Mystery peeing problem

[stirby38]

One of my 2yo boars has been having some trouble recently. I noticed he was squeaking and it seemed to be while peeing. The vet did an x ray to rule out bladder stones and then prescribed antibiotics and painkillers for a suspected UTI. After he finished the course, the squeaking started again, so I followed a video on how to do a boar clean and discovered he had quite a bit of smegma build up. I cleaned it off and dabbed some coconut oil on and the squeaking stopped, but then a few days later restarted and he needed to be cleaned again. What could be causing this? He's acting totally normal otherwise! Very grateful for any tips

 

[AnxiousPigOwner]

Sorry to hear your boy is having wee problems. Did the vet test the urine to see if there was a bacterial infection?

If he got better while on antibiotics and then the issue returned again it could be sterile IC which is like a UTI but without the presence of bacteria.

Is your boy on pain relief?

Hope he feels better soon

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Smegma is just part and parcel of keeping boars - some need checks and cleaning more than others.
I’ve added a guide below.

You do just need to be sure that his discomfort is coming from a build up of smegma rather than by other potential issue (such as sterile cystitis)

Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[stirby38]

Sorry to hear your boy is having wee problems. Did the vet test the urine to see if there was a bacterial infection?

If he got better while on antibiotics and then the issue returned again it could be sterile IC which is like a UTI but without the presence of bacteria.

Is your boy on pain relief?

Hope he feels better soon

Thanks for your reply! The vet said the next step would be a urine sample, maybe I should go ahead with it and mention sterile IC. He was on pain relief alongside the antibiotics for 5 days.

 

[stirby38]

Welcome to the forum

Smegma is just part and parcel of keeping boars - some need checks and cleaning more than others.
I’ve added a guide below.

You do just need to be sure that his discomfort is coming from a build up of smegma rather than by other potential issue (such as sterile cystitis)

Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

Thank you, and thanks for the info link! Would a urine sample identify sterile cystitis? The vet also palpated him and he didnt seem to be in any discomfort

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sterile cystitis is a non bacterial bladder infection which affects the glucosamine layer in the bladder, but there is no test for it.
As there is no test for it, it is only diagnosed by process of elimination - every other possible bladder problem had to be ruled out first (stones, sludge and bacterial infection) before a diagnosis of sterile cystitis can be drawn. It is more common in indoor piggies than bacterial infections though.

As it is non bacterial (hence why a urine sample wont show anything), antibiotics won’t work (part of the diagnosis of sterile cystitis is antibiotics failing to stop the symptoms or that symptoms return once antibiotics are stopped) and is only managed (not curable) with glucosamine and pain relief

Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones

 

[Merab]

Hope everything works out and you can get a clear diagnosis for your boy.