Senior Male Peeing Blood (Not Neutered)

[frankiethepiggie]

Hi everyone, I have a five year and ten month old male pig named Frank. I noticed today there was blood in his urine, I saw on his fleece when spot cleaning earlier tonight. I even grabbed a tissue and pressed on the spot and when I lifted the tissue there was blood on it. I checked all over his body for any cuts or wounds and did not find a thing. He has had some small bladder stones in the past but passed them perfectly fine. I make sure to keep him on a good diet, he has unlimited orchard hay 24/7, two tablespoons of oxbow essentials adult guinea pig food each day, and either romaine or green leaf lettuce with sometimes green peppers, carrots, celery, apple, small amounts of cilantro, cherry tomato, and more. He will be six years old in two months. I haven’t heard him speak when peeing but maybe I missed it or wasn’t around to hear it. The last time the vets X rayed him they told me to buy some ammonium chloride, dissolve it in water and use it to dissolve the stones so he could pass them. I ended up not needing it and he passed them without it but now I am seeing blood and rhat hasn’t happened before. I’m 19 years old without a job but I live with my mom. Due to family problems, money has been tight. My mom did say we could take him to see a vet if the ammonium chloride doesn’t solve things in a few days. He has been eating and drinking very well. His poops however are looking slightly smaller. I have critical care at home, should I start hand feeding even though he is eating well on his own? He is producing the same normal amount of poops, they just look a little wonky. I highly doubt it’s an infection because he is eating well and hasn’t lost any weight. If the vets had to take him to surgery to remove the stones, I just worry he wouldn’t make it because he has definitely slowed down recently. Also, would syringing small amounts of cranberry juice help him at all? I appreciate any advice and would love to answer any other questions you might have. Thanks so much.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

I appreciate your situation, but seeing a vet is important to get the diagnosis and treatment of this particular matter and not give anything to him on spec without knowing you are doing the right thing.

He may have a UTI. This will require antibiotics and painkillers to treat it. The fact he is still eating something is good but it does not mean it isn’t an infection. UTI symptoms can take a couple of days to become consistent, it may it is already developing quickly - we obviously can’t know - but it can become uncomfortable and painful for him.

Giving cranberry juice doesn’t help guinea pigs with UTIs, like it does for humans. There is too much sugar in it also so not good for piggies.

Equally, if he has a stone, it’s important a diagnosis is sought.
Its good the previous stone passed but generally any stone which isn’t tiny in boars need to be removed surgically. They generally don’t get dissolved. Boars have an awkward angle in their urethra and if a stone which is too big tries to pass down it and gets stuck in that angle, then it becomes an emergency situation and can sadly prove fatal.

Small poops can indicate that his hay intake (hay being 80% of the diet) is reducing. Please ensure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily (at the same time each day) while you have concerns. This is the only way to know he is getting enough hay in each 24 hour period. Stepping in with syringe feeding is important and the weight checks are your guide as to how much syringe feed he needs each day.

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Two tablespoons of pellets is too much. Please cut this down for one tablespoon. Pellets contain a lot of calcium and too much calcium contributes to the formation of bladder stones.
Also ensure his drinking water is filtered to ensure the calcium content isn’t too high also.

Ensure his veg diet is balanced daily and things such as lettuce, cucumber, pepper and cilantro are all safe to be given every day
Fruit, tomatoes and carrot should be avoided for piggies who have had bladder issues

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[weepweeps]

I hope you manage to get to the vets soon and your piggy feels better. Sending healing vibes your way.

 

[frankiethepiggie]

Here is an update!
I took Frank to the vets yesterday. As I was on a budget, we did not take any X rays but the doctor felt around and didn’t feel any stones. I know that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there, but money is tight and I did what I could. Because he had some blood in his urine, they gave me baytril just in case. He is having 0.37 ml twice a day for fourteen days. He is also on metacam, I think 0.53 ml once a day but what I do is split that dose and give him it every twelve hours. So about 0.26 ml every twelve hours. I know Guinea pigs have very fast metabolisms and I feel like once a day won’t be enough for him. Is this the right thing to do? I also purchased some bene bac probiotic and am using my other healthy pig’s poop and mashing it with water and syringe feeding him that (last time he was on baytril it upset his tummy). I feel terrible knowing I went “on a budget” and that totally shouldn’t be the case. I’m 19 and I don’t have a job yet and life has been quite a crazy challenge but I’m doing what I can for him and I’m hoping it’s enough. Thanks everyone for the well wishes, he is hanging in there.

 

[Tiamolly123]

Many of us come to the point when some of us can’t afford vet bills, or keep up with the insurance payments. With everyone struggling at the moment, with sky high gas & electricity costs & fuel. No one can know what the future brings. Some times the vet will only charge me consultant fees. Also my sister & I help each other out. I would never leave a pet to suffer, if I had to I would let them be put to sleep. Luckily that’s never happened, & it would break me if it needed to be done. Unfortunately circumstances change. To all who read this, be kind.

 

[frankiethepiggie]

Many of us come to the point when some of us can’t afford vet bills, or keep up with the insurance payments. With everyone struggling at the moment, with sky high gas & electricity costs & fuel. No one can know what the future brings. Some times the vet will only charge me consultant fees. Also my sister & I help each other out. I would never leave a pet to suffer, if I had to I would let them be put to sleep. Luckily that’s never happened, & it would break me if it needed to be done. Unfortunately circumstances change. To all who read this, be kind.

Thank you so much, I totally agree. I’ve always prioritized my pets over myself and I cherish them more than anything. Thank you for the reminder to be nice and spread kindness.

 

[weepweeps]

I hope your piggy feels better soon and is on the mend.

 

[VickiA]

I hope the antibiotics help him soon.