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Squeaking a little when weeing

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Definitely get them checked over if you're at all worried about anything, ever. I'd like to call it responsible, caring, attentive and vigilant, rather than paranoid though! :) .........Anyway, whatever you call it, if this 'affliction' results in our piggies getting quick treatment, early doors, (which we all know is crucial with guinea pigs) then I'd proud to say that I'm a sufferer too! :)
 
A few weeks back, my piggies had quite a lot of dandruff. I took them to the vets and it turned out there was nothing wrong with them apart from a little dry skin :red At least it put my mind at rest
 
Well the wee collecting went well, Gizmo was looking at me like i was stupid when i was right behind him sucking up the wee. :)) He didnt even squeak when he was weeing!

I'm going to collect a few samples over the weekend and tomorrow and then get them tested, as he isnt squeaking all the time i was told to keep an eye on him, but if he does it all the time to take him down. I cleaned their cage out earlier and checked that the inco pads didnt have any blood stains and the newspaper from the hayloft, but luckily i didnt see any.

Will the urine be ok stored in the fridge until tues or should i put it in the freezer? It being stored in a urine sample bottle. (Thats hoping he dont squeak anymore.)
 
I think the fresher the sample the better so try and get a fresh one just before you go to the vets. The longest I have ever kept mine for is over night in the fridge. I'm not sure if you can keep it in the freezer or not
 
Ive just got a fresh sample of urine and sucked it up into the syringe, is it best to keep the urine in the syringe or transfer to the urine sample bottle? I thought it maybe best to keep it in the syringe so its easier for the vet to test? If so will it be ok in the syringe overnight?

Gizmo has had barley water today and seems to be better, but I'm still taking him to be checked tomorrow, thats hoping they are open, i do hope so!

:)
 
I would transfer it to a sealable pot, in order to keep it as fresh as poss. If it's a purpose made sample bottle then all the better. I've used those and never had any complaints! I'm not sure whether that amount of time is ok but keeping it in the fridge is your best bet. Good luck!
 
I have kept mine both in a syringe and sealable pot and they have both worked fine. I have also kept mine in the fridge over night and that was fine as well. Try and get it to the vets first thing in the morning though and mention to them that it is a sample from the day before :)

Hopefully your vet will be open. I know that mine is open from 8 until 12 on a Saturday and 8 until 12 on good friday and new years day etc
 
Yes it is a purpose made sample bottle but its a human one, unused of course! Ive only got about 1ml of urine, is this enough?

I rung to see if they were open today but they wasnt :( I'm hoping they are open tomorrow as it isnt classed as a bank holidays is it?
 
Tomorrow will be classed as a normal Saturday. 1ml should be enough as the vet will use a test stick. The only time I needed a big sample was when my vet wanted to send Connie's urine to the lab to be tested for a number of things. If your vet decides to spin the urine for crystals, you *may* need a bigger sample but I wouldn't worry about that yet :)
 
The vets was shut! :( I got up extra early to take Gizmo and the sample and i rung for ages thinking maybe they hadn't changed the phone from answer phone, but nothing! I'm quite angry as they told me i could take him, unless they forgot they were closing? It stated on their website the Saturday hours are 9-11 for consultations.

Now i have to wait till Tuesday as i dont really trust any other vets, as ive been to a few and they have been clueless!

Luckily he is ok and eating fine and is happy, just hope that the barley water has worked a little until i can get him there on Tues as he doesn't seem in any pain or squeak very loud at all, i do feel very bad that i cant take him and wish they were open. :(

Also if he did have any grit in his urine would i be able to see it at the bottom of the bottle? Just thinking as i can see bits of calcium deposit at the bottom, would it be worth me feeling that to see if there is any grittiness?
 
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I am sorry to hear that the vets were shut. Better luck for Tuesday. If I were you, I would get a fresh sample on either Monday night or Tuesday morning before you take him as the sample you have at the minute will be 3 days old by Tuesday.

You can test for grit by rubbing the urine between your index finger and thumb. If there is grit in the urine, you will be able to feel it.

When Connie had grit in her urine, she had a bladder flush BUT it can be quite fiddly especially with boars and my vet only did it as a last resort.

The barley water and cranberry juice should be flushing Gizmo's bladder out anyway :)
 
I shall have a feel of the old urine now and indeed i will get a fresh sample to take on Tuesday.

