Urinary Tract Infection

[lexi468]

hey guys!
So I mentioned a little while ago that Midnight was acting weird. I brought him into the vet about a week with sort of crusty eyes and acting a bit lethargic the vet said it was allergies. He was eating fine. Tonight, I was petting him and noticed he was making an uncomfortable squeak. When I moved him to see if he had peed, he had, and it was bloody. I immediately called the vet. They said to bring him in tomorrow. When I said I was really frustrated about paying for a second visit when the vet was clearly wrong the first time, they said I would probably have to. Any advice? I'm pretty sure it is a UTI. He is eating fine and everything. I'm just so frustrated with the vet. Has anybody experienced this?

 

[Freela]

Yes, blood in urine is a prime sign of a UTI and/or other bladder issues (stones, cystitis.) I can totally see why you're frustrated with the vet. To me, it's a red flag to assume 'allergies' just because an illness is vague or not obviously severe. I would think that allergies should be a diagnosis of exclusion (i.e. after you have worked up other treatable illnesses and gotten negative results each time.) It shouldn't be the 'go-to' diagnosis. Yes, I'm sure pigs can have allergies, but runny eyes, in my experience, are more likely to be a sign of URI than allergies, raspy breathing is more likely to be a URI than allergies, etc. It shouldn't be the default diagnosis whenever a pig has a vague 'not quite right' ailment. Definitely you could try to press this point with the vet, though unfortunately if they demand payment you'll need to pay, as this is not the kind of thing that will clear up without antibiotics. Hope he feels better soon!

 

[lexi468]

Yes, blood in urine is a prime sign of a UTI and/or other bladder issues (stones, cystitis.) I can totally see why you're frustrated with the vet. To me, it's a red flag to assume 'allergies' just because an illness is vague or not obviously severe. I would think that allergies should be a diagnosis of exclusion (i.e. after you have worked up other treatable illnesses and gotten negative results each time.) It shouldn't be the 'go-to' diagnosis. Yes, I'm sure pigs can have allergies, but runny eyes, in my experience, are more likely to be a sign of URI than allergies, raspy breathing is more likely to be a URI than allergies, etc. It shouldn't be the default diagnosis whenever a pig has a vague 'not quite right' ailment. Definitely you could try to press this point with the vet, though unfortunately if they demand payment you'll need to pay, as this is not the kind of thing that will clear up without antibiotics. Hope he feels better soon!

Yes, I'm very frustrated. I brought him to a different vet whom I loved before I moved, and he also said that Midnight had allergies. However, he prescribed him an antibiotic just in case as well as some eye drops. This vet did nothing. She's also new to the practice and I am assuming does not know a lot about guinea pigs. I'm definitely going to bring this up. OF COURSE I will pay for the antibiotics regardless, I'm just hoping not to have to pay for the exam again. I'll do anything to ensure Midnights health, and it's frustrating that the vet didn't seem to treat him equally to a dog or cat.

 

[Freela]

Yes, I'm very frustrated. I brought him to a different vet whom I loved before I moved, and he also said that Midnight had allergies. However, he prescribed him an antibiotic just in case as well as some eye drops. This vet did nothing. She's also new to the practice and I am assuming does not know a lot about guinea pigs. I'm definitely going to bring this up. OF COURSE I will pay for the antibiotics regardless, I'm just hoping not to have to pay for the exam again. I'll do anything to ensure Midnights health, and it's frustrating that the vet didn't seem to treat him equally to a dog or cat.

It can be really hard to find a good exotics vet in North America (I'm in Canada and it's difficult, I'm assuming it's the same in NY state.) There are few vets who specialize in small animals, even fewer who are up to date in their knowledge, and plenty who keep on accepting guinea pig patients even when they are not very knowledgeable! I lost a pig to what I now know was substandard vet care of a common pig problem, but at the time I was a new owner and didn't know any better. It's frustrating, and I totally feel your pain on this! I really hope the vet can work with you here and get Midnight back to normal. I did finally find a great vet, but it took time, it's a longer drive than I would like, and I live in fear that he will retire (he's only part time now due to back problems) because the other vets in the practice are nowhere near as good as him with small animals.

