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UTI Worries

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R Dorothy

R Dorothy

Junior Guinea Pig
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So Scuzzy has a UTI despite the fact he gets his cage clean constantly since I know how common these are.

I took him to the vest yesterday and he'll be going in every day this week to get some sort of shot that's supposed to help him get rid of it.

After the shot he seems to have gotten worse. He's peed blood in two spots of his cage, doesn't really want to move, and doesn't want to eat or drink. I had to physically place him in front of the water bottle for him to even take a slight drink and had to bribe him with celery to eat.

I'm really scared this is going to kill him. Can I do anything else?
 
I think you should see another vet for a second opinion and urgently.

Fingers crossed for your poor boy xx
 
What shot as he been given?

For a suspected UTI antibiotic's these are noramlly given by mouth such as Baytril or one called Septrin (it's often called Bactrim in the USA)
Here's a link to Guinealynx giving some info on UTI's http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html

I would certainly consider seeing another vet. If Scuzzy is not eating you may have to syringe feed him some recovery food such as Critical Care. Lots of healing vibes to Scuzzy x
 
He's getting a shot of Baytril.

You're all probably going to be mad a me for this, but there's actually no other place that will see Scuzzy. I shouldn't have assumed that only one of the six vets in town would see guinea pigs; I wouldn't consider an animal that's common in any pet store an exotic.
 
It's not unheard of for them to get antibiotic by injections.

If he goes downhill or doesn't seem to be recovering you will need to chat to your vet about getting an x-ray to rule out bladder stones. I know the blood is very scary looking but it can often be a symptom of a UTI.

If he is not eating you are going to have to syringe feed him, this can be a little daunting, here is a factsheet on it http://www.guineapighelpline.com/SyringeFeedingFactsheet.pdf

Are you weighing him regulary?
 
I am really sorry to hear your little one is poorly. I really hope he gets better soon.
 
sport_billy said:
Are you weighing him regulary?
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Yes. The thing is, he was so skinny when I got him it's been a hard road trying to get his weight up, no matter how much I feed him. He's actually gained a considerable amount of weight, and the vet is going to weigh him every time he comes in now, so we'll know if he's losing weight.

It's just Scuzzy is a very tiny guinea pig so I don't think he'll ever weigh the typical male amount. He weighs 1.7 pounds, which sadly is a lot more than when I first got him.
 
How many days has he been on his antibiotics?
 
sport_billy said:
How many days has he been on his antibiotics?
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This will only be his second day; I'm really hoping the blood I saw is just the remainder of what's in his bladder and more isn't accumulating.

It's just scary when they're not eating or drinking. Scuzzy spends most of his day running back and forth between the water bottle and food so I hate seeing him just sitting in his igloo. He didn't even care today when I gave him new food and usually I can't get him to shut up until I do.
 
Sometimes it can take a few days for antibiotics to kick in. Keep us updated, Hope he feels better soon x
 
sport_billy said:
Sometimes it can take a few days for antibiotics to kick in. Keep us updated, Hope he feels better soon x
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Thanks, and will do.

It's just really scary to go through, especially since I think he's a very old pig. I'm his fourth home, and he'd been so neglected, I wanted him to have a pampered life with me and peacefully die in his sleep of old age when the time came.

I feel like such a failure right now. I love him so much.
 
You are not a failure! Piggies unfortunately get poorly and there is nothing that we as their owners do to cause it.
He is fortunate that he has you to care for him. It is horrible when they are poorly and it often leaves you feeling helpless. Hopefully the AB's will kick in and he'll pick up.
 
I feel a lot better now than this morning. He isn't voluntarily eating and drinking yet but he's peed and it's only got the slightest tinge of pink, not all red like previously.

He's also got a lot more energy. He chased the string holder on my camera that he likes so much and he's pooed a bit from the activity.

I'm really hoping by tomorrow his old eating habits will start up again.
 
Pleased to read this! Lots of healing vibes to Scuzzy x
 
After seeming like he was going to make a full recovery Scuzzy died this morning at 3:30AM. I just got done burying him. He was the first guinea pig I ever had; I had no idea just how much they end up bonding to and loving you. I don't know how to deal with this.
 
Oh no! I was reading this as one of my girls has got a UTI and I was hoping for a happy ending for little Scuzzy :(
RIP little man, he will always know how much you loved him <3 xx
 
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