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Help needed - blood in urine / lump on bottom

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Mamaguineapig

Mamaguineapig

Junior Guinea Pig
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I'm worried terribly about my guinea pig Daniel who is 6 1/2 years old . He has been going back and forth to the vets for treatment for what I thought was a UTI for about 2 weeks . He has had blood in his urine and a sore swollen looking bottom . The vet has given him a good exam each visit and he has been given 2 anti biotic jags and a pain killer jag as well as Baytril. He has lost a 9th of his body weight last week and got fluids injected under his skin so he wouldn't become dehydrated . Anyway ( sorry this is so long ) he went back on Friday there and the vet said she could feel something hard near his opening - I was in too much shock to ask what as she said it was looking bad for him and maybe should be pts on Tuesday at his next visit . He is still eating normally drinking his water, poos normally and purring when I pet him and coming over when I go near the cage . His urine smells foul and stains his white bottom which I have been gently dabbing clean for him. I really don't know what to think . I certainly don't want him in any pain and pts when it comes I know is the last act of kindness but I'm not sure , "it's his time " as they say and i want to be as informed as possible. Has anyone had any experience of this ? The vet said he should have responded by this time . I've read people have had guineas xrayed before etc .... But would that really tell a vet anything that would help him. We are devastated . Thanks
 
Is he on any medication other than the injections that the vet has given?

What investigations has he had done? Any urine tests? I'm assuming no Xrays have been done?
 
No X-rays Amanda or urine tests done . I feel like I want him tested so I know I'm making the correct pts decision. Could an X-ray give us good news do you think or am I clutching at straws . He is so loved ! Thanks
 
Mamaguineapig said:
No X-rays Amanda or urine tests done . I feel like I want him tested so I know I'm making the correct pts decision. Could an X-ray give us good news do you think or am I clutching at straws . He is so loved ! Thanks
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If your vet hasn't suggested these, quite frankly, basic diagnostic tests, you really ought to seek a second opinion.

Where abouts in Scotland are you, and how far could you travel to a vet? I'm sure someone could recommend a "cavy savvy" (i.e. very experienced) vet nearby.

I know that Glen at Apex vets in Falkirk comes highly recommended.
 
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Before making the decision to PTS, I would be inclined to asked for a urinalysis (urine tests) and an X-ray just to double check everything.

I sadly had to have my piggy PTS a few weeks ago after she went downhill. I was unsure about having her PTS until a full urinalysis and the confirmation of internal tumours told me that nothing could be done for Ellie. My vet explained that she wasn't in pain at that point but she had stopped eating so the pain would come and she would die. I couldn't put her though that.

Please don't give up yet until you know for sure what you are dealing with.
 
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Amanda - I'm in ayrshire . Claire - thanks for your hope - I am of the same option .... I couldn't bear to see him suffer pain. We lost his brother in December of a stroke and had to have him pts , I had been planning to boar date him. I think the thought of losing him so close to his brother is awful .
 
Mamaguineapig said:
Amanda - I'm in ayrshire . Claire - thanks for your hope - I am of the same option .... I couldn't bear to see him suffer pain. We lost his brother in December of a stroke and had to have him pts , I had been planning to boar date him. I think the thought of losing him so close to his brother is awful .
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How far can you travel? I've posted this in the Piggy Bank, hopefully someone will recommend somewhere that you can take him tomorrow
 
Sorry that Daniel is ill. Is he on medication now? Did you get any antibiotics to give him orally at home?
 
The vet I'm in has always been top class in the past with my other guineas so I think I might go back and ask for the tests and take it from there but if anyone can recommend specialists in the s.w scotland area id look in to them too. Falkirk is very far away from me unfortunately . Vet did say she'd look at the options on his next appointment with pts being voiced so hopefully tests are my option too. I think I have panicked when she mentioned pts and I've only taken that in ! The funny thing is I'd actually recommend her as a good vet in my area if asked. Oh dear :(
 
Oh and his anti biotics were through a jag this time. He had a home course last week .
 
The smelly wee sounds like an infection and septrin for 3-4 weeks is normally used to treat this. However I'm more worried bout the lump. If your boar is not neutered he may have a sperm rod stuck in his penis that is causing the problem. The lump may also be a stone stuck in the urethra or may be be due to impaction. He may also have gunk/fur/hay wrapped round the shaft of his penis that has accumulated over time to create a lump.

It sounds to me that before any decision to PTS is made he should receive a full physical examination from a cavy savvy vet, his penis should be properly extruded and his anal sac looked at. He should also have Xrays or preferably ultrasound (the latter shows up soft tissue inflammation/tumours better and will in any case show any stones).

It's possible he has a stone in the urethra, bladder, ureter or kidney and depending upon where it is, it may or may not be successfully removed. Kidney stones are inoperable unless a decision is made to remove the kidney. However if a stone is found in his ureter, bladder or urethra - then depending upon the skill of the vet they may or may not decide to operate - however if this is case you really should get another opinion from Glen at Apex vets as he has performed some miraculous surgery on pigs with urinary stones.

It's also possible he has chronic inflammation of the bladder lining which would also produce the bloody wee and not necessarily respond to antibiotics. If grit/thickened bladder wall show on the ultrasound then long term treatment with metacam and also cystease may help.

If he is in pain (which is possibly why he isn;t eating properly and is losing weight) then metacam may not be sufficient and my vet now prescribes tramadol in addition to metcam for my chronic cystitis boars,

Keep an eye on his poos - if his weight is dropping he may not be taking in enough food and you may have to syringe feed him (you will see his poos get smaller,change in consistency and ultimately stop)


This is the only one in Ayshire I can find that indicates it specialises in guinea pigs.
County Vets
Whitefields Farm
Cuzlean Road
Maybole
Ayrshire
KA19 8AH
01655 883531

No website but on Anyvet UK it sasy the following:


Species treated
This is a mixed practice surgery
We treat all animals, farm, equine and pets.
We have particular interest and experience in treating exotic and zoo species.
We have a particular interest and experience in the treatment of guinea pigs and rabbits
We have particular interest and experience in treating cattle and sheep.
We treat indigenous wildlife.

Hope this helps - keeping fingers and paws crossed for Daniel.
x
 
Thanks pebble . I'm definitely going to ask for tests. Thanks for taking the time to help out.
 
I am sorry to hear about your other piggy :(

Good luck at the vets and keep us posted.

Pebble has given you some great advise there that you can also mention to your vet xx
 
Mamaguineapig said:
Thanks pebble . I'm definitely going to ask for tests. Thanks for taking the time to help out.
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To be honest, I'd really recommend a second opinion. What if you'd not come to ask for advice here? Would your vet have offered the tests, or would they just have out her to sleep on Tuesday? It shouldn't be up to you to ask for the tests, the vet should recommend them.
 
My Piggy just had an op for a Bladder stone diagnosed via x-ray. She was not peeing as often she struggled and it was thick and white/creamy. I was told to PTS by some vet monday afternoon by the eve her colleague had looked at the x-ray and said she thinks she could operate. I was lucky I stuck to my guns and said no way was she to be PTS while I had hope and she was not critical. Good luck I wish you well. I think an x-ray is warrented. ( my Piggy did need an oblique angle under GA to see what they needed to to operate.)
 
If it was me I would not PTS my pet unless I actually had a diagnosis on what was wrong with the animal and why it can't be treated. I once took in a dog that was due to be PTS and after taking it to my vet got a proper diagnosis and treatment plan and managed to keep her alive for another 4 years. At that time her disease had progressed too far and I did PTS her. But it was an informed decision.
 
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