UTI treatment

[LucyP]

Hi all

Following a vet visit on Thursday (as detailed further on my other thread called advice on bleeding) Betty has been prescribed twice a day marbocyl and metcam for possible UTI (no urine test confirmation but she squeaks when she goes to the loo and we saw blood in the cage). She also has a lower respiratory infection which the meds are hopefully going to help with too.

My question for Betty is, do we start the cystease now or do we wait? And should she be on a strict bladder issue diet from now? We’ve started that and we were already filtering water and giving minimal nuggets etc. But we’ve outright banned things like spinach for her- is this right? We’re doing frequent cage cleans to keep everything as dry as possible too. Anything else we can do?

Thanks everyone!
Lucy

 

[Claire W]

Hi, it won’t do any harm on starting her on cystease now and giving her a low in calcium diet. Cystease isn’t a medication and is just a cat supplement. I mix the content of 1 capsule with 1ml of water and give via syringe.

I have a piggy with IC although she is doing better than she has done for a long time so she’s medication free as advise from my vet and only has it now if she has a flare.

I feed a low calcium diet and also filter the water and they only have spinach every so often as a rare treat.

In the early days, my vet said there was no problem in feeding all my pigs a low calcium diet so you will be fine.

If the squeaking and bleeding continues after the antibiotic has finished, I advise a scan or xray to rule out bladder stones.

Good luck x

 

[Merab]

Hope all the meds work and Betty is soon better

 

[LucyP]

Thanks both, that’s really helpful and we will start the supplements now.

Both pigs are due back at the vets in 2 weeks to check Betty’s UTI/bladder issues and lower respiratory issues and winnies lower respiratory issues and now potential heart issues for her too (waaaaa). We’ll be keeping a very close eye in the meantime for any changes or deterioration in either.

Thanks again

 

[VickiA]

I agree that starting the low calcium diet, filtering water and if possible switching to grain free nuggets will all start to help. Also the cystease is a supplement so as far as I’m aware it can do no harm so I’d start it now, too. Have you read the diet guide about low calcium? Apologies if you have, but I’m linking it here in case. Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[LucyP]

Thanks, that’s all great info.

We try to give minimal nuggets and recently switched to grain free ones but they’re not keen on those so far. We will persist. We’re monitoring weight daily due to their illnesses and they’ve had a couple of instances of very poor appetite in which case we've given them anything they’ll take for that acute phase. Both are maintaining good weights at the moment thankfully so should be able to stick to the new diet... but one thing I’ve learnt from here is that above all else they need to keep eating so sometimes we’ve had to be a bit flexible. Hopefully we’ll get on top of things and settle into a proper regime soon.
Thanks

 

[VickiA]

Thanks, that’s all great info.

We try to give minimal nuggets and recently switched to grain free ones but they’re not keen on those so far. We will persist. We’re monitoring weight daily due to their illnesses and they’ve had a couple of instances of very poor appetite in which case we've given them anything they’ll take for that acute phase. Both are maintaining good weights at the moment thankfully so should be able to stick to the new diet... but one thing I’ve learnt from here is that above all else they need to keep eating so sometimes we’ve had to be a bit flexible. Hopefully we’ll get on top of things and settle into a proper regime soon.
Thanks

I tried a great number of grain free nuggets before settling on the current Selective grain free believe me. Some they refused point blank (Bunny). Others they nibbled a bit, some they ate gingerly and finally we found this one that every pig will eat. So it may be worth trying some others.There are very many.

 

[LucyP]

Thanks! Good to know! We’re currently on something called rosewood naturals meadow menu which Betty turns her nose up at but will try another soon! She purrs like a cat when we give her anything with grain it in and seems to go mad for it but I’m sure she can adapt to different or no nuggets. They don’t get many anyway and she is still very much into hay and veg. Funny how they change their minds quite often about what veg is to their taste or not though, they seem quite fickle!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

Following a vet visit on Thursday (as detailed further on my other thread called advice on bleeding) Betty has been prescribed twice a day marbocyl and metcam for possible UTI (no urine test confirmation but she squeaks when she goes to the loo and we saw blood in the cage). She also has a lower respiratory infection which the meds are hopefully going to help with too.

My question for Betty is, do we start the cystease now or do we wait? And should she be on a strict bladder issue diet from now? We’ve started that and we were already filtering water and giving minimal nuggets etc. But we’ve outright banned things like spinach for her- is this right? We’re doing frequent cage cleans to keep everything as dry as possible too. Anything else we can do?

Thanks everyone!
Lucy

Hi!

Generally, diet adaptations and glucosamine are only needed with long term issues like bladder stone piggies (where you want to minimise the risk of a recurrance) or piggies with a sterile cystitis that not react to antibiotics and can be cleared by antibiotics, unlike a UTI or a bacterial cystitis.

