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Wet underneath any suggestions!

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Vic

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Hi

Poor Elara is incontinent of urine which has been getting worse. I have dipped it and there is no sign of infection, or of glucose. I have tried changing her food. She has been to see the vet today who is not too sure either as there is no sign of blood in her urine (less likely to be a stone apparently). The vet could not find a normal range for specific gravity in a guinea pig - does anyone else know? Has anyone else come across this? She is feeling a little sorry for herself (she is a Peruvian with attitude, so I have given her an undercut to help keep her clean!) She is only a young lass (1 ish).

Any advice gratefully received.

Vicky
 
what kind of bed does she have? the ones with the plastic floors in can make the belly wet as the urine stays on the floor and that lie in it x ( sorry if this wasnt what your question meant)
 
Thanks for the thought, she is on vet bed with paper underneath as this wicks the urine away, I tried hay with a big wodge of paper changed daily, but she is still wet.

Could this be a just a "manufacturing" fault, if so and she is going to be incontient, I can cope with that, but, I hope its nothing sinister.
 
Some piggies just seem to like sitting in their wee for some reason :{
 
Have you thought about cystitis? perhaps a course of septrin AB wouldn't do any harm? Is she a good drinker? if not, it could be a good idea to syring her extra water as well, some members have used diluted unsweetened cranberry juice.

If there is nothing wrong, it could be that she is just messy but if it were me, I would try the above. Good luck!
 
Just heard from the vet that the latest urine sample was ok execpt being very dilute, no bugs at all. Next stage blood tests and an xray on Friday. :(
 
Hi does she squeak when she urinates and have you noticed a grainy sludgey consitancy in the wee.has the vet checked if the urine has got any crystals and or sludge in it, is the bladder painful on examination.she could have bladder sludge or bladder stones. the correct calcium phophorous ratio of food is really important if she has sludge or stones. there is a great veg calculator on the guinealynx site to check if her diet is ok + load of great medical info and case studies. or it could be cystitis even without any bacteria in the urine. my piggie pumpkin has had bladder sludge and chronic cystitis for about a year and a half now diet has really helped but only to control it. .if it is bacterial cystitis antibiotics should sort it if it is not bacterial anti inflammatories like meloxidyl help and i also used potassium citrate.if it is just a case of incontinance the vet may be able to tell from the muscle tone of her bladder on palpation. ie if she is incontinant she will just wee when her bladder is pushed she won't be able to hold on to it. i keep my guineas on vet bed so pumpkin stays dry and i also use nappy barrier creams otherwise she gets really sore. hope your piggie is feeling better soon x

http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
 
Thanks everyone
The urine test was clear for crystal and sludge and she never complains when weeing. I have noticed that she doesn't stick her bottom out like my other ladies. My hopes are that she is just a dirty, lazy girl! rather than anything wrong, but I don't want to take the chance that something is missed. Thanks for all the suggestions and advice, fingers crossed for the results next week!
 
wet underneath

Hi Vic,
I am new to the forum and i was just reading about your guinea pigs problem. I am having a similar problem at the moment with sheltie sow. She has been to the vet and at first the vet thought the problem was down to ovarian cysts putting pressure on her bladder. She had to have a spey and the cysts removed. The problem persisted afterwards so i took her back to the vet and she examined her again, and took an side view xray and confimed that it was a stone in her urethera, not operable, so now she has given me a muscle relaxant and i am trying to gently to express the stone out. other symptoms have been a swollen vulva, gritty creamy yellow and very smelly urine, that is obviously partially backing up behind the stone until i express her bladder. Vet has said if their is no change in a week we will have to extract under anestetic.
 
Oh poor piggy! I hope she is alright.

Elara went to the vets yesterday for an xray and blood test, unfortunately the vet could not get enough blood, so we have been referred to an "exotic" vet - he also sees zoo animals! Seen him today and he wants to check the xrays first before taking a few more, ultrasound scan and he will attempt to get more bloods to rule out renal failure! So it looks like it will be at least a week before we get any more ideas as to what is going on. She is still eating well and does not appear to be in discomfort.

Best wishes to your little lady
 
wet underneath

Hi vic, thanks for your concern about pinkie, she is fine in herself, still eating and drinking well so i am not too concerned, just wish this stone would pass through her, been trying for a week now, it seems to be close to the opening of her urethra so fingers crossed. Glad you have found an exotic vet for your little guinea, let us know how you get on.
 
Just thought I would post an update on Elara. The results of the xrays, ultra sound and blood test have all come back negative. The vet suggested giving metacam incase she was drinking due to pain. She is showing no other signs of pain and in all other respects is fit as a fiddle, but I gave it a go -no change. The vet is at a loss (except financially, not the point I know but I do wonder sometine if they see me coming and thin "Christmas party fund". )

My feelings are that she is just naturally a big drinker and too lazy to move when she wees! At least I know that its not diabetes, renal failure, liver failure, bladder/renal stones, ovarian cysts, bone deformaties!

I wish all the piggies with "wet bottom" problems the best and hope that they resolve soon.

Vicky x
 
Sounds expensive! At least you know it's none of those things.

I've got a couple of long haired pigs that are often wet underneath, I keep them trimmed short behind. Have you tried vet bed for her? It's absorbent fleecy stuff that absorbs the wee. Or you could use puppy pads, which are disposable. Sorry, probably not much help but that's all I can think of!

Hope she's ok

Sophie
x
 
Thanks Sophie

Expensive was the right word, but you are right at least I know that it is nothing amiss - the money is never an issue with them if it means that they are happy and healthy. I was referred to a "specialist" by my own vet who I took an instant disliking to. I wish I was back in Norfolk, my old vet was the best. Anyway back to the subject!

Shes on vet bed as one of my other piggies has a dust allergy! I have watch her weeing (sad I know!) and she doesn't seem to stick her bottom out like the others - lazy girl! I'll just keep her clean and tutt at her every now and then! Thank you all for your help and advice.

Vicky x
 
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