Guinea Pig UTI Support

[Piggies&buns]

Her weight looks absolutely fine so she seems to be eating well.

Is another vet check prebooked?
How much longer have they said to keep her on pain meds?
I would probably ask for another check just before pain meds run out just to be sure the vet is happy to let it lapse or whether she needs a further course.

If I remember rightly, celery leaves are slightly higher in calcium than the stalk. Pak Choi and chard are also high calcium so these things should really be kept limited particularly given she has had a bladder stone.

 

[Tory93]

Her weight looks absolutely fine so she seems to be eating well.

Is another vet check prebooked?
How much longer have they said to keep her on pain meds?
I would probably ask for another check just before pain meds run out just to be sure the vet is happy to let it lapse or whether she needs a further course.

If I remember rightly, celery leaves are slightly higher in calcium than the stalk. Pak Choi and chard are also high calcium so these things should really be kept limited particularly given she has had a bladder stone.

We don't have any visit booked in at the moment. When we saw him Monday he said one isn't needed but we can book one for a weeks time if we wanted to.

He didn't give us a time frame for the pain meds but we do have plenty, we had some left over from when she hurt her foot in March so we are still using that plus have a whole other bottle. We are just continuing with the pain meds until she is more herself and were then going to start lowering doses.

We were given a printout from the RVC (I think I have attached it) so have been sticking to the veg on the green side. Should we cut back on the chard and pak choi? She's not wanting to eat many other veg at the moment.

 

[Piggies&buns]

We don't have any visit booked in at the moment. When we saw him Monday he said one isn't needed but we can book one for a weeks time if we wanted to.

He didn't give us a time frame for the pain meds but we do have plenty, we had some left over from when she hurt her foot in March so we are still using that plus have a whole other bottle. We are just continuing with the pain meds until she is more herself and were then going to start lowering doses.

We were given a printout from the RVC (I think I have attached it) so have been sticking to the veg on the green side. Should we cut back on the chard and pak choi? She's not wanting to eat many other veg at the moment.

I’d personally not feed all the things on the green side regularly if I'm honest. A lot of them I’d consider infrequent - one type, once a week.
Difficult if she isn’t wanting to each much but encouraging her hay intake to increase is a priority. The grass is really good though.

Bell pepper, lettuce, cucumber and coriander are the four which provide a good mix of nutrients without introducing lots of calcium.

 

[Tory93]

I’d personally not feed all the things on the green side regularly if I'm honest. A lot of them I’d consider infrequent - one type, once a week.
Difficult if she isn’t wanting to each much but encouraging her hay intake to increase is a priority. The grass is really good though.

Bell pepper, lettuce, cucumber and coriander are the four which provide a good mix of nutrients without introducing lots of calcium.

Okay thank you.

We don't give them everything on the green list but aren't straying to things on the orange and red lists.

We are trying with the hay, they have a huge bowl plus 2 hay bags of Timothy hay in their cage plus they have bedding hay down the 2 ends of their cage. I'm going to look at what other hays are about to give more of a variety.

She won't go near pepper, she used to like lettuce but has been off that for a few months now, we do offer cucumber (we buy the mini ones) and she won't touch those (even pre op) she would probably go for coriander but that's on the orange list?

We give as much grass as we can but it's not growing as fast as we are cutting it!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Okay thank you.

We don't give them everything on the green list but aren't straying to things on the orange and red lists.

We are trying with the hay, they have a huge bowl plus 2 hay bags of Timothy hay in their cage plus they have bedding hay down the 2 ends of their cage. I'm going to look at what other hays are about to give more of a variety.

She won't go near pepper, she used to like lettuce but has been off that for a few months now, we do offer cucumber (we buy the mini ones) and she won't touch those (even pre op) she would probably go for coriander but that's on the orange list?

We give as much grass as we can but it's not growing as fast as we are cutting it!

