Specialist Orange pee and weight loss

[kheops]

Hi everyone,

Almond, an 9-month boy had an orange (dark orange-not red) pee last tuesday (15/5). We were at the vet (Simon) on last wednesday (16/5), he said there is no blood in his urine only bilirubin, but that time he has not got any other symptoms.
He produced that urine at Simon, his urine is orange when its coming out.
I weighed him every day, and it turned out, he is loosing weight slowly, he lost around 60 grams between thursday-wednesday (17/5-23/5), so we went back to the vet on friday (25/5).
He checked around, no teeth/mouth issues, no breathing/heart problems, no painful urine, nothing.
We have zantac twice a day and he said we will try this and if there will be any more symptoms later we can catch the illness.

I trust him, but I am still annoyed what I can do or look around more ideas.
His symptoms only the dark pee (not orange anymore) and he has less interest in the food and drinking.
So we are giving him the zantac and an hour later some probiotics.

What we know it is not bullying: he has a cagemate but they have enough space and food, he has access for hay and bottle as well, and they are in the living room, so we can keep an eye on them.
We did not change food (except cucumber- buying the organic lidl, not organic tesco) in the last 3 months: same timothy hay, same dry food: Selective Naturals Grain Free, they have filtered water (we got a piggie with bladder problems).
They are on fleece (same detergent), and puppy pad (under fleece-same stuff), we don't have plants in this room, their floor time is supervised.

I would like to know maybe anyone seen something like this, and could give us any advice or something.

Thank you.

 

[Wiebke]

I feel for you - mystery weight loss is by far my least favourite symptom! Or a vet's...

Please take heart in that it is a slow loss.

Whether or in which way it is connected with the discoloured urine is a big question. Piggies can have rather strongly discoloured urine and still be perfectly healthy without any blood in the urine.

I am linking in some other people for you. @helen105281 @Jaycey @Abi_nurse @Freela

 

[DM030819]

@kheops How is his poop output? Are they still okay shaped? One of my boys has weight issues and his is linked to digestive issues. His poops are very odd shaped.

We did try a course of Itrafungal the first time he started to lose weight so maybe that could be an option to try next.

 

[kheops]

I feel for you - mystery weight loss is by far my least favourite symptom! Or a vet's...

Please take heart in that it is a slow loss.

Whether or in which way it is connected with the discoloured urine is a big question. Piggies can have rather strongly discoloured urine and still be perfectly healthy without any blood in the urine.

I am linking in some other people for you. @helen105281 @Jaycey @Abi_nurse @Freela

Hi Wiebke,

Thank you for your help!

Of course, we will try anything we can do!

 

[kheops]

@kheops How is his poop output? Are they still okay shaped? One of my boys has weight issues and his is linked to digestive issues. His poops are very odd shaped.

We did try a course of Itrafungal the first time he started to lose weight so maybe that could be an option to try next.

The poop shapes are different
1 sometimes we have a "baby bean" poop, normal shaped but in a half size or less
2 sometimes pea-shaped-normal thickness, but not bean shape.

But there is no diarrhea - the best thing of fleece for me I can see every day if their poop/pee changes.

 

[DM030819]

@kheops I wonder if it is digestion related if his poops are a bit weird. My pig was okay for around a year but he slowly started to show issues with his poops.

The Zantac should help but I'd definitely mention Itrafungal next time you see Simon.

 

[Freela]

It's good that they have ruled out a lot. I am wondering if he is dehydrated, which can cause darker urine. The weight loss is puzzling, but dehydration can also cause some loss of weight simply because you are carrying less water weight. Has anything changed about the water he's drinking? Can you try giving some veg with high water content and seeing if that makes a difference in the urine color? Just throwing ideas out there...

 

[fanniephina]

Hope all is ok with the little one. There's a lot I don't know yet about guinea pigs and learning. Will be watching about Almond and what could be. I am learning that some things I've noticed different about my piggies (urine, etc) are changeable and new at times but turn out to be fairly normal without problems.

Thinking of Almond; please post and keep up to date. I'm sure everything will be just fine.

 

[kheops]

It's good that they have ruled out a lot. I am wondering if he is dehydrated, which can cause darker urine. The weight loss is puzzling, but dehydration can also cause some loss of weight simply because you are carrying less water weight. Has anything changed about the water he's drinking? Can you try giving some veg with high water content and seeing if that makes a difference in the urine color? Just throwing ideas out there...

He drinks less than usual, that is true but not because of the cagemate- he is not a harsh boy, and they have two bottles in a different place, to give enough space for drinking pigs. I change the water daily.
I am giving them cucumber and he always ate it quick, but now if he takes it (maybe 1 of 3) he eats it slowly.
I will try to put some fluid into him when I give him the probiotic.

 

[kheops]

@kheops I wonder if it is digestion related if his poops are a bit weird. My pig was okay for around a year but he slowly started to show issues with his poops.

The Zantac should help but I'd definitely mention Itrafungal next time you see Simon.

Thanks Jaycey, if we need to go back, I will mention that.

 

[Abi_nurse]

Although brown and orange urine can be normal if your little one is still losing weight I would ask for it to be checked for blood or bacteria to check for a urine infection. This could certainly account for weight loss. Hope he picks up for you.

 

[kheops]

Although brown and orange urine can be normal if your little one is still losing weight I would ask for it to be checked for blood or bacteria to check for a urine infection. This could certainly account for weight loss. Hope he picks up for you.

On the first visit there was not any blood in his urine. If we need to go back I will collect urine and take it, thanks.

 

[helen105281]

Great you are seeing Simon, he and Kim are who I see for anything that my local vet can't deal with. He hasn't been on Zithromax at all? I have seen the odd case over the years where it can make pee turn orange in some pigs. But is usually while they are on it. I agree with @Jaycey that an anti-fungal would be a possible next step or possible Flagyl (Metronidazole).

 

[GPTV]

just a thought, to add to all of the great posts above ... has Almond started having fresh grass lately? It's just that suddenly having access to grass can cause the urine to go orange'y in colour. once the body is more used to it, the urine loses the strong colour & goes back to normal.
I'm not sure but aren't biliruben levels connected to the liver & it's function?

i would also try washing off all of his grass & veggies, etc. & not shake off any excess water - that should help him get extra fluids in without him even realising.

Speedy recovery & keep us updated. xx

 

[kheops]

Sorry for the late reply.
So Almond is fine now, the poops are still not the best, but he gained around 50grams back (he lost around 70). The pee is not orange anymore, I would say it's brownish now, but I have seen this color before on other piggies.
He eats and drinks well, so I give him some prebiotics and less veggies to put him back fully to the track