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Mysterious squeaking while pooping?

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LittleEskimo

LittleEskimo

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hey well as you know a couple of weeks ago McMac had some blood in his urine. Took him to the vets and he did great on the medicine and it cleared up fine.

Well recently I have noticed that there has been a sort of quiet squeaking coming from one of the pigs, sounding a little like they are in pain or something. At first I thought it was Sprout and I was worried he might have developed his own UTI or something so I have been keeping an eye out for blood but none so far. I then worried about sludge or stones so changed to my black fleece to see how much chalky deposits they leave behind while urinating and that looks ok too.

Anyway I have just woken up from a nap and I heard the squeaking again, quite a bit louder and more distressed sounding then usual. I turned my head and saw McMac in the hay box trying to go to the bathroom, but seeming to have trouble passing anything. He finally managed to go to the bathroom after a louder final squeak. I went to have a look and his poos look totally normal. Well formed, not too wet and soft and not too dry and hard.

I'm just lost as to what to do. Any suggestions?
 
squeaking when pooing is a sign of bladder pain, passing poos can cause pain in the bladder due to the path they take through the pelvis.
 
Oh god I hope he hasn't gotten a stone or something. I know they don't always show up with excess sludge but I was hoping it wasn't that :(

Poor guy isn't acting much like himself today. He has been alright and normal up until now and he seems to have become very quiet and hidden away
 
I would say you may want to go back to your vet and ask about the possibility of bladder stones.

Some vets may try to feel for something but not find anything but this doesn’t mean there isn’t anything there, they aren’t always something that can be felt, depending on position etc. The best way to check for stones is an xray, which can be costly depending on your vets and your budget.

May i ask what vet in plymouth do you use ?

Good luck :)
 
If you have any ABX and painkillers left, I would give him the dose he was prescribed but get him off to your Vet at the first opportunity.
Piggies and their bladders...:( I would also opt for X-ray if you can just to rule stones out.
One of our boys recently had a bladder washout and we were unaware of how complex it was and it was a much slower recovery for him than his stone surgery :(
Sometimes UTI's are stubborn and linger when we believe they have cleared up and piggy appears well - did McMac have Septrin ?
 
Just to echo the above, get an x-ray to rule out stones. Squeaking when pooing can be a symptom of a uti or sometimes chronic cystitis. Putt was our first bladder piggy ( Cookie and Treacle have kept the tradition up rolleyes ) and she used to have this as one of her long term symptoms, weeing was fine but pooing not so.

Hopefully it is nothing like a stone and is a stubborn infection that can be cleared up quickly enough. But a trip to the vets is in order. Lots of healing vibes to him x
 
He's not a very happy chappy :( he is just hiding away and doesn't want to move unless he really has to. I was thinking of splitting the cage into two so that he can have access to hay and water without Sprout giving him teenage grief.

I'm going to phone the vets tomorrow, will hopefully see if they can do an x-ray. George has money and said he would help me if it costs more then I have at the moment.

I use the Woodlands Vet just down by that big spaghetti junction, Twiams
http://www.woodlandsvets.co.uk/
They seem slightly more expensive then some others but they are very knowledgeable with the buns and guineas.
 
[video=youtube;x4Y6VS4iL38]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Y6VS4iL38[/video]

Here's a quick clip of the noise. He doesn't do any more after 30 seconds though, just kind of sits there :(

i've split the cage in half so I can keep a better eye on McMac and make sure he is eating and drinking. And so he doesn't get stressed with Sprout running around and stuff.
 
Good luck for tomorrow, i like woodlands too and i have my piggies signed with them, they’re not the cheapest but i agree they’re fairly knowledgeable !

Hope all is well, just try to push for an xray as much as possible, i know some vets often would rather try more meds and things but the xray is the only true way to find out whats going on.

Hope McMac feels better soon poor boy, he doesn’t look or sound happy :( !
 
Hi Little Eskimo,

I had to watch your video to be sure I'm fairly certain the 'squawk' is when he is passing a pellet but straight after the little whine is most certainly him whimpering and I would place my money on him urinating at that point. Keep a close eye on his urine output, weigh him daily, if he show's a downward spiral in weight over the weekend top him up. I would also advise monitoring his urine output closely as you don't want a stone blocking his urine track.

I'd take him down the vets Monday with a urine sample, if he was my pig I'd get him Xray'd so you know exactly what your dealing with.

Jo x
 
twiams said:
Good luck for tomorrow, i like woodlands too and i have my piggies signed with them, they’re not the cheapest but i agree they’re fairly knowledgeable !

Hope all is well, just try to push for an xray as much as possible, i know some vets often would rather try more meds and things but the xray is the only true way to find out whats going on.

Hope McMac feels better soon poor boy, he doesn’t look or sound happy :( !
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Yeah they are very good there with all the animals. When Momo was ill they were great.
Would McMac need to be sedated at all for an x-ray?


He is eating and stuff, but just doesn't want to move to get to the food. I have tried putting food and water in front of his hidey house so hopefully he will be able to get some.
Will have a look around and see if I can give him a dose of the stuff they gave me for his UTI, can't remember the name off of the top of my head. Should have a bit left in the bottle
 
Don't give him any med's tonight, it'll effect his urine sample and they may want to use a different AB this time round.
 
Alright done a little test with some paper and there is no blood on it but he is weeing A LOT. Like I know guinea pigs are supposed to pee every 20 minutes give or take but he is doing little but often. When I had a kidney infection I noticed I peed tiny amounts but I was doing it every couple of minutes. Just hoping it might be a similar situation...
 
