Holmes and Watson, "The vet saga"

[Holmes and Watson]

I wanted to post this as it may help others with same problems, more so for people that don't have an exotic vet nearby. Two weeks ago Watson starting peeing blood, took to normal vets who gave baytril and metacam in 0.2 dose. Was still bleeding after a few days so was told it best to see exotic vet. So he did an ultra sound....first on wrong piggie (eye roll) Anyway, no stones were found, So gave marbocyl 0.25 dose fro 10 days and metacam 0.35 twice a day for two weeks for cystitis. Day after the 10 day marbocyl was finished he started peeing blood again, took straight back to vets, he then did an xray, no stones, so then put a catheter in to flush out his bladder as this was defo where the blood was coming from. So still cystitis, and is re thinking meds. I'm just about to go and pick him up so don't know what meds as yet. As i say i wanted to share this as i'd never heard of the bladder flush thing before. I'm fairly certain they are both going to be in a mood when i go and get them as i took Holmes to support his brother, so two moody piggies, oh dear.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, hope you can get to the root of the problem and Watson makes a full recovery x Is it to flush out sludge in his bladder?

 

[Wiebke]

I wanted to post this as it may help others with same problems, more so for people that don't have an exotic vet nearby. Two weeks ago Watson starting peeing blood, took to normal vets who gave baytril and metacam in 0.2 dose. Was still bleeding after a few days so was told it best to see exotic vet. So he did an ultra sound....first on wrong piggie (eye roll) Anyway, no stones were found, So gave marbocyl 0.25 dose fro 10 days and metacam 0.35 twice a day for two weeks for cystitis. Day after the 10 day marbocyl was finished he started peeing blood again, took straight back to vets, he then did an xray, no stones, so then put a catheter in to flush out his bladder as this was defo where the blood was coming from. So still cystitis, and is re thinking meds. I'm just about to go and pick him up so don't know what meds as yet. As i say i wanted to share this as i'd never heard of the bladder flush thing before. I'm fairly certain they are both going to be in a mood when i go and get them as i took Holmes to support his brother, so two moody piggies, oh dear.

Hi!

Bladder flushes have been around for a long time. My Cariad had several of them for her recurring bladder sludge issues after her calcium absorption process went wrong. The trick is doing them carefully to prevent any urine/water backing up into the kidneys.

If nothing is working, you might be looking at sterile interstitial cystitis, i.e. a recurring non-bacterial infection/inflammation of the bladders which doesn't react to antibiotics and can only be diagnosed by default after all other bladder issues have been excluded. It cannot be healed, only managed, mainly with glucosamine (usually with a glucosamine to support the natural glucosamine coating of the bladder walls in combination with an analgesic like metacam, especially during the occasional flare ups. Potassium citrate can also be prescribed.
You are looking at years rather than months if it turns out to be sterile IC.
It has been become a lot more common over the last decade but it is not well known by general vets or exotics vets that do not deal with many guinea pigs.

The highly red urine is actually porhpyrine staining. Clear urine can test high on blood, and it can of course be present in stained urine, too - but the two are not connected.

Here is more information: Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (includes dietary recommendations for guinea pigs with urinary problems.

Since we have members and enquiries literally from all over the world, it would help us enormously in tailoring any advice to what is relevant and available where you are if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to location in account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar). this makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. As you can imagine, climate, vet access and brand names, general background etc. can vary enormously. Not knowing where you are, we have to keep any recommendations as general as possible. Our default advice is UK based. Thank you!

 

[Holmes and Watson]

Aw, hope you can get to the root of the problem and Watson makes a full recovery x Is it to flush out sludge in his bladder?

Thank you, Yes it was to flush out sludge but also to see if there was any "grit" blockages aswell. No more veg for him either.

 

[Holmes and Watson]

Hi!

Bladder flushes have been around for a long time. My Cariad had several of them for her recurring bladder sludge issues after her calcium absorption process went wrong. The trick is doing them carefully to prevent any urine/water backing up into the kidneys.

If nothing is working, you might be looking at sterile interstitial cystitis, i.e. a recurring non-bacterial infection/inflammation of the bladders which doesn't react to antibiotics and can only be diagnosed by default after all other bladder issues have been excluded. It cannot be healed, only managed, mainly with glucosamine (usually with a glucosamine to support the natural glucosamine coating of the bladder walls in combination with an analgesic like metacam, especially during the occasional flare ups. Potassium citrate can also be prescribed.
You are looking at years rather than months if it turns out to be sterile IC.
It has been become a lot more common over the last decade but it is not well known by general vets or exotics vets that do not deal with many guinea pigs.

The highly red urine is actually porhpyrine staining. Clear urine can test high on blood, and it can of course be present in stained urine, too - but the two are not connected.

Here is more information: Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (includes dietary recommendations for guinea pigs with urinary problems.

Since we have members and enquiries literally from all over the world, it would help us enormously in tailoring any advice to what is relevant and available where you are if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to location in account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar). this makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. As you can imagine, climate, vet access and brand names, general background etc. can vary enormously. Not knowing where you are, we have to keep any recommendations as general as possible. Our default advice is UK based. Thank you!

Thanks for the info, great site this is.

 

[Holmes and Watson]

So after the bladder flush, vet gave us cerenia 0.5 twice a day and metacam 0.7 three times a day for the first 3 days then twice there after. Fingers crossed this has done the trick, he is running around like a total loon, and seems back to himself. Vet said only feed hay, ready grass, lettuce that's all. Really hoping he is on the mend.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, so glad he’s feeling better and on the mend

 

[VickiA]

Good to hear he’s feeling so much better.