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Blood In Urine And Ill Piggie

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Perfectpets11

Perfectpets11

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone. 1 months go my guinea pig chico was taken to the vets for what we thought was a uti. However, the vet said that it was cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). He was treated on baytril with some recovery medication (similar to critical care) and the problem seemed to clear up after 1 week and a half. Today I went out to weigh the pigs and Chico is 950g. The lowest he has ever been is 915g and that was a month ago. In the scales he also had a wee which was also tinged in red blood. I cleaned him up and started feeding him bits of grass as he won't eat much. He had a few pieces but now doesn't want anything else. All of our vets are closed. We rang up some a little further away and they were closing. My mum is out with the car so we don't have any other transport. If I had noticed he was ill my mum wouldn't have went out. Now I don't know what to do. He's been having a lot of water today. He seems okay I'm himself, he was just sitting on my knees In the sun for 5 mins totally chilled out. How can I make him eat, and gain some weight until the vets is open on Monday. Is there anything I can do? Please help as I don't know what else I can do. I'm just about to re clean their hutch again. Help x
 
Today is the first day he has shown symptoms again. He was a good weight yesterday . I dont know what to do. I just want to help my little man x
 
If I haven't mentioned, he's not eating much. I hand fed him some grass (a few stalks) but he's not eating anything else. Someone? Any advice? The vets aren't open again till Monday morning. x
 
IF I was going to mush up his pellets and syringe him them... How do I do that?
 
Hello. I am sorry to hear that your piggy is poorly. It's typical that these things happen at the weekend.

The forum is rather quiet right now but our health expert is currently online and making her way through the health and illness threads so I am sure she will answer you as soon as she can.

If you are wanting to syringe feed his pellets which is a good idea considering he isn't eating much, soak them in warm water and mash up to form a paste. Here is our guide to syringe feeding if you are unsure of how to do it https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-syringe-feeding-guide.115359/

If Chico is really suffering and you do not think it can wait until Monday, could you take him to your nearest emergency vet? the details, phone number etc should be on the answering machine when you phone your regular vet.

In the meantime, keep his fluids up by syringing him water alongside his mushed pellets (see link above)
 
Thank you for your reply. I'm currently feeding him the pellets now. He's taking them very well and is even nibbling the paste off the edge of the syringe. Every time I offer him some food he comes forward as if he's going to eat it but then turns it away like he wants something else. I'm going to clean the hutch out once he's had enough of this. I'm giving him as much as he needs. Why did this have to happen today! :mal:
 
Hi! I am very sorry for your problems!

Has Chico been x-rayed for a stone? Please be aware that unlike UTI, cystitis is often not reacting much to antibiotics. 10 days is also a rather short time for a course, so you can easily deal with a relapse.

The best antibiotic for bladder issues is septrin (3-4 weeks course), and ideally it should be accompanied by metacam, which is both a painkiller and anti-inflammatory. Cystitis is usually an inflammation of the bladder walls as opposed to a bacterial urine infection.

here is our syringe feeding guide. Please step in whenever an ill piggy is not eating well and is losing weight; we have got tips on what you can do with what you have got at home and also how much in which situation: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-syringe-feeding-guide.115359/
 
Perfectpets11 said:
Thank you for your reply. I'm currently feeding him the pellets now. He's taking them very well and is even nibbling the paste off the edge of the syringe. Every time I offer him some food he comes forward as if he's going to eat it but then turns it away like he wants something else. I'm going to clean the hutch out once he's had enough of this. I'm giving him as much as he needs. Why did this have to happen today! :mal:
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It is good that he is taking the food. Just keep going! I am ever so sorry that it has happened today. These things always happen at the worst of times.

As Wiebke has said, 7 days is a short time and he will probably benefit from having a longer course of Septrin instead of the baytril. Ask your vet about this as well as taking Wiebke's advise about asking for an x ray especially if the problem continues. Two of my own piggies were on Septrin for four weeks until their UTI's cleared up.
 
Sorry to hear your piggy is not well. I cannot add to the great advice given above, but by keeping him as comfortable as you can and getting some food and water into him you are giving him the best care you can until the vet becomes available. Sending healing vibes and gentle hug for your piggy x
 
Re syring feeds
Best not to feed more that he is comfertable eating in one sitting , as if he gets stressed it is ligtly to run down
His imune systim

Also never force feed

Never force feed as whilst his belly may look large outwardaly , in actual fact it is tiny in comparison ,
One pig actualy died due to an over zelest keeper , :shh::shh: myself and another keeper , tried to
Tell him , but he took no notice .

Little and often,
A rough guied as to volume is 3 to 5 x15ml syringes per 24 hour period
 
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gizzy said:
Re syring feeds
Best not to feed more that he is comfertable eating in one sitting , as if he gets stressed it is ligtly to run down
His imune systim

Also never force feed

Never force feed as whilst his belly may look large outwardaly , in actual fact it is tiny in comparison ,
One pig actualy died due to an over zelest keeper , :shh::shh:
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@gizzy, all the relevant information and tips can be found in our syringe feeding guide!
 
