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Sandy blood on privates

Hope4gem

Hope4gem

Adult Guinea Pig
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So my piggy Penny appears to be bleeding from her vaginal area. She bled a small amount for about a minute (or less) and then it stopped. She is pooping normally and no signs of blood on her anus so I don't think it's coming from there. When we checked her it appeared to be coming from her vaginal area. No reason to think there was an inury. No sign of any wounds. I'm assuming a UTI, calcium deposits, or something similar, but will call vet tomorrow to schedule an appointment for as soon as possible. (Theyre closed already today). Unfortunately, it usually takes a week to get seen by vet. There were brown spots that appeared to be from urine in my piggys kitchen (bathroom) area last week. Vet assured me that this color urine was fine. Now I'm wondering if it was actually dried blood. Her cagemates urine was checked a few weeks ago and was fine. She is eating, drinking, and pooping normally. This is the first issue I've seen with her urine. Her weight is stable. We have another piggy on low calcium diet (as per vet) so by default most of our piggies get a lower calcium diet anyway. But I gave my girls more green leaf lettuce than usual this week. Maybe that's higher in calcium and that's the issue? Penny does not appear to be in any pain. Will call vet tomorrow, but also plan on seeing emergency vet if anything worsens. Luckily, after work tomorrow I'll be home with the piggies all day for 3 days in a row so I can keep a closer eye. Penny's cagemate, Sandy, is on antibiotics for possible URI.
 
Hope4gem said:
So my piggy Penny appears to be bleeding from her vaginal area. She bled a small amount for about a minute (or less) and then it stopped. She is pooping normally and no signs of blood on her anus so I don't think it's coming from there. When we checked her it appeared to be coming from her vaginal area. No reason to think there was an inury. No sign of any wounds. I'm assuming a UTI, calcium deposits, or something similar, but will call vet tomorrow to schedule an appointment for as soon as possible. (Theyre closed already today). Unfortunately, it usually takes a week to get seen by vet. There were brown spots that appeared to be from urine in my piggys kitchen (bathroom) area last week. Vet assured me that this color urine was fine. Now I'm wondering if it was actually dried blood. Her cagemates urine was checked a few weeks ago and was fine. She is eating, drinking, and pooping normally. This is the first issue I've seen with her urine. Her weight is stable. We have another piggy on low calcium diet (as per vet) so by default most of our piggies get a lower calcium diet anyway. But I gave my girls more green leaf lettuce than usual this week. Maybe that's higher in calcium and that's the issue? Penny does not appear to be in any pain. Will call vet tomorrow, but also plan on seeing emergency vet if anything worsens. Luckily, after work tomorrow I'll be home with the piggies all day for 3 days in a row so I can keep a closer eye. Penny's cagemate, Sandy, is on antibiotics for possible URI.
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Hi!

Please book an appointment as soon as you can so your vet can checked whether it is a problem with the reproductive tract or whether it is an issue with the urinary tract.
If it is the start of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a bacterial or sterile cystitis, then symptoms should become more consistent (intensely red/bloody looking pees and squeaking when peeing. This can often take 5-7 days).

Sheer blood drops comes generally more often from the reproductive tract in sows and usually means that something in there (most often ovarian cysts) is seriously going wrong.
It could also come from a stone making its way down the urethra or having been passed - but that is for your vet to decide. The sandiness/grittiness could point towards sludge in the bladder.
I would however recommend that you ask your vet toohave a good look at the reproductive tract if the spotty bleeding without squeaking continues and doesn't turn into bloody looking urine.

I sincerely doubt that this has anything whatsoever to do with you feeding more lettuce; whatever it turns out to be; that is just your mind latching onto the last change in your care in the instinctive but mistaken assumption that it must be always your fault when something goes wrong. It isn't. Plenty of stuff happens that is entirely out of your control, especially when it comes to illness and health issues. You can generally prevent some things that are down to good care (and not always then) but you cannot change a genetic disposition or just happenstance. What I call 'cosmic bad luck' is unfortunately rather widespread and comes delivery-free.

