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Cystitus

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Posiesparkles

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Took my guinea pig Storm to the vets yesterday as noticed blood in her urine. Vet did a urine test on her and said she has cystitis. He also said that he could feel a lump in front of her bladder which he said could be a tumour. Said that if she loses weight it probably is a tumour, but that most people don't treat guinea pigs because of cost!

He has given me some antibiotics to syringe into her at 0.2 for 5-7 days and says to take back if she is still weeing a little blood.

Is there anything else I can do for her other than the antibiotics? She is eating happily (after not wanting to after vets visit) and is moving around as normal. Yesterday she was squeaking when passing urine but not today as yet. Could the lump be connected?

My vet is lovely with cats, dogs etc but he unnerved me when fllicking through a book to give a diagnosis, and telling me that blood in urine is usual for rabbits! Should I get a second opinion? We live near Norwich, so any suggestions welcome.

Please help.

PS Edited as realised spelt cystitis wrong! Can't change the heading though, sorry
 
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Sorry to hear Storm has bladder problems.

The immediate thought that came to mind on reading your post is bladder stone. A lump in the bladder and blood in the urine is very likely to be related, in the form of a bladder stone. If the antbiotics don't do the trick, an x-ray would be a good step to take given that the vet has felt this lump.

What antibiotics has she been prescribed? Good to hear she isn't squeaking when urinating, if she does start up with that again I do recommend anti-inflammatories/pain relief, as the inflammation associated with both cystitis and stones can cause numerous problems, including pain, for the piggie.

Lots of fluids (water, and/or unsweetened cranberry juice) is important when treating for bladder problems, is she a good drinker or will she take fluids from a syringe?

There are quite a few members in the Norwich / Norfolk area, will PM one of them to ensure they see your thread and advise on good vets in your area. You're not too far from the Cambridge Cavy Trust but there should be a good enough vet closer to you.
 
Thankyou so much for your message - and so quickly too. Vet said that the lump was not in her bladder but in front of it. She has been given bactrim (I think that's spelt right!). Will get her some cranberry juice. She is not a great drinker but I can always try the syringe. Can I mix it with the antibiotics in the syringe or is it better to give that separately so that I know she has had the dose? Is it ok if her sisters drink the cranberry juice too? If so will put some out for them asap.

Sorry for more questions - am a devoted guinea pig owner but this is the first time they have been sick. Considering they are 3 1/2 I am taking this as a good thing!
 
Bactrim is another brand name for Septrin, so you've got the ideal antibiotic for dealing with this. Dosage tends to be a bit higher though - for an adult pig over 6 months (weighing approx. 800g+) the normal dosage for Paediatric Septrin is 0.5ml - 1ml twice daily. Quite a range. For Adult Septrin, it is half the dose, so 0.25ml - 5ml twice daily. Might be worth querying the vet on it as it is an effective antibiotic in the right doses.

You can add a little juice in the syringe with the meds (if you do, draw up the Bactrim first so as not to contaminate the medication with juice) as long as you get the full syringe down her. I tend to just give the medication on its own to get it over and done with, treats for afterwards. :)
 
Have gone out and bought lots of cranberry juice, cucumber etc and keeping a close eye on her. Her sisters (she has 2 who live with her) are loving all the extra treats too! She will drink cranberry juice off my finger but no luck as yet drinking it herself so will be trying on a syringe when husband gets home! Can't see any blood at the moment but she is still looking a little sorry for herself. She is eating happily and loving the extra fuss but then pops into her house to snooze! Will keep you updated - in probably far more detail than everyone needs!
 
It's the detail that helps others learn! When one of my lot get ill everyone here gets a breakdown of every little thing. :))

I hope she responds to her meds, fingers crossed for her. xx
 
Had to share the cleverness of my guinea pigs! Filled up the syringe with cranberry juice and water and all 3 put it in their own mouths and drank it! Woo hoo! Should make giving her fluids a bit easier!
 
That is good! Getting fluids in some pigs is more than a little tricky, glad your three are taking it nicely. :)
 
Just to update - gave Storm her medicine last night. She was not too impressed but took it without much fuss. Keep plying all 3 with cucumber etc which she is happily munching. She seems a bit livelier now - coming out to be stroked and wanting to be hand fed food (as always) and fussed. No blood overnight and we changed the fleece so we could check. Bit worried about the lump the vet said he felt - I can't feel it but then I suppose I don't know what I am looking for. Anyone know any vets in the Norwich/North Norfolk area? Not sure whether to take her back to last vet at the end of her antibiotics or to try a new one that doesn't need a book open in front of him!
 
