Blood in urine or normal?

[MoruMum]

Hi,
I have just adopted a new female piggie from a rescue.
I was told she was all healthy but this morning I noticed a pink spot on her wee (I used white kitchen roll underneath the hay to soak up the wee).
Emailed to the owner of the rescue organisation but she says it looks absolutely normal - she said that guinea pig wee colour varies....
But to me it looks like a slight blood stain in the wee.
She doesn't seem to cry when she wees but she hunched a bit.

I was given not much info on this piggie as apparently she was surrendered without much information.
Worried this could be bladder stones or recurrent UTI that the previous owner could not afford to take care of.

Please let me know what you think of the pictures below.

 

[Claire W]

Hi, it’s difficult to tell whether it’s normal wee or blood. When there’s a uti, there can be pink urine not containing blood and clear urine that does show blood on a dip stick test.

If she were mine, I’d be inclined to book her a vet appointment just to make sure especially if she hunched a little when going to the toilet. Of course, there could be nothing wrong at all x

 

[MoruMum]

Thank you.
So the rescue organisation was seemingly very nice and caring but upon questions they did say that sows do not get vet checked so this is when I got slightly worried when I saw the stain on the sheet…

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,
I have just adopted a new female piggie from a rescue.
I was told she was all healthy but this morning I noticed a pink spot on her wee (I used white kitchen roll underneath the hay to soak up the wee).
Emailed to the owner of the rescue organisation but she says it looks absolutely normal - she said that guinea pig wee colour varies....
But to me it looks like a slight blood stain in the wee.
She doesn't seem to cry when she wees but she hunched a bit.

I was given not much info on this piggie as apparently she was surrendered without much information.
Worried this could be bladder stones or recurrent UTI that the previous owner could not afford to take care of.

Please let me know what you think of the pictures below.

Hi

Please don't panic. This is some very diluted urine and it is still within the acceptable colour range.

It is definitely not stones. If it is a urinary tract infection triggered by the stress of the move, then it is going to take nearly a week to get fully underway and for proper symptoms to develop - only once the symptoms are fairly consistent is it worth to see a vet, not before. Right now, there are no symptoms at all and that is likely going to remain so. Please try your best not to hover and stress your piggy out any further that way.

If you have an issue with anxiety, please take the time to read this guide here: Pet Owners Anxiety - Practical Tips For Sufferers and For Supporters

 

[MoruMum]

Thank you @Wiebke for the advice.
Yes it must have been quite stressful for the piggie of the move She was given up as a single sow and apparently never seemed to do well in a group setting so both the rescue centre and we were quite excited that she might do better in a smaller quieter setting with a confident happy neutered boar...

Just noticed that she is making a gentle wheeking noise when she wees. So most likely UTI triggered by the stress...

I am only aware of the proper UTI symptoms like wheeking or crying when weeing, fluffing up, not eating much, not moving much.
Please let me know if there are other symptoms to look for.

I will keep an eye on the situation.
Really appreciate your advice! Thank you.

 

[MoruMum]

@Wiebke I have some spare Metacam. I know she is more or less the same weight as my other guinea pig so do you think it is work giving her some for the next few days to help her ease the pain so that she won't keep her wee and make things worse?

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke I have some spare Metacam. I know she is more or less the same weight as my other guinea pig so do you think it is work giving her some for the next few days to help her ease the pain so that she won't keep her wee and make things worse?

Hi

Please don't give it on spec. There is no need for it right now. Her wee is pretty diluted so she is not holding it in.

 

[MoruMum]

@Wiebke Ok thank you. I will not give it to her. I will monitor her.

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke Ok thank you. I will not give it to her. I will monitor her.

Please continue to weigh once weekly and please do not hover, as hard as you find that. You can hear a squeak from across the room if it ever gets to that stage (which I am not expecting).

 

[MoruMum]

A quick update and a good one!
Butterscotch's pee is looking good now. A big thank you @Wiebke for the advice.
She drinks a little more than my other piggie (so I am shying away from carb and fruit just in case she is pre-diabetic).

One week passed - she is a lot more calm and gained confidence from our own who is a very confident and vocal boy. Still one and half week to go until they are fully allowed to meet in one place (post neutering). I am sure I will be posting some bonding question on the forum in due course.
So all is good. Thank you so much for all the support!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the update. Glad that all is going well. Some piggies drink a lot more than others; the natural range is truly huge. As long as there is no sudden change in amounts and no weight loss connected with the drinking (sudden major weather and temperature changes like winter heating coming on or heatwaves/spikes excepted), then there is nothing to worry about.