Uti?

[daisyd]

I have noticed tonight that two of my girl piggies have wet patches near their bums. I saw this when I went to get them for a cuddle and thought maybe they'd just had a wee - so went back 30min later but the soggy patch was still there on both (I have 6 girls and only 2 affected). I cuddled them on a towel anyway and they both pee'd as normal when I put them back without any sign of pain etc.. and the wee looked normal (no blood) - but there is a bit of a grainy residue around their bum's.

Do you think this is cause for concern - do they need cranberry juice, or could there be another cause? I don't think they have a bacterial infection, and they are both rather... erm... 'sedate' piggies compared to the others - could they just be sitting in their own wee? If it is the start of something I'd like to nip it in the bud. Could it be their Ca ratios all mixed up causing grainy texture? I don't know much about it but have just been on guinealyxn - all seemed rather complicated!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Hi Daisy,

My thoughts are that it's just as likely they'd been sat in their own pee, especially with it being two of them. Did the wet patches smell strongly? UTIs involving wet bottoms tend to be coupled with a strong, stale sort of odour - you wouldn't miss it.

This may help with regards to balancing the Ca aspect of the diet:
http://www.store2go.net/shop/planetguinea/ratewatchersrainbowdiet.pdf

 

[Wiebke]

UTI often starts as smelly pees before it goes bloody - you can't mistake the smell!

Otherwise, have you fed them dandelion lately that has made them pee more?

 

[daisyd]

Ah - yes they're eating lots of dandelions as treats, they grow everywhere in my garden and they love coming to me to get them, but I will have to cut back!

There is a very faint musty odour to the pee, but its not very strong.

I should probably try and make sure they move about more as I'm guessing their current state could lead to problems if they're wet all the time.

Thanks for the replies .

 

[missy]

I should probably try and make sure they move about more as I'm guessing their current state could lead to problems if they're wet all the time.

Yep, if they're sitting in their own wee a lot they could eventually get urine scalds, where the skin gets very sore, but it probably won't come to that. Btw I assume that you've also ruled out a leaking water bottle, which can often cause soaked bedding.

Hopefully you'll notice immediate effects when cutting down the diuretic dandelions x