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We cant make Slinky better

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Hello I havent been on here for a while, since posting about Maisie having lumps (which she still has).

A few weeks ago we noticed the pigs smelt really bad of strong wee and Slinky was soaking wet, all up her back and underneath, she is really long haired and often stays a bit underneath but this was terrible, I bathed her and she peed on the towel which smelt dreadful. The next day we took her to the vet and they confirmed that she had a urine infection, her urine contained blood, pus and like sand granules where they said that stones had developed. I felt so guilty because we hadnt noticed anythign wrong until the this she was acting normal and eating well :(

She was put on Baytril for two weeks and we cut all the fresh foods out the diet that are calcium enriched (like kale and parsley), decreased the pellets and increased the hay , two weeks later the smell had gone but she was still soaking wet all the time and has developed a sore on her bottom from staying so wet all the time so we took her back to the vet last Friday.

He said that there was still a tiny amount of blood in the urine but that he feared the kidneys were damaged beyond repair due to the huge amounts of urine she is producing, he has put her on antibiotics for a further three weeks but feels that within the three weeks it will be time to let her go as once the kidneys are damaged there is not much he can do and her skin will get worse as it is never getting a chance to dry :(

She doesnt do much anymore just sits, and lets us stroke her an pick her up far easily than ever before, but she is still eating and gets excited when she hears food on the way.

I dont want her to suffer, I dont know what to do, is there anything that can help her get better? Do I put her to sleep before she is off her food an suffering? Do I keep on with the Baytril and pray it will suddenly work?

I cant cope with seeing any animal suffer and I dont know what to do for the best, she is only two and a half and was one of the babies that Izzy had just after we bought her.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you x
 
I forgot to say when I bathed her I also cut her hair really short around her back etc so as to help with the wetness.
 
Aww, that is so sad. I'm really sorry I can't actually help with any advice, i'm sure someone that can help you will be by soon.

I just wanted to say I really hope Slinky is feeling much better soon, I'm sending healing vibes for a full and fast recovery x
 
Could you use a barrier cream to protect her skin from the urine like for babies and nappy rash? What type of bedding do you have her on? There may be other types of antibiotics to try like septrim? pm alcesterpigs and laura. You could also phone the CCT for their opinion or to find the closest rodentologist to you?
 
i would pm wiebke, she knows about persistent utis
 
I'm sorry Slinky seems to have a stubborn problems. A problem with the kidneys is possible, however I would recommend trying another line of treatment for cystitis first:

- Paediatric Septrin (trimethoprim sulfa) - the ideal antibiotic for cystitis;
- Rimadyl (carprofen) / Metacam (meloxicam) - anti-inflammatory to reduce any pain and inflammation;
- Bepanthen or Aloe Vera gel/ointment applied to the sore skin, to soothe and protect it.

The above treatment would typically be a course of around 7-10 days.

Of course getting the vet to prescribe the Septrin and anti-inflammatory is another thing!
 
I have had pigs here with suspected kidney problems (which normal vets will say are untreatable in guinea pigs) and as long as they are bright and eating and can get around, I've just kept them as happy as possible in the time they have left. Some have gone downhill quickly, others have carried on for ages, so it depends on quality of life I think

Hope Slinky is showing signs of improvement

Sophie
x
 
"i would pm wiebke, she knows about persistent utis "

Is she still having problems?


Regarding the pig, I always advise taking an xray of the urinary system, this will show what is present in the bladder etc, in the way of stones, sludge.
 
One of Vikki's rescues has a persistent UTI and she had an xray to show the bladder sludge. She's been on various antibiotics fairly constantly since arrival, and has good / bad periods. Might be worth a pm to Vikki, too?

Sophie
x
 
I would recommend that you have an x-ray done, but without GA. Ask your vet to please firmly wrap up Slinky and place her on a soft surface. Guinea pigs have a tendency to freeze when frightenend, so she'll hold still.
That should clear the question of stones/bladder sludge without undue stress on Slinky.

Ask your vet for pediatric septrin 0.5ml twice daily (which contains the same active ingredient as bactrim, but can be given orally). Most guinea pigs LOVE it and it works exceptionally well for urinary tract problems and is not as harsh on the guts as baytril.

Here is the link to the medical website for guinea pigs. If necessary, print it out for your vet. http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html

You can also give her unsweetened cranberry juice, as much as she will drink.

I have no experience with kidney problems, so I can't help you there.

I am so sorry about Slinky's problems! You must feel very gutted.

BIG HUG
 
Thank you all for your replies, when we first took Slinky to the vet they felt her an said that her bladder was full of sludge as it was so thick and when she peed there was no doubt as her urine looked like sand.

When we returned to the vet on Friday we saw a different vet, he confirmed that the bladder didnt feel like it had sludge anymore but her urine was so dilute it was off the scale on the chart and there was lots an lots of it.

I was told by the first vet not to give her cranberry juice as she didnt want to upset the alkaline levels at that stage but maybe now it will be ok.

Do vets not like subscribing sceptrin? I am allergic to sceptrin is it safe for small animals? Also if i apply a barrier cream will it be harmful to her if she likes it off?

This evening she actually seems more energetic and isnt as wet :)
 
As far as I am aware, Aloe Vera gel/ointment is safe if ingested. Bepanthen is often used on pigs with urine scald without problem.

Septrin is very safe for guinea pigs, and usually clears up cystitis problems more effectively than other antibiotics. Many vets will not prescribe anything other than Baytril, as no other drug is licensed for use in guinea pigs. However so many piggies have had far better recoveries as a result of Septrin, Zithromax and even stronger meds like chloramphenicol and doxycycline. (The latter two are used more commonly in the US than UK and usually reserved for deep infections e.g. abscesses.)
 
I don't know much about kidney problems in guinea pigs, but I would want to know if it was actually a urine infection or kidney failure, I assume it could be diagnosed by a blood test and urine sample.
I have 2 cats with chronic renal failure and don't know if the same can be used in pigs, they certainly won't be licensed for them, but a low phosphate diet is used, as the illness advances fortekor is used and perhaps more relevant for pigs, vitamin B12 injections are very helpful. The vit B12 is lost through the urine and this can cause aneamia, it might also be worth enquiring about Vit C as it is also water soluble.
 
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