Confused what to do next. Regarding UTI/bladder problems.

[klee]

Hello All,

As you probably will have already read Esme has been to vets twice now. Initially for weight loss which was subsequently diagnosed as cystitis/ UTI.

Here are the original threads:

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=91865

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=92649

Both times she has been treated with antibiotics, firstly baytril and then marbocyl.

As previously mentioned, her limited symptoms are my greatest concern. She hasn't lost any more weight, but she hasn't gained a great deal either.

I am definitely looking into getting an appointment at the vets for an XRAY to rule out any bladder stones now she has finished her second course of antibiotics.

I just don't know what to do about Vets at the moment. We have been to two practices so far, one (Rose cottage) was on the recommended vets list for the tgpf- however I wasn't able to see the vet who was listed as both times I have been there it has been an emergency appointment. The second time I took her to the vets, was Warrendale vets in Stoke on Trent (1hour 10mins away) and saw the vet who was recommended by Helen at the Potteries, however the vet only works there as a locum every other weekend, and otherwise works even further away from me than Stoke.

After reading ' The Guinea Pig magazine' earlier this week I came across 'Beech House veterinary centre' in Warrington who write the 'Guinea pig clinic' article in the magazine. I have rang up the centre and they told me that they see a lot of guinea pigs every week and two of the nurses specialise in guinea pigs and assist with their treatment and they offer free health check consultations for guinea pigs. I enquired about the Xray and the receptionist said that as far as she was aware they got a whiff of anaesthetic to do the Xray (is that the normal procedure?) which is then analysed by the Vet and a diagnosis made. I think I will ring up again in the morning, as the 2 nurses were on holiday until tomorrow.

So basically I'm at a bit of a cross roads. I know it isn't great to keep moving around vets but I am really struggling to find one that is specialised and within reach.

1.Do I contact Rose cottage again and ask about Ken, who is listed on the vet's list?

2.Do I go ahead an contact Beech house, and what should I ask?

3. Does anyone have any experience of any of these Vets?

Sorry this thread is a bit rambly. I have so much in my head about what to do for the best at the moment. Obviously Esme is my main concern but just not sure what to do.

Hope you can help.

Kayleigh

 

[Lilly]

Sorry I can't comment on vets in the UK being in OZ myself. But as she has had 2 courses of anti-biotics and not improved I would certainly be seeking other diagnostic tools to find the problem. As this does not seem to be an emergency at the moment could you not specifically ask for an appt with the vet you really want to see?

My vet is one of a practice of 3 vets. I always ask for her when Peanut Butter needs his regular dental treatment. But in a recent emergency with PB, I had to take whoever was available and it wasn't my regular vet. While the available vet was OK I soon realised in the course of conversation she didn't know much about piggy behaviour.

 

[klee]

Sorry I can't comment on vets in the UK being in OZ myself. But as she has had 2 courses of anti-biotics and not improved I would certainly be seeking other diagnostic tools to find the problem. As this does not seem to be an emergency at the moment could you not specifically ask for an appt with the vet you really want to see?

My vet is one of a practice of 3 vets. I always ask for her when Peanut Butter needs his regular dental treatment. But in a recent emergency with PB, I had to take whoever was available and it wasn't my regular vet. While the available vet was OK I soon realised in the course of conversation she didn't know much about piggy behaviour.

It's not that she hasn't improved as such, her weights haven't really been all too accurate, I would forget to weigh at the same time of day and then weighed when I remember, so obviously food etc can have an influence on her weight.
I just don't know whether she is any better, she is happy in herself and still eating etc.

I don't know who I want to see which seems to be my main issue, I don't have much information on either of the local vets apart from one being listed on here, and the other doing a regular feature in the guinea pig magazine. So I don't really have any personal recommendations, or even know if either are cavy savvy.

xx

 

[Glynis]

If your gut tells you to look into it.......DO IT!
She may need a more prolonged course of meds?....... i'd continue after her meds with probiotics and even the pearl barley
Good luck love XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
i'm hoping somebody can recommend their vets to you!

