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Blood in urine questions

Claire W

Claire W

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Ellen currently has blood in her urine. Thankfully I have septrin at home which I have been given permission from a vet to start her on until she is seen tomorrow. The problem is, her usual vet is on holiday this week so she's seeing another vet. My mum is taking her first thing and due to other circumstances, we won't have the time to get a urine sample although I can drop one off during the day if requested.

Ellen has a history of uti's and IC (which she hasn't had a flare for over 10 months) so I'm hoping it's just a uti.

Can uti's be diagnosed without a urine sample? And if they do request a urine sample, can there just be blood present on the test stick with no high levels of protein / white blood cells for a uti to be diagnosed? I'm just anxious about having to see a vet we're not used to and who isn't familiar with Ellen and her history.
 
I would try to provide a sample if you can. They can check a lot with urine. I just had one done for one of my girls last week. She had pink urine and was peeing a lot. My vet found bacteria and blood in her urine. The pH was good. The calcium was less than he normally sees and urine was dilute. I think it's worth getting it done so you don't use antibiotics if you don't need to. Good luck tomorrow! Hope all goes well!
 
If the vet you are seeing is any good they should read Ellen's notes before the Consultation, therefore being at least a bit familiar with her past problems.
 
If the vet you are seeing is any good they should read Ellen's notes before the Consultation, therefore being at least a bit familiar with her past problems.
 
Claire W said:
Ellen currently has blood in her urine. Thankfully I have septrin at home which I have been given permission from a vet to start her on until she is seen tomorrow. The problem is, her usual vet is on holiday this week so she's seeing another vet. My mum is taking her first thing and due to other circumstances, we won't have the time to get a urine sample although I can drop one off during the day if requested.

Ellen has a history of uti's and IC (which she hasn't had a flare for over 10 months) so I'm hoping it's just a uti.

Can uti's be diagnosed without a urine sample? And if they do request a urine sample, can there just be blood present on the test stick with no high levels of protein / white blood cells for a uti to be diagnosed? I'm just anxious about having to see a vet we're not used to and who isn't familiar with Ellen and her history.
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A vet can express a urine sample during the examination; you do not have to provide it.
Protein/white blood cells are an indicator of a possible infection (whether that is a cystitis or UTI); they are not necessarily linked to the presence of blood.

However, any vet will take Ellen's history into account when coming to a conclusion.
 
Thank you everyone. Hopefully she'll have a full bladder at the appointment. If not, I can drop one in.

Thankfully all the vets at the practice are pretty good, just I've been seeing the same one for several years and I trust her.

I'll update tomorrow :)
 
Ellen has been to the vets this morning to see the other nice vet. She thankfully managed to get a sample from her which shows an infection. Thankfully her bladder is soft and she didn’t squeak upon examination.

I’m to keep an eye on her and drop a sample in to the vets for testing in about two weeks time as she doesn’t feel the need to see Ellen again unless I’m concerned. My cat is due at the vets on the 20th November for his jabs with our favourite vet so I’ll take one in then :)
 
Claire W said:
Ellen has been to the vets this morning to see the other nice vet. She thankfully managed to get a sample from her which shows an infection. Thankfully her bladder is soft and she didn’t squeak upon examination.

I’m to keep an eye on her and drop a sample in to the vets for testing in about two weeks time as she doesn’t feel the need to see Ellen again unless I’m concerned. My cat is due at the vets on the 20th November for his jabs with our favourite vet so I’ll take one in then :)
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I forgot to mention that she’s on septrin and metacam. I could open my own factory with the amount of unopened septrin and metacam I have at home!
 
Just got home to discover that Ellen has been prescribed cat metacam (I’m usually given dog) I have loads of dog metacam at home but I’ll use the cat as it has a shorter use by date. Problem is, she’s only been prescribed 0.4ml once a day which seems low to me? Unless it’s after an operation, I’ve always been prescribed 0.2ml of dog metacam for Ellen and her urinary problems @Wiebke
 
Claire W said:
Just got home to discover that Ellen has been prescribed cat metacam (I’m usually given dog) I have loads of dog metacam at home but I’ll use the cat as it has a shorter use by date. Problem is, she’s only been prescribed 0.4ml once a day which seems low to me? Unless it’s after an operation, I’ve always been prescribed 0.2ml of dog metacam for Ellen and her urinary problems @Wiebke
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Cat metacam is 3 times weaker than dog metacam. Unfortunately while metacam has been licensed for guinea pigs, UK vets are only allowed to prescibe cat strength with the much tighter control on animal medication practices coming in, which means giving A LOT in one got and a lot of hassle and new bottles all the time. :(:(:(
 
Wiebke said:
Cat metacam is 3 times weaker than dog metacam. Unfortunately while metacam has been licensedfor guinea pigs, vets are only allowed to prescibe cat strength, which means giving A LOT in one got and a lot of hassle and new bottles all the time. :(:(:(
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Thank you so much for all of your information and help! I love reading the information you post. I love learning everything I can about these wonderful creatures! I am going through a UTI with one of my sows right now.
 
Claire W said:
Ellen has been to the vets this morning to see the other nice vet. She thankfully managed to get a sample from her which shows an infection. Thankfully her bladder is soft and she didn’t squeak upon examination.

I’m to keep an eye on her and drop a sample in to the vets for testing in about two weeks time as she doesn’t feel the need to see Ellen again unless I’m concerned. My cat is due at the vets on the 20th November for his jabs with our favourite vet so I’ll take one in then :)
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I am glad it's just a UTI. Hopefully she will be feeling better soon!
 
Wiebke said:
Cat metacam is 3 times weaker than dog metacam. Unfortunately while metacam has been licensedfor guinea pigs, vets are only allowed to prescibe cat strength, which means giving A LOT in one got and a lot of hassle and new bottles all the time. :(:(:(
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It is a fiddle to give and you now get two syringes :( Although the new piggy pot that comes with it is pretty cute. I just gave her the 0.4ml. Does that sound like the correct dose? Not that I want to go against the vets recommendation but I feel I should go higher
 
Livia Rabideau said:
Thank you so much for all of your information and help! I love reading the information you post. I love learning everything I can about these wonderful creatures! I am going through a UTI with one of my sows right now.
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The restrictions/tighter control about prescriptions is UK specific only.
 
Claire W said:
It is a fiddle to give and you now get two syringes :( Although the new piggy pot that comes with it is pretty cute. I just gave her the 0.4ml. Does that sound like the correct dose? Not that I want to go against the vets recommendation but I feel I should go higher
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Your vet has given you a minimal dosage prescription.
 
Wiebke said:
Your vet has given you a minimal dosage prescription.
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Thank you. I shall continue giving her the 0.4ml then even if it is the minimal amount. It isn’t like she’s in pain as the squeaky wees stopped when she started the septrin. I just wasn’t sure if she’d given me the correct dosage as I’ve never used cat metacam for a piggy before
 
Livia Rabideau said:
The UK seems a lot farther ahead than the you.S. unfortunately. Especially with dental piggies. At least where I am located.
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There are some good US vets around, but it is very hit and miss - especially away from major population centres.

Dental vets in the UK are very much far and few in between, too! We need more piggy savvy and esepcially dental savvy vets everywhere. Until very recently rodent dental were confined to clipping what was considered overgrown incisors without a look at the back teeth. A lot of general vets with no rodent knowledge are stilld oing that. :(

You CAN cut down on the risk of dental problems a lot with a good hay diet with only a little veg and few pellets. Many avoidable dental problems are caused by an incorrect diet.
 
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