Help - Blood In Urine

[skrinzoid]

Hi everyone, ive signed up for some advice.

A little background to explain my anxiety. a while back I lost a guinea pig boar at 4 years following repeated uti's and heamaturia that was put down to kidney stones or cancer.

So I made the big step to get two more guinea pigs (sows) who are coming up to one year. This evening I noted one (jesse) has a wet bum and very slightly rose tinged urine.
IT feels like its not a conincidence that its happening again. Of course I will get jesse to the vets as soon as they are open. She still very perky and eating well, but she is squealing occasionally and sitting slightly unusually.

Any guinea pigs I have owned are well looked after. They have clean woodshaving beds, access to unlimited hay. Unlimited dry food (vit c enriched). They have daily veg of green peppers, cucumber, brocoli, tomato and treats such as brussel sprouts, carrots, rarely spinach, the odd blueberry and other coloured peppers.

Where am I going wrong? Is the heamaturia a coincidence or am I doing something?

Thanks for any help

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! It sounds like the beginnings of a UTI - spring is the season for it, especially after a few warm days when the piggies have been on the lawn for the first time. Guinea pigs have a highly alkaline urine, so they are very prone to urinary tract problems from straight forward infections (UTI) to stones and inflammatory problems.

If I were you, I'd start slowly reducing the amount of pellets; they need a lot less calcium and protein as fully grown adults from 15 months onwards and they should be past there big growth now.

Please have them seen by a vet; your girl needs some antibiotic. Ideally bactrim (US)/septrin (UK). Also ask for metacam (painkiller cum anti-inflammatory) and probiotics. You can help by offering mildly diuretic foods in the next few days like dandelion, cucumber and any lettuce apart from iceberg to help flush the bacteria out. Make sure that you don't overdo it, though, or you can end up with diarrhoea.

Here is more information on UTI: http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
At that young age, you do not have to worry about stones yet, especially as your diet is not calcium laden. if you are worried about bladder problems, you can consider fitering the water, especially if you live in a hard water area.

PS: With members from all over the world, it would be very helpful for us if you added your country, state (US/Aus/Can) or county (UK) to your details, so we can always give you the appropriate advice straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal detail/location.

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[VickiA]

@Wiebke has given you the best advice.

I've had one of my sows at the vet yesterday and today with blood in her urine. Fortunately the X-ray is clear so no stones but she is now on pain relief, antibiotics and a cystitis treatment. I'm also increasing her cucumber and lettuce to help as they are diuretics.

I like to think I am a responsible and caring piggie keeper and that these things can happen to us all. Don't blame yourself for it happening, but please get a vet to check your piggie over and prescribe the necessary medication. Good luck.