 

[lexi468]

Yes it's awful. They did a decent job with his abscess removal aside from not leaving it open, and the owner is really good, but he is rarely there. I am only going to be in this area for a few months before I move to the capital, which is a much larger city, and am really looking forward to having better access to vet care, like when I first got Midnight. I am so sorry for the loss of your pig. I would have been devastated to lose Midnight when he had to have surgery. I'm just hoping this will clear up with some antibiotics. Do you have any med recommendations, so I can ensure he's getting the right stuff? He's been on baytril before. Is it best to stick with the same?

 

[rome_italy]

in my opinion it is better to drive 3 hours and reach a decent vet than wasting money for someone ignorant who knows less than you about pigs. I can say the same for us humans... a friend of mine drove 7 hours for coming to Rome for a simple check up with a very good sport doctor; he has no medical issues, but came back home satisfied of the visit and the advices he got here.
Your piggie is not falling ill once a week, therefore when it happens and in your area there are no vets for him, take him to another vet.
And the diagnosis of allergy is typical of those doctors who simply don't know what to say... I would prefer a doctor who says "I don't know/I don't understand".

 

[lexi468]

So I finally got Midnight in with a good vet. She said that he has extra skin on his anus, and as a result, he's gotten an infection, which has escalated to a UTI, which is why he has blood in his urine. She gave me a ten day treatment of baytril, and some cleaning solution and an antibiotic/antifungal/steroid cream to help also reduce swelling. She said that if it doesn't clear up with this, we'll do an X-ray and possibly perform surgery to remove the extra skin so the infection doesn't keep coming back. I'm just concerned because he's not eating a ton. He's still eating most of his veggies, but very little hay or pellets. What do you guys think? Had anybody had a pig with extra skin?

 

[lexi468]

Update: I just happened to be there again when he peed, and he whimpered the whole time. It broke my heart. Is there anything else I can do for him?

 

[rome_italy]

I think, you are at the beginning of the treatment and the antibiotic needs time for showing its first good results. I don't know if Baytril is effective for such UTI or it would be better a Bactrim cycle... There are people here more expert in such subject; maybe @Wiebke can tell you more.
In the meanwhile the piggie shouldn't lose weight and should keep an efficient immunitary system. My advice is: a supplement of vit C and syringe feeding using Oxbow Critical Care. Vit C is for boosting the immune system. I would also syringe some "light" water (the one for preparing newborns' formula milk, with very few minerals - check the label and its fixed residual which must be very low, not more than 15-20mg/l) mixed with cranberry juice; it can even reduce pain during the wee (it worked amazingly with me and also with a stray cat affected by the same problem, but if it does not work it won't hurt either... I would try... and maybe the appreciated flavour of cranberry will help you to syringe some water more).
Then you have to wait...
Feed you piggie with fresh grass, also dandelion leaves which, despite its high level of calcium, is a good diuretic and some vets here suggest dandelium just during UTI episodes.
This below is the dandelion, you can find it everywhere (sometimes also at the supermarket because it is edible and good for us humans, too)

 

[Wiebke]

Update: I just happened to be there again when he peed, and he whimpered the whole time. It broke my heart. Is there anything else I can do for him?

It takes at least 2-3 days for the meds to kick in fully. Please be patient.

You can give mildly diuretic veg like fresh young dandelion, cucumber or lettuce to help flush the bladder in the first days and minimise the acute symptoms, but be careful to not overdo it and cause diarrhea. Has your vet given you a painkiller/anti-inflammatory like metacam/loxicom to help him over the painful phase at the start?

As any human sufferer of a urine/bladder infection knows, it is very painful and uncomfortable.

Just hang in there. See your vet if the acute symptoms have not gone in a week, but be aware that you need to give the antibiotic for 3-4 weeks to make sure that the infection is gone and stays gone.

 

[lexi468]

It takes at least 2-3 days for the meds to kick in fully. Please be patient.

You can give mildly diuretic veg like fresh young dandelion, cucumber or lettuce to help flush the bladder in the first days and minimise the acute symptoms, but be careful to not overdo it and cause diarrhea. Has your vet given you a painkiller/anti-inflammatory like metacam/loxicom to help him over the painful phase at the start?

As any human sufferer of a urine/bladder infection knows, it is very painful and uncomfortable.

Just hang in there. See your vet if the acute symptoms have not gone in a week, but be aware that you need to give the antibiotic for 3-4 weeks to make sure that the infection is gone and stays gone.

