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Urgent help with my poorly pig!

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amylou

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One of my boys has been doing little bouts of stressed wheeking for the last day. At the end of each little bout he raises his bum in the air almost like he's straining to go to the toilet or something! Has anyone experienced this before?

I've got him booked in at the vets first thing but his stressed wheeking upsets me! :( Is there anything I can do to help him until he gets to the vets?
 
Thanks Harold! Are there any home remedies or anything that may help him until I can get him to the vet?
 
He needs to see the vet as an emergency as the poor baby will be in a lot of pain
 
Is your piggie passing poops and urine? It may be worth having a look at his bum in case he has any impaction (trapped poops). A UTI could cause bumraising and squeeking but your vet is the best one to diagnose.Good luck at the vets and let us know how you get on....
 
It is probably a UTI (urinary tract infection), which are very common in guinea pigs. If symptoms persist and pain doesn't go down, have him x-rayed for a bladder stone. Check for impaction or congestion (passing poos&pee - different shape of poos).

Good that you have booked him into the vets already!

Here is more information on UTI: http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
Please ask your vet for septrin (which is an oral form of the bactrim mentioned in the link). It is much more gentle on the guts than baytril, which is sadly still the only licensed antibiotic for guinea pigs. In any case, always ask for a probiotic when giving antibiotics to protect the guts! For the immediate pain during the first 2-3 days, some metacam (painkiller/anti-inflammtory) is helpful.

Guinea pigs with UTI need as much fluid as possible to help flush the bladder. You can syringe a unsweetened cranberry juice or a mixture of water and cranberry juice, as not all piggies will like it. A mild diuretic like dandelion can also help with that task in the first days.
 
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Thanks Wiebke this is really helpful! I've separated him from his brother so I can keep a closer eye on him, he's eating normally and done a few normal poos so looks like it could be a UTI.

My vets are very good anyway so hopefully we'll get him sorted tomorrow!
 
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