Thank you all very much for your advice. I have returned Chico to his hutch with his cage mate. He's had as much as he wanted. No he hasn't been x rayed but his urine has been tested. Apparently it had a lot of protein in it and he said that cystitis was the most likely problem. I'm going to clean their hutch out now so he's on clean bedding (even though it was fully cleaned yesterday). Okay when I go to the vets on Monday I will mention the medications that you have. Should he go down hill? What can I do about the blood? Any other food that I can feed him? @Wiebke @Claire W
 
Perfectpets11 said:
Thank you all very much for your advice. I have returned Chico to his hutch with his cage mate. He's had as much as he wanted. No he hasn't been x rayed but his urine has been tested. Apparently it had a lot of protein in it and he said that cystitis was the most likely problem. I'm going to clean their hutch out now so he's on clean bedding (even though it was fully cleaned yesterday). Okay when I go to the vets on Monday I will mention the medications that you have. Should he go down hill? What can I do about the blood? Any other food that I can feed him? @Wiebke @Claire W
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Make sure that he has plenty to drink and feed mildy diuretic veg like cucumber, young dandelion or lettuce, but not so much that it causes soft poos. If you offer him syringe feed and water from time to time, as much as he is willing to take on top of what he is eating, he should be OK.

Have you still got baytril and metacam?

High protein levels are a sign of an infection, but you can see them with all the bladder issues that present with very similar symptoms, UTI, cystitis, bladder sludge or stones (which tend to irritate/damage the bladder walls).
We usually recommend to have an x-ray with only very light sedation done if bleeding/pain when pooping or peeing symptoms continue, return or if the cystitis symptoms are not going down when on antibiotics.

If your boy suddenly stops eating alltogether, is in pain and/or lethargic, then you need to see an out-of-hours vet.
 
Thank you @Claire W

Nope we don't have any baytril left. The mushed pellets are working good at the moment as he is taking them hisself. Other than that he's not eating much else. When I offer Chico food he looks eager like he wants to eat it but then pulls his head away like its awful even though he usually eats it (eg. Dandelion leaves)
Thank you both so much for your advice. We will be at the vets first thing Monday morning and I'll keep you updated. How often do you recommend feeding him the pellets? @Wiebke @Claire W xxxxx
 
Perfectpets11 said:
Thank you @Claire W

Nope we don't have any baytril left. The mushed pellets are working good at the moment as he is taking them hisself. Other than that he's not eating much else. When I offer Chico food he looks eager like he wants to eat it but then pulls his head away like its awful even though he usually eats it (eg. Dandelion leaves)
Thank you both so much for your advice. We will be at the vets first thing Monday morning and I'll keep you updated. How often do you recommend feeding him the pellets? @Wiebke @Claire W xxxxx
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If he is not eating anything else, I would recommend every 2-3 hours; how often depends on how much he is taking on board in each sitting. If it is less than 5 ml in one sitting, then I would recommend every second hour. If you can get about 10 ml into him in a stting, then about every 3 hours, and if he is taking more, then every 4 hours.
 
Tonight he had another wee however it was clear compared to his last ones which were really bloody. He also had a little bit of veg and my pellet paste. He has gained some weight but not a lot. I'm just really monitoring him to make sure nothing goes downhill too quick. I'm really happy to say that he's had some hay. He's been nibbling it occasionally but at least it's something. Thank you all for your posts, they really help at stressful times. xxxxxx
 
If the vet took an x Ray and found out that he had a stone, what happens next? Obviously I want him to be happy, healthy and comfortable but I would miss my little pig so surgery would be the option. Is it complicated in boars? Do the stones tend to come back after surgery? x
 
Please be aware that blood in urine isn't always visible to the naked eye.

Unfortunately the only way to remove a stone is through surgery. The operation is more complicated in boars Than it is in sows depending on where the stone is located. But please try not to worry just yet as it could still just be a uti that needs a longer course of antibiotics. I know it's hard as I've been there myself but wait until Monday and see what your vet suggests.
 
Claire W said:
Please be aware that blood in urine isn't always visible to the naked eye.

Unfortunately the only way to remove a stone is through surgery. The operation is more complicated in boars Than it is in sows depending on where the stone is located. But please try not to worry just yet as it could still just be a uti that needs a longer course of antibiotics. I know it's hard as I've been there myself but wait until Monday and see what your vet suggests.
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Yeah I know, as when he was ill last time and the vet tested his urine he said there were some blood in it. I was only stating the difference, sorry.
Last time he was ill and once yesterday he has had a wet tummy. Is this a sign of cystitis? Sorry for all the questions I'm just a worry. x
 
If you are worried, I would look online in your area and see if there is a vet open as normal working hours tomorrow. I know where we are there are at least 2 vets that normally work on Sunday, so would not be out of hours/weekend/emergency charges and at least you could be given the antibiotic if that is what the vet thinks is needed.
 
JackJack1 said:
If you are worried, I would look online in your area and see if there is a vet open as normal working hours tomorrow. I know where we are there are at least 2 vets that normally work on Sunday, so would not be out of hours/weekend/emergency charges and at least you could be given the antibiotic if that is what the vet thinks is needed.
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Thanks but I've looked at all of our local vets and they are all closed tomorrow. The earliest appointment we can get is first thing Monday morning. x
 
Claire W said:
Please do not apologise for anything. It just shows how much of a caring and loving owner you are :)

Yes, a wet tummy and / or back end can be a sign of cystitis x
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Aww hahaha, thank you. That is exactly what he had except now it's returned with blood. The very first time he had a wet bottom we didn't suspect anything of it and thought he had been lying in their hay for a while (the lie there for hours every day) and had had a few wees whilst lying there which had made his bottom wet. Their bed gets cleaned every day and when the wet bottom continued we knew something was up x
 
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