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Blood Urine

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Jax&Buddybear

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have just noticed fresh blood on the guinea pigs fleece I have checked both and no injuries.
I know it's not jax urine as he peed on newspaper and it was fine. I picked buddy up and he had like old blood on his bottom. What should I do until I can get him to the vet?
 
I have just noticed fresh blood on the guinea pigs fleece I have checked both and no injuries.
I know it's not jax urine as he peed on newspaper and it was fine. I picked buddy up and he had like old blood on his bottom. What should I do until I can get him to the vet?

You are likely dealing with a urinary tract infection (URI). Please have him seen tomorrow if that is possible, so he can go on an antibiotic quickly, otherwise on Monday if not. Have him seen as an emergency only if he is losing his appetite and is becoming lethargic.

Not all pees are necessarily red in the early stages of a URI, but if you are worried about bladder stones, then ask for a scan/x-ray.

What you can do:
- feed a bit more mildly diuretic veg in the first days to help increase the urine flow and help flushing the bladder. Young dandelion, cucumber, lettuce are good. Just don't go overboard and cause diarrhea with it! the increased peeing will also trigger increased drinking.
- make sure that you get hold of probiotics (to give 1-2 hours after each dose of antibiotic to help support the guts). If you haven't got any at home already, get them from a pet shop.
- ask your vet for metacam/loxicom (painkiller and anti-inflammatory) in addition to the antibiotic if your vet doesn't prescribe it automatically.

All the best!
 
You are likely dealing with a urinary tract infection (URI). Please have him seen tomorrow if that is possible, so he can go on an antibiotic quickly, otherwise on Monday if not. Have him seen as an emergency only if he is losing his appetite and is becoming lethargic.

Not all pees are necessarily red in the early stages of a URI, but if you are worried about bladder stones, then ask for a scan/x-ray.

What you can do:
- feed a bit more mildly diuretic veg in the first days to help increase the urine flow and help flushing the bladder. Young dandelion, cucumber, lettuce are good. Just don't go overboard and cause diarrhea with it! the increased peeing will also trigger increased drinking.
- make sure that you get hold of probiotics (to give 1-2 hours after each dose of antibiotic to help support the guts). If you haven't got any at home already, get them from a pet shop.
- ask your vet for metacam/loxicom (painkiller and anti-inflammatory) in addition to the antibiotic if your vet doesn't prescribe it automatically.

All the best!

Thankyou, I'm going to get him to the vet tomorrow.
Which would be better to ask for metacam/loxicom the same drug if not which one would be best?
And what antibiotic do they usually give it's just so I have an idea that they aren't giving anything the shouldn't?
And which probiotics do you recommend?
 
Thankyou, I'm going to get him to the vet tomorrow.
Which would be better to ask for metacam/loxicom the same drug if not which one would be best?
And which probiotics do you recommend?

Metacam and loxicom are different brand names for the same thing. Many vets now prescribe it automatically with a diagnosed UTI. ;)

Ideally you get avipro plus (from an online provider) for ongoing/long term bladder issues like stones, sludge or IC (interstitial cystitis) as it has no added calcium, but to be honest, any probiotic will do!
Alternatively, you soak fresh poos from a healthy guinea in a tiny bit of water and then syringe the water - it mimics natural behaviour and also helps re-stock the guts with the right stuff to help support your guinea pig's body during his illness.

Probiotics are not a medication, they are a food supplement. Any antibiotic is impacting to a certain degree on the vital bacteria in the guts as well as the "bad bacteria"; the reaction to any antibiotic can range from no problem in most cases to total loss of appetite in a very few.
 
Metacam and loxicom are different brand names for the same thing. Many vets now prescribe it automatically with a diagnosed UTI. ;)

Ideally you get avipro plus (from an online provider) for ongoing/long term bladder issues like stones, sludge or IC (interstitial cystitis) as it has no added calcium, but to be honest, any probiotic will do!
Alternatively, you soak fresh poos from a healthy guinea in a tiny bit of water and then syringe the water - it mimics natural behaviour and also helps re-stock the guts with the right stuff to help support your guinea pig's body during his illness.

Probiotics are not a medication, they are a food supplement. Any antibiotic is impacting to a certain degree on the vital bacteria in the guts as well as the "bad bacteria"; the reaction to any antibiotic can range from no problem in most cases to total loss of appetite in a very few.

Thankyou, do you know any shops I can get the avipro plus?
I have an appointment first thing tomorrow which is great, the sooner I get him seen the better:)
Can healthy pigs get probiotics too?
 
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Thankyou, do you know any shops I can get the avipro plus?
I have an appointment first thing tomorrow which is great, the sooner I get him seen the better:)
Can healthy pigs get probiotics too?

Just try online providers like vetark, viovet, hyperdrug etc.

Yes, healthy guinea pigs can have probiotics, too - just as you can eat probiotic yoghurt anytime! ;)
 
Just try online providers like vetark, viovet, hyperdrug etc.

Yes, healthy guinea pigs can have probiotics, too - just as you can eat probiotic yoghurt anytime! ;)
Thankyou for all your help
I wouldn't be able to get that one delivered for a few days, so I'll probably just see what pets at home have as I would like to give it to him 1-2 hours after his antibiotics.
What would be the best way to give it to him?
 
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Thankyou for all your help
I wouldn't be able to get that one delivered for a few days, so I'll probably just see what pets at home have as I would like to give it to him 1-2 hours after his antibiotics.
What would be the best way to give it to him?

Yes. Just sprinkle it on a bit of his favourite veg or otherwise dissolve in 1 ml of warer and syringe once you start the antibiotic.
 
Just back from the vet and they think buddy has cystitis.

He have been giving a dose of 0.4mls of enrofloxacin twice a day for 7days.

The vet also gave him a metacam injection she said he wouldn't need anymore when I asked.

I also nipped to the pet shop and they have no probiotics so I am going to have to order them in, will it make much difference if he takes his antibiotics without them for a few days?
 
Hi! I am merging this thread with your other one, so we keep all the pertinent information for one case together. This forum has a thread watch option with alerts, so we can operate differently to other social media.

Enroflaxacin is another brand name for baytril. See how it goes; you may get some slightly softened poos, but contact your vet on Monday if Buddy is totally losing his appetite, as can happen occasionally with baytril.
If you struggle to get the horrible tasting baytril in, mix it with the same amount of ribena to help cover the taste and give it in two lots - one mouthful is about 0.3 - 0.5 ml.
Administering Medications

You can offer poo soup (as previously described, if necessary). Probiotics are a merely supportive home care measure; they are not absolutely vital to the recovery process, or vets would prescribe them!

All the best!
 
Hi! I am merging this thread with your other one, so we keep all the pertinent information for one case together. This forum has a thread watch option with alerts, so we can operate differently to other social media.

Enroflaxacin is another brand name for baytril. See how it goes; you may get some slightly softened poos, but contact your vet on Monday if Buddy is totally losing his appetite, as can happen occasionally with baytril.
If you struggle to get the horrible tasting baytril in, mix it with the same amount of ribena to help cover the taste and give it in two lots - one mouthful is about 0.3 - 0.5 ml.
Administering Medications

You can offer poo soup (as previously described, if necessary). Probiotics are a merely supportive home care measure; they are not absolutely vital to the recovery process, or vets would prescribe them!

All the best!
The vet didn't seem to concerned as he's eating fine and drinking, there is nothing worse than seeing them in pain.

The vet too did say Ribena too but thought it would be best mixing it in with baby food as he did panic with the syringe, would I just give this by spoon or try it with the syrine?
 
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