dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
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Please help me, I am really helpless,
- Thread starter dongzheng
- Start date
Looks like a normal sow to me.
Have a look at section 3 for images of an adult sow.
Illustrated Sexing Guide
Have a look at section 3 for images of an adult sow.
Illustrated Sexing Guide
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
Okay, I see it. I thought this was abnormal, and it scared me. Is she in heat?
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
I saw that his keyhole was thickened, and in the picture, its keyhole seemed thicker than that of a normal guinea pig. Because she has ovarian cysts and bacterial cystitis, she has been taking anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers for almost a week, but she has not seen any improvement, so now I seriously suspect that it is still the problem of the genitalia.
Is your vet an exotic that has experience with piggies? I’m wondering if they aren’t, it might be worth getting a second opinion from an experienced piggy vet. If it’s bacterial cystitis, then your piggy would need antibiotics to help with that.
I’m going to merge this post back in with your original thread.
Please don’t start new threads for this ongoing issue as this causes confusion
Please don’t start new threads for this ongoing issue as this causes confusion
Your piggy is on the correct medication for a bacterial issue - antibiotics.
The ovarian cyst issue requires different treatment.
Your piggy’s genitalia looks perfectly normal to me
The ovarian cyst issue requires different treatment.
Your piggy’s genitalia looks perfectly normal to me
Signs of being in heat are being more dominant, mounting and perhaps rumbling.
These signs can become more pronounced if a piggy has a certain type of ovarian cysts. Small cysts tend to cause dominance and temperament changes.
There are also large fluid filled cysts which do not typically cause additional displays of dominance or temperament changes. These fluid filled and can get very large and painful
The other issue is that given your piggy lives alone she has no other piggy to mount or be dominant wirh so you may not necessarily notice the signs
Sows: Behaviour and Female Health Problems (including mounting and ovarian cysts)
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
My dear, as Chinese veterinarians are not particularly familiar with guinea pigs, this is the most specialised vet I've encountered. I've done everything in my power.
My vet has persistently prescribed antibiotics for the guinea pig—as previously mentioned, because in China, anti-inflammatory drugs are also termed antibiotics. Hence my earlier statement that my vet is administering anti-inflammatory medication (antibiotics). The vet indicated that if the antibiotics fail to clear the bacterial infection and the pain persists despite pain relief, it is highly likely caused by oestrogen-induced cysts. In that case, they would advise me to use a chip implant to manage her oestrus cycle. Following this second recurrence of cystitis, she was also diagnosed with an ovarian cyst (almost identical to the first illness's findings). I am sending photographs of her genitalia to seek others' opinions on whether swelling is present. To my eye, its shape differs from that of a normal guinea pig. Additionally, I wish to ask: does a guinea pig's genitalia also swell during oestrus? Furthermore, I have noticed she falls asleep while eating, frequently closes her eyes, appears perpetually drowsy, and grinds her teeth.
My vet has persistently prescribed antibiotics for the guinea pig—as previously mentioned, because in China, anti-inflammatory drugs are also termed antibiotics. Hence my earlier statement that my vet is administering anti-inflammatory medication (antibiotics). The vet indicated that if the antibiotics fail to clear the bacterial infection and the pain persists despite pain relief, it is highly likely caused by oestrogen-induced cysts. In that case, they would advise me to use a chip implant to manage her oestrus cycle. Following this second recurrence of cystitis, she was also diagnosed with an ovarian cyst (almost identical to the first illness's findings). I am sending photographs of her genitalia to seek others' opinions on whether swelling is present. To my eye, its shape differs from that of a normal guinea pig. Additionally, I wish to ask: does a guinea pig's genitalia also swell during oestrus? Furthermore, I have noticed she falls asleep while eating, frequently closes her eyes, appears perpetually drowsy, and grinds her teeth.
Genitalia will vary from piggy to piggy.
Yes it can swell when they are in season but largely, you will need to know what is normal for her to be able to tell whether swelling is present. It’s rather difficult for us to know whether she is swollen - to us she looks just looks normal for a sow.
Falling asleep/lethargy and grinding teeth can be signs of pain and/or distress.
Yes it can swell when they are in season but largely, you will need to know what is normal for her to be able to tell whether swelling is present. It’s rather difficult for us to know whether she is swollen - to us she looks just looks normal for a sow.
Falling asleep/lethargy and grinding teeth can be signs of pain and/or distress.
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
I have already given him painkillers. Under normal circumstances, the pain caused by common crystals is not so severe, so he is more like a cyst caused by the secretion of estrogen, right?
No - The pain of crystals in the bladder can be severe. They are sharp and can damage the bladder. Crystals can turn into stones which are also very painful.
