Uti Diagnosed...any Additional Advice?

[MunchMummy]

Hi guys,

Tonight we noticed Leonard was squeaking a fair bit, especially when he was peeing. Popped him on a white towel and he was peeing pink and peeing alot!

We called the out of hours vet for advice and he offered to come out to see our little man tonight (we're so lucky...The Mobile Vet on the Isle of Wight for anyone else on the Island who might need to know - can't fault him).

He's just left and diagnosed a UTI and prescribed Enrobactin for the infection and Metacam for the pain (as well as administering first dose of both, Metacam via an injection). He said to keep an eye and if there's no improvement or he stops peeing then he may have to have xrays for bladder stones.

I guess I was just wandering what other people's experiences are with this, how quickly there seemed to be improvement and if there's anything else I can do for the little guy alongside the medication to ease his symptoms.

Thanks all.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I've experienced a few uti's with piggies at varying levels. On the large part a course of antibiotics and pain relief has done the trick. My late Jemima had a very stubborn infection and had to have two lots of treatment. My late bumble was the one where antibiotics didn't solve the problem but we found she had quite bad arthritis in her lower spine so she was sitting in her wee a lot which was causing recurrent infections. If it is just a UTI (and on the large part these are uncommon given piggies short legs and genetics placing their genitals right on the ground) then it should clear up fairly quickly without any problems

 

[Eriathwen]

My own Leonard had a UTI Monday, he was in so much pain he lost the use of his back legs! He went from deaths door to pretty perky in a matter of hours, we were at the emegency vets at about 11:30 and by 3:30am he was doing really well. By the following evening he was much better. The painkillers and antibiotics worked really quickly.

 

[piggieminder]

Sending Leonard lots of healing vibes.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys,

Tonight we noticed Leonard was squeaking a fair bit, especially when he was peeing. Popped him on a white towel and he was peeing pink and peeing alot!

We called the out of hours vet for advice and he offered to come out to see our little man tonight (we're so lucky...The Mobile Vet on the Isle of Wight for anyone else on the Island who might need to know - can't fault him).

He's just left and diagnosed a UTI and prescribed Enrobactin for the infection and Metacam for the pain (as well as administering first dose of both, Metacam via an injection). He said to keep an eye and if there's no improvement or he stops peeing then he may have to have xrays for bladder stones.

I guess I was just wandering what other people's experiences are with this, how quickly there seemed to be improvement and if there's anything else I can do for the little guy alongside the medication to ease his symptoms.

Thanks all.

Your vet is using the two pronged access with both an antibiotic (in your case a new brand name for baytril) and anti-inflammatory plus painkiller. Hopefully, you see an improvement in the acute symptoms within 2-4 days.
If symptoms persist or get worse despite the medication, then the priority is a scan for bladder stones or sludge that cause the same symptoms.
The third issue that presents with the same symptoms, a recurring inflammation of the bladder walls (interstitial cystitis or IC) can only be diagnosed by default (no stones and antibiotics don't work properly it as it is NOT a bacterial infection) and can at this time only be managed, but not cured until it finally goes away on its own.

With a UTI, all you can do to help with the initial discomfort is to encourage peeing out the bacteria by encouraging water intake and by feeding a bit more (but not so much that you cause diarrhea) of mildly diuretic veg like cucumber, lettuce or dandelion during the first 2-3 days.

If you are dealing with stones or IC, you want to look at long term dietary and bladder support. Right now, I would look at filtering your water, as you are living in a hard water area - that is an angle that most people overlook but that can really contribute to the formation of stones in the long term. This together with pellets that have ideally no added calcium and are timothy based/grain-free.
For a longer term diet that cuts out any of the urinary tract problem food groups, but still provides a balanced mix of nutrients, have a look at our sample diet and the comments.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

If you are having ongoing problems, we can help you with further tips on how to best support your piggy.

 

[MunchMummy]

Thanks everyone. Fingers crossed he'll make a quick recovery.

Wiebke - do you have any recommendations for pellets at all?

