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Bladder Issues (suspect Uti Or Cystisis)

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Abby Green

Abby Green

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Hi everyone, I'm a new member and was told this forum would be the best to ask for help!

One of my guinea pigs, an 11 month old sow called Laika has had issues with her bladder for a while now.
She squeals when her tummy is touched and when she had a urine test it picked up traces of blood in her urine.
She has been to the vets and had a Ultrasound scan to check all her organs (including her reproductive tract) and has had a course of Baytril. That seemed to ease her pain, but these past few days she is back again with a painful tummy and squeals when i touch it.

I was advised to give 0.5ml of Infacol in-case it was a gas build up, but that did nothing so i am assuming it is the same problem.

I really need help in what this possibly is as it is not fair on her to be in pain and wondering if anyone else has experienced this with their piggies? And if you could recommend products to help or what the vets are likely to prescribe.

Many thanks xx
 
If she's had a ultra sound it would rule out stones. She might need a longer course of treatment if a Uti was present they can be stubborn, also painkiller can help like metacam.
 
I will try to help until Wiebke gets here. Do you know if she still has blood in her wee? It is possible she needs either a longer course of Baytril or even a change in antibiotic to something like Septrin. Does she shout when she pees?

I would also recommend an xray as this will show any gas, though for now does she sound hollow if you tap her sides? My Maddie was very poorly over the last few months with gas on and off and also a bladder stone so we had her in pain and hunching from both the stone and the gas. The gas was linked to her heart issue but the stone was unrelated. When she had an xray it showed lots of pockets of gas and then a further one showed the stone. For the gas I would recommend gripe water as this really helped Maddie and regular massage with either a massage pad or electric toothbrush. Is she pooing ok? If not she may also need a gut stimulant from the vets. Fluids are also very important and they can also have dioralyte which helps when a pig has lots of gas or bloat.

It is difficult to know for certain, she could have 2 things going on here and for me an xray is the next step. I am not too sure if gas shows up on a scan. I also agree that she needs pain relief if she is not already on any.
 
helen105281 said:
I will try to help until Wiebke gets here. Do you know if she still has blood in her wee? It is possible she needs either a longer course of Baytril or even a change in antibiotic to something like Septrin. Does she shout when she pees?

I would also recommend an xray as this will show any gas, though for now does she sound hollow if you tap her sides? My Maddie was very poorly over the last few months with gas on and off and also a bladder stone so we had her in pain and hunching from both the stone and the gas. The gas was linked to her heart issue but the stone was unrelated. When she had an xray it showed lots of pockets of gas and then a further one showed the stone. For the gas I would recommend gripe water as this really helped Maddie and regular massage with either a massage pad or electric toothbrush. Is she pooing ok? If not she may also need a gut stimulant from the vets. Fluids are also very important and they can also have dioralyte which helps when a pig has lots of gas or bloat.

It is difficult to know for certain, she could have 2 things going on here and for me an xray is the next step. I am not too sure if gas shows up on a scan. I also agree that she needs pain relief if she is not already on any.
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She poos normal and they look normal also but does squeak a little when she wees. when the vet made her wee she squealed her lungs out, she isnt on pain relief at present but i am going to book her into the vets this week to see if they recommend an x-ray, gonna have to explain this too my parents but doubt they will be happy my mum hates paying vets fees. Where could i possibly get gripe water from? xx
 
You can get it in the baby section in Sainsburys it is called Woodwards Gripe water but other supermarkets and pharmacies should have it. The dose Maddie had was I think 3ml every few hours. The Dioralyte you can get there too, they can have flavoured or plain but mine tend to prefer the plain. I had a slight Dioralyte addict in my late Nigel. This will all help with the gas but it does sound to me like she has a urine infection too especially with the squeaky pees. Do you have anymore test sticks or was her pee tested at the vets?

Could you speak to the vet over the phone first to see if you could get some pain relief for her such as Metacam?