Difficult she isn’t liking things!
It doesn’t matter that it’s on the orange list, it’s about a balance - just because something on the green doesn’t mean it can be fed a lot of (you can still end up with too much calcium by feeding too much of the green list).
I have fed few sprigs of coriander every day for the past six years but mine also eat lettuce, pepper and cucumber which are low. I don’t feed pellets much though (they are getting five pellets each and even then only twice a week) so have leeway in other areas. I feed things which are in the red list also!

Are you able to grow grass in trays to help boost your supply? You can keep cutting and resowing as needed

 

[Piggies2023]

It's now 6 days post op, wound site looks great.

My piggie guzzles down bowls of grass.

She munches on hay a little bit but not a huge huge amount.

She comes out to drink occasionally.

When she has her veggies her favourites used to be Celery, Celery leaves and chard - she now gravitates towards carrot tops and pak choi, and will eat her veg for about 3 mins before stopping and her sister pigging out the rest

I have been syringe feeding - I have been trying to long out between sessions to see if it encourages her to eat.

Poops are looking great but not as many as she would typically do pre-op.

She is still on 0.25ml dog metacam twice daily and antibiotics twice daily (last antibiotic is Saturday morning).

She seems comfortable up until and hour before and after her metacam.

Is this a cause for concern 6 days out? It's was a 1cm bladder stone so appreciate she isn't going to be 100% but should we be seeing more of an improvement and in which case a vet visit is needed. Or is this normal?

I have been weighing her and it flutates a bit but not a huge amount.
1204g
1199g
1218g
1197g

Any thoughts?

It could be bladder inflammation from the surgery. If you are concerned you could ask your vet the question. She seems on the right track. Her weight is great. Pumpkin had some pain for begin with. Not had any last couple of days but she's on significantly more metacam than your pig.

 

[Tory93]

Difficult she isn’t liking things!
It doesn’t matter that it’s on the orange list, it’s about a balance - just because something on the green doesn’t mean it can be fed a lot of (you can still end up with too much calcium by feeding too much of the green list).
I have fed few sprigs of coriander every day for the past six years but mine also eat lettuce, pepper and cucumber which are low. I don’t feed pellets much though (they are getting five pellets each and even then only twice a week) so have leeway in other areas. I feed things which are in the red list also!

Are you able to grow grass in trays to help boost your supply? You can keep cutting and resowing as needed

Yeah she is very set in her ways, doesn't like change at all.

I will try pepper again, any particular colour? I usually go for orange.

We have a tub of Timothy grass thay we grow but have also been picking grass from the garden and picking out the clovers as I believe these are high calcium.

Do you think her behaviour is normal for a piggie who has had such extensive surgery or do you think a vet visit is needed? (She finds vet visits stressful so don't want to stress her out if I'm being paranoid)

 

[Tory93]

It could be bladder inflammation from the surgery. If you are concerned you could ask your vet the question. She seems on the right track. Her weight is great. Pumpkin had some pain for begin with. Not had any last couple of days but she's on significantly more metacam than your pig.

Would the metacam not help with the bladder inflammation?

Oh I thought we were on the max dose, may I ask what dose Pumpkin is on?

How was Pumpkin with her sister around? I have noticed that when we get them out for floor time, Grizz (the piggie who had the op) puffs up if her sister gets to close behind her (understandably) and when I pick her sister up to give her some space she seems to relax again. She's absolutely fine if her sister is in front of her though nestle up to each other having a chat.

 

[Piggies2023]

Would the metacam not help with the bladder inflammation?

Oh I thought we were on the max dose, may I ask what dose Pumpkin is on?

How was Pumpkin with her sister around? I have noticed that when we get them out for floor time, Grizz (the piggie who had the op) puffs up if her sister gets to close behind her (understandably) and when I pick her sister up to give her some space she seems to relax again. She's absolutely fine if her sister is in front of her though nestle up to each other having a chat.

