Uti Dilemma, To Bath Or Not To Bath?

[rufcjoe87]

Hi

As mentione din a previous thread my Henry has a UTI (could be UTI could be bladder stones - vet said give him till Monday to rule out UTI first. He's on antibiotics and painkillers. He's eating but not as much and not by himself. He's not coming out and clearly in discomfort when weeing.

My question is. His bum and surrounding areas are a bit dirty, as he sits in one place most of the day. We change bedding etc but still quite dirty. Should we give him a bath now, or wait till he (hopefully recoveres). I'm torn as I want him to be clean of course but dont want to stress/distress him further by giving him a bath, or risk worsening any infection!

Advice much appreciated!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

As mentione din a previous thread my Henry has a UTI (could be UTI could be bladder stones - vet said give him till Monday to rule out UTI first. He's on antibiotics and painkillers. He's eating but not as much and not by himself. He's not coming out and clearly in discomfort when weeing.

My question is. His bum and surrounding areas are a bit dirty, as he sits in one place most of the day. We change bedding etc but still quite dirty. Should we give him a bath now, or wait till he (hopefully recoveres). I'm torn as I want him to be clean of course but dont want to stress/distress him further by giving him a bath, or risk worsening any infection!

Advice much appreciated!

Just give him regular gentle bum baths under the tap with hand/elbow warm water for the crucial area. Alternatively, you can shallow fill a basin on the kitchen, bathroom or bathtub floor for that purpose and distract him with hand feeding him little bits of grass etc. to help soak the dirt out before you do any gentle scrubbing of caked bits. Cut any hair that gets messy as short as possible and make sure that you dry/blow dry the area well.

It is important, especially in warm weather, to keep the bum end clean as it can attract fly strike. You also want to avoid urine scalding.
http://www.guinealynx.info/urine_scald.html

 

[rufcjoe87]

@Wiebke thank you so much for your advice. will clean him up when i get home bless him. thank you

 

[biscandmatt]

i agree - a bum bath would be better. i just used to use a small bowl of warm water with a drop of gorgeous guineas shampoo added. i'd wash them gently with a flannel, then get clean water to rinse, and dry them as best i could with towels. definitely less stressful way to do it

my maisie would always seem to really appeciate when we had cleaned her this way. she'd sit all wrapped up in her towel after enjoying a tasty reward

 

[gizzy]

I agree Bum wash , though personaly, I am not a fan of bathing , it strips oils from the coat , important to keep the hair ininsulated from cold drafts, to say nothing of the pigs sence of identity ,

 

[rufcjoe87]

Gave him a bum wash under the tap. If i didn't know better I'd say he enjoys it!

He's no better - but no worse either. Day 3 of antibiotics/painkillers. He eats a little food on his own but nowhere near as much. We syringe him 3/4 times a day water and food. It makes me smile though we put his pellets on the towel with him and when he sees syringe coming he eats one as if to stave off the evil syringe! He just won't come out of his bed. Still a little bit of blood in urine and in pain when weeing. Vet says give till Monday then xray. See how he is this weekend. He also ate some grass yesterday. It's baffling. Not sure how long antibiotics take to work though. feels longer than three days bles shim!

thanks for all your help so far guys

 

[Wiebke]

I agree that an x-ray is the next step if the symptoms are not going down.

UTI (urine infection), cystitis (inflammation of the bladder walls), bladder sludge or a bladder/urethral stone can all cause the same symptoms; often only an x-ray can bring clarity what you are up against.

 

[rufcjoe87]

Thanks @Wiebke

I suppose the one good thing is he is still eating and pooping so his guts seem ok. He looks healthy (his coat/droppings etc) just his demeanour but he's not happy being pulled out and syringed! Was hoping would clear up by Monday but would be happy with an xray if we can really get to root of the problem, specially with similar symptoms for all the above. Hopefully we can find it, treat it and he can get better. With look none of the above are fatal with the right care.

Just a quick one - i read somewhere that piggies DO NOT need to be anesthetized to have an xray - is this true? Don't want to put him under any more stress than necessary!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks @Wiebke

I suppose the one good thing is he is still eating and pooping so his guts seem ok. He looks healthy (his coat/droppings etc) just his demeanour but he's not happy being pulled out and syringed! Was hoping would clear up by Monday but would be happy with an xray if we can really get to root of the problem, specially with similar symptoms for all the above. Hopefully we can find it, treat it and he can get better. With look none of the above are fatal with the right care.

Just a quick one - i read somewhere that piggies DO NOT need to be anesthetized to have an xray - is this true? Don't want to put him under any more stress than necessary!

You can ask for a conscious or only lightly sedated x-ray, but not all vets are prepared to do it. The quality of the x-ray is often better if the piggy is lightly sedated, as it can then be more easily moved into the best position for a clear x-ray.

 

[biscandmatt]

the reason a very light ga is given for bladder xrays is because you ideally need an xray from two different angles

 

[rufcjoe87]

Thanks guys. No better today - but no worse thank fully. Took him into vets for xray. Said to operate if he find anything. Vet said 'big risk' - which I knew ddeeop down but hearing that is worrying anyway. So send your good vibes Henry's way! Will keep you posted

 

[biscandmatt]

Thanks guys. No better today - but no worse thank fully. Took him into vets for xray. Said to operate if he find anything. Vet said 'big risk' - which I knew ddeeop down but hearing that is worrying anyway. So send your good vibes Henry's way! Will keep you posted

the actual op is usually very successful in the hands of a good vet so don't over-worry just yet. they're alot tougher than we think. the aftercare is just as important though so perhaps start a new thread asking for tips or search the forum. adequate pain relief will be essential.

keeping my fingers crossed the xray goes well and an op isn't needed

 

[rufcjoe87]

the actual op is usually very successful in the hands of a good vet so don't over-worry just yet. they're alot tougher than we think. the aftercare is just as important though so perhaps start a new thread asking for tips or search the forum. adequate pain relief will be essential.

keeping my fingers crossed the xray goes well and an op isn't needed

thanks - yeh the little guys can be tough. just hope either 1. nothing is found or 2. if it is it all goes smoothly. am doing research etc and will post on here for tips dependant on the outcome. thanks for your good wishes

 

[rufcjoe87]

Henry is home. Has been xrayed and has a large bladder stone. going in for operation on Weds. He's very groggy and not moved much as he had anaesthetic for xray. So I have question. Any advice on after care, both today and after op?

I want to leave him to rest but obviously i know he will need food and water to keep his guts going. How much and when should I syringe feeed him?

Also how long is he likely to be 'groggy' or 'dopey' before he returns to normal - just so i don't worry. He's just sitting/lying in one place atm. Advice appreciated!