So sorry she isn't well. I hope she doesn't have a tumour and she gets better soon. x x

I don't think blood in urine in normal for rabbits, but they can have red/orange pee and it isn't blood but is normal.

My vet had to look in a book too for treating my guinea pigs, but they just had mites . . .
 
Quick update on Storm - she took the antibiotics for a week and no blood in the urine. However in the last few days she seemed less active and not so interested in her food. Didn't take her back to vets but found new vet recommended to me and she went there on Friday.

What a difference to old vets! Vet tested her urine and said there was traces of blood in it. Also said that 'lump' was not lump but her kidney - one was smooth but other was knobbly. She weighed her and said she had not lost any weight but gave me some food that is mixed with water to make a paste that can be syringed if she needs it. She has booked her in for an ultrasound with her and another vet so that this can be done without sedation. This is for Wednesday.

So much happier with vets but now worried about her kidney! Is this kidney stones doing this or something else? Anyone else had same experience? She is still munching on food but likes to be hand fed it. She is still drinking, vet also suggested pineapple juice to help encourage her to drink.
 
It's worth waiting for the ultrasound to consider what the problem may be as it sounds a little unusual. I'm not sure myself but wishing you lots of luck, let us know when you find out more.
 
Took Storm (and other 2 for company) to vets this morning. Had to leave them there as they were not sure when they were going to do ultrasound - had an emergency animal in theatre. Wish they had told me this could happen as I would have taken up their food and some veggies etc. Could even have taken spare fleece for them. Feel like bad guinea mummy now :(

Now at home waiting and keeping my fingers crossed. Hate Storm having to go through this. She is eating more now but wee is back to definite red tint.
 
Hope everyone is not getting sick of my detailed posts!

Picked up Storm and her sisters last night. Apparently it was hard to do the ultrasound as her bladder wasn't getting full - she is not a big drinker anyway and seems to wee little and often. 2 goes later and vet got best she could.

Ultrasound showed no problems with kidney or bladder (phew!). She has 3 lumps in front of her bladder, but not attached to it. Vet said she doesn't think they are tumours but abscesses or cysts.

3 options now -
1 - Give antibiotics to treat the cystitus - vet doesn't think she was on it for long enough to clear - prev vet gave me 5-7 days worth.
2 - X-ray to check what the lumps are - although she said that they are soft tissue so won't show much.
3 - Laparotomy to see what lumps are - although may not be able to remove if they are attached.

She said that ultrasound was done by her and another vet for 2nd opinion. She offered us another one later in month for free when vet who specialises in them is back.

At the moment we have gone for option 1 - really want to try and clear up the cystitis as you can really see the blood and she is squeaking.
She is on baytril 0.2 twice a day - she said once a day at this dose is probably not enough. She also has metacam - drop a day on food, which she has just taken on veggies. Must taste nice as the other piggies wanted it too! Is this pain relief? Vet said would help with inflammation. Also sprinked probiotic into her food, to help in case baytril upsets her tummy. Again, all piggies liked this!

So happy with thoroughness of vets and kindness of staff - got regular updates through day of how piggies were faring. Giving vets a call early next week to let her know how antiotics are doing. Put her on white fleece bedding so can see.

I am a very over protective piggie mummy and thought they would hate us after taking them to vets, but actually they have been friendlier since back?! Lots of running to be stroked and wanting to be fussed! Think they are pleased to be back as have been running around lots!

Very sorry for such long post, although am assuming I am not the only protective guinea mummy out here! Also want to say a big thankyou to all knowledgeable piggie owners - I have learnt such a lot from this site, which has really helped get Storm right treatment and also to understand better what is going on. Thankyou from Storm, Rogue and Misty!
 
Thanks for updating with Storm's ultrasound results.

Metacam is a painkiller/anti-inflammatory, I am glad the vet prescribed this as so many don't and I firmly believe that it is so often an important part of treatment for bladder problems.....

I'd be more inclined to dose directly though i.e. via syringe instead of on food. One drop of Metacam (I measured it out years back and the approximate dose is confirmed by Guinea Lynx ) = 0.05ml.

I don't know if the antibiotics will help at the dose rate and given that it is Baytril; Septrin tends to be first choice for cystitis problems - but Baytril can still do the trick in some cases. Fingers crossed for Storm. xx
 
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