 

[klee]

If your gut tells you to look into it.......DO IT!
She may need a more prolonged course of meds?....... i'd continue after her meds with probiotics and even the pearl barley
Good luck love XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
i'm hoping somebody can recommend their vets to you!

Thanks Glynis! I've been continuing to give probiotics and have neen giving a cystease capsule mixed with a little water.
The pearl barley was a struggle to get into her even with a little blackcurrant, I might make some up again later for her, i just won't make so much this time

The issue I have isn't whether to take her the vets, its knowing where to take her and what to ask for. As like you said it may be a stubborn uti and she may need some more antibiotic, but then again i would like a xray to rule out stones etc. I could always try and get a urine sample from her and take it in. x

 

[sport_billy]

In answer to x-ray without GA... Our piggies have had a whiff of gas before in the past to stop them moving around. The piggie has to be still for the xray, some vets will block them in on the plate to stop them moving. When ours have had a tiny whiff of gas they have been totally fine afterwards.

It may be worth asking for Septrin - this antibiotic is widely used as the anti-biotic of choice against UTI's, it can often take a longer course of AB's to clear up stubborn UTI's. If it continues I would recomend asking for a xray to rule out stones. Is she on any Metacam? This may reduce and inflamation if the bladder wall is inflammed...

 

[klee]

In answer to x-ray without GA... Our piggies have had a whiff of gas before in the past to stop them moving around. The piggie has to be still for the xray, some vets will block them in on the plate to stop them moving. When ours have had a tiny whiff of gas they have been totally fine afterwards.

It may be worth asking for Septrin - this antibiotic is widely used as the anti-biotic of choice against UTI's, it can often take a longer course of AB's to clear up stubborn UTI's. If it continues I would recomend asking for a xray to rule out stones. Is she on any Metacam? This may reduce and inflamation if the bladder wall is inflammed...

With the gas, do they keep them in all day afterwards until the effects wear off?
I don't have any metacam it ran out on Friday, along with the antibiotics.
Next step... find a savvy vet and get this sorted

 

[sport_billy]

With the gas, do they keep them in all day afterwards until the effects wear off?
I don't have any metacam it ran out on Friday, along with the antibiotics.
Next step... find a savvy vet and get this sorted

Putt was kept in till she came round, only a few hours.... gas is very light. I would ask for some metacam, it'll reduce inflamation and keep her pain down...

Good luck finding a vet, we literally just rang round every vet in the area, asking if they did concious dentals (we were desperate for a good dental vet) and found one 2 mile away...

 

[Guinea Wiggies]

Hi Kayleigh,

I had the same problem with one of my girls. She lost a lot of weight and had reoccurring cystitis. My local vets didn't really offer much help so I was told about a vets in Chorlton Manchester called Ashleigh (not sure if you consider this too far but not too bad from Preston) which is well known for having exotic vets.
They did x rays, blood tests and an ultrasound, unfortunately my Lilly had an enlarged kidney but with medication she lived for 3 months after the diagnosis and I am sure she would not have lived that long if we hadn't gone to a guinea pig specialist vets!

Good luck!

x

 

[klee]

Hi Kayleigh,

I had the same problem with one of my girls. She lost a lot of weight and had reoccurring cystitis. My local vets didn't really offer much help so I was told about a vets in Chorlton Manchester called Ashleigh (not sure if you consider this too far but not too bad from Preston) which is well known for having exotic vets.
They did x rays, blood tests and an ultrasound, unfortunately my Lilly had an enlarged kidney but with medication she lived for 3 months after the diagnosis and I am sure she would not have lived that long if we hadn't gone to a guinea pig specialist vets!

Good luck!

x

Thanks.

I think I am a bit far from Manchester as I am at home in Ellesmere Port at the moment. I have actually just looked at google maps and it would take 44 minutes from either my Preston address or my home address, which I was suprised at.
I am currently looking at Andale vets in Widnes as that is only 28 mins away according to google, and someone on here has recommended it before.
I have emailed them and am looking to get an appointment tomorrow.

 

[klee]

Putt was kept in till she came round, only a few hours.... gas is very light. I would ask for some metacam, it'll reduce inflamation and keep her pain down...

