Can Uti's Be Passed On Between Guinea Pigs?

[Claire W]

Does anybody know if a uti can be passed on between guinea pigs and if so, how to stop it?

Emma and Ellen are both being treated for a uti. I thought all was good but my heart sank last night when I spotted a fresh blood spot in the cage

Now coming from who was near there at the time, it has either come from Emma or Edward who I thought was 'safe'

Now Emma has IC so I'm now wondering if these blood spots are from her or if Edward has a uti now too I'm going to be seriously upset if he has

Emma and Ellen are due back at the vets tomorrow and needless to say, I'll now be having Edward checked too.

Ellen has been having bloody urine on and off since October but scans and X-rays have come back clear.

She has been fine but after I found fresh blood in their cage two weeks ago, it was found that both Emma and Ellen had mild uti's

If Edward now has it too, I'm just wondering if it's possible that they're all passing it on to each other and what I can do about it?

Emma and Ellen are currently both on Septrin and Emma cystease and metacam for her IC.

I'm not sure whether to start Edward off on the Septrin too although I'd rather not give him AB's if there's no need.

It's just so stressful and upsetting that I can't get on top of this

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Yes they can if it is a bacterial infection One of my other piggies caught one off Petal my bladder pig once & my vet said that it can happen unfortunately.

 

[Claire W]

Yes they can if it is a bacterial infection One of my other piggies caught one off Petal my bladder pig once & my vet said that it can happen unfortunately.

Thank you for your reply. How did you manage to clear it to stop it from coming back for both guinea pigs?

I have just checked Edwards wee myself and I can't detect any blood on my test sticks. However, I couldn't with both Emma and Ellen a couple of weeks ago but my vet detected a tiny trace

I'm wondering if the blood spots are simply coming from my IC pig Emma as the blood stains are literally few and far between. I haven't seen one for nearly two weeks for example. If the blood is coming from Emma, I'm not so worried.

I'm just feeling so confused and stressed out by it all

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your reply. How did you manage to clear it to stop it from coming back for both guinea pigs?

I have just checked Edwards wee myself and I can't detect any blood on my test sticks. However, I couldn't with both Emma and Ellen a couple of weeks ago but my vet detected a tiny trace

I'm wondering if the blood spots are simply coming from my IC pig Emma as the blood stains are literally few and far between. I haven't seen one for nearly two weeks for example. If the blood is coming from Emma, I'm not so worried.

I'm just feeling so confused and stressed out by it all

Bacterial UTI can be passed on; usually more easily between sows as their urethra is shorter. It is by far not as infective as other issues, so it is usually not a regular occurrance; hence why there are no big warnings being given out all the time. It often needs a compromised immune system for it to happen, which Edwards frankly has not got; he is just fine.

In a case of acute UTI, you'd best change the bedding frequently to prevent the bacteria from being picked up. That is the most effective preventative. Spot clean the toiletting areas daily if possible and change any fabric cosies and bedding very regularly.

Please do NOT treat on spec with antibiotics just because of your anxiety issues. It is MUCH more likely that the red spot has come from one of your two girls who have mild IC and are occasionally showing small levels of bacteria (but not always!)
Please also remember what I have told you before, that red colour in pee doesn't necessarily mean the presence of blood in the extremely mild range you are dealing with. Leave Edward out of it, unless you REALLY find him with acute symptoms, which is not all that likely.

 

[Claire W]

Bacterial UTI can be passed on; usually more easily between sows as their urethra is shorter. It is by far not as infective as other issues, so it is usually not a regular occurrance; hence why there is not all that much information and there are no big warnings being given out.

In a case of acute UTI, you'd best change the bedding frequently to prevent the bacteria from being picked up. That is the most effective preventative. Spot clean the toiletting areas daily if possible and change any fabric cosies and bedding very regularly.

Please do NOT treat on spec with antibiotics just because of your anxiety issues. It is MUCH more likely that the spot has come from one of your two girls who have mild IC and are occasionally showing small levels of bacteria (but not always).
Please also remember what I have told you before, that a red colour doesn't necessarily mean the presence of blood in the extremely mild range you are dealing with. Leave Edward out of it, unless you REALLY find him with acute symptoms, which is not all that likely.

Thank you for your reply.

It was definitely blood last night as it was two small blood spots but I have seen this with Emma before.

You're right and I think i am over reacting over Edward. It's just that he was bouncing around near the urine patch right before I found it. It was fresh too but like I say, Emma was asleep there and had only just moved away. She is also currently going through a squeaky wee episode.

I am removing wet bedding and refreshing at least daily if not more so no problems there

I didn't give Edward any AB's

I will ask to have Edward checked anyway seen as he is going along with the girls for their check up and nail trims but I think Lindsay will probably advise to stop the AB's now and I will just have to get used to these bloody episodes as like you know, this isn't a new thing for Emma. I just wish I knew for sure that they were coming from her

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your reply.

It was definitely blood last night as it was two small blood spots but I have seen this with Emma before.

You're right and I think i am over reacting over Edward. It's just that he was bouncing around near the urine patch right before I found it. It was fresh too but like I say, Emma was asleep there and had only just moved away. She is also currently going through a squeaky wee episode.

I am removing wet bedding and refreshing at least daily if not more so no problems there

I didn't give Edward any AB's

I will ask to have Edward checked anyway seen as he is going along with the girls for their check up and nail trims but I think Lindsay will probably advise to stop the AB's now and I will just have to get used to these bloody episodes as like you know, this isn't a new thing for Emma. I just wish I knew for sure that they were coming from her

If Emma was in the vicinity, then it is soooo much more likely that the spots were from her. Remember that your vet has told you months ago that Emma's bladder is feeling a lot softer again, so even though she may continue to have the odd squeaky IC episode, her bladder is actually healing and is not badly impacted. Her symptoms, while still audible and visible, are very much in the mild range as I can attest personally, having had them here for a several weeks' holiday stay last year.

 

[Claire W]

If Emma was in the vicinity, then it is soooo much more likely that the spots were from her. Remember that your vet has told you months ago that Emma's bladder is feeling a lot softer again, so even though she may continue to have the odd squeaky IC episode, her bladder is actually healing and is not badly impacted. Her symptoms, while still audible and visible, are very much in the mild range as I can attest personally, having had them here for a several weeks' holiday stay last year.

Thank you for your reassurance as always

 

[Claire W]

Just had a phone call from the vet receptionist. My vet is off sick for the rest of the week

She offered to book us in with somebody else but I'm afraid I have my preferred vet if it's not an emergency so they have been rebooked in for Monday

 

[pig in the city]

I had 2 sows who had the same bug when we cultured their urine, it was an unusual one so they definitely passed it between each other. Both sows were prone to bladder issues. Their healthy boar friend was fine. Both were treated and checked again and the infection had cleared.
Urinary infections are gut bacteria so there's little you can do apart from what wiebke advised x

 

[Wiebke]

Just had a phone call from the vet receptionist. My vet is off sick for the rest of the week

She offered to book us in with somebody else but I'm afraid I have my preferred vet if it's not an emergency so they have been rebooked in for Monday

It is not an emergency, so they should be fine. Most likely it is another acute IC episode in the making.