Yes it would help, but may not take all pain away. I sometimes email or ring my vet to ask for advice if I'm not sure if we need to go in.

Pumpkin is on 0.46ml twice a day of dog metacam. She is a similar weight to your pig. My vet prescribes 0.4ml per 1kg.

Pumpkin is like normal around her sister but they've been together the whole time so dynamics haven't really changed.

 

[Tory93]

Yes it would help, but may not take all pain away. I sometimes email or ring my vet to ask for advice if I'm not sure if we need to go in.

Pumpkin is on 0.46ml twice a day of dog metacam. She is a similar weight to your pig. My vet prescribes 0.4ml per 1kg.

Pumpkin is like normal around her sister but they've been together the whole time so dynamics haven't really changed.

I hadn't considered emailing I'll give that a go. He did say the max dose was 0.25ml of dog metacam and verbally told us we could have it twice a day but couldn't put it on the bottle. Has your vet actually put on the prescription 0.46ml twice a day or just verbally agreed it?

I'll mention it in the email to see if we can increase it as I think this probably would help as that's more or less double than what we are on!

Thank you

 

[Piggies2023]

I hadn't considered emailing I'll give that a go. He did say the max dose was 0.25ml of dog metacam and verbally told us we could have it twice a day but couldn't put it on the bottle. Has your vet actually put on the prescription 0.46ml twice a day or just verbally agreed it?

I'll mention it in the email to see if we can increase it as I think this probably would help as that's more or less double than what we are on!

Thank you

It's on the bottle, it is what she prescribes. It's a common dose prescribed by guinea pig savvy vets so not an unusual dose in that sense.

 

[Tory93]

It's on the bottle, it is what she prescribes. It's a common dose prescribed by guinea pig savvy vets so not an unusual dose in that sense.

Thank you - I will get in touch and see what the Vet says

 

[Piggies2023]

Thank you - I will get in touch and see what the Vet says

Pumpkin has been squeaking in pain last night too. Hopefully this is a common issue after surgery

 

[Tory93]

Pumpkin has been squeaking in pain last night too. Hopefully this is a common issue after surgery

Awww poor Pumpkin, my piggie hasn't been squeaking in pain on a general basis, but does squeak when she does a wee, nowhere near as bad as it was pre-op and sometimes you can barely hear it, but obviously shouldn't squeak when peeing. Our vet did say there could be blood or squeaking when urinating for up to 2 weeks. We haven't had any blood since about Tuesday (which is good) but there have been squeaks.

We have put her on 0.4ml metacam and she is so much better, she's been scoffing hay and seems a lot happier and sassier so hopefully we can cut back on the syringe feeding

 

[Piggies2023]

Awww poor Pumpkin, my piggie hasn't been squeaking in pain on a general basis, but does squeak when she does a wee, nowhere near as bad as it was pre-op and sometimes you can barely hear it, but obviously shouldn't squeak when peeing. Our vet did say there could be blood or squeaking when urinating for up to 2 weeks. We haven't had any blood since about Tuesday (which is good) but there have been squeaks.

We have put her on 0.4ml metacam and she is so much better, she's been scoffing hay and seems a lot happier and sassier so hopefully we can cut back on the syringe feeding

We've not had any blood since day after surgery. Pumpkin's squeaking is much worse than pre-op. But it was the amount of blood we had pre-op that had me at the vets with her more than pain. Last night so much squeaking and quiet loud. But I also have an IC pig who has found me moving house and then Pumpkin disappearing a lot to the vets stressful so don't know how much is Pumpkin. But I've seen Pumpkin squeak.

Glad your vet has increased it. Sounds like you may not need to syringe feed at all if her weight is fine.

 

[Tory93]

Hi Guys

I know it has been a while but just wanted to do a little update. During the girls exercise floor time yesterday, we noticed a small very pale pink pee. Naturally a mental breakdown ensues.

A night of no sleep.

