Brown marks on the floor?

[Sabrinova]

I have been noticing what I assumed to be dark brown wee from my new piggy Archie, who has been with me for two months now. He seems strong and healthy and happy in himself, forever curious with an enormous appetite! But what are these brown stains? Should I be worried?

Why aren't my images linking? How do I show you the pictures? Let's try linking to them instead:

novahoward.com/parsleymonster/IMG_0737.JPG
novahoward.com/parsleymonster/IMG_0738.JPG

 

[Abi_nurse]

Do you have any other pets? Are you certain its from him?

It looks a little bit like dried urine, is he urinating ok? Have you noticed him squeaking at all during urinating?

x.

 

[Sabrinova]

Thanks for replying. I only have two guinea pigs. I wasn't sure which one it was but I've never seen anything like this from four-year-old Milo and I just saw Archie standing over the freshest stain which is the more dripped-looking one, which is so fresh I hadn't noticed it until that point.

The white towels in their cage under the fleece come out that colour as well. They both drink plenty of fresh water. I haven't noticed him squeaking when weeing but he is a very vocal guinea pig.

 

[Wiebke]

Urine can oxidise to quite a rusty colour without there any blood being present.

If in doubt, try to get urine samples from your piggies by sitting them on a plastic surface in turn (can take some time) and then sucking up any pees in a clean syringe each. Label and place the syringes in a freezer bag in your fridge until you can have them analyzed by your vet.

 

[Sabrinova]

Thanks Wiebke, so there isn't necessarily any cause for concern?

Could a vet analyse the urine who doesn't know about guinea pigs specifically? There is no vet I trust here on the island, which makes me worry even more.

 

[Pebble]

Oh Dear.....

Whilst The big sprawly brown stain "could be" poo and wee mixed and the poo subsequently eaten......

However - the rest of them look suspiciously like thick blood to me which is indicative of either urine infection or stone so this really does need attention.

Ref: a cavy savvy vet:

Loro Parque in tenerife has vets which deal with the general public. One of the resident vets has now joined Interntional zoo Group in Yorkshire.

If you can get an appointment with Loro Parque to get a urine sample analysed I'm pretty sure that either the current vets or their contacts over here would be able to give you some cavy-savvy info.

Failing that - get some urine test strips off the internet and test yourself for blood.....and then take the results into your current vet.

HTH
x

 

[Sabrinova]

Thanks Pebble, I will look into that. My poor boy, I hope he's ok.

 

[Lilly]

Thanks Wiebke, so there isn't necessarily any cause for concern?

Could a vet analyse the urine who doesn't know about guinea pigs specifically? There is no vet I trust here on the island, which makes me worry even more.

I have 2 boys and that looks like the urine from my 2 lads after it's sat a while - i.e. oxidisation makes it turn that brown colour. However, fresh wee should not be that brown colour.

Any vet should be able to test urine for blood regardless of the animal it came from. I suggest you get urine samples in the syringes as advised by another member and get your local vet to have it analysed for blood content.