I noticed once or twice last night when my guinea pig was peeing/pooping she was squeaking. It wasn't a loud squeak/one she does all the time. I haven't seen her do it since then. Her poop looks normal. I'm watching her today and may put her on a towel make sure her urine is okay. If she doesn't do it again, should she be okay? I noticed she does drink more water than usual, but before she wasn't drinking that much water. She seems fine overall though. Weight is the same, she is moving around, eating a lot as usual. I'm going to clean her cage today, and may leave it with less bedding and more of the mat I can see, so I can see if there is anything wrong with her urine/poop. Obviously, if I see something off I will take her to the vet. She is getting on the older side, she is over 5 years old.
Hi
If it is a urinary tract infection of some sort, whether that is a bacterial urine infection (UTI) or a non-bacterial recurring cystitis (sterile interstitial cystitis or IC), the symptoms are pretty much the same and take on average to go from off and on to become more solid.
The usual infection markers are pretty much the same (high protein and blood in urine). However the intense red pees that characterise the onset are not blood but porphyrine, which is a natural dye. Clear and red pees can alternate at the start and some pees can test high in blood in clear samples and free of blood in red coloured ones. Real blood dries to a mid-brown on pale surfaces while porphyrine will dry maroon and dark red.
UTI has a high bacterial count since it is in effect the overgrowth of faecal bacteria that have gotten into the urinary tract. It can be cured with a course of antibiotics.
Sterile IC is characterised by a very low (only rarely zero) bacterial count in the urine due to the tiny scent gland used for scent marking sitting right in front of the genitalia when it wiped on the floor; the milder forms can be temporarily suppressed by an antibiotic but it will return. Stronger forms won't react to the antibiotic at all and present like a chronic UTI. It cannot be healed but the milder forms may usually go away but it is usually more a matter of years rather than months. It is characterised by strong flare-ups every few weeks.
Management is with metacam and glucosamine (the latter is classed as a food supplement and not as medication) since it affects specifically the insulating natural glucosamine coating of the walls of the urinary tract that prevents the highly corrosive urine from coming into direct contact with raw tissue. More severe forms can now be treated with cartrophen. The very strongest forms are sadly still untreatable and fatal with a very fast decline.
Unfortunately, sterile cystitis in guinea pigs is still largely unknown outside vet circles that see guinea pigs on a regular basis. The illness compares to feline sterile cystitis (FSC) and treatment in guinea pigs follows that of cats. It seems to be result of the growing commercial mass breeding for chains and seems to majorly affect guinea pigs with a high stress level default setting (which they likely experience as their normal in their stressed mother's womb); again, very similar to cats.
Your vet should ideally also quick check for the presence of stones or sludge when palpating the bladder to see whether it is still soft and relaxed or hard and small. A urine sample you can bring with you should help with the bacterial count if needed (will need a lab test though).
I would however recommend to have her vet checked next week during regular opening hours since she is older and is drinking noiceably more.
