Need Help With Kidney/urinary Tract Infection

[Cindy0707]

Hi, my 6 year-old guinea, Lily has been diagnosed with a kidney/urinary tract infection and has been taking antibiotics for 2 weeks. She has stopped eating or drinking and I have been force feeding her Crital Care for a week. Her urine has cleared and is no longer bloody, but all she does is hide and sleep and seems to be getting worse not better. Does anyone have any advice for me? She also takes pain medicine and gas medicine once a day. I tried cutting down on the feeding and giving her greens, but she won't eat anything.

 

[DM030819]

Do you know which antibiotic it was? Baytril is notorious for causing pigs to stip eating so it's always best to give probiotic about 1.5 hours after each dose. You can get probiotic from a vet, or somewhere like Pets at Home.

If she's really feeling unwell then a vet visit might be for the best. They can check her over to make sure it's nothing different, and also change her antibiotic if necessary.

Keep up with the handfeeding. It's not a fun job but when they don't want to eat then we need to make sure they do, force feeding if needed. Their digestive systems are alot different to other pets and they need food travelling through them at all times or else their systems can shut down.

I hope she gets better soon, and please keep us updated. And ask any questions you need to.

 

[Cindy0707]

Thank you. She's taking Sulfameth. I'll pick up a probiotic today and plan to see the vet tomorrow. I started feeding her every 2 hours instead of 3 times a day, hoping that will help. It's not looking good. Her kidneys may be compromised.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. She's taking Sulfameth. I'll pick up a probiotic today and plan to see the vet tomorrow. I started feeding her every 2 hours instead of 3 times a day, hoping that will help. It's not looking good. Her kidneys may be compromised.

I am very sorry. Sulfameth is better known under the brand names bactrim, septrin or newly as sulfatrim, so your vet has prescibed the appropriate antibiotic for urinary issues.

Continue to give syringe feed and plenty of water, as much as she will take. You are right to switch to feeding more often the less she is taking on board in one go.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Please see your vet tomorrow. Has your piggy had a scan/x-ray to check for any stones in the urinary tract? If not, that would be the next step, so you and your vet can make any informed decision where to go from the result.

 

[Cindy0707]

Thank you for your advice. She did have an x-Ray and it did not show any stones.

 

[Adelle]

Can only reiterate the above. Septrin isnt known to affect the gut and particularly not the appetite- id have her checked by the vet again. Continue with syringe feeding and probiotics in the meantime.