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Don't Know What To Do...

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Johann

Johann

Junior Guinea Pig
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Essex
Hi,
I have guinea pig "Pebbles" who's approx 7 months old. Just before Christmas i noticed he was squeaking in discomfort when doing a poo or wee. He was also arching his back. Sometimes he would pass blood in his urine but not always.

I took him to the vets (non-exotic), and they prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine. It helped for the the first 2 days but then he went back to square one.
I took him back after 1 week, and they did an x-ray which came back clear. They also tested his urine for UTI, which also came back clear.

I then took him to another vets (exotic), and they did an x-ray (all clear - no cancer) they said he had high calcium levels but no stones. They inserted a catheter, as the vet said he may have calcium crystals that are not showing on the x-ray but the catheter would clear them.

After i collected Pebbles he seemed back to normal, alot more energetic and not squeaking when going to the toilet. This lasted about 2 days. Since then he's gone downhill again, he's lethargic and just wants to be left alone. The vets by their own admission say they don't know what the problem is.

Ive spent around £400 so far and i can't afford much more, but i can't leave him in pain.

I have a C&C cage and he has eaten alot of the coroplast, i did mention this to the vet as i thought maybe some of it was stuck inside him, but the vet didnt think this would be likely. Also would it not show up on the x-ray?

I've researched online but all i've found that match his exact symptoms is stones or UTI.

What else can i try?

Any help would be appreciated.
Johann
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your problems. Piggies can go downhill so quickly. You say he's lethargic and unhappy. Has he started to squeal when he wees/poos again? Even if there are not stones or sludge, he could have and inflamed bladder (called interstitial cystitis) which is a long term condition that can be hard to treat. @helen105281 has experience of it, so hopefully she will be able to advise you on the best course of action
 
Hi thanks for the replies.
I'm based in the UK (Essex)
This morning he's off his food and just lying down. He's not really drinking much either, whereas before he seemed to drink all the time (far more than our other pig).
He squeals every time when doing a wee/poo. Last night was the worst its been. He was doing a wee/poo every 2 minutes it seemed.
He passed alot of blood in his urine, which ive taken to the vets and i'm waiting to hear back from them, but i dont hold out much hope with the vets as they seem to be stumped...
Thanks
Johann
 
The other strange thing i forgot to mention is that he squeaks alot more in the evening. During the morning it's not too bad, but by the evening its alot worse.
I dont know if this is a symptom of anything else.
Thanks
Johann
 
I'm sorry he is so poorly, is he on any pain relief? Have you noticed any correlation between certain foods and him doing squeaky pees? I do think Interstitial cystitis is a possibility, it is usually diagnosed with an ultrasound but I appreciate funds are a bit tight. Treatment is usually with Metacam (as needed) and a Glucosamine based product like Cystease or Cystophan. My Amy has IC and is on vegan Glucosamine every day, her dose is at the higher end of the spectrum at 250mg but I believe the usual dose for Cystease is 125mg a day.

Could you let me know what food he has each day too just in case?
 
I changed his diet 8 days ago. He's now eating Burgess Excel pellets with mint, unlimited Timothy hay. I did give him a little bit of cucumber, but apart from that ive kept it simple the last 8 days. He also has one pellet a day for urinary support (given by the vets).
Medication has been Loxicom (ongoing), Sultatrim (2 weeks worth that finished about 10 days ago), currently on Potassium citrate (which the vet said was to help with the high calcium levels).
Ive changed his water to filtered 10 days ago, before this it was normal tap water, but i live in a hard water area so i thought this may be causing the high calcium levels.
The hay he was having before was just unbranded hay from the local pet shop. I dont know what hay it was as it was in a clear bag, but he now has the Alfafa King Timothy Hay from Pets at Home.
Hope this helps
Johann
 
Can the interstitial cystitis be seen with x-ray? My wife just spoke to the receptionist at the vets and mentioned interstitial cystitis, the receptionist said it would show on the x-ray.
Thanks
johann
 
They could perhaps see a thicken bladder wall on ultrasound. Another thing to remember is sometimes the stone's maybe to small to be seen on Xray. I had a guinea pig who was diagnosed with IC. I had him Xrayed reguarly, we found three stones, the next month there was none. A couple of weeks later he had a huge stone which needed operated on.
 
Well, Ive phoned the vets and they're getting a urine sample cultured. So hopefully will find something out definitive soon. I'll keep you posted.
Many thanks for all your help
Johann
 
Yes I agree with Flintstones, an ultrasound would show something like an inflamed bladder wall, which an x ray wouldn't. If he's not eating then the vet could add in another pain relief like Tramodol & maybe consider Cartrophen injections or Cystease for their anti-inflammatory properties.
 
