Spots Of Blood In Cage...

[HenryRalph]

Hi all,

I'm a worried piggy owner right now!

Henry and ralph have fleece bedding, and for the past week have had quite colourful blankets! It wasn't until I changed into a white blanket and went to spot clean their cage last night I noticed a spot of blood on the blanket. I gave them both a good look over and couldn't see any cuts or anything.

I have just noticed more blood this morning so am putting them on a white towel one by one to see if it is blood in their pee. Ralph is on the towel at the moment and will just not go! I'm very worried I just want to find out which one is bleeding so I can take them to the vets!

I have weighed them both and neither have lost any weight.

I don't know if it's related but when I had henry out last night, I noticed that his tummy bubbled a bit which I had never heard before?

Has anything similar happened to anyone elses pigs?

I'm so worried!

Amy xx

 

[Wiebke]

Blood in the cage is usually a sign of either a urinary tract infection or a stone/bladder sludge; they are some of the most common problems with guinea pigs due to their naturally rather alcaline pee.

Please book in both boys; a vet should be able to express some urine and test it for traces of blood and a higher level of protein (sign of infection). Your boy may need a (preferably only lightly sedated or conscious) x-ray to determine what is going on exactly, especially if the symptoms persist or come back.

Please weigh both boys daily at the same time. If you get antibiotics, make sure that you also get some probiotic to keep the guts working as any antibiotic can dampen or even kill the appetite. You may also want to ask your vet for a painkiller/anti-inflammatory, at least for the first days.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...vitamin-c-overview-with-product-links.115404/

 

[Pippy & Daisy]

Sounds like a UTI or bladder stones. It's best to work out which piggie it is that's bleeding to get him to a vet ASAP. I had the same problem with my girl Daisy who had a UTI and her treatment was pretty easy as she got to the vet so quickly and was on antibiotics. I was lucky enough to see the very first spot of blood right after she'd weed so knew immediately it was her, but try and watch for any signs of pain or discomfort while they're weeing - Daisy would arch her back up and squeak really loudly when she was in a lot of pain. Maybe take each piggie out individually for a little while and wait for them to wee? There mightn't be blood every time but there should be some sign that they're uncomfortable. I haven't dealt with stones (touch wood) so can't offer much advice there, but Daisy's dealing with her second UTI now so do have experience in that area!

The best advice I can give is to get your piggie to the vet as soon as you work out who's ill. Daisy only had very slight discomfort with this UTI and it only lasted about two days (though she's still on her meds) because she got rushed to the vet because she wasn't eating which turned out to be the very first sign of her UTI, so check if eating habit change as well. My vet also told me that incontinence can be a sign of a UTI but not always - the fact that Ralph isn't weeing could mean it's him. Try not to panic - I know how hard that is as I'm a serial worrier, but I can tell you from experience that UTIs can be dealt with without too much trouble if they're seen to early

Good luck!

 

[Pippy & Daisy]

Also - Daisy did have a bit of a bubbly tummy the first time around so that could be another sign. Hope all goes well!

 

[HenryRalph]

Thank you for your replies!

I took both boys to the vets the day after I noticed the blood. He checked them and couldn't feel any bladder stones and said that they both seem healthy however the blood is a concern as it does sound like a UTI.

It's been a few days now and I haven't seen any blood in the cage or when I have had them out, however I am still keeping a very close eye on both of them. They both seem to be peeing fine so this is very strange..

It's so difficult as I still haven't discovered which one it was that has been bleeding

Ralph seems to have coughed a bit in the last could of days though.. Could this be related?

I'm so worried and just want to know which pig it is so that I can help them as much as i can!

I hope daisy is okay now atleast you managed to spot it early!

Will keep you updated if I notice anything else or find out which one it is!

Xx

 

[Pippy & Daisy]

Glad to hear they're both doing well I think you did the best thing by taking them both in! I hadn't noticed the date of your first post so hadn't actually realised it'd been a few days It's worth noting that my vet mentioned that a one off spot of blood can occasionally be nothing (although I'm not sure if this is only the case when they're actually recovering from a UTI), not that I'd take the risk, so you're doing the right thing keeping an eye on them both but there is the possibility of there being nothing wrong. Did your vet take a urine sample? Glad to hear there don't appear to be any stones, that's a good sign.

Do you see either of them sort of moving their tummy around? The best way I can describe it is like when you have a stomach ache and try and move around to relieve the pain. That could be a sign that there's some discomfort.

