Poor Flash

[EmJ]

Flash has now had two lots of antibiotics for a UTI/Cysts. It seems to clear up then come back. :{

She has nearly finished her second lot, but looking at her lady bits, there is a bloody discharge. There is no blood in her wee.

The vet advised getting her spayed if it dosn't clear up. Is this the normal course of action? I have read some post on here about spaying and don't really want to put her through an op. He says she is to young for stones. (she is 8 months old)

Not sure what to do for the best, she is still her normalself.

 

[Wiebke]

Spaying is certainly NOT the answer for cystitis.

Has your girl been on put on pediatric septrin 0.5 ml twice daily (may need a month). It is an oral form of the bactrim recommended in the link. I combine it with metacam (anti-inflammatory/painkiller) and Avipro plus probiotic (does not contain any extra calcium). Use bottled low calcium water for the piggies to drink if you live in a hard water area.

Septrin is not licensed for guinea pigs, but after two attempts that haven't worked out, you may be able to persuade your vet that it is a lot better than going for an unnecassary last op! Septrin is a lot less harsh on the guts and piggies usually LOVE the banana flavour!

As much unsweetened cranberry juice pure or mixed with water as your girl takes by syringe in as many sittings as you can afford (up to 40ml; but rarely more than 10ml in one go - that's about a bladder full).

Request an x-ray WITHOUT general anaesthetic to make sure that your girl is not suffering from bladder stones. She may need an operation for that (and don't let your vet try and spay her at the same time!)

Here is more:
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html

Please print those pages out and show them to your vet.

Here are links to the balanced diet mentioned in guinealynx:
http://www.store2go.net/shop/planetguinea/ratewatchersrainbowdiet.pdf
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37030

If you are not happy with your vet, it may pay to look for an exotics specialist (guinea pigs are classed as that).

I am treating for cystitis myself right now and I have had a bladder stone piggy before.

 

[EmJ]

Thanks for that. I did think spaying sounded a little bit harsh.

Will have to do some looking around for an exotic vet.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Hi EmJ, sorry to hear things still aren't clearing up. It's certainly worth seeing the vet again as the blood could be coming from the renal, reproductive or digestive system - treatment will of course depend on where the bleeding is coming from.

I agree with Wiebke, if it is a UTI/cystitis then Septrin really would be the next treatment to try. How long was she on the antibiotics for?

Are you able to travel at all? CCT in Huntingdon may not be *too* far from you, if you can travel.