UTIs....what can i do to prevent them coming back?

[zez]

So, my Max has just had a UTI. A week of antibiotics has cleared it up just fine and he's back to his normal self.

A week later and Dobby (who is NOT Max's cage mate) has one too. He too seems to be responding fine to antibiotics but I figure i must be doing something wrong to have this happen to two of my boys at practically the same time. ? Diet.

They are on veg every day, unlimited hay and museli (can't get them to eat the pellets at all) so i was wondering if maybe i need to watch the calcium in their veg. They usually get celery, apple, pear, cucumber, carrot, spinach, broccoli...whatever is in the fridge.

I know i need to reduce/cut out spinach and possibly carrot, but what other (cheap ish!) veg should i be offering that is low in calcicum...i want to prevent a reoccurrance.

Thank you

 

[Little Pig]

I don't think you should blame yourself or assume you have done something wrong - it seems to me that UTIs are fairly common in guinea pigs.

I'm not sure that calcium plays a part in bladder infections. I know it does in terms of stone/sludge/crystal formation, but don't believe these are linked to UTIs?

It is important that guinea pigs that are susceptible to UTIs keep their fluid intake up as this can help to prevent the infection coming back. If they don't drink from their bottles very much, make sure you wash their vegetables and give them to the guinea pigs wet. Try offering a syringe of water every so often too.

You could also try cranberry juice, but this needs to be pure cranberry with no added sugar etc - Holland & Barrett sell one in their urinary health section.

Don't be too surprised if the UTI returns in any of your current guinea pigs. From my own experience and from other people on here, sometimes a longer course of antibiotics than 7 days is needed.

It is also worth pointing out that UTI symptoms can be very similar to bladder stones, so it may be worth getting an x-ray done to rule this out.

 

[sport_billy]

Here's a link to Guinea Lynx an excellent Guinea Pig Medical website http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html

Calcium in food shouldn't have an effect on the occurrence of UTI's however high calicum diets may make a piggie more susceptible to Bladder stones and crystals in the bladder.

Laura has made a great thread on Calcium/Phosphorus ratios and halfway down it gives you an idea on what food to feed and how often http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30297

Hope Dobby's UTI clears up soon!

 

[Wiebke]

UTIs happen by bacteria coming in through the ureter; scent marking on an infected surface can be one way of UTI to spread. Letting your piggies out on still cold and damp lawn too early or on a cold surface can also trigger one. Spring is the high season for UTIs!

Generally, it takes longer than just one week's course to clear a UTI - I have found a 3 week course of preferably septrin (an oral form of the bactrim mentioned in the Guinea Lynx link) does the trick, although some UTIs can come back even then. Make sure that give a pinch of prebiotics with their veg whenever your piggies are on an antibiotic.

If a UTI returns, have an x-ray done to exclude the presence of a bladder stone or bladder sludge.

 

[zez]

Very helpful advice and reassurance all...thanks. I can't help but wonder if Dobby's is from being him in. He and Dansak were outside piggies adn doing great out there, but after a night where it totally unexpectedly went to -15 outside i rushed out, bought a cage and brought them in. Wondered if the change to central heating etc caused any bugs to breed...

They haven't been out any where cold or damp and have been cleaned out fully twice a week (in my chidlren's rooms so paranoid about smell! (note to any future readers, I know chidlren's rooms can be a risk, i have considered this and have several precautions in place))

What are prebiotics, and where can i get them?

Thanks all