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Cystitis help needed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mandy
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Mandy

Hi all,
Am new to this, but am desperate for some help.
I have lost 2 guinea pigs over the summer to bladder stones, they were brother and sister, 5 years old and unfortunately i had to have them put to sleep. They got through the anaesthetic but didnt recover fully. Making the decision to put them to sleep was heartbreaking and the fact it happened within 2 weeks also makes it that much worse.
Nothing changed in their diet and the vet seemed to think just bad luck.
But now another of my guinea pigs has developed a bad case of cystitis, the baytril doesnt seem to be working, its been a week now, an xray has showed no bladder stones and she is going downhill rather quickly, i just dont know what to do.
She is 7 years old and also has medicine for heart problem, I'm so worried and just wondered if anyone had any advice. She isnt really interested in food now and i fear I'm going the same way as with her friends.
Any advice will be gratefully received,
Thanks Mandy
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your piggies you must have been devastated. I'd ask the vet for septrin, its a stronger antibiotic and works better on bladder infections than Baytril, sometimes its takes a week of septrin and a week of baytril to clear them up. if there are no stones it will clear though. If she's not eating i'd suggest mashing some of her food up in water and syringe feeding it to her, or ask your vet for some critical care or science recovery to feed her. You can also syringe feed vegetable baby food to her, mine like this :) you may need to syringe water too. I know this seems a lot but she will get better, hope some of that helps.
Love Emma x
 
I am not the most experienced by any means but I know the antibiotic septrin is better for urinary tract problems than baytril, so I would go back to your vet and ask for this instead. You also need to syringe feed her if she isn`t eating as this could make all the difference between losing her or not.
Have you any critical care? If so make up as per instructions and syringe feed her this as well as offering her tid bits and hay. Pellets soaked in hot water and allowed to cool until warm and made to consistency of thick soup will do if you have no CC. Also, you can use organic baby food, carrot and potato etc (veg ones only). She will need to be syringe fed water too if she is not drinking to help rehydrate her and flush the infection out. Some people use unsweetend cranberry juice too. You will need to do this during the night as well as day time.
 
Thanks for advice, will ask for septrin, i dont have any critical care but now she not interested in much at all am gonna ring vets now. Shes on metacam, baytril and cranberry juice. I am so worried never had so many problems, seems so unfair on such a tiny girl.
Anyway gonna ring now, thanks
Mandyx
 
I can`t stress enough how important it is to get some food into her, she will die otherwise. You can get syringes and CC at your vet. GP`s systems will start shutting down if they have not eaten for about 8 hours, so it is crucial. She may well not be interested, but wrap her in a towel with her back towards you and syringe feed her like that.

Have a look at this link re syringe feeding: http://www.diddly-di.fsnet.co.uk/Syringe-feeding.htm
 
Bladderstones are often hereditary.
As the others have said Septrin is best. Also something like Cystopurin used for Humans can be given. Try to give her water to flush the bladder through if you can- this'll help if there are stones forming too.
Try hand feeding grass, and favourite foods before you syringe her. Mine take to food cut into strips best but experiment. You can make your own blended veggies + use Supa guinea or the pellets from your dry food in it if you want.
Syringes available from chemists too.
 
I know exactly what your going through. My Gus has had bladder problems basically since I got him about ten months ago. We've done everything Septrin, Baytril, xrays for stones, Cystapurin, Uriflow, flushing with plenty of water and nothing, absolutely nothing has worked for him. He is now bleeding when he wees. Took him back to vet yesterday who is referring him to the Glasgow Vet School. Until we get an appointment there he's back on Septrin and Metacam. At least I know if the worst happens I done my best for him and thats all I could do. Good luck with your piggy, hope he gets well soon.
 
I keep wondering what more i can do, am up and down the stairs to her constantly. Giving her critical care and offering every type of food you can imagine. She is on 2 types of heart medicine, the baytril, metacam and cranberry juice and then syringe feeding her critical care so she getting pretty fed up with me. But like you said least I'm doing all i can think of. I just hope she brightens up soon, what worries me is there is no sign of the blood easing in her urine, and having been a week I'm scared what the vet may suggest. She has been such a fighter up till now just need her to eat a little more.
Anyway i hope you have success with your referral to the vet school. It seems that their bladders are a weak part of their bodies, altho having had her 7 years and ive had previous guinea pigs with no problems. just seems to have been this year that i have come across it in the worst possible way. Just hate the feeling of dread and worry. Benn a horrid summer :'( just hope we get an improvement this time.
Mandyx
 
Fingers crossed for you Mandy, you're doing all you can for her, remember to ask about septrin if the baytril doesnt work x
 
I do hope your piggy manages to eat a little and that you see some improvement shortly. I am going through exactly the same thing with one of my boars, I know exactly how you are feeling. It is definitely worth trying the Septrin and one of the other products Karen recommended. We all see to get runs of bad luck, but it's wonderful having the forum to turn to in moments of need - thanks guys O0
 
The fact that she is 7 years old is a credit to you :) Really hope she pulls through, do let us know how she gets on.
I agree with you caviesgalore, this forum is a godsend ;)
 
I am so glad i found you guys to talk to, altho not a nice thing to say but i find it easier knowing that you guys have been or have had similar problems. I'm not the only one. The vets know me by name which says it all really. Will ring up about septrin first thing and keep persevering.
Anyway thanks so much for advice and kind words, really helped me on another worrying day.
Wish i'd found this site sooner, nice to chat with fellow guinea pig nutters(everyone i know thinks I'm mad)
Thanks Mandyxx
 
You're very lucky to have a guinea 7 years old. Well done. I've never had one that old, or that I'm aware anyway (some of them I haven't known the age when I've got). What dry food do you feed them? I remember reading on here that Gertie was thought to cause some problems, which is why I changed mine.

I agree that guineas go downhill quickly when not eating. I've syringe fed a few of mine and haven't liked doing it, it can't be pleasant for them sometimes. I know it's hard but 7 years is elderly and it may just be time for her. Sorry to sound harsh but on a number of occasions I've tried to do everything and sometimes there isn't a solution. I've felt guilty afterwards for putting them through extra discomfort.

Good luck, I sincerely hope she gets better.
 
Hey everyone,
Well the vet has prescribed a different antibiotic and steroid injection, basically if she gonna improve it gonna happen in next 48 hours, so keeping everything crossed. She did want to come out of her cage today for a sniff round, so hoping that a sign of things to come. She still not eating herself, but is taking critical care by syringe really well. I know I'm lucky to have her at 7 years, but i know she still got some fight in her, shes a tough little cookie.
Mandyxx
 
fingers and paws crossed here ,wishing your little piggy better :-*
 
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