Bladder treatment

[Mclayton]

I’m glad he is doing well.

Hopefully the urine check is clear, the antibiotics have worked and consequently it won’t return and therefore isn’t IC.

To be honest, he doesn't seem to be in enough pain for it to be IC.. Maybe its all infection related. At least 2 weeks Baytril this time, so I'm hopeful

 

[Mclayton]

To be honest, he doesn't seem to be in enough pain for it to be IC.. Maybe its all infection related. At least 2 weeks Baytril this time, so I'm hopeful

So, Squeak has had 2 great days. Tonight, squeaking again with each wee. Really struggling understand this now. He's just not poorly at all. & everytime the vet has pressed all over his lower body,, he never squeaks in pain. Don't understand at all

 

[piggiemummy03x]

They suspect I.C now, & since been on metacam twice daily, his squeaks have stopped

oh bless him! you will have to keep us updated, i’m glad to hear his squeaks have stopped, i hope it stays this way!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

So, Squeak has had 2 great days. Tonight, squeaking again with each wee. Really struggling understand this now. He's just not poorly at all. & everytime the vet has pressed all over his lower body,, he never squeaks in pain. Don't understand at all

oh no i’ve just read this after my last comment, i’m so sorry to hear he’s in pain again

 

[Mclayton]

Hi I've started a new thread, as I don't know where to add this. So, Squeak has been on dog metacam for 2 weeks now, as he's on antibiotics for bacteria in his wee. The 2nd week of metacam has been upped to 0.3mls twice a day. It isn't doing anything. So vet has given me 2 more weeks of Baytril & metacam. Just don't understand why the upped dose for a week isn't working. Its all strange, as he seems to squeak when he does a wee & poo together. He's had 3 thorough examinations of vets pressing all 9ver his bladder area, & he never made a sound! Surely a painful bladder would cause him to squeak with pain when touched. I just want him pain free. It is not happening

 

[Deleted member 151640]

Hi I've started a new thread, as I don't know where to add this. So, Squeak has been on dog metacam for 2 weeks now, as he's on antibiotics for bacteria in his wee. The 2nd week of metacam has been upped to 0.3mls twice a day. It isn't doing anything. So vet has given me 2 more weeks of Baytril & metacam. Just don't understand why the upped dose for a week isn't working. Its all strange, as he seems to squeak when he does a wee & poo together. He's had 3 thorough examinations of vets pressing all 9ver his bladder area, & he never made a sound! Surely a painful bladder would cause him to squeak with pain when touched. I just want him pain free. It is not happening

I am so sorry you’re having a tough time.

Sounds like he may need further investigation, which obviously you would have to go to the vet for.

He is on a pretty decent amount of painkillers so realistically he shouldn’t be in pain, but if he is still showing signs of discomfort please book him in at the vet when next possible, and perhaps talk about next steps.
Generally in my experience vets give it around 3 weeks before they decide to go into further investigation.

Wishing you both the best x

 

[Mclayton]

I am so sorry you’re having a tough time.

Sounds like he may need further investigation, which obviously you would have to go to the vet for.

He is on a pretty decent amount of painkillers so realistically he shouldn’t be in pain, but if he is still showing signs of discomfort please book him in at the vet when next possible, and perhaps talk about next steps.
Generally in my experience vets give it around 3 weeks before they decide to go into further investigation.

Wishing you both the best x

He had a scan in February. His bladder is fine. His urine been viewed under a microscope twice, & no calcium crystals present only bacteria, hence the antibiotics & pain relief. His diet is low calcium, he has grain free pellets, filtered water, & cystease capsule a day. All to help his bladder.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It doesn’t sound like there is any reason for him to be in pain after the bacteria has been cured. If he is still in pain and still struggling continuously then further investigation does need to be done. Any pain may not be related, it just shows when he urinates/defecates but could actually be coming from somewhere other than the bladder.

Has his urine been tested for bacteria again since he’s been in antibiotics this time?

 

[Deleted member 151640]

He had a scan in February. His bladder is fine. His urine been viewed under a microscope twice, & no calcium crystals present only bacteria, hence the antibiotics & pain relief. His diet is low calcium, he has grain free pellets, filtered water, & cystease capsule a day. All to help his bladder.

As was said above it looks like you're doing everything you can for him. I would still recommend trying to get further investigations, perhaps an x-ray or another urine sample as it has been a while since the last.
I understand it is very tiring trying to get answers, you sometimes feel like you are going in circles.

I am very lucky to have not dealt with stones or any bladder issues in all my years, so I do not have much insight but I am wishing you the best and I hope you can get some answers soon.

 

[Mclayton]

It doesn’t sound like there is any reason for him to be in pain after the bacteria has been cured. If he is still in pain and still struggling continuously then further investigation does need to be done. Any pain may not be related, it just shows when he urinates/defecates but could actually be coming from somewhere other than the bladder.

Has his urine been tested for bacteria again since he’s been in antibiotics this time?