Followed by an appointment this morning - 1 xray later and she has the clear stones wise. I literally burst into tears with happiness.

Pleased that 7 months on my girl is still stone free.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Guys

I know it has been a while but just wanted to do a little update. During the girls exercise floor time yesterday, we noticed a small very pale pink pee. Naturally a mental breakdown ensues.

A night of no sleep.

Followed by an appointment this morning - 1 xray later and she has the clear stones wise. I literally burst into tears with happiness.

Pleased that 7 months on my girl is still stone free.

HUGS

That is great news because it means that you are now well past the initial difficult weeks and that you are unlikely to ever get a stone again with that piggy.

It very much depends on what exactly is going wrong with the complex calcium absorption or nutrional balance process; all we have got is dietary measures and those are such a limited and often clumsy and not very effective instrument to wield that is also not a quick one. But once you are past that stage, then you can take a deep breath.

You may get bacterial or sterile urine infections as with every piggy, but not stones in my own long term experience.

 

[Tory93]

HUGS

That is great news because it means that you are now well past the initial difficult weeks and that you are unlikely to ever get a stone again with that piggy.

It very much depends on what exactly is going wrong with the complex calcium absorption or nutrional balance process; all we have got is dietary measures and those are such a limited and often clumsy and not very effective instrument to wield that is also not a quick one. But once you are past that stage, then you can take a deep breath.

You may get bacterial or sterile urine infections as with every piggy, but not stones in my own long term experience.

Ahh thank you. I didn't know about the 'get through the initial period of time without a stone and you are unlikely to get a stone with the same piggie again' so that was like music to my ears. I read so much about reoccurring stones and because it's not something you can physical see the anxiety between last night and the xray today was unreal. But am thrilled she's in the clear and will hopefully stay that way!

We were also careful (or so we thought) we their diet but have had a change around since the surgery, dramatically reduced pellets, cut out certain veggies, even dandelions so it's nice to see that it has hopefully paid off.

Our other piggie has flare ups of IC so we always have cystease in the house so are going to try the piggie (Grizzy) who went to the vet today with a low dose of those for the next few weeks and will hopefully see a difference .

The vet was happy, so I'm happy - especially with the Christmas closures coming up.

Thank you for responding

 

[Wiebke]

Ahh thank you. I didn't know about the 'get through the initial period of time without a stone and you are unlikely to get a stone with the same piggie again' so that was like music to my ears. I read so much about reoccurring stones and because it's not something you can physical see the anxiety between last night and the xray today was unreal. But am thrilled she's in the clear and will hopefully stay that way!

We were also careful (or so we thought) we their diet but have had a change around since the surgery, dramatically reduced pellets, cut out certain veggies, even dandelions so it's nice to see that it has hopefully paid off.

Our other piggie has flare ups of IC so we always have cystease in the house so are going to try the piggie (Grizzy) who went to the vet today with a low dose of those for the next few weeks and will hopefully see a difference .

The vet was happy, so I'm happy - especially with the Christmas closures coming up.

Thank you for responding

Hi

You can give dandelions as forage because they have other good qualities (mildly diuretic) as long as you give them together with fluid. If dried (higher in calcium), use them in treat quantity and not in fresh forage feed quantity.

The problem with online research is that you do not get a balanced view. It's all the worst case scenarios and the episodal miracle cures but the one thing that is usually missing is the vast normality in the middle because that is not considered worth posting about.

One of the major reasons why we have started to push the community owner support aspect much more on here these days is to create an atmosphere where we take those panics, doubts etc. seriously, where any questions can be asked and will be answered in a constructive, friendly way and where we try to provide that corrective of the big normality in the middle in terms of our own long term collective forum experience of nearly 20 years as well as personal ownership experience going back up to half a century.