Thank you for the reply!
She only gave me the panalog ointment for the swelling.
She gave me a ten day course of antibiotics. Should I ask for more?
He seems to be doing much better tonight. I was able to clean him up really well and he took the antibiotics well for the first time (didn't spit them up) and was out and about a few times. I've been giving him lots of cucumber because he doesn't seem to be drinking a lot.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the reply!
She only gave me the panalog ointment for the swelling.
She gave me a ten day course of antibiotics. Should I ask for more?
He seems to be doing much better tonight. I was able to clean him up really well and he took the antibiotics well for the first time (didn't spit them up) and was out and about a few times. I've been giving him lots of cucumber because he doesn't seem to be drinking a lot.

Please don't overdo the cucumber; it can cause diarrhea and tummy upsets. Piggies need very different amounts of fluid. Any kind of veg is mostly water, you know. He'll drink the less water the more veg you feed as he requires only so much.

You need to see how it goes and if necessary contact your vet to speak about it. I am glad that he is responding well to his meds and better in himself.

 

[lexi468]

Please don't overdo the cucumber; it can cause diarrhea and tummy upsets. Piggies need very different amounts of fluid. Any kind of veg is mostly water, you know. He'll drink the less water the most veg you feed as he requires only so much.

You need to see how it goes and if necessary contact your vet to speak about it. I am glad that he is responding well to his meds and better in himself.

Okay, I won't overdo it!
It has been five days now and I can still see blood in his urine. Is this normal?

 

[Wiebke]

Okay, I won't overdo it!
It has been five days now and I can still see blood in his urine. Is this normal?

It can sometimes take longer. Please contact your vet if there is blood in his urine after a week or a full course of treatment. In this case, you need to search further for either bladder stones or sludge (via an x-ray or scan) or having excluded that, consider interstitial cystitis, which does not react to antibiotics and which is not curable as things stand. You can only manage the symptoms, especially the acute flare-ups, with anti-inflammatories/painkiller, diet and glucosamine supplements for the inflamed bladder walls until it stops on its own some months/years down the line.

IC (interstitial cystitis) is however a diagnosis that is arrived at only by excluding any other possibility. All these issues present with very similar symptoms. The first step is generally to treat for UTI, then check for stones or sludge and only thirdly you arrive at IC.

If symptoms persist, we can help you with diet and support tips if wished.

 

[lexi468]

It can sometimes take longer. Please contact your vet if there is blood in his urine after a week or a full course of treatment. In this case, you need to search further for either bladder stones or sludge (via an x-ray or scan) or having excluded that, consider interstitial cystitis, which does not react to antibiotics and which is not curable as things stand. You can only manage the symptoms, especially the acute flare-ups, with anti-inflammatories/painkiller, diet and glucosamine supplements for the inflamed bladder walls until it stops on its own some months/years down the line.

IC (interstitial cystitis) is however a diagnosis that is arrived at only by excluding any other possibility. All these issues present with very similar symptoms. The first step is generally to treat for UTI, then check for stones or sludge and only thirdly you arrive at IC.

If symptoms persist, we can help you with diet and support tips if wished.

Okay, I will wait for a week. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Wiebke]

Okay, I will wait for a week. Thank you for the advice!

Please contact your vets in time to prolong any antibiotic treatment or sooner if there is a deterioration.

 

[lexi468]

So I brought him to a new vet today with more small animal experience, and ended up leaving him overnight to have X-rays first thing in the morning, followed immediately by surgery if needed. I'm freaking out, but I'm hopping all goes well v

 

[Wiebke]

So I brought him to a new vet today with more small animal experience, and ended up leaving him overnight to have X-rays first thing in the morning, followed immediately by surgery if needed. I'm freaking out, but I'm hopping all goes well v

All the best! I hope that all goes well for him. The wait is always the worst bit.
Tips For Post-operative Care

 

[lexi468]

All the best! I hope that all goes well for him. The wait is always the worst bit.
Tips For Post-operative Care

Thank you!
I have found out today that it is a kidney stone, and he will get surgery today. I am a bit concerned, as this is his SECOND surgery. Any advice for surgery number two? Has anybody else had guinea pigs that needed two surgeries?