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Specialist Bleeding from nose and bottom

Sasco

Sasco

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Feb 3, 2017
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Location
Essex
One of my girls started passing blood in her urine on Sunday evening, she has had a UTI before and this looked similar. We saw the emergency vet and she was started on antibiotics. Today she has also been having nose bleeds, and is passing blood with her poo. We have been back to the emergency vet again, who has given her an injection but isn't sure exactly what is going on. He suspects its a coagulation problem but said its hard to know if its a temporary thing she may cope with and pull through or if it will lead to something more catastrophic. She is only two, and is a lively friendly little thing. She's still eating but is a little subdued. Does anyone have an ideas what this could be, anything that I can do to help her, or push the vet to try? She definitely hasn't been exposed to any poisons, toxins etc..
 
Sasco said:
One of my girls started passing blood in her urine on Sunday evening, she has had a UTI before and this looked similar. We saw the emergency vet and she was started on antibiotics. Today she has also been having nose bleeds, and is passing blood with her poo. We have been back to the emergency vet again, who has given her an injection but isn't sure exactly what is going on. He suspects its a coagulation problem but said its hard to know if its a temporary thing she may cope with and pull through or if it will lead to something more catastrophic. She is only two, and is a lively friendly little thing. She's still eating but is a little subdued. Does anyone have an ideas what this could be, anything that I can do to help her, or push the vet to try? She definitely hasn't been exposed to any poisons, toxins etc..
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Persistent or strong bleeds are a very worrying sign in guinea pigs, but even more so when they happen at both ends of the body. Thankfully that is very rare; I don't think we have ever come across a case like yours in the good decade of our existence.

I am linking in some members that have more medical knowledge than I do.
@Jaycey @furryfriends (TEAS) @helen105281 @Freela @Abi_nurse
 
Wiebke said:
Persistent or strong bleeds are a very worrying sign in guinea pigs, but even more so when they happen at both ends of the body. Thankfully that is very rare; I don't think we have ever come across a case like yours in the good decade of our existence.

I am linking in some members that have more medical knowledge than I do.
@Jaycey @furryfriends (TEAS) @helen105281 @Freela @Abi_nurse
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Thank you - its really worrying me, as it has to indicate something pretty significant going on inside her. I'm trying to keep her well hydrated, warm and happy and just having to watch and wait for the moment. The vet has said to take her back immediately if she has any bigger bleeds or a bleed that just doesn't stop.
 
I'm so sorry you are going through this! I did have a piggie that experienced repeated nosebleeds, but no bleeding from other sources and she was significantly older than two at the time (she was close to 6 when they began. She lived another six months or slightly more after the nosebleeds started, but there's really no way to know whether there was an underlying link between the nosebleeds and her death, as she may simply have been elderly.) It sounds as though you're doing the best you can do by monitoring her and making sure she is eating, drinking, behaving normally, etc. Please let us know how it works out and hoping for the best for you!
 
If she is bleeding from her genitalia / bottom I suggest an ultrasound scan and X-ray to rule out bladder stones, sludge, internal tumours and reproductive problems. That’s what we did when Ellen started passing fresh blood. Thankfully for her and us, everything came back clear and she was prescribed antibiotics for a possible infection which thankfully stopped the bleeding within a few days.

I’m afraid I can’t help with the nosebleeds though :(
 
I have not come across a pig with nose bleeds before either. Just a thought and it is probably completely wrong but she isn't sniffing herself after she pees blood is she?
 
@Sasco How is she today? Are the nosebleeds heavy and regular?

I only have a limited experience in this but I wonder if it's heart related or breathing related. I had a foster pig with breathing issues and there was no sign of a URI or fluid issues. He just had dodgy airways and so his breathing was very grunty. On occasion he had a nose bleed. I'm note sure if it was related to blood pressure or something.
 
Ethel update - she's still bleeding from the bottom, I think its probably vaginal bleeding, and has blood in her urine. She has had less nosebleeds today - its definitely blood coming from her nose rather than transferring from her bottom, as just prior to each one she starts snuffling, and then blood starts to run from her nose. She's subdued relative to her normal rather manic self, and so behaving much more like a normal guinea pig! She's eating and drinking well, is interested in what is going on and is interacting with all of the other girls normally. If she's still bleeding in the morning but no worse I am planning to ring the vet, if anything gets worse I'll be taking her straight in to see the emergency vet again.
 
Sorry your little girl is poorly. Bleeding from the back end in a female is very common in pigs suffering from a uterine tumour - most of these tumours are benign which is good but they should really be removed ideally. As for the nose bleeds, was it a sudden onset, have you changed anything in her environment or have any aerosols in the room she lives in? Or any history of falling etc? Just a thought. I would strongly recommend ultrasounding her uterus and potentially some X-rays of her skull to start with. Hope she improves and you can sort her out.

x
 
Abi_nurse said:
Sorry your little girl is poorly. Bleeding from the back end in a female is very common in pigs suffering from a uterine tumour - most of these tumours are benign which is good but they should really be removed ideally. As for the nose bleeds, was it a sudden onset, have you changed anything in her environment or have any aerosols in the room she lives in? Or any history of falling etc? Just a thought. I would strongly recommend ultrasounding her uterus and potentially some X-rays of her skull to start with. Hope she improves and you can sort her out.

x
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Thank you, we've managed 12 hours without a nose bleed now, and the other bleeding has slowed down, so I'm cautiously hopeful. The vet is willing to do more investigations if needed but was concerned about doing anything needed anaesthetic or potential surgery if her clotting is poor. She's not had any trauma and I haven't changed anything or used anything different in my house, so I don't think its environmental, but I could be wrong. The vet thinks its probably a clotting disorder, potentially caused by an infection (best case scenario), a condition that is only just presenting itself, or by a tumour hiding somewhere (worst case scenario). She's still happy, eating and interacting.
 
Sasco said:
Thank you, we've managed 12 hours without a nose bleed now, and the other bleeding has slowed down, so I'm cautiously hopeful. The vet is willing to do more investigations if needed but was concerned about doing anything needed anaesthetic or potential surgery if her clotting is poor. She's not had any trauma and I haven't changed anything or used anything different in my house, so I don't think its environmental, but I could be wrong. The vet thinks its probably a clotting disorder, potentially caused by an infection (best case scenario), a condition that is only just presenting itself, or by a tumour hiding somewhere (worst case scenario). She's still happy, eating and interacting.
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We are back to the nose bleeds :(
 
Any improvement? Sorry that you little one is poorly :(
 
If your vet thinks it a clotting problem then have they given any vitamin K? It's what we use when there are clotting issues. As she's been bleeding a bit it would also be doing a very tiny blood sample (from the ear or foot) to check the levels of blood cells she has as she may be anemic.

Fingers crossed for her.

x
 
Is you vet an exotic or well qualified.
The poor little mite can't go on like this.
If she has been bleeding for quite a while, how do they know she hasn't lost to much blood.
Start being firm with your vet.
They is obviously something wrong, & if she can't find out what it is, she's suffering from, tell her you want your fees back. Yea like that's going happen.
Really hope things get better
 
Abi_nurse said:
If your vet thinks it a clotting problem then have they given any vitamin K? It's what we use when there are clotting issues. As she's been bleeding a bit it would also be doing a very tiny blood sample (from the ear or foot) to check the levels of blood cells she has as she may be anemic.

Fingers crossed for her.

x
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Thank you, thats really helpful. I'll speak to the vet now.
 
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