We are also championing ongoing support threads where each case can be followed in its entirety so the normal, unspectacular outcomes will all by themselves become more and more obvious as time goes by. Social media cannot do this; they only regurgite the same slanted stuff over and over again by lack of quantifiable input. The way this place here is set up, our own forum thread fundus available for searching will continue to grow as the by far largest resource both in depth and width all on its own and - while still somewhat slanted - it will however become a lot more balanced the more cases are added to it over time.

You are always welcome to come here and ask anything or even come to just hang out with us and learn a lot of little practical care tricks and life skills on the side. Social media cannot do any of this; our independence from them is our
strength and we try to make the best of it.

Here is an overview of the field which you may find helpful:

Thread 'Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones'

May 29, 2024

1 The Urinary Tract
2 Pees
- Water intake changes
- Pee discoloration
3 Infections
- Bacterial urine infection (UTI)
- Bacterial cystitis
- Sterile cystitis (interstitial cystitis or IC)
4 Stones, Sludge and Crystals
- Crystals, stones and sludge
- Stone and sludge removal
5 Kidneys...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Wiebke's Guides to the Body

 

[Tory93]

Hi All,

My girlie has been suffering with a wet leg for a few days now, just been to the vets and she has a UTI and some antibiotics for 10 days - fine.

She also had an ultrasound to make sure all was okay and there was something showing "something that the ultrasound wouldn't pass through" were the words used. Have been advised it could be a stone but couldn't confirm it without an xray. The vet also advised it could be "Amalgamated flem" which could be sediment and/or gas.

Naturally I'm hoping it's "Amalgamated flem" as she is quite a windy girl, you do often hear her fart, but just wondered if anyone else had experienced this on an ultrasound?

We have an xray booked for Tuesday, it will initially done awake, if they can't take a read she will be sedated. If they find a stone she will go straight to surgery, which I have DREADING.

So I guess the question is just has anyone ever had a similar reading on an ultrasound and it not be a stone?

 

[Tory93]

Bumping in case the thread slips down before anyone can see it

I do also want to add that she is 100% herself, running around, begging for food, mini popcorns, eating, drinking, good poops, good clear squeak free wees.

But yeah, it's really just the ultrasound reading that I'm interested to see if anyone has had anything similar and it not be stones. I'm hoping and praying it's gas because she is a farty girl but don't want to get my hopes up (not that gas is a good thing but at least it's not a surgical thing!)

 

[Tory93]

Anyone?

 

[Piggies2023]

Anyone?

Sorry never had this, had stones, bladder issues but not ultrasound showing this.. My vet always xrays if she suspects problems Why did your vet ultrasound if she's okay was it just when she had the UTI? If it is a stone, females do sometimes pass them

 

[Truffolo]

Maybe using US as a general scoping to save full GA for more specific imaging. It might be sludge, which could be flushed out. You seem to have quite a good vet. If it is a stone, hopefully it will be simple to remove and after care will be uncomplicated. She may need support feeding if she has an op so things like Critical Care and a probiotic should be on standby. I hope things go well for your little piggy

 

[Tory93]

Sorry never had this, had stones, bladder issues but not ultrasound showing this.. My vet always xrays if she suspects problems Why did your vet ultrasound if she's okay was it just when she had the UTI? If it is a stone, females do sometimes pass them

The vet did an ultrasound just to check the health of the bladder because she had stone removal surgery last May. So he just wanted to cover all basis, but he couldn't say for certainty what he was seeing on the ultrasound, just that there was something that the ultrasound wouldn't pass through. It could be a stone or it could be "Amalgamated phlegm" which could be sludge, gas, etc. I hadn't heard it referred to as that before so was hoping and praying that it was a common find because I don't want her to have to go through another stone surgery

Maybe using US as a general scoping to save full GA for more specific imaging. It might be sludge, which could be flushed out. You seem to have quite a good vet. If it is a stone, hopefully it will be simple to remove and after care will be uncomplicated. She may need support feeding if she has an op so things like Critical Care and a probiotic should be on standby. I hope things go well for your little piggy