As your girl is still well in herself you should be hopefully able to bridge the gap for a regular appointment.
If not, here is our one stop emergency and bridging care guide with all the relevant information links: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Please book an appointment as soon as you can so your vet can checked whether it is a problem with the reproductive tract or whether it is an issue with the urinary tract.
If it is the start of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a bacterial or sterile cystitis, then symptoms should become more consistent (intensely red/bloody looking pees and squeaking when peeing. This can often take 5-7 days).

Sheer blood drops comes generally more often from the reproductive tract in sows and usually means that something in there (most often ovarian cysts) is seriously going wrong.
It could also come from a stone making its way down the urethra or having been passed - but that is for your vet to decide. The sandiness/grittiness could point towards sludge in the bladder.
I would however recommend that you ask your vet toohave a good look at the reproductive tract if the spotty bleeding without squeaking continues and doesn't turn into bloody looking urine.

I sincerely doubt that this has anything whatsoever to do with you feeding more lettuce; whatever it turns out to be; that is just your mind latching onto the last change in your care in the instinctive but mistaken assumption that it must be always your fault when something goes wrong. It isn't. Plenty of stuff happens that is entirely out of your control, especially when it comes to illness and health issues. You can generally prevent some things that are down to good care (and not always then) but you cannot change a genetic disposition or just happenstance. What I call 'cosmic bad luck' is unfortunately rather widespread and comes delivery-free.

As your girl is still well in herself you should be hopefully able to bridge the gap for a regular appointment.
If not, here is our one stop emergency and bridging care guide with all the relevant information links: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best!
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for all the information and the suggestions! Will definitely ask my vet to check and see if it could potentially be any reproductive issues (as well as urinary). I had not thought of the potential for Reproductive issues so I appreciate you pointing that out as a possibility. I found out that the vet was open late tonight so was able to call them tonight instead of waiting until tomorrow to call. We have an appointment for May 19th. If anything worsens or becomes more of an emergency we will certainly see an after-hours vet sooner. It has been a while since I read the guide that you linked so will give it a read again. Thanks again so much!
 
I just realized that I titled this thread "Sandy" and meant to say "Penny." Is it a sign that you have too many piggies when you call them the wrong name?
:doh: 🤣
 
Penny has her appointment today. Just finishing up at the vet. The vet said that it could be urinary or reproductive issues, but not sure yet. Getting xrays done now to see if there's any stones. Penny doesn't act in pain when palpating bladder. No sign of blood in the vagina, but we haven't noticed any blood in a few days. Eating, peeing, pooping normally. Will update this with xray results as soon as they're done. Will bring urinary sample to vet tomorrow. They will check it for blood. Fingers crossed it's nothing serious but too early to tell.
 
Finished at vets a bit ago. Xray showed no stones. Penny gave them a urine sample during xray and when checked had a lot of calcium. Recommended starting potassium citrate which another piggy of mine is prescribed so we already have some on hand. She's already on low calcium diet. Will check urine again in a few weeks to see if better. Will keep an eye in case she starts having pain, but none right now she does not appear to be in any pain. Because she's younger, nothing felt by vet, nothing seen on xray vet does not think it is cysts right now.
 
So glad your little lady doesn’t have any stones or cysts! Guinea pigs are so fickle with calcium. Sometimes their genetics are just crap and even on low calcium diets they can still have issues. I hope the potassium citrate helps her out!
 
Penny isn't too happy about getting her medicine. She's taken to nipping me at each dose. I think it's because she's used to pulling on my shirt and then I put her down (if I'm just cuddling her) but when it's time for her medicine I have to ignore her shirt pulls until I get her meds into her. I think that's why she gets more aggressive with yanking on my shirt.
At least 3 times now she's got my skin too! Ouch! :yikes:
I know it's not her fault and I'd be upset too if someone was forcing me to take meds, but I'd rather not get nipped. Going to put on a coat before her next dose so that her nipping has more fabric to get through and likely won't pinch me as easily. [Sigh]. The things we go through for these little cherubs. :inn:
 
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