He seems a little happier already and the squeaking has stopped so guessing the painkillers are doing their job. He's happily shovelling in hay at the moment and I've just given him a bit of cucumber (much to the annoyance of the other 3 who don't understand why they don't get extra veggies too!)

 

[MunchMummy]

A Leonard update:

He's just had his 5th dose of antibiotics and his 3rd dose of pain relief.

He still seems to be squeaking a little when he wees but nowhere near the extent of before and he certainly seems more alert. Also appears that today the colour of his wee is normal. He's not taking his medicine so easily now either (yesterday he was literally grabbing the syringe with his paws and gulping it down). He's much more wriggly now which makes me think he's a bit more sparky! He's also quicker on his feet and seems to be eating more. So fingers crossed he's on the mend!

I've ordered some Rosewood Naturals pellets for all the pigs, which should arrive tomorrow and Leonard has had dandelion, cucumber and lettuce. We're also now filtering the water as suggested. Thank you all as ever for all the advice. X

 

[piggieminder]

So pleased Leonard is improving.

 

[MunchMummy]

Just over a week later and here's where we are...

Leonard improved lots on first few days so we eased off the metacam and kept up the antibiotics. The next day he seemed a little worse so we called the vet who suggested maybe to keep up the metacam as perhaps the pain barrier had been reduced by stopping too early. He started to improve again and vet's advice was to keep up the medication over the weekend as there has been inprovement and if we're still concerned then we have an appointment for xrays and other tests on Tues morning.

He is still eating and drinking but not as much as normal...he only seems to want veg which he eats well and a little hay. He seems more active and the squeaking in pain when weeing has stopped.

However, we're not sure how much he is weeing and over last 24 hours his poo is much smaller and lighter in colour. Today there isn't much poo so far.

Could this be as a result of eating less? Or from the medication? Is he dehydrated?

I'm so worried about him. At times I think he's really on the mend. He zoomed around yesterday on an exploratory trip round the lounge (he wasn't up for taking his medicine and had a wriggle and ran off down my legs - I was siting on the floor - and had a good old run and explore) and he's been chewing on his toys.

But then the poo thing and the eating worries me.

I have some critical care...should I try that? And maybe try and get some more fluid into him? I will call the vet again in the morning but want to try all I can in the meantime.

Sorry for waffling on...jus want my little guy to be ok!

 

[sport_billy]

Hi, what antibiotics is he on?

He is eating all his veg and hay? What is he not eatign that is worrying?

I would speak to the vet, maybe ask for some gut stimulant such as metachlopromide (emeprid) to make sure that his gut is pushing things through....

 

[sport_billy]

Apologies I see the AB in your post... Baytril is another name for it, it can be a little harsh on the guts so that could be causing the poo upset a little. How many days left of AB?

 

[MunchMummy]

The vet wants to review the antibiotics tomorrow depending on his condition. He had his first dose last Friday night and we've been in touch with the vet every couple of days.

He's not interested in his pellet food at all which I'm not so concerned about but he doesn't seem to be eating anywhere near the amount of veg and hay he would normally.

That said he's on my lap now and polished off half a romaine lettuce leaf! He seems more inclined to eat when he's being cuddled so I've got a bowl of hay here too and he's just started munching that would you believe (having climbed in it several times first!) Apparently he will now only eat while having a cuddle!

It's confusing because if it weren't for the poo and the appetite you wouldn't know he'd been poorly. He looks so much better than a week ago and he's always been a bit of a laid back boy so he's only a little less sociable than normal.

I know I sound a bit contradictory but it seems to be a bit up and down here at the moment!

 

[MunchMummy]

Well, 2 weeks in and I'm delighted to say that someone is pretty much back to his normal self! I am so relieved as have been so worried about him!

Here he is trying to outdo his son in the "I'm so cute so give me cucumber first" contest...and needless to say he won because I was so proud of his recovery!

Having a chat with vet again this morning and hoping he'll say we can stop the medication now as suddenly he's not being such a helpful patient!

Thanks everyone for your advice and help.