Inconsistent urine color

[Maddis]

Hi I have a 3 year old guinea pig who I’m finishing the treatment of a URI with doxycycline and enrofloxacin and about 2 days after starting the URI meds he stopped eating and drinking and I gave him critical care by oxbow for a couple days until he showed enthusiasm to eat and have kept giving him a little water via syringe and lots of fresh veggies to try to keep him hydrated but about a week into treatment for the URI his urine started doing this weird thing where sometimes it’s a pinkish orange color but it comes out of him yellow or clearish and sometimes it comes out clear and dries in the bedding it’s normal very light tan/beige color. My vets next step is to X-ray him and that will cost between 4-500$ and I don’t want him to have gas anesthesia or any anesthesia unless absolutely necessary. He’s also still not drinking water on his own. Has anyone had anything similar happen to their piggy with the inconsistent urine color?

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hello and welcome to the forum
So sorry to hear your piggie has had a URI, I’m no expert but I think what you have seen is oxidation which turns perfectly normal looking urine dry into a pink/peachy/orange colour. I have seen this often particularly in the pee corner when I clean mine out and I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.
Your piggie may not the drinking from his bottle as he may be getting enough water from the Critical Care and Veggies. I have two that drink a lot of water and two that hardly ever drink water from the bottle at all.
I’m sure someone will confirm and may be able to offer more experience very soon x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi I have a 3 year old guinea pig who I’m finishing the treatment of a URI with doxycycline and enrofloxacin and about 2 days after starting the URI meds he stopped eating and drinking and I gave him critical care by oxbow for a couple days until he showed enthusiasm to eat and have kept giving him a little water via syringe and lots of fresh veggies to try to keep him hydrated but about a week into treatment for the URI his urine started doing this weird thing where sometimes it’s a pinkish orange color but it comes out of him yellow or clearish and sometimes it comes out clear and dries in the bedding it’s normal very light tan/beige color. My vets next step is to X-ray him and that will cost between 4-500$ and I don’t want him to have gas anesthesia or any anesthesia unless absolutely necessary. He’s also still not drinking water on his own. Has anyone had anything similar happen to their piggy with the inconsistent urine color?

Hi!

Both doxycycline and batril (enrofloxacin) are harsh on the stomach. Please weigh your guinea pig daily at the same time in order to know whether/how much fibrous feeding support you need to give.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Overfeeding on veg instead of hay (which should make 80% of the daily food intake) can cause additional digestive problems (disposition to dysbiosis, i.e. overgrowth of the wrong kind of bacteria, which can lead to bloat or diarrhea).

Veg can discolour the urine; it also oxidises in contact with fresh air. The consistency of urine can vary. As long as the urine is yellow/orange drying to rusty shades, there is no worry.
A guinea pig that is eating for themselves and has access to fresh water is not in danger of dehydration because the need to drink comes before the need to eat. The water intake can however vary enormously on an individual level.
All About Drinking And Bottles
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets