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Can baby Guinea pigs get bladder stones?

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Jaredtkk

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Hi guys. I was just looking at my 1 month old female Guinea pigs today and I noticed that that had some white powdery stuff on their bottoms which I figured is calcium. I also noticed that they have hard lumps just right above their vaginal area. So my question is can a 1 month old Guinea pig get bladder stones?
 
Are they related? It's very rare for piggies so young to get bladder stones but I think it can happen as bladder stones can sadly be genetic although I'm not really sure and I would expect them to be in a lot of pain if they had bladder stones. But hard lumps aren't normal so I'd have them seen by a vet as soon as possible to rule it out
 
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I agree, please have them seen by the vet if you’ve noticed something out of the ordinary. Guinea pigs excrete excess calcium through their urine. What you don’t want is gritty, hard deposits. So perhaps consider their diet as well.
 
Yes they’re sisters. Idk how it could be bladder stones cause their mom and dad both have never had them and I only feed them 2 sprigs of parsley each day with a bit of alfalfa hay
 
Both of these are high in calcium and shouldn’t be fed daily. Once weaned (3-4 weeks I believe) they don’t need alfalfa hay. Parsley should also be restricted to one sprig a week.

The other things that contribute to high calcium in the diet are pellets and water. It’s recommended that you filter the water and limit the pellets to a tablespoon per piggy per day.
 
Have you had a check of the illustrated sexing guide? Illustrated Sexing Guide

I'm just wondering if you're confusing the normal 'sow knob' (as referred to in the guide) with something more sinister... seeing as you can identify the same thing in both pigs? It sits where the penis does in boys - so I guess in humans we might call in something different(!) - but check out the pics and compare with your girls. It also gives you a chance to double-check they are both laydeez!
 
They’re still 4 weeks old and living with their mom. So you they do need extra calcium every day still. They get purified bottle water and they always have. Always have had limited pellets. Plus everywhere else I read says that Guinea pigs need alfalfa hay every day up until they’re 6 months old
 
I already know that they’re females for sure. I know how to sex them. I’m just curious if a 1 month old Guinea pig can get a bladder stone
 
Ik I’ve been giving them a bit too much calcium but Ik they still need more of it cause they’re still just little babies
 
Jaredtkk said:
They’re still 4 weeks old and living with their mom. So you they do need extra calcium every day still. They get purified bottle water and they always have. Always have had limited pellets. Plus everywhere else I read says that Guinea pigs need alfalfa hay every day up until they’re 6 months old
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Thats incorrect. They actually don’t need alfalfa - it’s not a grass hay. The only thing they need is a good grass hay based diet. The extra amount of nutrients they need as youngsters are very small. You don’t need to do overdo things but instead focus on feeding a good grass hay based diet
If you are going to give alfalfa it should only be a very tiny amount, its only supplementary while babies are nursing and also useful for mum while she is feeding the babies - but it does not need to be in the diet at all now they are weaned. Definitely don’t give alfalfa until they are six months old
Parsley should not be fed daily.

Jaredtkk said:
I already know that they’re females for sure. I know how to sex them. I’m just curious if a 1 month old Guinea pig can get a bladder stone
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It would be highly unusual for piggies so young to get stones. Seeing some calcium deposits is normal, provided they aren’t gritty. But if it is happening a lot then you are likely overdoing the calcium too much and therefore increasing the risk of stone formation going forward
 
I don't know for sure about stones - I guess anything is possible?
However - both of them at the same time? That does seem a bit unlikely - hence my other suggestion!

The last time I had a sow with a stone stuck in the urethra (that's what you would be feeling for) she was obviously in a world of pain when peeing: hunching up and chirping, dripping urine and with a wet bottom all the time. She smelt and she'd developed a urinary infection. I don't think you're seeing anything like this...
(NB: She was treated by a very competent vet and she was fine)
 
Jaredtkk said:
Hi guys. I was just looking at my 1 month old female Guinea pigs today and I noticed that that had some white powdery stuff on their bottoms which I figured is calcium. I also noticed that they have hard lumps just right above their vaginal area. So my question is can a 1 month old Guinea pig get bladder stones?
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

No, guinea pigs do not get bladder stones that young. They have to be several months old and be on a very imbalanced diet for stones to happen at a young age.

Guinea pigs naturally excrete calcium in pee (both in a diet that is too high OR too low in calcium), which dries to a white powder; it should not be gritty. Please review your diet and make sure that it correct; by that age, their diet should not contain loads more calcium than a normal adult diet as the actual extra amounts are minute. You can easily cover that extra need by feeding two tablespoons of pellets instead just one per piggy per day until they are max 4 months old. Please filter their water. The fact that they have bad calcium pees is proof that your diet is currently not balanced and likely much too high in calcium than their body needs.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

If it dries on the body, then please check whether they are sitting in their own pee and keep an eye out in case they develop symptoms of a urine infection (UTI) over the coming days.
What bedding are they on and are they indoors or outdoors piggies?

Have you checked whether the 'hard lumps' are actually their nipples? I would strongly recommend to double check the gender of any new piggies anyway.
The first picture in our sexing guide shows you where the nipples are located: Illustrated Sexing Guide
PLEASE take the time to read the links.
 
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