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Any advice please - recurring urinary tract problem

Wotmi10

Wotmi10

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Hello my guinea pig Milo has in the last few weeks passed some blood in his urine and is squeaking when he goes both number 1 and 2’s. He’s been to the vet and was prescribed a course of antibiotics which I’ve given him. She checked him over and said she couldn’t feel any bladder stones and was no discomfort when examining him. Since we finished course 2wks ago the blood went away but now its back along with the sqeaking when he goes to the loo.

Other than this he is absolutely fine in himself eating , drinking and looks healthy and not losing weight. Before I return to the vet and spend another shed load of money, I wonder if anyone out there may have experienced this or give me any advice on what I can do myself to make him better. He’s such a cute little pig and I’m worried about him. ☹️ He’s given Timothy hay and fresh veg every day and I clean out cage daily so he’s looked after.
Thank you
 
How long was the course of antibiotics and which antibiotic was he given? And what did the vet think was wrong? Did they consider an X-ray to completely rule out stones? I’ll tag @Wiebke @VickiA @PigglePuggle @Piggies&buns
 
Hi, the course was 1 week and had Baytril 2.5% and Loxicom anti inflammator. He hasn’t had an X-ray yet.
 
They thought it was a UTI poss due to hot weather we’ve been having. Plus he’s an indoor pig but had been putting him outside when suitable weather on the grass
 
I’d take him back to the vets. He might need a longer course of medication or a different type. Don’t leave it as he must be very uncomfortable.
 
Wotmi10 said:
Hello my guinea pig Milo has in the last few weeks passed some blood in his urine and is squeaking when he goes both number 1 and 2’s. He’s been to the vet and was prescribed a course of antibiotics which I’ve given him. She checked him over and said she couldn’t feel any bladder stones and was no discomfort when examining him. Since we finished course 2wks ago the blood went away but now its back along with the sqeaking when he goes to the loo.

Other than this he is absolutely fine in himself eating , drinking and looks healthy and not losing weight. Before I return to the vet and spend another shed load of money, I wonder if anyone out there may have experienced this or give me any advice on what I can do myself to make him better. He’s such a cute little pig and I’m worried about him. ☹️ He’s given Timothy hay and fresh veg every day and I clean out cage daily so he’s looked after.
Thank you
Click to expand...

Hi!

How long has the course of antibiotics been (just 1 week is too short) and has he been checked for a potential urethral stone? boars do have an awkward inglenook where passed bladder stones usually fetch up.

Once all possible other causes have been eliminated, your vet may consider a sterile (i.e. non-bacterial) interstitial (i.e. recurring) cystitis, which cannot be healed by an antibiotic (since it is non-bacterial) and only be managed. it seems to affect mainly the natural glucosamine coating of the walls of the urinary tract that prevent the very corrosive urine coming into very painful contact with raw tissue. Treatment is mainly with glucosamine (which is classed as a food supplement and not as a medication so most vets don't stock it), either oral in milder cases (we recommend using cat cystease capsules for ease in dosage) or newly cartrofen injections in severe cases in combination with an analgesic like metacam/meloxicam. If the bladder is soft and relaxed and your piggy has responded to an antibiotic, you are dealing with a milder case. Unfortunately, sterile IC will go away when it goes away all on its own; it is more of a matter years than months. You will have to work out your normal maintenance dosage and then how to manage the occasional flares every few weeks or months; I find that doubling oral glucosamine dose is more effective in getting on top of acute symptoms in a flare is more effective than just upping the metacam dose
.
Unfortunately, sterile IC - although we have seen quite an increase in numbers and cases actually overtaking those of UTIs (bacterial urine infections) over the last decade - it is still very much unknown outside vet circles seeing lots of piggies on a regular basis. Treatment follows generally that of FSC (feline sterile cystitis); they are the other species having a similar problem.

Here is a bit more information: Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records
 
Thank you so much for all this info. I will rearrange another appointment to the vets as I don’t want him to be in any discomfort and see what they suggest. I will also put this to them as a potential possible cause.
 
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