No, because they always tell me his urine needs to be tested at least 48 hours after the last dose of antibiotics which isn't for just under another 2 weeks. He is fine when he poos or wees separately. Its all very very strange

 

[Mclayton]

As was said above it looks like you're doing everything you can for him. I would still recommend trying to get further investigations, perhaps an x-ray or another urine sample as it has been a while since the last.
I understand it is very tiring trying to get answers, you sometimes feel like you are going in circles.

I am very lucky to have not dealt with stones or any bladder issues in all my years, so I do not have much insight but I am wishing you the best and I hope you can get some answers soon.

Thank you. He has an x ray in December, & his wee was tested just over 2 weeks ago.

 

[Piggies&buns]

No, because they always tell me his urine needs to be tested at least 48 hours after the last dose of antibiotics which isn't for just under another 2 weeks. He is fine when he poos or wees separately. Its all very very strange

Ah ok, I misread your post. Thought he had finished his antibiotics.
It is strange. I know you’ve said before he only makes noises when in the playpen. Is that still the case?
I would just think that with the pain relief he is on that he shouldn’t be in pain so either he is and it’s so significant that metacam alone isn’t touching it (I think this unlikely - if he was in that much pain then you would absolutely know and he would be showing more consistent signs and/or illness) or his noises aren’t all pain noises.

 

[Mclayton]

Ah ok, I misread your post. Thought he had finished his antibiotics.
It is strange. I know you’ve said before he only makes noises when in the playpen. Is that still the case?
I would just think that with the pain relief he is on that he shouldn’t be in pain so either he is and it’s so significant that metacam alone isn’t touching it (I think this unlikely - if he was in that much pain then you would absolutely know and he would be showing more consistent signs and/or illness) or his noises aren’t all pain noises.

Yes, I'm starting to believe now,, that not all these sounds are pain. He's been on metacam on & off since December 10th, but didn't really do much for these sounds. He does make the sounds mostly in the play pen. I know I suffer anxiety, but I know one thing for sure. I had them a whole month before this started. Another strange thing. Last night, he was constant for a few hours, after every wee. Tonight, upto now, he's quiet. Have no answers anymore.

 

[Mclayton]

Ah ok, I misread your post. Thought he had finished his antibiotics.
It is strange. I know you’ve said before he only makes noises when in the playpen. Is that still the case?
I would just think that with the pain relief he is on that he shouldn’t be in pain so either he is and it’s so significant that metacam alone isn’t touching it (I think this unlikely - if he was in that much pain then you would absolutely know and he would be showing more consistent signs and/or illness) or his noises aren’t all pain noises.

The squeaking definitely isn't consistent, & he has never shown any signs of illness.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes, I'm starting to believe now,, that not all these sounds are pain. He's been on metacam on & off since December 10th, but didn't really do much for these sounds. He does make the sounds mostly in the play pen. I know I suffer anxiety, but I know one thing for sure. I had them a whole month before this started. Another strange thing. Last night, he was constant for a few hours, after every wee. Tonight, upto now, he's quiet. Have no answers anymore.

Is it possible he didn’t make the noises initially because he was settling in and now feels more confident to chat. I’m not saying he isn’t in pain it’s just that there doesn’t seem to be consistency or extreme pain nor medically, other than bacteria in urine, there isn’t anything else which stands out.

 

[Deleted member 151640]

Could you perhaps get a video of it? Then maybe you/we can differentiate because although the sounds are not linear it could give you a baseline understanding.

Even looking online there are many videos of different guinea pig noises, you may find looking through those and seeing what it sounds most like helpful.

 

[Mclayton]

Is it possible he didn’t make the noises initially because he was settling in and now feels more confident to chat. I’m not saying he isn’t in pain it’s just that there doesn’t seem to be consistency or extreme pain nor medically, other than bacteria in urine, there isn’t anything else which stands out.

I know. You are right. They are both still in their pen, & are extremely chatty tonight! Another thing that doesn't point to pain. Every single time he's gone to the vets, 4 times now,, he has never cried out in pain when the vet really pressed all over his lower body

 

[Piggies&buns]

I mean they can hide their pain when they want but only so far. If he was in so much pain that a good dose of dog metacam can’t control it, then I expect for pain signs to be shown when a vet presses his body.

One of my piggies sprained his leg. He was limping. I took him to the vet who had him walk across the surgery floor. He walked perfectly normally showing no signs of limping and no signs of discomfort. The vet knew he was hiding it gave me a week of metacam. I took him home and put him back in his cage where he immediately went back to limping. He was on cat metacam and it helped within a few hours. A few days later he was walking normally again.

My rainbow bridge rabbit Patch had spinal arthritis towards the end of his life. Rabbits can also hide their pain. To watch him, the only sign was a bit of stiffness when he got up from resting, couldn’t always move sideways that easily but otherwise was still behaving as expected for a rabbit of 9 years old. However, when the vet pressed his back he could not hide the discomfort, it was so very obvious that his pain was much greater than the daily symptoms portrayed.

 

[Mclayton]

I mean they can hide their pain when they want but only so far. If he was in so much pain that a good dose of dog metacam can’t control it, then I expect for pain signs to be shown when a vet presses his body.

