Urine issues

[Alfieboy]

Hi guys, so I’m worried about my male piggy! I noticed 2 weeks ago that he seemed to be weeing a lot and drinking a lot. I initially put this down to the hot weather (he is an indoor pig) but as I clean him out every day with him being on vet beds, they were saturated so I was worried. I then took him to a vets and the vet wasn’t the best, he said he didn’t know much about Guinea pigs and asked if he was still eating/drinking etc which I said yes. He said he would give me some baytrill in case an infection. (No other symptoms other than frequency of wee at this point)

So I then gave him baytrill but after a 3 days he stopped eating so I stopped that immediately and he was back into his food as normal.

I took him back to the vets as I was not satisfied by the one I had seen and again didn’t get much joy, he said he wanted to do some tests such as a catheter up his bits etc. However again I felt the vet was rough, uninterested and would have rather taken him elsewhere if this was to happen.

In the following days he seemed to go back to normal, no squeaking whilst weeing, a normal amount and his Normal naughty self. So I just left it thinking the 3 days of baytrill might have done the trick.

However today, a week later, I’ve come to clean him out and noticed blood in his wee. Other than that fine in himself. I am going to take him to the vets tomorrow but I’m worried and wondered if this has happened to anyone else, any reassurance?

Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys, so I’m worried about my male piggy! I noticed 2 weeks ago that he seemed to be weeing a lot and drinking a lot. I initially put this down to the hot weather (he is an indoor pig) but as I clean him out every day with him being on vet beds, they were saturated so I was worried. I then took him to a vets and the vet wasn’t the best, he said he didn’t know much about Guinea pigs and asked if he was still eating/drinking etc which I said yes. He said he would give me some baytrill in case an infection. (No other symptoms other than frequency of wee at this point)

So I then gave him baytrill but after a 3 days he stopped eating so I stopped that immediately and he was back into his food as normal.

I took him back to the vets as I was not satisfied by the one I had seen and again didn’t get much joy, he said he wanted to do some tests such as a catheter up his bits etc. However again I felt the vet was rough, uninterested and would have rather taken him elsewhere if this was to happen.

In the following days he seemed to go back to normal, no squeaking whilst weeing, a normal amount and his Normal naughty self. So I just left it thinking the 3 days of baytrill might have done the trick.

However today, a week later, I’ve come to clean him out and noticed blood in his wee. Other than that fine in himself. I am going to take him to the vets tomorrow but I’m worried and wondered if this has happened to anyone else, any reassurance?

Thanks

Hi! Can you see another vet?

It sounds like your boy's UTI (urinary tract infection) has returned. Ask for a different antibiotic like bactrim/septrin (active ingredient trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), which is generally considered to be more effective with urinary tract problems, but should be taken for at least three weeks.
Baytril is still the only officially licensed antibiotic for guinea pigs, but there are others that are safe to use if you are prepared to sign a disclaimer. Any antibiotic can cause loss of appetite, but baytril is the most prescribed one and the one that can cause this problem most often.
If your vet refuses to consider another antibiotic, then please step in with syringe feeding during the course of the antibiotic as it is necessary to give.
Safe medication for guinea pigs: Guinea Lynx :: Medications
Unsafe medications: Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

If symptoms persist or return shortly after the course of antibiotics has ended, or if he gets worse during the treatment, please see your vet promptly. Bladder stones and cystitis (non-bacterial inflammation of the bladder walls) present with the same symptoms.

 

[Alfieboy]

Hi, yes I am taking him to another vets all together. I’ve been recommended a fab one but she only works a Thursday and Friday. But il get him in tomorrow regardless. He has had a few wees tonight since and no blood so it’s strange. He’s had septrim before for another issue and he was fine on that but the baytrill didn’t seem to agree with him at all. I’m really hoping it’s nothing too serious

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, yes I am taking him to another vets all together. I’ve been recommended a fab one but she only works a Thursday and Friday. But il get him in tomorrow regardless. He has had a few wees tonight since and no blood so it’s strange. He’s had septrim before for another issue and he was fine on that but the baytrill didn’t seem to agree with him at all. I’m really hoping it’s nothing too serious

The onset of UTI or cystitis is often characterised by strongly red coloured pees that will test negative for blood whereas clear pees can contain a lot of blood; but the output is not consistent. I've been there with piggies myself!
At this stage, crying when peeing or increased peeing can also not be regular all the time.

All the best! Your vet is likely to prescribe sulfatrim, which is the new exotics version of adult septrin, so the dosage is only half of the old (human) pediatric septrin that has been used in previous years.

Please mention the baytril problem to your vet, so it goes in the notes.

 

[Alfieboy]

Thanks so much for your help. I definitely will mention the baytrill. Il let them know which vets he’s been to previously as they usually request their history I think.
Thanks again x