If your Mum is worried about vet fees are there any jobs you could help with round the house?
 
helen105281 said:
You can get it in the baby section in Sainsburys it is called Woodwards Gripe water but other supermarkets and pharmacies should have it. The dose Maddie had was I think 3ml every few hours. The Dioralyte you can get there too, they can have flavoured or plain but mine tend to prefer the plain. I had a slight Dioralyte addict in my late Nigel. This will all help with the gas but it does sound to me like she has a urine infection too especially with the squeaky pees. Do you have anymore test sticks or was her pee tested at the vets?

Could you speak to the vet over the phone first to see if you could get some pain relief for her such as Metacam?

If your Mum is worried about vet fees are there any jobs you could help with round the house?
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thankyou x The test sticks where at the vets x I will deffo speak to them about getting her pain relief as the poor girl is not happy, she lives with Jess my other female and Storm my neutered mail and she was the dominant girl and she is move subdued and submissive bless her x
 
Oh bless her, she does sound uncomfortable. Does she seem bloated? what is her breathing like? When Maddie had gas she had quite jerky breathing. Is she eating?
 
helen105281 said:
Oh bless her, she does sound uncomfortable. Does she seem bloated? what is her breathing like? When Maddie had gas she had quite jerky breathing. Is she eating?
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her tum does seem a little bloated now you mention it, it seems to only have bloated since her pain started again, her breathing is normal and she is eating normally x
 
That makes sense. The thing is if they are in pain they can suck in air that can cause gas. Do her sides sound hollow if you tap them?
 
helen105281 said:
That makes sense. The thing is if they are in pain they can suck in air that can cause gas. Do her sides sound hollow if you tap them?
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i cant hold her long enough to try tapping, she is young so wont sit still and she moves and squeaks when i touch her tum x
 
Bless her, she does sound uncomfortable. Is there someone else who could hold her while you tap? Or could you get a photo of her from above?

I think the main issue here is the urinary tract infection but if her abdomen is painful then gas is likely too. Pain relief is the priority.

Out of interest, when did the Baytril end and was on she on any probiotics when she was on it?
 
helen105281 said:
Bless her, she does sound uncomfortable. Is there someone else who could hold her while you tap? Or could you get a photo of her from above?

I think the main issue here is the urinary tract infection but if her abdomen is painful then gas is likely too. Pain relief is the priority.

Out of interest, when did the Baytril end and was on she on any probiotics when she was on it?
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Her Baytril ended a few weeks ago and she wasnt on any prebiotics x i can try take a photo in the morning as its too dark now and the lighting isnt very good in my house, i will ask my brother to help me tomorrow. She sits with her belly pressed on the ground more x
 
That's ok, if you can speak to your vet tomorrow too, about a change in antibiotics of if not a further course of Baytril though Septrin can be very effective with a UTI. Also ask about pain relief if you can and see if they will be able to tell you if she is gassy.
 
helen105281 said:
That's ok, if you can speak to your vet tomorrow too, about a change in antibiotics of if not a further course of Baytril though Septrin can be very effective with a UTI. Also ask about pain relief if you can and see if they will be able to tell you if she is gassy.
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i will defonatly, thank-you so much with for your help x
 
Yes it can definitely help, you can get it from VetUK or from the vets, they can also have vegan glucosamine which is kind of the same thing. I use vegan glucosamine but my pigs have Interstitial cystitis which is inflammation of the bladder wall instead of the type of cystitis that is an infection. I think cystease or glucosamine can help with both. I also have my pigs on a special bladder diet that is low in protein and calcium and make sure that they get plenty of fluids.

I think you need an official diagnosis though as the 2 conditions are different. Pigs can also get sludge or crystals in their bladder.
 
helen105281 said:
Yes it can definitely help, you can get it from VetUK or from the vets, they can also have vegan glucosamine which is kind of the same thing. I use vegan glucosamine but my pigs have Interstitial cystitis which is inflammation of the bladder wall instead of the type of cystitis that is an infection. I think cystease or glucosamine can help with both. I also have my pigs on a special bladder diet that is low in protein and calcium and make sure that they get plenty of fluids.

I think you need an official diagnosis though as the 2 conditions are different. Pigs can also get sludge or crystals in their bladder.
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She is sitting lobsided in the first pic too x
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I wouldn't have said she looks bloated but it is difficult to tell, how is she today? She's very pretty by the way.
 
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