Ted had a bladder operation about a month ago. He was seriously ill and I was hand feeding him for ten days. He seemed to recover but has taken a downhill slope this last week. He got another urine infection and has been on antibiotics for a week with no improvement. He's gone off his food again and now an added issue - his paws look really sore underneath and he seems to be uncomfortable walking. I clean him out 2-3 times a week and he's out of his cage in the living room for half the time. Could this be urine burn on his feet? He tends to stand in his own urine most of the time so I move his hidey around as much as possible to keep him dry. Any help? Anything I can do to put on his paws?
It sounds like urine scald.
Please switch to absorbent vetbed or fleece bedding in the hidey area, which you can change daily to prevent scalding. Gently wash his bum and paws with hand warm water daily. Then gently bathe the area in a bit of if necessary dilute saline solution for disinfection and cream lightly with bepanthen cream.
Guinea Lynx :: Urine Scald
Make sure that you pre-wash any absorbent fleece or vetbed a few times to wash out any surface-sealing conditioner and that you never wash using a product that contains conditioner. Ideally, you wash at 60C to prevent bacterial build-up; it is much healthier than using an antibacterial additive.
Please start syringe feeding him again and weigh daily just before his dinner so you know just how much topping up he needs. Both UTI and antibiotics can be appetite dampening. Add a pinch of probiotics twice daily.
You can also try to boost his immune system with vitamin C, about 1/4 of a human tablet, either put in his mouth or syringed dissolved in a bit of water.
I would recommend that you give either glucosamine or glucosamine-based cystease or cystophan to help with the irritated bladder walls which have a natural glucosamince coating. Some people also swear on barley water, made by boiling some pearl barley in a bit of water for 20-40 minutes. Sieve out the barley and syrine the gloopy fluid, as much as your boy will take (it is usually well liked). If necessary, dilute with a little bit of water if it gets too thick. Store in the fridge and make a fresh batch regularly.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