It is impossible for us to know what is causing her pain - it could be the bacterial cystitis, crystals in the bladder or the ovarian cysts - or more likely, it’s all of it
It is impossible for us to know what is causing her pain - it could be the bacterial cystitis, crystals in the bladder or the ovarian cysts - or more likely, it’s all of it
If you think your piggy’s genitalia is swollen and looks abnormal for her, then you need to speak to your vet.
It’s impossible for us to know - we don’t know what she looks like normally
It’s impossible for us to know - we don’t know what she looks like normally
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
The veterinarian also saw that his genitals were indeed swollen, and the veterinarian also saw a small amount of crystals in her bladder, but the veterinarian did not know how much pain the bladder crystals would cause, nor did the veterinarian know how much pain the ovarian cyst would cause, because it is common for cats and dogs.
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
My veterinarian is now off duty, but my guinea pig is in a lot of pain. I can't sit still. It seems very agitated, because I just gave him carprofen 3 hours ago, can I give him meloxicam now?
That’s all fine then if you have taken her to your vet and confirmed her genitals are swollen.
I see that carprofen is an NSAID. Meloxicom is also an NSAID.
To my knowledge, your piggy should never have been prescribed both. You cannot give both as you would cause an overdose.
You need to talk to a vet
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
I showed his photographs to my vet, which clearly revealed my pig's genitalia and confirmed the swelling. My vet is also very concerned but cannot explain why this is happening. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "then there's no problem"? Because he now appears extremely restless and walks around grunting, which makes me worry about his cyst. Or are you suggesting, like my little pig, that experiencing this for a few days each month is normal? Furthermore, my vet is utterly perplexed as to why, after so many days on antibiotics, the bacterial count hasn't decreased.
I mean if you’ve shown it to the vet and they’ve confirmed it’s swollen then that is fine - we cannot help you confirm it’s swollen - it is now for your vet to find out what the problem is.
If your piggy is in considerable pain now then you need a vet. We, again, cannot help.
The pain could be from the cyst, it could be from the crystals damaging the bladder, it could be pain from the infection - it’s impossible for us to know.
The bacterial count may still be high because the infection is severe - it can take 7-10 days of antibiotics before infections are cured, sometimes a second course is needed.
Sometimes the wrong antibiotic is being used and another one needs to be tried.
If there are crystals in there then the infection keep reoccurring due to constant abrasions being caused
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
At present, my vet is unable to determine whether her pain stems from ovarian issues, bladder problems, or being in heat. Since you mentioned earlier that these symptoms are caused by pain, I've been treating them as such.
At present, my vet is unable to determine whether her pain stems from ovarian issues, bladder problems, or being in heat. Since you mentioned earlier that her symptoms are caused by pain, I've been treating them as such. Because the vet cannot pinpoint the cause, he cannot provide the most effective treatment, hence his request for me to consult friends here. For instance, could an ovarian cyst cause genital swelling? This is the only way we can proceed with the investigation.
At present, my vet is unable to determine whether her pain stems from ovarian issues, bladder problems, or being in heat. Since you mentioned earlier that her symptoms are caused by pain, I've been treating them as such. Because the vet cannot pinpoint the cause, he cannot provide the most effective treatment, hence his request for me to consult friends here. For instance, could an ovarian cyst cause genital swelling? This is the only way we can proceed with the investigation.
Being in heat on its own does not cause pain.
We cannot pinpoint the cause either since everything that is wrong with her would be a risk of causing pain.
There could be many reasons for genitalia swelling
As I said before, diagnosed crystals could need to be removed from her bladder to stop them from causing more damage and pain or from becoming stones.
The treatment for ovarian cysts depends on what type they are - she may need to be spayed. You say your vet has mentioned an implant - that suggests you are dealing with hormonal cysts which tend to be small ones and tend to causes displays of dominance and moody behaviour
If your vet cannot determine what needs to be done, then I’m afraid there is nothing more we can suggest
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
Should small crystals also be removed? Since sulphonamide drugs can also cause crystal formation, is he unable to pass them? He also whines while walking. I suspect this stems from both pain and signs of being in heat, which we cannot distinguish. Could pain cause genital swelling? Alternatively, could you send me articles detailing the different manifestations of pain versus being in heat?
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dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
Does being in heat make one prone to drowsiness? There's a key detail: when my vet was performing an ultrasound on my guinea pig, she actually closed her eyes and fell asleep. And when I was force-feeding her hay powder, I wrapped her up and held her close—she ate for a bit then closed her eyes and drifted off. My vet was astonished, remarking she'd never seen such a docile little pig, requiring no restraint to keep her legs still.
Sludge and crystals always need to come out. Crystals can turn into stones. If they don’t pass then there is an ongoing risk.
Pain doesn’t cause swelling. Pain can be a response to swelling. A medical issue causes swelling and that can be painful.
Being in heat is just an hormonal response and causes ovulation - it doesn’t cause pain. It doesn’t cause drowsiness.
An increase in dominance behaviour can be a sign of being in heat.