One of my piggies sprained his leg. He was limping. I took him to the vet who had him walk across the surgery floor. He walked perfectly normally showing no signs of limping and no signs of discomfort. The vet knew he was hiding it gave me a week of metacam. I took him home and put him back in his cage where he immediately went back to limping. He was on cat metacam and it helped within a few hours. A few days later he was walking normally again.

My rainbow bridge rabbit Patch had spinal arthritis towards the end of his life. Rabbits can also hide their pain. To watch him, the only sign was a bit of stiffness when he got up from resting, couldn’t always move sideways that easily but otherwise was still behaving as expected for a rabbit of 9 years old. However, when the vet pressed his back he could not hide the discomfort, it was so very obvious that his pain was much greater than the daily symptoms portrayed.

Metacam is very good then. For the first week it was 0.4mls daily. Then I spoke to the vet saying he needs it twice a day. So the 2nd week its been 0.3mls twice a day. I'm now starting the 3rd, & 4th week on 0.3mls twice a day. This is dog metacam. If he still squeaks intermittently,, then its likely not pain.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Metacam is very good then. For the first week it was 0.4mls daily. Then I spoke to the vet saying he needs it twice a day. So the 2nd week its been 0.3mls twice a day. I'm now starting the 3rd, & 4th week on 0.3mls twice a day. This is dog metacam. If he still squeaks intermittently,, then its likely not pain.

Obviously pain is not a clear cut thing - each experience is different - and for Dex his sprain was not so bad that a good dose of cat metacam couldn’t help him.
If your boy is on a good dose of dog and still makes noises then either it’s not pain at all or the pain is very significant but that isn’t what you seem to be reporting

 

[Mclayton]

Obviously pain is not a clear cut thing - each experience is different - and for Dex his sprain was not so bad that a good dose of cat metacam couldn’t help him.
If your boy is on a good dose of dog and still makes noises then either it’s not pain at all or the pain is very significant but that isn’t what you seem to be reporting

Thanks, & thank you for your time. Its now 3 weeks on reduced pellets, so will the calcium in their bodies be reducing now? The white deposits in their wee are smaller now. & only a few

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks, & thank you for your time. Its now 3 weeks on reduced pellets, so will the calcium in their bodies be reducing now? The white deposits in their wee are smaller now. & only a few

No problem. We are all happy to help.

That sounds very positive!

 

[Mclayton]

No problem. We are all happy to help.

That sounds very positive!

Is it ok for a guinea pig to be on Baytril for 4 weeks? I just don't like giving them for too long. He's handling it perfectly. His poos are fine, & today will be his 17th day on them. Another 11 days to go

 

[Piggies&buns]

Is it ok for a guinea pig to be on Baytril for 4 weeks? I just don't like giving them for too long. He's handling it perfectly. His poos are fine, & today will be his 17th day on them. Another 11 days to go

If it’s needed then it’s fine. No point stopping unless all the bacteria is gone. Leaving bacteria behind will cause problems - it means it’ll just kick start another infection again and risks leading to antibiotic resistance

 

[Mclayton]

If it’s needed then it’s fine. No point stopping unless all the bacteria is gone. Leaving bacteria behind will cause problems - it means it’ll just kick start another infection again and risks leading to antibiotic resistance

Oh, I'm not going to stop it , was only wondering if,, in time, they will do more harm than good. I've just never had a pet on antibiotics for a month.

 

[piggieminder]

4 of mine were on it for a month last year for a respiratory infection, Brillo was on it for 2 months. The vets we were seeing said it was fine for 2 months but they prefer not to give it for longer than that.

 

[Mclayton]

If it’s needed then it’s fine. No point stopping unless all the bacteria is gone. Leaving bacteria behind will cause problems - it means it’ll just kick start another infection again and risks leading to antibiotic resistance

How many weeks roughly, does it take for calcium to be reduced in the body? Its 3 weeks now,,, & tonight, he's having another bad night. His wee are very white, & he's squeaking each time. I've not changed anything. Don't know why his wees are very white again

 

[Piggies&buns]

How many weeks roughly, does it take for calcium to be reduced in the body? Its 3 weeks now,,, & tonight, he's having another bad night. His wee are very white, & he's squeaking each time. I've not changed anything. Don't know why his wees are very white again

Several weeks is the best we can say. However white wee is normal - it’s the normal way of excreting calcium, it’s always going to happen to some extent as there always needs to be calcium in the diet.
It’s only if there is grit that it is a problem and we know there isn’t any as your vet has confirmed no crystals.

 

[Mclayton]

Several weeks.
White wee is normal - it’s the normal way of excreting calcium, it’s always going to happen to some extent as there always needs to be calcium in the diet. It’s only if there is grit that it is a problem and we know there isn’t any as your vet has confirmed no crystals.

So sorry. Just very stressed. He's worse than ever tonight. When doing a poo as well, but last night, nothing. I've changed nothing. Is this me & my anxiety?

 

[Mclayton]

Several weeks is the best we can say. However white wee is normal - it’s the normal way of excreting calcium, it’s always going to happen to some extent as there always needs to be calcium in the diet.
It’s only if there is grit that it is a problem and we know there isn’t any as your vet has confirmed no crystals.

How quickly do stones develop? I'm worried now, that one has been missed on the scan in February