I'm so stressed out over my girls :(

[Claire W]

I'm so stressed out today it is unbelievable :0 After posting my last thread http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34065 I am not 100% sure whether it is Eleanor or Eliza with the funny coloured pee but I do think it is Eliza. She still has it today although not everytime she pee's. I've just had them both out for a cuddle and have noticed that Eliza has a lump on the side of her body. It is small and hard but I can't see anything. I am wondering if it could be a bite mark as Ellie nipped her the other day or something else? The OH is also saying that we're paying out lots of money again on vets bills like we did with Connie which has caused a huge argument. Then to top it off, I went to buy hay earlier only to discover that it was damp and when I opened the bag, there was a dead rat in it I took it back and they apologised, gave me a refund and another bag of hay.
Everything is just going wrong and I just don't know what to do. I am just so worried about my girls and can't cope with one of them being ill again. OH says I'm over reacting which isn't helping.
Sorry for the rant

 

[Wiebke]

Could you ring the vets on Monday morning whether you could have some urine strips to test Eliza's pee? That would be the quickest and cheapest way to find out. Llewlyn had this sometimes reddish pee, but it didn't contain blood.

However, it could be that Eliza is starting a UTI. Can you sit her on a bit of hay, and if that discolours to a bright yellow, the urine is infected. Not very scientific, but it works for me as the most reliable early warning sign for UTI.

I'm sorry, but as I haven't encountered lumps in any of my guinea pigs, I can't help you on that score. If you've got some bepanthen salve, that might help a bit ( at least your nerves!) until somebody more expert comes along.

All the best to the poor girl!

BIG HUG

 

[lincolnsmommy]

Oh Claire poor you you dont seem to be having much luck lately. Are you able to take Eliza to the vets for a check up? it might just be something that can be treated with a cream or injection (or it might be nothing at all).
Is there anyway of finding out who has the strange coloured wee? can you put them on a towel while there out with you one at a time, or put one in a run with a white towel down.
Your not over reacting, your just a protective guinea pig mommy. Maybe sit down with your oh and explain just how bad your feeling right now as he might not understand the extent of how much its bothering you.

I would get Eliza to the vet to pur your mind at rest. If you can pay for it out of your own money it doesnt matter what your oh thinks really (dont tell him if its going to start an argument)

I hope everything works out for you and things start to look up. You know where i am if you need to talk x

 

[pelicano]

Oh I know just how you feel - my lot are never healthy!

With the lump, is it a small hard lump that is under the skin and moves as the skin moves (ie can you move it around?)? If so, it is probably harmless - piggies are prone to these sorts of lumps and they don't seem to worry them. If you can see something solid on the skin it could be a cyst.

With the urine, I agree that you need to try to find out who it is. I test my lot by having them in separate trays and I syringe some water in to them (or you could be waiting a long time for a performance!) I bought some test strips online, but I can't remember where from.

 

[Claire W]

Thank you for your comments everyone. I am 99% sure that it is Eliza with the funny coloured pee's as the last 2 pee's I managed to soak up, Ellie wasn't there. As for the lump, yes it is very small and hard I'm going to see how she is over the weekend as I can't do anything now except worry I just love them both so much and it is just bringing all the Connie stuff back x

 

[Farquhar]

Several of my piggies have been prone to lumps and they just turned out to be big spots. I put one of my piggies in for a biopsy on a lump and when the vet put the needle in all the gunk came out. When piggys scratch its easy for them to develop a boil if they have pulled a hair.
As for the discoloured urine, try Cranberry Juice in the meantime. It may just be dietary. One of my piggies was prone to discoloured urine after I fed him iron rich veg such as spinach and green cabbage. Sending big hugs to you as I know how worrying it is when a piggy is poorly..

 

[Wiebke]

You can always stick your finger in the pee (prefrably on some plastic surface) and feel for grit, of course, if you're worried that way!