orange urine and sore feet

[bigwig]

HI,

Daisy had a bladder stone removed last week. It was a large stone surrounded by a blood clot Anyway, she is on Baytril and Metacam and has recoverd very well from her surgery. However, she now has 2 new problems.

I noticed today that she has orange urine and I wonder if this is cystitis ? The vet said to expect blood in her urine for a couple of days post surgery, but she was fine and I didn't see any blood. What I am seeing now is not blood. Also, her back feet have become very sore and look as if they are developing small ulcers. Possible bumblefoot ? I've not seen this in a pig before. I have bathed her feet with salt water and applied a colloidial cream, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

I have a vet appointment booked for tomorrow. In meantine is there any thing else I can do for her ? She has had some cranberry juice.

 

[Wiebke]

As far as we have been able to find out is that intensely orange pee is caused by a build up of a kind of bacteria (but not the ones that cause cystitis). But these bacteria seem to flourish after a bad bout of cystitis/bladder stone trouble or gut infection whenever the immune system has been lowered and can colour the pee really strongly orange/rusty. It is quite frightening when it happens the first time!
http://cutiecavies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=bladder&action=display&thread=4760

However, orange pee can also be caused by vegetables/fruit/cranberry juice.

It sounds like bumblefoot/pododermitis. Here is more info:
http://www.guinealynx.info/pododermatitis.html
Gorgeous guineas have products: http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Does the urine come out orange, or does it appear orange when dry? What has she been eating over the past 24 hours? It's worth having the vet test her urine to check for bacteria but initially I would consider whether food is affecting the urine colour.

Bumblefoot is an infection of the footpad and does involve swelling as well as ulceration; this doesn't sound likely to be the problem especially as it's the back feet/hocks that seem to be affected. Sores on the feet can generally be caused by inactivity - has Daisy been less inclined to move around since her surgery? Urine scald which can eb tied in with inactivity (sitting in the urine) can also contribute to foot sores.

How often are you applying the cream to the feet? Personally I have had success at treating sore feet with Gorgeous Guineas Perfect Paws ointment; applying it twice daily for the full two weeks made a big difference to all the pigs I have used it on. Alternatively a soothing cream like Bepanthen could be used, this will protect the feet as well as soothe them.

 

[bigwig]

Does the urine come out orange, or does it appear orange when dry? What has she been eating over the past 24 hours? It's worth having the vet test her urine to check for bacteria but initially I would consider whether food is affecting the urine colour.

Bumblefoot is an infection of the footpad and does involve swelling as well as ulceration; this doesn't sound likely to be the problem especially as it's the back feet/hocks that seem to be affected. Sores on the feet can generally be caused by inactivity - has Daisy been less inclined to move around since her surgery? Urine scald which can eb tied in with inactivity (sitting in the urine) can also contribute to foot sores.

How often are you applying the cream to the feet? Personally I have had success at treating sore feet with Gorgeous Guineas Perfect Paws ointment; applying it twice daily for the full two weeks made a big difference to all the pigs I have used it on. Alternatively a soothing cream like Bepanthen could be used, this will protect the feet as well as soothe them.

Hi

It seems to come out orange. I don't think its dietry related as her diet has not changed and it only started after surgery.

I am bathing her feet and applying cream twice daily. I will swap to Bepanthen cream to see if that works and maybe order some Perfect Paws. She was a little sore after surgery for a couple of days and was less inclined to move around as much then, but she was back to normal within 2 days. I did think that maybe she was sitting in urine in the hay/ litter tray as she likes to bury herself under the hay, so I changed from paper to wood shavings. The rest of the crate has fleece and towels.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Thanks for the extra info.

Is there anything on top of the wood shavings, when did you change to the shavings? I'm wondering if the sore feet is tied in with this, it's not as much of a problem if there is hay on top of the shavings but feet directly on shavings (even if just the litter tray) isn't going to be ideal, especially for sore feet. Something to think about perhaps.

 

[bigwig]

Thanks for the extra info.

Is there anything on top of the wood shavings, when did you change to the shavings? I'm wondering if the sore feet is tied in with this, it's not as much of a problem if there is hay on top of the shavings but feet directly on shavings (even if just the litter tray) isn't going to be ideal, especially for sore feet. Something to think about perhaps.

I have always used paper on the bottom of the tray and then hay over the top. Daisy likes to burrow right under the hay so she is sat on the paper. I thought perhaps that she must be sitting directly in her own wee, so maybe shavings would be more absorbant and less harsh on her sore feeties. I don't what else I can use as an alternative to shavings or paper ? I could take the tray away, but they do use it and I don't want to deprive Daisy of an activity that she enjoys. What if I put a towel in the bottom of the tray instead of paper ?