Signs of pain can be:
lethargy and reluctance to move
lack of appetite and consequent weight loss
Teeth grinding
Puffing fur up
Barbering or biting at an area on the body
Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs
Pain doesn’t cause swelling. Pain can be a response to swelling. A medical issue causes swelling and that can be painful.
Being in heat is just an hormonal response and causes ovulation - it doesn’t cause pain. It doesn’t cause drowsiness.
An increase in dominance behaviour can be a sign of being in heat.
Signs of pain can be:
lethargy and reluctance to move
lack of appetite and consequent weight loss
Teeth grinding
Puffing fur up
Barbering or biting at an area on the body
Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
Quite right, he does sleep a great deal now, though not curled up like a hen but lying on his side with his legs stretched out. I'm not sure if this indicates pain? His fur also frequently stands on end, as it is now, though given his breed I sometimes struggle to tell if it's merely a fur explosion. His appetite remains poor and he's lost weight again. I've noticed his weight drops each time we stop the pain medication. His eating fluctuates too—sometimes he manages more, other times barely anything. Long-term antibiotics have damaged his gut function, and now I hesitate to give him painkillers for fear of causing further harm. I want to confirm whether he's genuinely in pain. I've also sent photos of his urine for your assessment; I suspect it resembles snowflakes but can't be certain. I am concurrently administering the UK-manufactured bladder protection medication Cystopro, which contains cranberry extract and appears purple-red. I suspect this may be affecting the urine's appearance, as I cannot distinguish between haematuria and non-haematuric urine.
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If her weight drops if you stop the pain meds then it would suggest she is in pain and needs the medication .
She hasn’t been on antibiotics long term (from my memory of the post she has only done a couple of courses - that would not be considered long term) but it can affect gut bacteria.
She hasn’t been on antibiotics long term (from my memory of the post she has only done a couple of courses - that would not be considered long term) but it can affect gut bacteria.
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
My doctor told me to stop giving her antibiotics for two days, but today she has a fever and cries when she urinates. Yesterday, she had some symptoms, so I gave her 0.4 cc of meloxicam. Today, her temperature is 40.3, so I gave her another 0.7 cc of meloxicam, but she is still very uncomfortable and in pain. She was not in the mood to eat, and I offered her 40 ml of Critical Care, after which she was unable to pull out the stool due to pain. I can confirm that she is not yet bloated, but if I continue to feed her 20 ml of Critical Care, I am worried that she will bloat. His urine has a strong smell, and I can't contact my veterinarian now. I am hesitating whether to give him sulfa antibiotics or enrofloxacin. Enrofloxacin has been taken for 7 days, and the inflammation has improved somewhat, but the appetite has decreased, so the veterinarian said it could be stopped for two days, but on the third day she relapsed. In my opinion, I am worried that enrofloxacin may not be very effective for his cystitis and urinary tract infection. I am worried that the sulfa drug will produce crystals after taking it, so I am very confused and don't know what to do. His urine has a strong smell, accompanied by fever, crying while urinating, and I dare not give her grain food. Yesterday, some white things came out of her urine that I could touch with my hand. Is this an indication of sterility or bacteria? Do I still need to add meloxicam? 0.7 cc seems a bit too little. Can I add 0.3 cc?
dongzheng
Junior Guinea Pig
I mentioned flushing the bladder to my veterinarian before, but the veterinarian said that there were very few crystals, and it might be able to pass out on its own without flushing. I don’t know why he said that.
Feeding critical care does not cause bloating.
Not eating enough can cause bloat and if she isn’t eating anything for herself and you don’t feed her then gut stasis can occur and that can be fatal. Therefore you must feed her if she is losing weight and not eating enough for herself.
I can’t know what the white things were.
As I have told you many times, I cannot tell you what dosage of pain meds to give. Dosage is based on weight and clinical need and must be prescribed by a vet.
Enrofloxacin can be effective for bacterial cystitis.
Sulfatrim can also be very effecfive for bacterial cystitis, it can be better than enrofloxacin.
I don’t know why you think sulfatrim would cause crystals.
Antibiotics for a UTI can need to be given for several weeks at a time.
If your vet says there aren’t many crystals then that is a good thing.
Not eating enough can cause bloat and if she isn’t eating anything for herself and you don’t feed her then gut stasis can occur and that can be fatal. Therefore you must feed her if she is losing weight and not eating enough for herself.
I can’t know what the white things were.
As I have told you many times, I cannot tell you what dosage of pain meds to give. Dosage is based on weight and clinical need and must be prescribed by a vet.
Enrofloxacin can be effective for bacterial cystitis.
Sulfatrim can also be very effecfive for bacterial cystitis, it can be better than enrofloxacin.
I don’t know why you think sulfatrim would cause crystals.
Antibiotics for a UTI can need to be given for several weeks at a time.
If your vet says there aren’t many crystals then that is a good thing.