Sludge or powder in urine?

LydiaMinx · Oct 26, 2012

I've noticed that my 6 month old male guinea pig has started to have white patches in his urine. This has happened twice that I can tell (whilst on my lap, it showed on the fleece) but I cannot say if it is happening everytime he wee's, as he is kept on hay and it doesn't show

He doesn't appear or sound pained whilst he is passing the urine, and the white patch does not feel gritty or lump what so ever, thankfully. It doesn't appear to feel different from the rest of the urine patch which is why I am confused as to whether it is the dreaded sludge, or just calcium excretion.

Even if it is calcium excretion, is it normal to be happening so often? If not, are there any home remedies? And if it is sludge, is there a fix to this at home? I don't mind the vet trip, though

If this is any help he is fed Burgess Excell nuggets with fresh veggies daily and some fruit twice a week.

Any help would be great, thanks

Claire W · Oct 26, 2012

The powder is calcium compounds which is pretty normal but it may suggest he has a little too much calcium in his diet. What veg do you feed him?

Here is a link on what's normal and what isn't http://www.guinealynx.info/normal.html scroll down to urine

LydiaMinx · Oct 26, 2012

He is given romaine daily (one or two leaves depending on size) and some bell pepper (yellow or green) with some courgette when he will eat it with a carrot every other day and some basil and corriander. I do give him kale a few times a week too, along with banana and other fruits.

Is it normal for him to have it so often? And amongst normal urine? He is my first pig so I am worrying quite a bit over everything! :{

Claire W · Oct 26, 2012

I don't think you have anything to worry about and yes, it's normal

if you are concerned about sludge and grit, you could try rubbing some of his urine between your thumb and finger. If there was sludge and grit, you can usually feel it. If you are worried, you could take a urine sample to your vet to be tested but I honestly don't think you have much to worry about. I'd just keep an eye on him

LydiaMinx · Oct 26, 2012

I will make sure to double check next time he does it

And thank you, you've put my mind at rest

Claire W · Oct 26, 2012

No problem

signs of a UTI in guinea pigs is squeaking / pain and hunched up whilst urinating and blood in the urine.

klee · Oct 27, 2012

Claire W said:
No problem signs of a UTI in guinea pigs is squeaking / pain and hunched up whilst urinating and blood in the urine.

Just wanted to add weight loss can be the initial sign of any illness, when Esme had a uti she lost 100g in less than a week but didn't have any typical uti signs.
x

Poppy'sMum · Oct 27, 2012

LydiaMinx said:
He is given romaine daily (one or two leaves depending on size) and some bell pepper (yellow or green) with some courgette when he will eat it with a carrot every other day and some basil and corriander. I do give him kale a few times a week too, along with banana and other fruits.

Is it normal for him to have it so often? And amongst normal urine? He is my first pig so I am worrying quite a bit over everything! :{

Kale is pretty high in calcium, if you cut out the kale & offer a dark leafy green veg like savoy or sweetheart cabbage (not too much as cabbage can cause gas) or something like raddichio (Mine love the Crispy salad from Florette) that may reduce the calcium deposits.

Guineas excrete the excess calcium in their urine so it's their way of getting rid of too much, so small white deposits are normal unless it feels very gritty to the touch