One of my guinea pigs a few months ago started showing two symptoms of a UTI. She was squeaking when peeing and peeing more often than usual, though strangely enough she was very active,had an appetite. Obviously we instantly took her to the vet and it was practically worthless since they just examined her quickly and told us she was fine. I believed them for a while until I realised she just wouldn’t stop squeaking, so we went to the vet again. This visit proved to be more useful,as they gave us metacam for the pain (I had a feeling this wouldn’t do anything since I assumed she needed antibiotics but it was something atleast.) the metacam helped for around a week,then she started squeaking again for a few weeks. We now went to the vet for a third time and we finally got given antibiotics, which would be Baytril. She’s been on it for around 14 hours now and no improvement so far, does anyone know how long it’ll take to show signs of it working? I’m a bit confused on what is actually wrong with her though, don’t most UTI’s give the guinea pigs blood in their urine? And make them less active? Literally the only symptom she has is pain when peeing, as of right now. How long could she live with this? Is there anything I can do for her at home that’ll help? When she’s not squeaking she’s a perfectly fine guinea pig and she’s managed to hold up like this for a few months due to useless vets. I made an account on here because I’m genuinely worried about her,I need advice and I’m not keen to go to my quite useless vet practice again as it is the only one in the area (obviously we will go if she gets worse)
-
Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement
Guinea pig UTI (?)
- Thread starter julss
- Start date
I’m sorry to hear this.
An untreated UTI for months would be very uncomfortable for her.
Antibiotics take several days to start to work but may take an entire course (usually 10 days)
before you see full improvement if this is a bacterial infection.
It is not necessarily the case that you would see blood. The only sign that something may be wrong may be pain.
Clear urine can actually contain traces of blood and the only way to know it is there is to have her urine tested.
Red urine actually does not mean it contains blood, it can be porphyrine which is a natural dye which can come at the onset.
It is also possible for a piggy to not have a bacterial infection at all yet display signs of a UTI. There is something called sterile cystitis which is more common than a bacterial infection. The word sterile means it does not contain bacteria and thus antibiotics would not cure it. Sterile cystitis can only be diagnosed once all other possibilities have been eliminated. Should a piggy have sterile cystitis you will find the antibiotics
might suppress but don’t cure it. The long term management is sterile cystitis is with daily metacam (adjusted up during a flare and back down for management) and glucosamine.
We would recommend that you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily while she is unwell so that you can monitor hay intake more closely
I’ve added a guide below which explains everything more fully
Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones
I’ve also added our weight management guide
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/weight-monitoring-and-management.171577/
An untreated UTI for months would be very uncomfortable for her.
Antibiotics take several days to start to work but may take an entire course (usually 10 days)
before you see full improvement if this is a bacterial infection.
It is not necessarily the case that you would see blood. The only sign that something may be wrong may be pain.
Clear urine can actually contain traces of blood and the only way to know it is there is to have her urine tested.
Red urine actually does not mean it contains blood, it can be porphyrine which is a natural dye which can come at the onset.
It is also possible for a piggy to not have a bacterial infection at all yet display signs of a UTI. There is something called sterile cystitis which is more common than a bacterial infection. The word sterile means it does not contain bacteria and thus antibiotics would not cure it. Sterile cystitis can only be diagnosed once all other possibilities have been eliminated. Should a piggy have sterile cystitis you will find the antibiotics
might suppress but don’t cure it. The long term management is sterile cystitis is with daily metacam (adjusted up during a flare and back down for management) and glucosamine.
We would recommend that you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily while she is unwell so that you can monitor hay intake more closely
I’ve added a guide below which explains everything more fully
Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones
I’ve also added our weight management guide
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/weight-monitoring-and-management.171577/
Thank you I’ll look into everything. I never knew there were other explanations for pain when peeing other than a bacterial infection. Overall though, do you think she’ll be fine until I can get other treatment (if the antibiotics don’t work) seeing as her condition has not worsened and she is active and very willing to eat? A bit silly but I’ve been worried that one day I’ll just wake up and whatever’s wrong with her will randomly make her 10X worse and it’ll be too late to get help. Thanks again
The expected course of action would be antibiotics and painkillers for a potential bacterial infection to see if they helped.
If the signs were there then possibly x ray to check for stones.
(Sludge, crystals and bladder stones (crystals being the precursor to stones) can be the other causes of pain).
If there are no stones (crystals or sludge) and antibiotics didn’t work then sterile cystitis might be the diagnosis. As I say though that is often a life long conditioned managed with painkillers and glucosamine (which is a food supplement) which coats the bladder wall.
If the signs were there then possibly x ray to check for stones.
(Sludge, crystals and bladder stones (crystals being the precursor to stones) can be the other causes of pain).
If there are no stones (crystals or sludge) and antibiotics didn’t work then sterile cystitis might be the diagnosis. As I say though that is often a life long conditioned managed with painkillers and glucosamine (which is a food supplement) which coats the bladder wall.
Truffolo
Forum Donator 2025/26
It would help if you can, to get hold of an exotics vet as it makes a big difference. If your vet is an exotics vet, best to find another vet. You don't have time to get this under control as it could become serious quickly unfortunately. Getting your vet, or new vet, to take a urine sample would be wise. Good luck with this, I hope the meds kick in and help 
D
Deleted member 158127
Hope the stuff kicks in soon!