Thank you, really hoping it's not a stone. She had one removed last May, it was the most traumatic week of my life, so not what to expect but with her now being 6 and 3 months years old instead of 5, I'm just freaking out and really don't want her to have to go through surgery.
As she is currently on antibiotics we have been giving her fibreplex, bit of poop soup and a bit of recovery food just to make sure the antibiotics don't play havoc with her tummy so we are all stocked up and I have also Amazon Primed some more earlier in the event she does need surgery which I really hope she doesn't.
It's just the term "Amalgamated phlegm" not heard it before so I was hoping someone would come along and be like yeah that's common, it's happened to me, wasn't a stone all good - but who gets good luck these days

 

[Piggies2023]

The vet did an ultrasound just to check the health of the bladder because she had stone removal surgery last May. So he just wanted to cover all basis, but he couldn't say for certainty what he was seeing on the ultrasound, just that there was something that the ultrasound wouldn't pass through. It could be a stone or it could be "Amalgamated phlegm" which could be sludge, gas, etc. I hadn't heard it referred to as that before so was hoping and praying that it was a common find because I don't want her to have to go through another stone surgery

Thank you, really hoping it's not a stone. She had one removed last May, it was the most traumatic week of my life, so not what to expect but with her now being 6 and 3 months years old instead of 5, I'm just freaking out and really don't want her to have to go through surgery.
As she is currently on antibiotics we have been giving her fibreplex, bit of poop soup and a bit of recovery food just to make sure the antibiotics don't play havoc with her tummy so we are all stocked up and I have also Amazon Primed some more earlier in the event she does need surgery which I really hope she doesn't.
It's just the term "Amalgamated phlegm" not heard it before so I was hoping someone would come along and be like yeah that's common, it's happened to me, wasn't a stone all good - but who gets good luck these days

I wonder if it could be scar tissue on the ultrasound from the surgery.

Good luck tomorrow. I hope you get good news

 

[Tory93]

I wonder if it could be scar tissue on the ultrasound from the surgery.

Good luck tomorrow. I hope you get good news

I hadn't thought about scar tissue. Going to pray for anything that doesn't require surgery!

Thank you

 

[KK327]

Hi Everyone,

I have 2 piggies from the same litter who are now 5 years old.

Piggie 1 had urinary issues last year - blood in urine and squeaky wees. We took her to the vet, they prescribed Baytril and she had serious adverse effects and nearly died. After several weeks the blood and squeaking didn't stop. After doing some research we suspected IC so gave her glucosamine daily for weeks and touch wood she has been okay.

Fast forward to now, Piggie 2 now has blood in her urine and loud squeaky wees. We took a trip to the vets yesterday who carried out an ultrasound on her tummy to check for stones and everything was clear. They suspected a UTI and have prescribed antibiotics (we requested it not be baytril, so we were instead provided a tablet antibiotic to crush up and provide with water - we have had this previous for a RI and everything was fine). Appreciate these things take time but the poor little baby sounds so distressed.

She is currently on:
1/4 antibiotic twice a day
0.25ml dog metacam twice a day
Cystease twice a day for 3 days (tomorrow will be the last day, but will continue with 1 capsule a day)

They have tesco bottled water (lowest calcium I can find).

They have probiotic in their water as standard.

They also have Sherwood urinary support tablets twice a day every day as standard.

I have also been giving fibreplex with the antibiotic to make sure we are covered there.

Is there anything else I can do to speed up recovery and make her more comfortable? Vitamin C? Different Veg? Will try anything

We try to keep their calcium levels low, no kale, no spinach. They get fresh dandies everyday.

Sorry for the wall of text. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Ps only mentioned her sister in case it's genetics.

Sorry I can’t offer help only support and good wishes to your piggy and you xx get well soon

 

[Truffolo]

Good luck at the appointment today

 

[Piggies2023]

How did the xray go?