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Off to vets tomorrow, squeaks when pooing

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Posiesparkles

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My girlie Storm is squeaking when pooing and has poo remnants on her bottom. She is passing normal pellets and her wee is not discoloured - had her out on white towel to check. Could it be a UTI? She has had one before so been through the baytril tec.

Thankfully my lovely vets is open on Sundays so making her an appointment to go in the morning. Is there anything else it could be?

xx
 
Good call on going to the vets, I would take a urine sample with you to test for UTI. Hope it goes well.

It may be worth asking for an xray/ultrasound to rule out stones if a course of antibiotics doesn't appear to clear it up. It may be worth asking the vet regards to Septrim as an antibiotic as it has a better track record for UTI's. Hope she gets well soon.
 
She ia passing normal poos...but they are sticking on her bottom? Can you provide a bit more detail as it sounds like she actually isn;t passing normal poos as they wouldn;t normally stick.

It could be a UTI as some have suggested but sticky poos can be caused by a nimber of other reasons......and gut motility/diet issues is right at the forefront.

To take a urine sample...put guinea pig in plastic box that you have dinfected and rinsed/wiped dry. Feed piggie peeled cucumber til she pees......draw up pee into a sterile syringe, then either cap (with needle or something else if poss) or dispense into sterile plastic bottle and take to vet.

A simple case of giving fibreplex (probiitic and fibregel) may be enough to sort this out. Discuss with your vet.

Let us know how the next appointment goes.

HTH
x
 
Quick update on Storm. Went to vet. They looked at poo sample and did urine test - blood in wee. Vet has said UTI. She is on metacam 1 drop per day (we did it via syringe as she is awful at taking it on food) and 0.2ml baytril 2x a day.

Bit concerned as when she had it before they did an ultrasound and found a mass. Was told best option was to leave it and see how she went but vet said she could feel it and it was bigger. She thinks it is attached to one of her kidneys which could be why she has a UTI.

Got another appointment for 2 weeks time to see how she is and then will look at the mass further. Feel like a bad guinea mummy as I personally can't feel the mass but feel horrible it has got bigger 8...8...8...

She has not lost any weight and is eating and drinking as normal. She is active, her coat is shiny and she seems in general good health about from the UTI. She is not a fan of drinking so we have given her cucumber, a few strawberries and some melon to help. Plus some cranberry juice that we mixed up with her medication.

Any advice on syringing? We can get it into her but it is not a fun process!

Thankyou Pebble for your earlier post. Meant that her poo is as normal pellets when it is out, but looks like she is straining when pooing which I think has caused poo remnants to stick to her.

My poor Storm 8...
 
I find Patrick loves unsweetened Cranberry with Barley water.

If you get Pearl Barley from the supermarket boil it for 30-45 minutes, be careful not to burn it, mix with some unsweetened Cranberry I use Holland and Barrett's.

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=700&prodid=743&cid=13&sid=0

I either mix the cranberry with water or barley water.

I have also made up very watery critical care to encourage Patrick to increase fluids, which they love.

I can't help any further - in regards to the Mass. I hope it's nothing Sinister.
 
Forgot to say, bit scared as she said to keep a close eye on her because using the metcam puts more of a strain on the kidneys so if one kidney is having to do all the work the other could stop? I would rather deal with the pain for her obviously, but scared in case something happens to her kidneys 8... 8... :...:...
 
Posiesparkles said:
Forgot to say, bit scared as she said to keep a close eye on her because using the metcam puts more of a strain on the kidneys so if one kidney is having to do all the work the other could stop? I would rather deal with the pain for her obviously, but scared in case something happens to her kidneys 8... 8... :...:...
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My pig was drinking in excess, and she was 4. We where fairly certain it was Kidney's I still opted for Metacam. Although it puts a strain on the Kidneys (longterm use), having her in pain was the alternative. There's no quality of life - if she's hurting everyday.

Make sure she is still urinating and you can stop the metacam when the infection clears - of course consult with the vet first. It's also good for bringing down inflammation in the Bladder.
 
Vet said same as you Flintstones. Obviously pain relief is the first priority, hearing she squeak when passing anything is just awful 8...

Funnily enough she is not a big drinker at all, neither of my girlies will drink from a bottle so they have a bowl which clips onto the side of their cage. Plying her with watery fruit and veg now - Misty her sister is nomming away happily!

How did piggie vet to see about the drinking go - I seem to recall that was you about Milo?
 
Posiesparkles said:
Vet said same as you Flintstones. Obviously pain relief is the first priority, hearing she squeak when passing anything is just awful 8...

