat, I suppose I was hoping we would see some improvement by now, but maybe that was too optimistic. Hopefully the specialist we are seeing tomorrow will be able to give us some insight.

Thanks as well for the useful info on sterile IC - I'm still hoping it's a urine infection, but it's helpful to know that this could be another explanation. He does at least seem brighter today than he did yesterday, I just want him to be happy and well again!

 

[Smileylou11]

There is also a product called Cystease that does the same job and may be easier to find.
Just noticed you are in Bristol too. Hello neighbour!

Thank you! And hello neighbour