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Kidney problems??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sianies
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Sianies

Hi, I'm new on here but desperate for some advice. It's a bit of a long one so bear with me! :)

One of my guinea pigs is about 4 months old. He had a scabby patch on his back near to where his tail bone is, which we initally thought was ringworm. We took him to the vet on Friday who thought this was a urine burn (couldn't understand that because it's on his back, not underneath!), and he may have a kidney/liver infection, or diabetes and to take a urine sample. We managed that and got a phone call today to say his kidneys aren't functioning properly and it's terminal. The only thing we can do is to increase the level of vit C he has and basically wait now until he goes downhill.

The issue I've got is I've been looking all over the internet and cannot find a single thing on kidney failure in young guinea pigs and anything about this urine burn. It's literally just a black scabby patch (he's ginger) that doesn't even bother him and is not remotely close to his little bits :)), which is completely different to some pictures of a burn I saw on the net. Oh and it's starting to go now. None of the symptoms match up with his. He's fine in himself, eats ok, not lethargic in any way, drinks maybe a bit more than my other guinea pigs and is still putting on weight ok.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation or can help please!?!?!?!
I'm thinking maybe I should go and get a second opinion.



Sian
 
Eek, that sounds so odd :...
can't give any advice but i hope it gets sorted soon and you can save your boy <3
 
I think you might need a second opinion, it all sounds a bit vague to me!
Elvis has always drunk loads and he has managed to get to four [just]
 
Sure someone will be able to help soon. A pee burn there though sounds unlikely unless your pig is a contortionist. x
 
Hi Sian, welcome to the forum.

First things first, I would suspect that the scabby patch is the grease gland, in which case it is totally normal. http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/documents/Grease Glands.pdf

Does that seem possible, bearing in mind the location of your guinea's particular scabby patch?

I agree that a second opinion is probably worthwhile on the kidney issue, it would be quite unusual for a pig of only four months old to be suffering kidney failure, especially if he is otherwise perfectly well. Whereabouts are you? Are any of these recommended vets near you? http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38481
 
I had a pig die of kidney failure or kidney disease two years ago. She was three and had presented with symptoms of a heart problem the previous year. I had had her checked out for this, but the vet couldn't find anything on the xray (thought it ight have been a lung tumour) and as her quality of life was very good I decided not to pursue the matter further.

My pig had a tender abdomen in her last two weeks and as drinking a lot but only in the very final days of her life. She was in a lot of pain when the vet palpated her kidnies. Kidney and heart problems are notoriously linked and I personally think it is unlikely to be a kidney problem in such a young animal.
 
I had a boar who died from suspected kidney failure, he was only 2 years old and started losing weight and condition, but teeth etc. were fine. Took him to CCT who ran some tests she thought it might have been thyroid, but in the end it was kidneys. As he was eating and drinking ok and quite bright in himself, we let him live out his days and a few months later he passed away in his sleep.

I'd get a second opinion if possible

Sophie
x
 
Thank you everyone for replying! I'm glad I'm not the only one who doubts it. It just seems so odd that he's not suffering in anyway whatsoever at the moment, and unless he does something spectacular when noone's looking, I don't think his willy is actually long enough to burn himself in that spot!

I think we're going to go for a second opinion.

I have to say I'm glad I spotted this site. It seems really helpful and informative, so thank you :)

Will let you know what happens

Sian
 
I agree about the grease gland.
I am very suspicious about the diagnosis of terminal kidney failure.
Which part of the urine test was abnormal, was it the sugar level?
What is abnormal in other animals is often within normal limits for a guinea pig.
 
It was something to do with the specific gravity level. Apparently it was low, meaning the kidneys aren't filtering properly and the urine is like water. Thing is I had a call from them yesterday saying the sample we got was no good because we'd got it the night before and stored it in the fridge (even though that's exactly what the vet told us to do). Obviously got the other phone call today from the vet himself telling me the diagnosis. When I told him what the receptionist had said he completely dismissed it.

That's why I'm so unsure about it all and been looking all over the place for more informstion.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum :)
Personally, I don't see how a diagnosis as big as that can be made by one urine sample. I have had to take quite a few urine samples to my vets and although he said that the fresher the sample, the better, he still managed to test urine that was left in the fridge over night. In fact, one time a sample was sent off to the lab for testing and it didn't get sent off until the next day.
I would get a second opinion if I were you x
 
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