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recurring uti (crystals in urine)

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sharon

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Hi again and thank you in advance for any replies. I have come here in the past for advice and always been very grateful for advice and info received.
My female guinea pig is 4 years old and she seems to be suffering from recurrrent infections caused by profuse crystals in her urine.
She has had an x-ray which showed no crystals in her badder, they were in her urethra and the vet thought they were small enough to pass herself naturally.
He advised me to change her food from gerty guinea pig to the pelleted type which I did and to feed very little of this. To feed lots of good quality hay, varied, fresh, leafy veg which I was doing anyway and to encourage drinking.
The problem has reoccurred at least she has the same symptoms and seems in a lot of pain. I've been given septrin and metacam to give to her and I hope this will relieve her distress soon.
I don't know what else I can do to stop this happening the vet suggested having her put to sleep but I don't want to have to do that but at the same time don't want her to suffer. She is otherwise bright and alert and her appetite is enormous! She is crying out in pain and jumping when passing urine only.
Please help with any suggestions.
Thank you
 
Hi Sharon,

Oh goodness your little girl seems to be going though the mill, I have a boar who is approx 4 years old. Patrick was letting out a horrid yelp and hunching forward for no apparent reason. When he urinated he made the below sound.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ypYhDyI_mY[/ame]

I rushed him to the vet terrified he had stones - in his penis.

We initially done a Dip- Stick test, Which was negative of all elements. With the exception +3 protein. I knew he wasn't right so insisted they Xrayed and did a urine Analysis.

Xray - Was clear.

However Crystals where found in his urine the vet showed me the crystals under the microscope, these crystals where sharp and jaggy I can understand why he was crying. The vet said Patrick had the beginning of Crystal formation.

What I am doing for my boy who is no longer crying.

Firstly - Water (Are you in a hard or soft water area?). I am in a soft Water Area but I do still filter my water. I bought a standard Water filter jug from Argos.

I have changed the pellet as Crystal formation can also be described as IC. Grainless Guinea Pig Pellet, although not well liked has the best Calcium : Phosphate ratio I can find. We are now feeding this.

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/jr_farm/178336#composition

Offer Cranberry (Make sure there is no addictives) via Syringe and Barley Water. Below is the link to the one I use.

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

Barley water is Barley Pearls. You boil for 30 - 45 minutes drain off and Syringe the liquid to your Guinea Pig. Patrick will lap up Barley water and Cranberry mixed together.

The Calcium : phosphate ratio (1.33). I make sure my pig is given the correct ratio daily using the below Calculator.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...WBmqJBCUaNz3-riiA&sig2=jbwYoem3DVgjC-P5pX56hw

Although it's American - there is plenty of UK foods on it. I have numerous menu's which I can share but you have to weigh the food.

My Guinea Pig no longer squeaks - not on Metacam or Septrin.

However we now give him Cytease daily - Cat medication. My vet agreed to Trial it. Perhaps it's worth discussing with your vet.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-and-cat-...0-feline-cystitis-glucosamine-capsules-p-1146
 
Hi Flintstones,
Are you able to advise on delivering cystease? I have been told 1 capsule syringed in 3mls of water daily. Do you know if it can be less dilute than this as it's nigh on impossible getting water syringed into my problem piggy? The others are fine with syringeing
Thanks in advance
 
This is interesting as I have a 17 month old sow with crystals in her urine. She's had them for ages, ever since she had her 2nd pregnancy (I adopted her and she was pregnant, her 2nd, but I didn't know at the time!) I first knew there was something wrong when I would lift her out her cage and she was wet underneath all over her tummy. The vet tried antibiotics, (didn't help) she said she was a bit sore so she went on metacam. There's no protein, glucose, bacteria or blood in the urine but she's started to get like grains of sand attached to her hair around where she pees. Vet looked at these under microscope and said it was crystals. She's had regular ultrasounds to check for stones but so far everything is clear from that point of view. She already drinks a lot, much more than my other 2 pigs, so maybe that is stopping the stones forming? Does anyone think giving her cranberry juice would help? I have the concentrated one from Holland and Barrett which I will dilute, but I always thought that was used for helping with infection/bacteria based problems. She doesn't squeak or make any noise when peeing so I'm presuming its not hurting to urinate although vet says her bladder is tender. I don't know what else to do for her!

