Stressed With Bladder Problems

[Dilly's Piggies]

I have 2 sows that are intermittently peeing what looks to be blood, for one girl this has been going on for about 5 months and the other about 2 months, both have been to the vets numerous times and the problem is still there. Tizzie has had 3 ultrasounds, 2 urine cultures and 7 weeks of antibiotics (1 week baytril and 6 weeks septrin) and Willow has had 1 ultrasound, 1 urine culture and 1 week of septrin. Ultrasounds for both girls revealed nothing, everything was completely normal. When Tizzie first showed red urine I took her to the emergency vet, they did the first culture and it showed large amounts of blood but nothing else, the last 2 cultures she has had have showed no blood, despite me clearly seeing it in the cage every few days! Willow's urine culture has also come back with nothing, despite me seeing the same thing, blood every few days! I'm at my wits end because my vet doesn't seem to believe me, they are adamant it's just discoloured urine but it's not, it's 100% blood, sometimes with clots in Willow's case and also dries brown like blood does. I've looked up all the things that can cause urine to change colour and I've never fed them anything that could, they're all on low calcium diets ever since Tizzie first showed a problem 5 months ago. Tizzie squeals and strains whilst she pees and often seems to struggle initiating a urine stream, she can strain for 5-10 seconds before anything comes out, so I'm very concerned that in her case this is bladder stones, but because 3 ultrasounds showed nothing my vet is saying it's not stones, and with Willow she only had 1 week of septrin which isn't enough, I want her to have a longer course but because her last culture showed no blood or infection the vet won't give antibiotics. I have no idea what to do, tempted to find a new vet. I want an xray for Tizzie and a 4-6 week course of antibiotics for Willow, I'm paying them for this so I don't know why they are so reluctant to do it. This picture is from Tizzie and Willow's looks exactly the same, I'm not imagining this, right?

 

[Tiamolly123]

Are you using a cavy savvy vet

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Are you using a cavy savvy vet

No, the nearest exotic vet to me is over an hour away, I don't drive so I just can't travel that far, the vet I see is a general small animal vet that mostly see cats and dogs, however there is a vet there studying in exotics and he's the best one for piggies, multiple vets work there so we don't always get him however, the last vet we saw has 50 years experience although he's not an exotic specialist, he is the one that says it's discoloured urine. This vet is one of the best in my area and the best I can do at the moment.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

The best vet to see is Sarah Pellet at Animates Thurlby near Bourne. It sounds like they might have IC, a cystitis that will come & go & eventually the bladder wall becones scarred. Can u get someone to take you? She doesn't work Weds but she is great, my piggy had an extra 4 years of good quality life because of her.Have you checked her wee with dipsticks?

 

[Tiamolly123]

There's 2 particular cavy savvy vets that are excellent in my practise. I always ask for those vets, can you not do this?

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

There's 2 particular cavy savvy vets that are excellent in my practise. I always ask for those vets, can you not do this?

I've never asked for a particular vet so I'm not sure, I don't see why not though, I will give them a call and ask for the better piggy vet.

 

[Wiebke]

I've never asked for a particular vet so I'm not sure, I don't see why not though, I will give them a call and ask for the better piggy vet.

It rather sounds like interstitial cystitis (IC), a condition which is arrived at by explcuding everything else. Antibiotics don't work and at this time, the acute phases can only be managed with anti-inflammatories and glucosamine (to help protect the bladder walls) until it eventually goes away on its own, more after years than months.
You can contribute with a carefully managed low calcium diet. @helen105281

 

[Claire W]

This sound very similar to my two girls who have both been diagnosed with IC after ultrasounds, X-rays, urine cultures and urine being span down to check for crystals etc all came back normal apart from blood.

Both Emma and Ellen are taking half a capsule of cystease daily and Emma is taking a daily dose of metacam as she has squeaky wees. They were taking a full capsule but I have been given the go ahead to try them on half.

However, only a vet can prescribe metacam, give a diagnosis and you shouldn't give them anything without speaking to a vet first first.

I always request to see the same vet who is lovely and knows my guinea pigs inside out. I will only see another vet if it's for something that can't wait and Lindsay isn't available.

When you phone up for an appointment, you can request which vet you would like to see.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

The best vet to see is Sarah Pellet at Animates Thurlby near Bourne. It sounds like they might have IC, a cystitis that will come & go & eventually the bladder wall becones scarred. Can you get someone to take you? She doesn't work Weds but she is great, my piggy had an extra 4 years of good quality life because of her.Have you checked her wee with dipsticks?

I'm going to try and get a certain vet at my usual practice first, if I'm still unhappy with things I will have to travel to an exotics, I have heard many good things about Sarah so she is the one I'd most likely see. They've had their urine dipsticked and cultured at the vets but I've never done it myself, can I buy those?

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

It rather sounds like interstitial cystitis (IC), a condition which is arrived at by explcuding everything else. Antibiotics don't work and at this time, the acute phases can only be managed with anti-inflammatories and glucosamine (to help protect the bladder walls) until it eventually goes away on its own, more after years than months.
You can contribute with a carefully managed low calcium diet. @helen105281

I do have some cystease as recommended by you guys on here before, I've been giving half a tablet a day to both of them, no improvements yet but I know it doesn't usually show until you up the dose, right? In Tizzie's case antibiotics certainly haven't helped so I would also assume IC but the only reason I'm still freaking over it is because she hasn't had an xray, and I've heard ultrasounds are not as effective as xrays so I'd rather have one of those done first before saying she has IC, I just hope the vet will do one when I go... I wish I began this with an xray to be honest as I've spent so much money on cheaper treatments, xrays are expensive but it would've given an answer much faster than all of this messing around.

 

[helen105281]

It rather sounds like interstitial cystitis (IC), a condition which is arrived at by explcuding everything else. Antibiotics don't work and at this time, the acute phases can only be managed with anti-inflammatories and glucosamine (to help protect the bladder walls) until it eventually goes away on its own, more after years than months.
You can contribute with a carefully managed low calcium diet. @helen105281

Can I ask what veg and pellets you currently feed? Also do you feed any fruit?

 

[Kay Kelly]

Can I ask where you get the cystease? Is this some thing you reccomend to give frequently to a pig that's had a water infection. One of my boars is currently on antibiotics. Is working seems to be on the mend but have been warned its a common ruacurrance once that uv had one.

 

[Claire W]

I buy mine from here https://www.doolittlesdispensary.com/products/search_results/cystease as I currently have two piggies on cystease and this is the only place I have found sell 100 capsules cheaper online. VetUK sell quantities of 30 at a good price too.

HOWEVER, both my girls were assessed and had the relevant tests by my vets to rule everything else out before I was given the go ahead.

Please DO NOT give your piggies cystease without your vets advise