What kind of coughing is it? Both my girls make a kind of coughing/choking sound sometimes when they scoff their food down too quickly, but I'd definitely keep an eye on Ralph if his coughing isn't related to him eating too fast as that could be a sign of something like a URI.

Yes, do keep us updated

 

[HenryRalph]

The vet didn't take a urine test no I've been keeping a really close eye in them for the past few days and have noticed some odd behaviour that I don't know if you had with Daisy..

I've noticed that both of them have a very slight pink tint in their urine, that could be very diluted blood? Unless this is normal as I know the colour of their pee varies! When Ralph is out he goes for lots of pees but they're all very small amounts of pee, but a lot of them? He will go for one, then a minute later another... I wasn't sure whether this was normal or whether it's because he might be in some sort of pain with it?

Also Henry has barely peed lately, I kept him out for well over an hour yesterday until he peed but this is the first time in weeks that he has peed whilst being out of the cage :/ he did the most massive pee and again it seemed quite pink. I also noticed that he hunched a bit whilst he was peeing, which like you said could mean he is in discomfort.

Another odd thing I have noticed is that Henry has been drinking A LOT lately, it seems that every time I look over to the cage he is drinking. A lot of the time he will have a drink, walk around and 20 seconds later be back drinking.. Where as Ralph is the opposite and I barely see him drink anything. I'm not sure if this could be related to anything..

The boys have always LOVED kale, it's always been their favourite, but I have noticed in the past couple of weeks that Ralph hasn't seemed that interested in it, he will have a couple of leaves and then not want anymore, which is odd for him.

And FINALLY! Henry has always been a really cuddly pig, I can have him out for hours just asleep on me, but Ralph has always been more adventurous and would barely sit still on my lap (unless he had kale) but lately he has been so cuddly, and when he is out will spend most of the time chilling on my lap and getting all sleepy. They have both seemed soo loving lately, almost like they haven't got any energy and just want to cuddle and sleep on me. I'm not complaining though :p just wasn't sure if this different behaviour was a sign of anything..

I'm starting to think more and more than maybe both of them have got something wrong

To the point of them moving around for their tummy, I haven't noticed anything odd.. Since I first got them, when they are out they will sort of flop and roll around a bit, but I always thought it was just them trying to get comfortable, I had never thought that it could be uncomfortable for them and that's why they're doing it

The coughing I think is related to them scoffing their food down too quickly! I notice it more once I have just fed them, I will keep an eye on it but I think it might just be them being greedy!

 

[Claire W]

I am very sorry that you are going through this It is essential that the urine is tested for the presence of blood. Are you able to get a sample at all and take it to the vets? The easiest way is by placing your boys in to something plastic and clean such as a cat carrier or washing up bowl etc and wait until they wee. Suck up the urine up in a syringe and keep in the fridge until the vets visit. The fresher the urine the better but the night before will be ok. I have had urine tested at 24 hours old and it still showed blood in the urine and the blood wasn't visible to the naked eye.

Bladder stones can not always be directed by touch alone. I have a guinea pig who's bladder stone was only just picked up on his x ray as it is smaller than a pin head.

 

[HenryRalph]

So worried yeah I will definitely get a urine sample and get a vets appointment this week. Thank you will try that!

I am very worried that it is bladder stones I think they will both need an x ray. The vet didn't seem very worried about either of them which made me relax a bit more, but after all of their different behaviour lately I am still very very worried!

Oh no what treatment is there for bladder stones?

 

[Pippy & Daisy]

Hm, it does sound a bit like they could possibly both have something, but it's also possible that you're just noticing things you haven't noticed before as you're so worried. I'd definitely have them both tested to see.

Peeing little but often can indicate something as guinea pigs with UTIs often lose control of their bladder but I wouldn't get too stuck on that just yet.

With Henry, waiting a while before peeing isn't too unusual (though an hour does seem a long time). Sometimes my girls wait as long as they can before peeing outside the cage but other times they'll just go for it. However the hunching does make me think he's probably in pain or discomfort...

I wouldn't stress about the kale. My girls go through phases with food. One week they'll eat as much carrot as I'll give them, other weeks they'll leave it until it's all that's left in the bowl. They're a bit like people that way kale does have a bit of an effect on their wee though (makes it smell stronger - not sure if it would change the colour). Try cutting down for a few days and see if anything changes.