Johann said:
I changed his diet 8 days ago. He's now eating Burgess Excel pellets with mint, unlimited Timothy hay. I did give him a little bit of cucumber, but apart from that ive kept it simple the last 8 days. He also has one pellet a day for urinary support (given by the vets).
Medication has been Loxicom (ongoing), Sultatrim (2 weeks worth that finished about 10 days ago), currently on Potassium citrate (which the vet said was to help with the high calcium levels).
Ive changed his water to filtered 10 days ago, before this it was normal tap water, but i live in a hard water area so i thought this may be causing the high calcium levels.
The hay he was having before was just unbranded hay from the local pet shop. I dont know what hay it was as it was in a clear bag, but he now has the Alfafa King Timothy Hay from Pets at Home.
Hope this helps
Johann
Click to expand...

How many pellets does he have a day? if he has a lot you could try cutting them back a bit and see. Pellets can be full of fillers that can trigger symptoms if it is IC.
 
He isn't having a lot of pellets now, we have cut them down in the last 10 days to about 30g twice a day.
He was having spring green but the vet has told us these are high in calcium so we have cut them out for the time being and are now switching to
all low calcium veg.

The Sulfatrim was 0.25ml twice a day, but he is no longer on this, he had this for about 10 days but finished this course a week ago.

These are all the medicines he is on now -
Potassium citrate mixture 0.05ml twice a day,
Baytril 2.5% 0.2ml twice a day,
Synoquin efa quarter of a capsule twice daily
Loxicon painkiller/anti inflammatory 5ml twice daily.
Thanks Johann
 
Might be worth trying a different antibiotic. Septrin usually works better for UTI based issues but then I assume that this is why your vet is getting the urine cultured.
 
Guinea Pig's weight is 792g.

The Vet said that there was some bacteria in the cultured Urine, that is why he has put him on the Baytril for 10 days and he said that there was a lot of calcium crystals as well as blood. I think the Vet thinks these will go with the help of the Potassium citrate mixture (0.05ml twice a day) and the change of food to low calcium.
Thanks Johann
 
Johann said:
Guinea Pig's weight is 792g.

The Vet said that there was some bacteria in the cultured Urine, that is why he has put him on the Baytril for 10 days and he said that there was a lot of calcium crystals as well as blood. I think the Vet thinks these will go with the help of the Potassium citrate mixture (0.05ml twice a day) and the change of food to low calcium.
Thanks Johann
Click to expand...

Ah sorry I didn't follow the thread properly so hadn't realised it was the second type of antibiotics and that the culture had already been completed. I hope Pebbles responds to the Baytril a bit better, from what I understand it's not overly uncommon to need to try more than one type of antibiotic or for a longer course to be needed for a particularly stubborn infection. Sending Pebbles well wishes and healing vibes
 
Your veterinarian is prescribing conservative doses.

@helen105281 - May be able to provide information on Potassium Citrate?

I had to look up 'Synoquin EFA' - I understand that it is a joint supplement intended for dogs, and contains Chondroitin (Made from animal cartilage), and krill oil. . . Neither are suitable/recommended for guinea pigs, as guinea pigs are strict herbivores - It would be advisable to switch to a Glucosamine supplement suitable for vegetarians/vegans.

Could you confirm the Loxicom dose please?
 
Guinea-pigGaga said:
Your veterinarian is prescribing conservative doses.

@helen105281 - May be able to provide information on Potassium Citrate?

I had to look up 'Synoquin EFA' - I understand that it is a joint supplement intended for dogs, and contains Chondroitin (Made from animal cartilage), and krill oil. . . Neither are suitable/recommended for guinea pigs, as guinea pigs are strict herbivores - It would be advisable to switch to a Glucosamine supplement suitable for vegetarians/vegans.

Could you confirm the Loxicom dose please?
Click to expand...

Sorry I don't really know much about it except that there are very mixed opinions on it's use. I know there are a couple of members using it at the moment though.
 
I have used potassium citrate in the past, shortly afterwards my P went on to develop a stone I do believe it bond the calcium together. Are you giving your little one additional water to try and help flush the bladder out? Unfortunately with stones it is very much trial and error. I know your little one hasn't had any show but that does not mean he's got the all clear. Be vigilant, and I would Xray if his symptoms continue.
 
Pebbles has had 2 x-rays and an ultrasound and all the vet has found is calcium crystals.
Will just have to try current medication and see how he is for the next week or so.
I really appreciate all your help and comments.
 
Johann said:
Yes sorry, 5kg
Click to expand...

That dose is fine - I believe that the majority of us discard the Loxicom syringe/ are used to dosing in ml.

EDIT: I have briefly looked into Potassium Citrate, and while I haven't reached any conclusions, I do not think that it will do any harm, but I'm not sure it will help much either - I will continue to look into this supplement.

I would recommend completing the course of Enrofloxacin (Baytril), and reassessing the situation once the course is completed.

Please keep us updated.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for your help and input!

Pebbles is squeaking a lot tonight whilst weeing and pooing, there is still blood in the urine. Still giving him the medicine as prescribed by the vet.
 
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