There is no harm in providing them, but please be aware that both measures do not have an immediate effect and take time to build up.
Dietary measures are there to minimise the risk of a recurrance of bladder stones/sludge and in the case of sterile IC to help remove the most common trigger foods (which can vary enormously individually depending on the piggy and the severity of the sterile cystitis).
Because the walls of the bladder/urinary tract are in both cases affected/damaged, the extra glucosamine can help ease the discomfort and support the healing process (damage from stones) or become an integral and important part of dealing with a not curable sterile IC, which particularly affects those walls.
This is not so much the case in a bacterial urine infection (which is caused by faecal bacteria getting into the urinary tract) or bacterial cystitis, both of which are curable with an antibiotic within 1-3 weeks.

For short term pain relief you have been prescribed the metacam; the medication you have been prescribed should hopefully start making an impact within 2-3 days but acute symptoms can take over a week to fully subside and may need more than one course.

I hope that that helps you?

 

[LucyP]

Thank you, this is really helpful.

Fingers crossed this is an acute UTI that responds well
to treatment.... These two pigs have had such a rough start and I do worry about their immune system. We got them from a rescue in October and since then they’ve both been on meds for ringworm, then both for pneumonia and now treatment for UTI for Betty and new meds (metrodonidazole) for possible heart issues for Winnie!

Overnight one or both of them did several soft poos so it’s no veg today to see if that helps.

Betty won’t take the cystease at the moment anyway so will put that to one side and revisit if/when she’s diagnosed with something other than UTI. I guess we’ll aim for a low to medium calcium diet for both but step things up if we get an actual diagnosis of any kind.

These poor piggies- but they seem to be happy enough in themselves at the moment.

Thanks so much everyone

 

[VickiA]

Mine ate Rosewood naturals for about a week then refused to eat them again. They would rather starve than touch the Bunny ones. JR farms grain free was politely nibbled at. Versele Laga cavia complete split the group right down the middle - some loved it others hated it, but the SS grain free has been eaten by all my piggies and any fosters who have come in quite happily.

 

[LucyP]

Thanks that’s really helpful. SS sounds like a good choice.

Both pigs have low appetites today and betty (the one being treated for UTI and pneumonia) is uncharacteristically quiet and lethargic. She’s been on metacam and marbocyl since Thursday evening, i.e three nights. We’ve drastically reduced the veg as this morning we saw some softer than normal (although still formed and good shaped) poos. She just did a scary looking poo though (I’ll send a photo) and I’m thinking to take her off the meds for now and speak to the vet tomorrow. Does anyone have thoughts on if this poo is a sign of something awful? She has been eating hay and just now wheeked for veg, but is eating and wheeking and moving less than normal and she’s not drinking as much as I’d like.
Thanks again

 

[LucyP]

Thanks that’s really helpful. SS sounds like a good choice.

Both pigs have low appetites today and betty (the one being treated for UTI and pneumonia) is uncharacteristically quiet and lethargic. She’s been on metacam and marbocyl since Thursday evening, i.e three nights. We’ve drastically reduced the veg as this morning we saw some softer than normal (although still formed and good shaped) poos. She just did a scary looking poo though (I’ll send a photo) and I’m thinking to take her off the meds for now and speak to the vet tomorrow. Does anyone have thoughts on if this poo is a sign of something awful? She has been eating hay and just now wheeked for veg, but is eating and wheeking and moving less than normal and she’s not drinking as much as I’d like.
Thanks again

 

[LucyP]

Worried that might be some kind of mucus? Thanks

 

[LucyP]

Sorry, just to say the hay was already on the kitchen roll

 

[LucyP]

sorry - me again! The vet had previously suggested to stop the AB if there were problems with the poos. She also said to go in as an emergency if there was ever liquid poo. So I’ll pause the meds for tonight and call the vets tomorrow.

Maybe 0.5 metacam twice a day and 0.3 marbocyl once a day has taken its toll on her digestive system? She is being treated for suspected UTI and lower respiratory issues. I know she needs treatment but her digestive system is key so I’m inclined to take a break from the drugs and reassess with the vet. I believe marbocyl is similar to baytril and can be harsh on the gut so maybe this is it. Aside from the wee issue and occasional hoot she seemed ok until today- eating like a horse and being quite lively. So confusing and worrying. Horrible seeing her subdued. Glad she is eating though and will weigh her shortly to see how she is today.

Thanks all

 

[LucyP]

Sorry all- don’t mean to duplicate threads but wanted to change the title as the situation seems to have processed

 

[LucyP]

Sorry all- don’t mean to duplicate threads but wanted to change the title as the situation seems to have progressed since my earlier thread. I tried updating the old thread but having phone issues! Here is the link. In short, Betty has been on marbocyl and metacam since Thursday night and is not herself today - eating some but not as much and quite lethargic. She just did a poo that looked like it has mucus in it. I can call the vets tomorrow but am inclined to not give her the meds tonight and wondered if anyone had thoughts. More details here and thanks so much - sorry for all the messages.

