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Guinea pig dies from urine problems

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Meganarmitage

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi, my guinea pig has recently passed away age 4 years 8months old. He was ok in himself up until this week where he one day started squeaking in lain and raising his back end off the ground but was still ok in himself and eating normally. We took him to the vets and was given pain relief injections and antibiotics as it was suspected a urine infection. He was completely out of it from this point and would walk around or eat or drink even once the pain relief had worn off. We took him back and was given more antibiotics ans started passing blood and was told to syringe feed him and there was told there was nothing else they could do. He didn’t get better from it and eventually passed away. Does anyone know if this sounds like it was caused from a urine infection or whether it sounds like something else or could be influenced by the medication. Just wandering why he was never able to recover when given the antibiotics and showed no sign of improvement with this when I’ve heard other pigs be cured with antibiotics.
Thanks
 
Welcome to the forum but sorry it is under such sad circumstances.
So sorry for your loss.
It’s impossible to say why your boy passed away despite the antibiotics.
Guinea pigs are prey animals and very good at hiding illness until it’s too late to treat.
You did the very best you co for him, now you need to take time to grieve.
Be gentle with yourself.

There is a thread called the Rainbow Bridge where you can post a tribute to your boy if / when you feel like it.
 
Meganarmitage said:
Hi, my guinea pig has recently passed away age 4 years 8months old. He was ok in himself up until this week where he one day started squeaking in lain and raising his back end off the ground but was still ok in himself and eating normally. We took him to the vets and was given pain relief injections and antibiotics as it was suspected a urine infection. He was completely out of it from this point and would walk around or eat or drink even once the pain relief had worn off. We took him back and was given more antibiotics ans started passing blood and was told to syringe feed him and there was told there was nothing else they could do. He didn’t get better from it and eventually passed away. Does anyone know if this sounds like it was caused from a urine infection or whether it sounds like something else or could be influenced by the medication. Just wandering why he was never able to recover when given the antibiotics and showed no sign of improvement with this when I’ve heard other pigs be cured with antibiotics.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry that it is under such traumatic circumstances! It is normal to try and make sense out of it all after a sudden death when you are left with a big shock and lots of questions.

Has your vet checked for bladder or kidney stones with an x-ray? How piggy savvy is your vet?

Urinary tract infection and cystitis are painful but they are not fatal.

What can however be fatal in guinea pigs very quickly if kidney stones on the march get stuck in the ureters on the way to the bladder (less common) or if a bladder stone fetches up in the awkward inglenook that boars have in their urethra. If the stone is large enough to back up the flow of urine into the kidneys and there is no not am immediate life or death emergency operation to remove the stone as soon as you notice a sudden deterioration (dramatically increased pain, loss of appetite, apathy) then it will lead to a very quick and rather dramatic death. What you have described is consistent with the second scenario, which is sadly not at all rare.
Sows have a wider, straight and shorter urethra, but if a larger stone gets stuck just inside the opening, they can suffer the same fate - but it is a lot less common and doesn't require an operation to remove it. :(

However, all I can do is make an educated guess. Only a post mortem examination at the vets will give you the answers you crave.

Please check whether your diet is too high in calcium; this is usually a major factor in the development of bladder stones; but in a piggy as young as yours a genetic disposition might also come into play to provide a fatal combination.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (includes stricter diet recommendations for guinea pigs with bladder stones or sterile interstitial cystitis).

Here is what you can do for any companion in the short and longer term: Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Here is information and help for your own grieving process to help you make sense of what you are currently experiencing: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
I'm really sorry for your loss. It sounds much more likely that he had stones which may have blocked his tubes and caused a back up of urine to the kidneys which can damage them
 
Hello.
Sorry to hear about your piggie. . really sad hes left for Rainbow World. What was his name pls
Rip little piggie Rainbow World is pain free and full of fun .
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

I am very sorry that it is under such traumatic circumstances! It is normal to try and make sense out of it all after a sudden death when you are left with a big shock and lots of questions.

Has your vet checked for bladder or kidney stones with an x-ray? How piggy savvy is your vet?

Urinary tract infection and cystitis are painful but they are not fatal.

What can however be fatal in guinea pigs very quickly if kidney stones on the march get stuck in the ureters on the way to the bladder (less common) or if a bladder stone fetches up in the awkward inglenook that boars have in their urethra. If the stone is large enough to back up the flow of urine into the kidneys and there is no not am immediate life or death emergency operation to remove the stone as soon as you notice a sudden deterioration (dramatically increased pain, loss of appetite, apathy) then it will lead to a very quick and rather dramatic death. What you have described is consistent with the second scenario, which is sadly not at all rare.
Sows have a wider, straight and shorter urethra, but if a larger stone gets stuck just inside the opening, they can suffer the same fate - but it is a lot less common and doesn't require an operation to remove it. :(

However, all I can do is make an educated guess. Only a post mortem examination at the vets will give you the answers you crave.

Please check whether your diet is too high in calcium; this is usually a major factor in the development of bladder stones; but in a piggy as young as yours a genetic disposition might also come into play to provide a fatal combination.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (includes stricter diet recommendations for guinea pigs with bladder stones or sterile interstitial cystitis).

Here is what you can do for any companion in the short and longer term: Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Here is information and help for your own grieving process to help you make sense of what you are currently experiencing: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Click to expand...
 
Hi thanks for your reply! I didn’t have an x ray for my piggy but he was felt by the vet to feel for stones however she couldn’t feel any present so there was no other treatment available at that point unfortunately
 
I'm sorry for youre loss 😕. I was thinking stones after reading aswell, I lost one of mine to 3 bladders stones at once, I believe they can't always be felt, my boars showed up on xray, inoperable, and matches pretty much she same as what happened to you're fudge. Still it could have not been this. X take care
 
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