Good evening. My poor Moo has been having what was thought to be a frequent UTI problem. When she developed the second one in nearly a month I got worried. Last week I noticed blood again after she just was on antibiotics earlier in January. She had xrays and showed no signs of stones.
I recently spoke to a more reliable and new vet for another piggy and asked his advice with Moo. He believes that it could very possibly be a reproductive issue because bleeding did not go away within 72 hours of antibiotics. Now, that being said, I don't know anything about reproductive problems, and since she still has blood in her pee and I scheduled an appointment for next Tuesday. I'm worried is that too long? Will she be okay until next week or would a possible reproductive issue turn severe very quickly?
She's currently eating fine, acting fine and very active. Will be keeping track of her weight now that I found blood again.
Hi!
Bleeding can come from the reproductive tract (ovarian cysts) but it is not usually mixed with urine and is usually clear blood droplets or a trickle of blood from the anus.
As you mention frequent UTI/recurring UTIs, my suspicion is that Moo is much more likely suffering from a sterile interstitial cystitis.
This is a non-bacterial recurring bladder infection; it is more commonly known as interstitial cystitis (IC).
Because it is not bacterial, antibiotics can at the best suppress it temporarily but not cure it. Similar to feline sterile cystitis (FSC) it cannot be healed, just managed.
Key to treatment in an analgesic (like metacam), especially for managing the flare-ups and glucosamine to support the natural glucosamine coating of the walls in the urinary tract. We usually recommend a glucosamine based cat bladder supplement like cystease. Very recently cartrofen injections have been found to be effective in more severe cases in guinea pigs, too; but this is still just being used episodically in the UK and there are no major feedback or general usage recommendations yet.
Cavy sterile IC has become much more common over the last decade. It is not much known by general or exotics vets who don't deal regularly with guinea pigs. Generally it is diagnosed by default once all other potential causes have been eliminated in both the urinary tract (UTI, stones/sludge) and the reproductive tract (sows).
Sterile IC can go away on its own eventually, but you are more likely looking at years rather than months. Once it is gone, it will stay gone. It doesn't seem to cause stones and it doesn't seem to impact on longevity.
It seems to affect mostly guinea pigs which have experienced high stress levels in their mother while in the womb as their own normal default setting (similar to most affected FSC cats) and whose immune system is not quite as efficient as a result.
More relaxed piggies seem to be able to get on top of it on their own without ever experiencing more than a few temporary infectious pees but no major symptoms like phorphyrine pees, squeaking when peeing/pooing or weight loss during acute flare ups.
Intensely red phorphyrine pees (which may or may not test out for blood) are typical for the onset of a new flare up. It is worth noting that urine can contain an high amount of blood but still look clear.
Here is more information on IC and on the reproductive tract. You may want to explore this further with your vet who is likely to want to do their own research.
We are seeing many more cases of sterile IC compared to the classic UTI these days on here; especially in indoors or shed guinea pigs that are not as exposed to big temperature swings and cold/wet ground (lawn).
Sows: Health issues of the reproductive tract
Guinea Lynx :: Ovarian Tumors
Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records