They are out for floortime again now and ive spent all day with them. When i take Gizmo out to syringe him the barley water Joey wheeks VERY loud for him, he's normally very quiet so to stop him from stressing i have to have them both on my lap. :)
 
I have felt his urine and its feels chalky and a little tiny bit gritty, but not loads. Does that mean he has possible bladder stones if its gritty or bladder sludge/cystitis.

The urine i felt was from yesterday and ive got some more from today, but he doesn't squeak when he passes urine only if he hasn't had any barley water if that makes sense.

I just wish the vets were open so i can treat him. The emergency vets said they dont deal with guinea pigs so i dont want to risk taking him and being given wrong medication.
:(
 
Have a look at this site. Scroll down to the bottom and there is something on there about urine http://www.guinealynx.info/normal.html At this stage, I would say that Gizmo is more that likely to have an infection so the cranberry juice and barley should be helping. The best antibiotic for a pig with a UTI is Septrin. Your vet can do an x ray to check for stones. The grit in the urine doesn't mean that Gizmo has a stone.

Just keep a close eye on him and continue with what you are doing until you can take him to your vet. I know it is easy for me to say and I have been there myself but please do try and not worry xx
 
Thank you so much Claire! :))

It is very hard as i just want to get him medication to help clear it. Why do things always happen on bank holidays?

I shall remember to mention septrin when i see the vet, but as he is a cavy savvy I'm hoping he will know and not give me baytil. :{
 
What a shame you had a wasted journey today but it sounds like your day got better after that, spending it with your little boys (who do sound gorgeous, I agree!)

Hope you all have a good weekend and you can get Gizmo seen on Tuesday. Keep us posted :)
 
Best thing you can do, Sam, is keep up with the fluids! That will flush his bladder out and help clear any grit. Aim for 40ml per day; if you can get more than 10ml in at a time, that will give his bladder a very good flush as bladder capacity is said to be around 10ml.

Truly gritty urine tends to point more to the start of problems e.g. sludge if anything at all, it doesn't mean for sure that the pig will end up with stones.
 
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I have been given him the barley water and today I'm mixing it with the cranberry juice. He hates it but he will take it eventually. Ive been telling him its for his own good, but i dont think he agrees.

I will definalty be going to the vets on Tuesday, as I'm sure they will have an appointment free once i tell them about Saturday. :)

I'm just happy that he is eating and he is his normal cheeky self! And of course Joey is always by his side during syringing, I'm sure he looks at me and thinks 'i hope your not going to do that to me!'. :))
 
He is much better today but he is still going to the V.E.T. tomorrow, dont let him here that! :)

I know the barley and cranberry is disgusting as i tried some, YUCK.
 
Gizmo has an appointment for 4.50 but its with the regular vet as the cavy vet is off until Thurs :( But I'm hoping as there is only her and the cavy vet in the practice that she will know what to give him.

Would it be cheeky of me to say i want septrin and metacam? As i have a feeling that she may give me baytril or does that work just as-well?

I really do hope she dont give him a injection. My mum is coming just incase he has to have one as i dont want to be there if he has one, as i know he will squeak loudly. :(
 
Yes, definitely ask for Septrin. It's much better than Baytril for this kind of problem. If they won't give it you, I'd try another vet who has more experience with pigs.

Also, if they suggest giving him an x-ray, ask for it to be done without general anaesthetic.

Alternatively they can also do an ultrasound scan - I've just had this with one of my boys. He had to have a bladder stone removed but hopefully your pig will just have an infection!

Sarah
 
I'm hoping that she will know as I'm sure that she works closely with the cavy vet, i just knew this would happen to me and for him to be off in a time i need him.

How do i go about asking for it, as i dont want to seem cheeky! :)
 
I've read on here somewhere about someone printing something off the Internet and taking it with them to show the vet, but I can't remember what it was now.... maybe someone else knows?

Yes, it can be a bit awkward asking your vet to do something different to what they usually do. The first time, I just asked the vet outright if he'd give me Septrin instead of Baytril. He told me they didn't stock it so I changed vets. The second vet told me Baytril and Septrin do exactly the same thing and looked at me like I was very odd when I said I wanted Septrin. Thankfully I've now since found a vet who uses it anyway!
 
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