color-changing pee stains

[seaskyking]

Hi piggy owners,

Recently I've found my guinea pig's pee stains quite dark-colored, an orange, or black tea color. She had some kidney stones last month so I've changed her vegetables to low calcium options: bell pepper, cucumber, lettuce, etc. It seems all her stones are out now b/c she stops making noise during urinating and her behavior is back to normal.
Then this happens. When she pees, the pee is transparent but about 20 mins later, the stain turns into a darker color. It never happened before. Should I be concerned?
Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi piggy owners,

Recently I've found my guinea pig's pee stains quite dark-colored, an orange, or black tea color. She had some kidney stones last month so I've changed her vegetables to low calcium options: bell pepper, cucumber, lettuce, etc. It seems all her stones are out now b/c she stops making noise during urinating and her behavior is back to normal.
Then this happens. When she pees, the pee is transparent but about 20 mins later, the stain turns into a darker color. It never happened before. Should I be concerned?
Thanks!View attachment 148175

Hi!

The process process is called oxidisation; pee is generally clear when it leaves the body but becomes the rustier and darker the longer it is exposed to air. Nothing to worry about.

Blood has a different specific weight to urine, so it separates out when it dries, either as red/brown drops in the middle or more rarely if there a is a lot of it as a red brown ring around the puddle.

 

[hannahs26]

I find this chart helpful :-)