Funnily enough she is not a big drinker at all, neither of my girlies will drink from a bottle so they have a bowl which clips onto the side of their cage. Plying her with watery fruit and veg now - Misty her sister is nomming away happily!

How did piggie vet to see about the drinking go - I seem to recall that was you about Milo?
Click to expand...

Yes - Milo has been drinking a lot, to be fair none of my pigs are ever healthy. rolleyes. I don't know why anyone would say a Guinea Pig is hardy.

We're going Thursday - unless something drastic happens between now and then in which case we'll be at the E-vet but I'm fairly certain we have plenty of time.

He's bright, perky and happy enough - just would rather get him checked as I have already lost one pig to excessive drinking just at the end of last year.

This is Patrick taking his fluids, you just have to find what they like.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRIYClpG8rI[/ame]

Wilma is a lot more difficult - I have to encourage both Wilma and Patrick to drink more often as Patrick has Crystals and Wilma does still have a stone which we are trying to flush out at present. I syringe feed Wilma fluids, to do this I have to towel wrap her. I then put the syringe in the side of her mouth behind the front teeth and very slowly syringe fluids into her, you must be very careful not to aspirate them, as aspiration can be fatal. I normally syringe 0.3mls at a time. I believe it's 15mls that flushes a Guinea Pig's bladder.

There was a study done on Rabbits - that showed Rabbits that had water bowls where less likely to form stones and develop UTI's as the bowls encouraged them to drink more often as that's how they would drink in the wild perhaps worth a go.
 
Storm and Misty send wheeks to Milo! Storm has very kindly offered to donate all her meds to him too! I can see that she is going to need lots of treats and fuss to make up for the dreaded syringe!
 
Really sorry to hear about Storm :(
Whee all send loving and healing wheeeeeeeeeks for her xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
One important part of syringe feeding is to relax yourself, if you're relaxed it does help :) follow how flinstones has described and shown in the video :)

Good luck and whee hope the meds will make storm better and that mass does not grow anymore! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Don't berate yourself about the mass, it's really hard to feel for these things, that's why it's great to have a vet you trust and who is thorough :)
 
Thankyou Glynis. Hope your girlies are ok. Storm is still not liking the syringe but already after only a couple of doses she is not squeaking in pain so that is good. She still wants to eat and drink and is being a spoilt piggie - got hand fed strawberries for breakfast! Will keep you updated on her. xx
 
awwwwwwww good little girl xoxo
The girls send some extra loves for Storm XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Great that she's not squeaking anymore but it does take the full treatment to rid them of the UTI !

Thanks for asking, the girls are doing well :)
 
Quick update - Storm is still eating and drinking as normal and running around. Seems to have gone back to squeaking - do I move the vet app forward? It is not as much as before but don't like seeing her in pain. Either she is more cooperative or I am getting better at syringing as it seems easier!
 
Call your vets and speak to them, i'd tend to move forward the appointment :)
Give Storm some more loves and healing wheeeeeeeeeeeeks from the girls and I XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

re the syringe feeding, i bet you're findint the she's learnt how to do it and enjoying it and you're relaxing WELL DONE !!!x)
 
Update for Storm ...
went to vets today, saw new vet who was very nice and gave her lots of strokes and hugs!

Vet weighed her, she has put on some weight and is 1150g. Misty is a big 1450g! :)

However, she said that her bladder feels hard, and there is still the mass which could be attached to her kidneys. 8...

She has given us some more baytril to use if we think we need it and said to carry on with the metacam, although she doesn't seem to be in pain. She is on metacam 3 days on, 1 day off.

She basically said to spoil her, as they can't do anything else for her 8...8...8...

My poor Stormie. Has anyone else has this?

Ideas for special spoiling? I think some nice new fleece and a new cosy are in order at least!

8...8...8...
 
So sorry to read about poor little Storm's problems. Just feed her favourite foods and give her lots of cuddles and strokes. Maybe some lovely fresh Timothy Hay.
 
Sorry just saw your girls update.

I'd be inclined to get a 2nd opinion surely they can do an Xray or ultra sound to find out what the mass is. I know pigs that have masses removed but of course without knowing what it is or what it's attached to - you can't move forward. I really struggle with the term there's nothing more we can do sometimes this is the case but I wouldn't be considering this option until I have exaggerated all other avenues.

What dose is she on of Baytril, are you also giving probiotics?

How long was her last course of ABS - I know my Pebbles took 28 of ABS to shift a UTI. We stopped the abs after 10 days and the squeaking returned as it hadn't cleared.
 
flintstones said:
Sorry just saw your girls update.

I'd be inclined to get a 2nd opinion surely they can do an Xray or ultra sound to find out what the mass is. I know pigs that have masses removed but of course without knowing what it is or what it's attached to - you can't move forward. I really struggle with the term there's nothing more we can do sometimes this is the case but I wouldn't be considering this option until I have exaggerated all other avenues.

