Sludgy Wee..

[AimeeOx]

Hello All!

Well, after some grooming nightmares with one boy, the other has started showing signs of sludgy wee! I first noticed some chalky white marks on the dark fleece in their 'garden', and yesterday mopped up a pile of slightly off-white urine in the 'garden' hidey - I know it's little Higgins as Gibson is very fastidious and only goes in two corners, Higgins just goes whenever and wherever nature calls!

I cut out Romaine lettuce when I first noticed, and have started filtering their water. Is there anything else I can do? They have their veggies together in the evening, so if I need to cut out the calcium high ones, should I separate them to feed them or will they both do fine? Currently they get a random mix made up of green lettuce, cucumber, celery, red or yellow pepper, tomato and every three days a piece of fruit - grape/apple/strawberry. I used to feed parsley and spinach, but have cut those out. Is there anything on that list I shouldn't be feeding?

I've read about Renavive, but am unsure if I could use this (or indeed how I use it) if the urine is sludgy. Higgins is one tomorrow, and is fine in himself, talking and zooming and popcorning, eating well and drinking as much (little!) as he always has.Any advice would be most welcome! Thank you!

 

[DM030819]

Is the white urine chalky in texture or gritty? Chalky isn't so bad. My vet says "better out than in" when one of my pigs has urine like this. Gritty is more of an issue and is the first sign of crystals forming

I have no knowledge of Renavive. I've very quickly Googled it and it seems like the main ingredient is Chanca Piedra. I've read about bad experiences with this in guinea pigs, so I would be very reluctant to try it without a) a vet recommendation and b) a lot more time researching it and it's effect on pigs.

The diet seems good. I would try to increase water intake if you can, and remove the herbs.

Also, increase exercise if you can. Keeping them active can keep their bladders in motion and get the crystals to be peed out instead of settling inside.

If you're very worried then it would be worth taking him to the vet where they can scan him to check for bladder sludge or stones.

 

[AimeeOx]

Thanks @Jaycey

The deposits are definitely chalky rather than gritty, so that's a positive!

I do wet their veg before they get it, as Higgins doesn't drink a lot at all (never has). They have a two storey cage with an always-accessible garden (we cut a hole in the bottom corner so they can run in and out as they please) and the 'garden' is 1x1.5m.

I think if I continue seeing it I will find a good local guinea pig vet and take him in - it's probably only been 6 times or so over two/three weeks, but I don't know if that's excessive or not..!

 

[DM030819]

My vet suggested giving my boy a bit more cucumber than is normally recommended, so he gets a bit more water.

It sounds like he's fine, probably just a bit more inclined to have calcium issues. I've had a few pigs that have had chalky pee for most of their life and not had any bladder stone issues at all.

Keep an ear out, to see if you can hear him squealing or squeaking when he pee's, sometimes that can be a sign that there's an infection or sludge problems.

 

[AimeeOx]

Thanks again - I will up his cucumber allowance (he will love me for that!)!

I'll also keep an ear open for squealing when he pee's - he quite often does that on me so it shouldn't be too difficult to look out for.

I feel more relaxed about it now - thank you!

 

[Elwickcavies]

Dandelion leaves are mildly diuretic, so they can encourage the pigs to drink more, which might be worth a try. From my experience, it is almost impossible to prevent bladder stones by diet, in a pig that is prone to them, so it's more a case of keeping an eye out for grit in the wee, and other symptoms (which you are doing) and regular checks with the vet.