I think it depends on the vet and position needed as to wether he'll be sedated or not I've heard of some vets keeping them awake but putting them in a box or somewhere they can't move from really but I don't know if the same thing can be used when X-raying for bladder stones.

I'm sure your vet can talk you through some options if there is any available ! :)
 
It does sound like a recurring UTI or Cystitis that can be treated with ABX and pain relief (Metacam is also an anti inflammatory)
We've had our Harley x-rayed twice for bladder issues and both times, no anaesthetia was used so think it depends on the piggy if they are a bit skittish or not.
A low or no calcium diet is always advisable although our Exotics say Harley's issues could be genetic despite his brother Chops who has never had a bladder problem, he is just the unlucky piggy of the two :(
Septrin is generally the ABX used as opposed to Baytril and would advise a probiotic around 2 hours after any ABX are given, helps balance any flora upset in their gut.
If you have a good Vet, they can palpate the bladder to obtain a urine sample on your visit for testing and check for sludge. Harley had small deposits and underwent a bladder washout following an x-ray to rule out a recurring stone.
Good luck at your appointment and healing vibes to McMac x>>
 
Thanks you guys.

He stopped making noises in the night and hasn't made any this morning. As far as I can tell he hasn't moved much from his little hidey area next to the hay rack. He ate some hay etc last night but I don't think he has drank anything so i'm guessing that's why he hasn't been squeaking, he just doesn't have any fluid left to urinate. I might start syringing him some water and given him watery veg to keep him hydrated
 
Can you find any dandelion leaves ? If so, wash them well, shake lightly to retain some of the water and give them to McMac.
Most piggies love them and they act as a diuretic too - always a fave for any poorly piggies I have :)
Is his hair fluffed or flat ?
 
Oh I have some dandelions growing on my window sill so he can have those

He has been fluffing his hair up but it's flat at the moment.
 
LittleEskimo said:
Oh I have some dandelions growing on my window sill so he can have those

He has been fluffing his hair up but it's flat at the moment.
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Piggies appear 'fluffed' when unwell as they trap warm air between layers of their hair - a couple of my herd girls 'fluff' up when eating together to try and make themselves look more menacing rolleyes
What time is your appointment ? I'd still get him checked over :)
 
Guinea pig slave said:
Piggies appear 'fluffed' when unwell as they trap warm air between layers of their hair - a couple of my herd girls 'fluff' up when eating together to try and make themselves look more menacing rolleyes
What time is your appointment ? I'd still get him checked over :)
Click to expand...

Ahh yeah I have noticed him doing it, that's probably why then.
The vets aren't open on a Sunday so I will have to wait until tomorrow I guess :/

I've given him a little salad of dried cranberries and watery veg. Hopefully that should perk him up a bit and give him liquid.
 
Last night was the worst thing ever :(

Just got back from the vets. Would have gone sooner but George needed an MOT done on the car. She gave him a look over and concluded a bad case of cystitis and gave me Baytril to administer twice a day starting tomorrow as she gave him an injection today. She also gave me some Fibreplex (x3 a day) as he has bad diarrhea and that should help his stomach. Just can't remember if she said I should start today or not! Probably should really as I don't think she gave him anything while we were there for his stomach.
 
Hope he feels better soon x
 
Did the vet not suggest an xray to check for stones?

If it is cystitis am not sure that Baytril will be that effective. I help at a guinea pig clinic and the lady that runs it is an expert in bladder conditions, whether it is stones or cys**** and I could put some information together for you. Diet is a big factor in these types of conditions though. Is he still bleeding now and how is the diahrrhea?
 
How is his diarrhea? Baytril can unfortunately cause diarrhea itself or make it worse.

If symptoms don't get better within 3 days of treatment, please have him seen again re. stones and a better antibiotic like septrin (ca. 0.5 ml twice daily). You may have to sign a form that he is being treated with a non-licensed medication on your responsibility.
 
Aww poor McMac :(

I echo what everyone else has said. Please ask your vet for Septrin if you see no improvement within 3 days . Cut out all fruit and veg, feed unlimited hay and make sure he drinks plenty of water to keep him hydrated.

Is the diarrhea a smelly watery consistancy or is it like toothpaste?

My Erin had to have an antibiotic injection yesterday too. She had an upset stomach over night but her poo's are normal again now. She is off veg until tomorrow though.
 
helen105281 said:
Did the vet not suggest an xray to check for stones?

If it is cystitis am not sure that Baytril will be that effective. I help at a guinea pig clinic and the lady that runs it is an expert in bladder conditions, whether it is stones or cys**** and I could put some information together for you. Diet is a big factor in these types of conditions though. Is he still bleeding now and how is the diahrrhea?
Click to expand...

She gave him belly a massage and he emptied his bladder so she said that should be a good sign there isn't anything blocking his urine like stones etc. She said if he doesn't start perking up in a few days to bring him straight back in and they can do further tests.
She did a pH test on his urine and said there was a lot of blood in there but the blood I found on the towel from him trying to pass droppings, and his diarrhea is starting to improve bit by bit with the fibreplex.
 
Stones don't necessarily block the urine, they can do but just because he pee'd does not mean he has no stones, best to get an xray doen to rule it out. I agree that you will need to ask for Septrin, the Baytril will make the diarrhea worse.
 
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