Good luck finding a vet, we literally just rang round every vet in the area, asking if they did concious dentals (we were desperate for a good dental vet) and found one 2 mile away...

This is my problem. I hate ringing around, i always get halfway through the conversation and forget what else I'm meant to be asking even if I do write myself a list mallethead
I much prefer to send them an email, and then I can have everything in black and white in front of me.

 

[klee]

She has an appointment at Andale Vets in Widnes at 9AM tomorrow morning. Is there anything I need to make sure I ask?
It's going to have to be a early start for me tomorrow, as getting over the Runcorn bridge towards Liverpool is going to be manic in the middle of morning rush hour.
Things we do, eh

 

[klee]

Should I take one of the other girlies with her for company tomorrow? She should be having an xray and depending upon whether or not she needs anaesthetic she may have to stay in for a few hours. I was thinking i might take Rosie as she's quiet and not as boisterous as the other two. Decisions!

 

[sport_billy]

She has an appointment at Andale Vets in Widnes at 9AM tomorrow morning. Is there anything I need to make sure I ask?
It's going to have to be a early start for me tomorrow, as getting over the Runcorn bridge towards Liverpool is going to be manic in the middle of morning rush hour.
Things we do, eh

I would ask about Septrin as an antibiotic, also ask how they perform x-rays - whiff of gas etc....

Should I take one of the other girlies with her for company tomorrow? She should be having an xray and depending upon whether or not she needs anaesthetic she may have to stay in for a few hours. I was thinking i might take Rosie as she's quiet and not as boisterous as the other two. Decisions!

It depends is she ok on her own? Our first piggies were ok separated. But Cookie and Treacle can't stand being without each other so always go as a pair...

best of luck, will keep an eye out for updates x

 

[klee]

I would ask about Septrin as an antibiotic, also ask how they perform x-rays - whiff of gas etc....




It depends is she ok on her own? Our first piggies were ok separated. But Cookie and Treacle can't stand being without each other so always go as a pair...

best of luck, will keep an eye out for updates x

I think she is quite nervous in the car, we have always taken her with Ruby when we've been to the vets before as Ruby has had to go aswell.
I think she would be OK on her own.
When I emailed the lady said that usually they don't have to use anaesthetic for the majority of cases and I will ask about septrin as an antiB if it comes down to her having an infection still. At least the one good thing is... she normally takes her meds without a fuss, and metacam she will keep chewing on the syringe even when it is gone. Will keep you updated

 

[sport_billy]

I think she is quite nervous in the car, we have always taken her with Ruby when we've been to the vets before as Ruby has had to go aswell.
I think she would be OK on her own.
When I emailed the lady said that usually they don't have to use anaesthetic for the majority of cases and I will ask about septrin as an antiB if it comes down to her having an infection still. At least the one good thing is... she normally takes her meds without a fuss, and metacam she will keep chewing on the syringe even when it is gone. Will keep you updated

They lurve metacam don't they! Maybe take a friend then to keep her a little less stressed. Good luck, love to Esme x

 

[klee]

Update.

Been to the vets, he checked her over very well and said that she was perfectly healthy.
No pain whem he felt her bladder, not like last time. He couldn't feel any stones either. He said as there are no symptoms, he wouldn't like to do an xray as it will put her under more stress, but to report back to him if there are any signs. We have decided not to xrayut are going to keep up with the cystease capsules and vit c. He also gave us a number good vet closer to home so all is good. I feel reassured that she is healthy and happy

 

[sport_billy]

Well done Esme! Bet you are relieved x

 

[klee]

Well done Esme! Bet you are relieved x

Tell me about it. I'm just hoping for a illness free few months at least. First we had Rosie's eye, then ruby and esme's weight loss, and 2 more appointments with esmes uti. Good job i love them

 

[sport_billy]

Tell me about it. I'm just hoping for a illness free few months at least. First we had Rosie's eye, then ruby and esme's weight loss, and 2 more appointments with esmes uti. Good job i love them

That's piggies for you! So pleased for you all. Give your girls cuddles from us x