Fiona
 
Gig said:
Hi Flintstones,
Are you able to advise on delivering cystease? I have been told 1 capsule syringed in 3mls of water daily. Do you know if it can be less dilute than this as it's nigh on impossible getting water syringed into my problem piggy? The others are fine with syringeing
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I mix my capsule with 1ml of water and syringe .33 to Patrick daily.

The3piggys said:
This is interesting as I have a 17 month old sow with crystals in her urine. She's had them for ages, ever since she had her 2nd pregnancy (I adopted her and she was pregnant, her 2nd, but I didn't know at the time!) I first knew there was something wrong when I would lift her out her cage and she was wet underneath all over her tummy. The vet tried antibiotics, (didn't help) she said she was a bit sore so she went on metacam. There's no protein, glucose, bacteria or blood in the urine but she's started to get like grains of sand attached to her hair around where she pees. Vet looked at these under microscope and said it was crystals. She's had regular ultrasounds to check for stones but so far everything is clear from that point of view. She already drinks a lot, much more than my other 2 pigs, so maybe that is stopping the stones forming? Does anyone think giving her cranberry juice would help? I have the concentrated one from Holland and Barrett which I will dilute, but I always thought that was used for helping with infection/bacteria based problems. She doesn't squeak or make any noise when peeing so I'm presuming its not hurting to urinate although vet says her bladder is tender. I don't know what else to do for her!

Fiona
Click to expand...

Does your girl have white patches after she urinates - the sand like texture is known as Grit. Wilma my other pig does have a stone and also has grit in her urine she is doing much better on the new diet. She is also given additional fluids.

I now find both Patrick and Wilma are more comfortable and no squeaks.
 
thank you very much your posts are very informative and I'll certainly try some of your sugestions.
My gp doesn't seem any better and is still crying out (she sounds just like Patrick in the video) she also has a sore rear end where she is biting/scratching at herself. She's been on septrin and metacam since Thursday so I would expect ot see an improvement by now. Trip to the vet again tomorrow I think.
Juse one question do you know what %age calcium is in the pellets you recommend? I'm currently feeding Burgess excel oregano and blackcurrant and that has 0.9% calcium.
Thank you
 
the Ratio for my pellets is 0.3 phosphate : 0.5 Calcium. I checked a lot of packs to find the best one, Patrick was crying right up to the end of ABS.

Did infection show in the Urine sample?

What dose of Septrin is your vet giving?

I found the Barley:Cranberry mixed helped Patrick to. For a short period of time he reduced his food intake to so I was also mixing his syringe food with Barley water.

Is it possible she could also have mites? Which would account for the biting/Scratching.
 
Hi Flintstones, Yes urinalysis showed blood and protein and she's on 1ml septrin twice a day for 5 days. The vet checked her for mites and said she's clear. I think she must be in so much discomfort when peeing she's biting/scratching at herself to try to ease the pain (if that makes sense). She looks very sore around her genital area. She isn't scratching anywhere else.
I'm going back to vet tomorrow to suggest cystease and hope she will agree. I've also ordered some of the pellets you recommended and will try the cranberry juice too with barley water. I'm hoping I can buy barley pearls at my local pet store. I really don't want to have to give up on my gp and will try anything to make her well again.
I'm very grateful for all your advice.
 
Pearl Barley you get from the Supermarket, next to Lentils.

Just a note Mites usually appear in a 'V' around the rump I think.

Good Luck tomorrow, Let us know how you get on. xx
 
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