What dose is she on of Baytril, are you also giving probiotics?

How long was her last course of ABS - I know my Pebbles took 28 of ABS to shift a UTI. We stopped the abs after 10 days and the squeaking returned as it hadn't cleared.
Click to expand...

I too have just re-read the thread having wondered about the diagnosis of the Mass. I would certainly consider an x-ray/ultrasound. Totally agree with Flintstones on the 2nd Opinion.
 
flintstones said:
Sorry just saw your girls update.

I'd be inclined to get a 2nd opinion surely they can do an Xray or ultra sound to find out what the mass is. I know pigs that have masses removed but of course without knowing what it is or what it's attached to - you can't move forward. I really struggle with the term there's nothing more we can do sometimes this is the case but I wouldn't be considering this option until I have exaggerated all other avenues.

What dose is she on of Baytril, are you also giving probiotics?

How long was her last course of ABS - I know my Pebbles took 28 of ABS to shift a UTI. We stopped the abs after 10 days and the squeaking returned as it hadn't cleared.
Click to expand...


They did an ultrasound of the mass before, not really conclusive. They think it is attached to one of her kidneys. She was on baytril for 2 weeks, now off. Just been told to stop baytril unless she needs it, to keep going with metacam. Have struggled with idea of doing nothing myself. Vet just said that her bladder felt hard and that mass was pushing her organs forward. After she had been checked over she weed a lot of blood in her urine which was horrible to see. Do I keep on with the metacam/baytril and take her back next week?
 
At the end of the day you are paying for there service your Guinea Pig is ill so they need to help find the problem.

In answer to your question - No I wouldn't waste my time going back to that Vet. They have wrote her off pretty much or aren't willing to pursue the cause. This happened to me with Bette and to feel helpless isn't the word. Bette wouldn't have died if my vets would have been willing to find the cause instead she was disposable, me being me - dog with a bone found another vet who was willing to find the cause we got her diagnosed - just before PTS. Had I had the extra time with my current vet instead of wasting my time with the original vet Bette may not have died.

I would ask on forum for another Cavy savy vet.
 
Forgot to add - I am by no means saying your vet isn't a good vet I just think vets with Guinea Pig sadly this is a view that owners are faced with daily and it's only when it comes to the crunch, and then proceed to go else where do you realize how little or unwilling they are to help. Why I don't know as my current vet makes a fortune out of treating Guinea Pigs - although they are disposable if you think of the cost it is for a new one most slaves like us would pay a fortune if it meant they would have a longer, pain free life.

I think a 2nd opinion is the way forward or explain to your current vet you don't feel comfortable just leaving it without finding out what it is. There may be other tests that can be done.
 
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Hi Posie. I am sorry to hear your piggie is poorly. Are you able to get over to the CCT at Huntingdon? Are they sure it's not an ovarian cyst? At the CCT they will x ray & treat without putting a piggy under anaesthetic wherever possible. Fingers crossed for you that it isn't as bad as you fear.
 
I am really sorry to hear about Storm and really cant help with whats wrong with Storm but would just like to say my local vet wrote my piggy off before christmas with her dental problems. It niggled me for about a week, I got a second opinion and now she is thriving. So I totally agree with flintstones about getting a 2nd opinion.

Both my dogs have also been written off in the past and with second opinions and experts pulled in theyre still with me too... I'm sure my vet hates me but with expert cardiologists and homeopathic vet referrals I get there :)) and everyones amazed that they are both still alive and well.

Just wanted to add this so you dont think you have to give up - there are other options,

Hope things improve soon for Storm,

xx
 
Might give them a call and ask for second opinion. They are usually a great vets with piggies and I know people have recommended them. However, there must be some in the vets that are more piggie savvy than others. I know that there is a specialist there with ultrasound/xray etc so maybe he could take a look?
 
Posiesparkles said:
Might give them a call and ask for second opinion. They are usually a great vets with piggies and I know people have recommended them. However, there must be some in the vets that are more piggie savvy than others. I know that there is a specialist there with ultrasound/xray etc so maybe he could take a look?
Click to expand...

yes, worth a shot. :)
 
I have a great piggie savvy vet..unfortunately he is going "abroad" at the end of this month for good :(

Can you get to Horsham in Sussex this week or next ? He is a wazz on ultrasound....and also has a great philsophy of treating the clinical symptoms first and then finding the diagnosis once the piggie is recovered enough.....

Couldn;t ask for a better approach....piggies are NOT "disposables" in his eyes......

PM me if you want to chat about logistiics

x
 
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