I'm not sure whether them acting more cuddly is a sign of anything wrong but it sounds cute if they seem very lethargic that can indicate a problem but really only a vet can work that out.

Moving their tummy around and stretching out etc can definitely just be them trying to get comfortable so don't worry too much about it - just keep an eye on whether they seem to do it before they have a nap or if they seem uncomfortable. Mine both love stretching out but there was a noticeable difference when Daisy was trying to relieve the pain, but it's something you really have to notice yourself.

The coughing sounds like it's not a problem! It still freaks me out a bit when I hear it but they never seem bothered. As long as it's only when they're eating and they keep eating afterwards, I'd say they're just being greedy piggies and scoffing it down

I hope all goes well at the vets! If I'm not mistaken bladder stones can be removed by hand but I'm not 100% sure on this or whether it applies to only girls, or whether they have to be a certain size, etc. But if it ends up just being a UTI you'll just have to syringe the antibiotics and possibly pain medication for however long they're prescribed. It'll be alright, they're tough little things

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

hi, i would definately go back to the vets if i was you. I have had two pigs with bladder stones, one is currently on his second one grrr and the sooner they start looking into it the better ie/ testing pee/xrays etc if it is a stone i bet they are feeling uncomfortable if not in pain. good luck x

 

[HenryRalph]

Thank you everyone for your responses

I've had Henry in a cat box now for over an hour and a half now! (Trying to collect his urine for a test!) he just will not go he's done so many poos, but no pee! He keeps squatting as if he is going to have a pee, but nothing he also keeps cleaning around his man bits every time he squats. I hope that he's not in pain and that's why he can't pee

Hopefully he will pee soon!

Also another thing, every single poo Henry does now, he eats? Straight as it's coming out! Is this normal?!

 

[Hannah Boyd]

Hello, so sorry you are going through this. I think vets can sometimes be quite dismissive with guinea pigs unfortunately! So be persistent. Also I once had a similar trouble, my boar was leaving pink patches on his white towel bedding after he was neutered. I was very worried but eventually discovered that the urine was reacting with the washing powder I was using and turning it a pinky colour. And another thing, some vegetables can change the colour of piggie wee, such as beetroot. wishing you the best of luck!

 

[HenryRalph]

Hello, so sorry you are going through this. I think vets can sometimes be quite dismissive with guinea pigs unfortunately! So be persistent. Also I once had a similar trouble, my boar was leaving pink patches on his white towel bedding after he was neutered. I was very worried but eventually discovered that the urine was reacting with the washing powder I was using and turning it a pinky colour. And another thing, some vegetables can change the colour of piggie wee, such as beetroot. wishing you the best of luck!

I know! Ooh I never thought about something like that, well they only really eat carrots and kale, I think I will try leave them out and see if it changes colour

Henry finally peed - about 2 hours later! It was really white, atleast it wasn't red.. Now I have to wait for Ralph to pee too!
Hopefully I will know more tomorrow after the tests!

Thanks very much

 

[Hannah Boyd]

And its normal for guinea pigs to eat their poo, they produce two different kinds of poo - one of which is a smaller, softer poo, and they are re-disgesting vitamins which were not absorbed first time around. Also, I had someone (vet I think) recommend use of a cat wee collecting kit which was like non-absorbent cat litter in a litter tray to encourage a wee. I can't remember the name of it, but I expect your local vet would have it. Try not to worry too much, if you are taking them to the vets again, in the meantime maybe feed more vegetables such as celery and cucumber with high water content so they can wee the infection out if it is UTI. I have heard adding cranberry juice to their water can help and also feeding barley water.

 

[HenryRalph]

UPDATE!

The urine test results came back, Ralph's is normal! But Henry has a UTI so has been put on 0.2ml of baytril twice a day he's on it for a week to see if he improves, otherwise it's back for X-rays as it could be bladder stones

Hoping it is just UTI and this will all clear up!

He seems happy enough though

 

[Claire W]

Poor Henry Fingers crossed for a UTI. Did your vet prescribe metacam and a probiotic? Metacam is an anti inflammatory and pain killer and probiotic will help restore the good bacteria in the gut that baytril can destroy causing diarrhoea.

If the baytril doesn't help, ask your vet for Septrin which is a better antibiotic for UTI's.

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

ditto what Claire says, good luck Henry x