UTI treatment

 

[VickiA]

Those poops look very small to me and mucus around small poops is a sign of not eating and drinking enough. I would step in with some syringe feeding if possible to improve the consumption of food and water. Do you have any recovery food? If not, you could use some mushed up pellets in warm water and then syringe the pellets mush.

 

[VickiA]

Just to say, if you have noticed that she is eating and drinking less, then again it’s a good time to step,in with some syringe feeding. Here is the link to the syringe feeding guide. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[VickiA]

I’ve replied on the other thread so will merge posts

EDIT - now merged

 

[LucyP]

I’ve replied on the other thread so will merge posts

EDIT - now merged

Thank you so much Vicki.

we mushed up pellets and offered in a bowl and they had a tiny bit, also a couple of oats went down. But will try the syringe. Generally they hate critical care (which we have and have tried before) but might try pellets this time. We were also wondering about diluted pro-c with water if they will accept that from a syringe to help with hydration?
Thanks so much again

 

[VickiA]

Thank you so much Vicki.

we mushed up pellets and offered in a bowl and they had a tiny bit, also a couple of oats went down. But will try the syringe. Generally they hate critical care (which we have and have tried before) but might try pellets this time. We were also wondering about diluted pro-c with water if they will accept that from a syringe to help with hydration?
Thanks so much again

I’ve never had much joy with CC. Mine have never particularly liked it. You could mash up some of their own pellets and then mix in a bit of CC. Alternatively you could try mixing some baby food (Ella’s kitchen or other purée sachets) into some CC to make it more palatable and try syringing.
ProC in water is a good idea as it will help with the guts, get some vit c into them and also some extra liquid. It certainly won’t do any harm at all.

 

[LucyP]

I’ve never had much joy with CC. Mine have never particularly liked it. You could mash up some of their own pellets and then mix in a bit of CC. Alternatively you could try mixing some baby food (Ella’s kitchen or other purée sachets) into some CC to make it more palatable and try syringing.
ProC in water is a good idea as it will help with the guts, get some vit c into them and also some extra liquid. It certainly won’t do any harm at all.

Thank you- this is so supportive and helpful.

 

[VickiA]

Thank you- this is so supportive and helpful.

you are most welcome. We are here to support you. We have all been through similar.

personally I now keep a bag of Emeraid in permanently as I find mine far prefer it to CC. But when I’ve had to feed CC I have usually had to mix something else into it. The organic purée baby food sachets ((just check contents are piggy suitable) are a godsend at times to help make stuff more palatable. Aldi do their own brand that has an apples carrot and parsnip that usually goes down well.

 

[LucyP]

Thanks loads!

 

[VickiA]

Actually you’ve just done me a favour as I went to check my bag of Emeraid herbivore and it expires in a couple of weeks. So I’ll get on and order a new bag.

 

[LucyP]

Actually you’ve just done me a favour as I went to check my bag of Emeraid herbivore and it expires in a couple of weeks. So I’ll get on and order a new bag.

following some soft poos on Friday night/Saturday morning we cut right back on veggies and last night we didn’t give Betty the marbocyl and metacam in case they were causing the upset. Not sure we needed to pause the metacam as she’s been on that already with no worries, the marbocyl was new and seems like it may be the culprit, unless it’s something else. She tooka small amount of CC/mushed pellets and 2ml of water with pro C in it.

I cleared these poos from the litter tray which is where she seems to like to sleep this morning.

then just now she did the following very runny poo.

she is some eating hay and readigrass but not nuggets.
I’m worried about the poo and not sure what’s best. She was previously on doxycline for the respiratory issues and seemed to tolerate well but e vet switched to marbocyl when we discovered she has a UTI or similar too.

we still hVe doxycline and could put her back on that but I’d want to check with the vet first. Our specialist vet is back tomorrow but seeing this poo I’m now wondering if it’s an emergency. Oh and this morning after eating she’s made grunting/hooting nosies which could be the respiratory issues or something else.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Lucy

 

[LucyP]

I just hand fed her a nugget which she took but seems to be taking a long time to chew and shallow compared to normal.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Firstly please don't cut back on medication unless advised to by your vet. Put simply if you lower the dose it could prove to be ineffective to the condition you are treating and could help to build an antibiotic resistance. Take her off any veg and please only feed readigrass occasionally as it's too rich. Eating plenty of hay is good. I would supplement with a probiotic an hour before or after each antibiotic dose to help with the gut balance. If she is losing weight you can also step in with syringe feeding mushed up pellets to help keep her going.

If she has gone downhill and is struggling to eat then please see a vet as an emergency