Dark coloured urine

[Shellza]

I've noticed one of my guys has a brownish coloured urine. What could this be a sign of? Does it require urgent veterinary treatment?
I don't know how long it has been like this, but I have seen it before and just assumed it was from eating red peppers. The only thing they have eaten that may have changed the colour is a small amount of carrot, but I wouldn't have thought it was enough to change it.

Thanks for any help.
x

 

[2280CLAIRE]

Is it that colour after it has dried? Because their urine does go a rusty colour when it oxidises...

 

[Shellza]

No, it was fresh :{

 

[Haveyougotaguineapig?]

i know i fed my guinea pig ALOT of red capicum (bell peppers naughty me) and that night his pee was light pink. but this morning his pee is fine and he stayed normal. But if you think it is unusual i know Cranberry juice helps with extra sugar on anything helps(sorry I'm bad at explaining) but if that doesnt work or you are very concerned i would take him to the vet. Hope this helped-c

 

[Shellza]

I'm just a bit worried as I think this pig could have a problem. I'm just trying to find out what could be wrong with him. I have him on a sugar restricted diet at the moment as I want to get a urine sample to take to the vets to check for diabetes etc and I just wanted to know if this could be a sign of anything else that I should be aware of that could be causing his symptoms.

 

[Wiebke]

It could have to do with what you are feeding. Check that your piggy in question is getting enough fluid.

Alternatively, it could signify a build up of (rather harmless) bacteria that flourish because the immune system is or has been lowered. Have your piggy checked for blood in the urine. Claire W had problems with one of her girls having bouts of this intensely coloured urinelast year, in her case it was usually connected to UTI/a small amount of blood in the urine.

 

[Shellza]

This is the same pig that I have mentioned early that I was worried about because of rapid weight loss and excessive drinking. I'll get a urine sample off him and take it into the vets next week to get it checked out.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Claire W]

Wiebke is correct. My Eliza had rusty coloured urine and after urine samples and spinning of the urine, it turned out that Eliza had blood in her urine and s small amount of crystals. She was prescribed a long course of Septrin and touch wood, we haven't had any problems since x

 

[Shellza]

Thanks Claire. That's pretty much a description of what his was like. I'll get a sample off him on Monday and will take it into the vets. Thank you

 

[Claire W]

Good luck and please do let us know how you get on x

 

[flintstones]

The only thing they have eaten that may have changed the colour is a small amount of carrot, but I wouldn't have thought it was enough to change it.

Thanks for any help.
x

If you are doing a restricted diet to check for Diabetes, you should not been feeding him Carrot due to the Sugar levels.

Dry feed also can contain sugar and colourants, what dry feed are you feeding?

Please make sure the urine sample is no more than 4 hours old as that can affect results.

 

[Shellza]

I'm feeding Burgess Excel pellets so that shouldn't be a problem, I'm starting to think it may not be diabetes now anyway, but I'll ask the vet if there is anything unusual. I'll be taking the sample before they have there afternoon veggies too. I'll collect one today and take it in. Thank you all for your help

 

[Claire W]

Remember to keep the urine in the fridge until you are ready to go Good luck, I can't say I miss collecting urine samples rolleyes

 

[Shellza]

Hows the best way to go about it? I've put him in a separate cage with no bedding. Shall I just wait until he goes then syringe it into a container? That's the only way I can think of doing it.

 

[Claire W]

yes, when I did mine, I put Eliza in to their empty pet carrier which was plastic and sat and waited. When she finally had one, I just sucked it up in to a syringe and put in to a clean tub. If you do not have a tub, you can always just take the urine in the syringe.

If your boy needs a few sample taken, I am sure your vet will provide you with the things you need. My vet provided me with new, empty medicine bottles and syringes free of charge.

 

[Glynis]

Hows the best way to go about it? I've put him in a separate cage with no bedding. Shall I just wait until he goes then syringe it into a container? That's the only way I can think of doing it.

Hi i have been thru this now for nearly a year.....it's not always easy, i have found the easiest and less stressful is to feed the piggie or give piggie a drink via syringe, put back into their house and monitor their movements and then 'suck up via syringe' but if this is too hard cause they do tend to hide away, i have a clean box with clean paper and hay in it, i then offer food and water then pop piggie into that container, for some reason my girl prefers to have hay under her (if i try the carrier trick she holds on - or runs out of it and then pees LOL- she has done this at the vets twice!) i then quickly with a clean sterile syringe suck up the wee and yes it has to be refrigerated ...... if you can put into a sterile bag too so no smells affect either.

GOOD LUCK xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
you will find a way that suits you both.......it takes a little time but i now know when i can guarantee on a sample......devious slave

 

[Shellza]

I've just come back from the vets and they did a quick dipstick analysis and said that they couldn't find any abnormalities there *phew*. Only problem is now I have no idea why he lost so much weight in the first place :{