Discharge on young pigs vaginal area.. help?

[Hnrpiggies]

Hello again.
One of my guinea pigs, about six months old has been displaying some symptoms that I’m starting to get worried about.

Ever since I got her about 4/5 months ago I’ve heard a clicking sound when she breathes. She just breathes different to the others. At first I didn’t know this was something that wasn’t normal but she’s been like that since I got her so I wasn’t too worried because she was otherwise healthy.

she doesn’t let anyone pick her up. I just assumed she was a very nervous and shy piggy but today when I actually managed to get ahold of her she was squeaking like she was in pain. Even when I was being extremely gentle.

She has also started getting very aggressive towards her cage mates. They have enough space so that’s not the cause. She’s been with the other guinea pigs since I got her and has only recently started picking fights with them. Nothing major yet.

ALSO I turned her over to see why she might have been in pain and she had an off discharge all around her lady bits. I can only describe it as looking like flour mixed with milk. Kind of a white/cream colour & wet. I didn’t touch it though. I put her down on my bed because I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable. the discharge wiped off on my bed sheets (how lovely) and I haven’t seen any since.

I have separated her from the others because she was being mean to them. I haven’t seen her drink anything at all today but she was in a cage with 6 other pigs so could’ve just missed it. She’s only eaten a bit of cucumber today too. I haven’t seen her eat hay or pellets but then again she hasn’t lost any weight so she must be eating something.

I also had a phone call appointment with a vet who said something about ‘uterine...’ I didn’t really understand what he said. I have to take her in tomorrow morning to be checked over.

what could it be? How is it treated? Will she be alright or is it likely she can die from this whatever it is?
Thanks!

 

[LMPigs]

Hello, this sounds rather multifaceted and we only have boars so I am certainly not the right person to venture an opinion. However, it sounds like you are doing the right thing by taking her to the vets for a check up and its hopefully a positive sign that she isn't losing weight.

Will keep our paws crossed that the vet visit goes well. Let us know.

 

[LMPigs]

While you are waiting, have you had a look at the following guides:
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello again.
One of my guinea pigs, about six months old has been displaying some symptoms that I’m starting to get worried about.

Ever since I got her about 4/5 months ago I’ve heard a clicking sound when she breathes. She just breathes different to the others. At first I didn’t know this was something that wasn’t normal but she’s been like that since I got her so I wasn’t too worried because she was otherwise healthy.

she doesn’t let anyone pick her up. I just assumed she was a very nervous and shy piggy but today when I actually managed to get ahold of her she was squeaking like she was in pain. Even when I was being extremely gentle.

She has also started getting very aggressive towards her cage mates. They have enough space so that’s not the cause. She’s been with the other guinea pigs since I got her and has only recently started picking fights with them. Nothing major yet.

ALSO I turned her over to see why she might have been in pain and she had an off discharge all around her lady bits. I can only describe it as looking like flour mixed with milk. Kind of a white/cream colour & wet. I didn’t touch it though. I put her down on my bed because I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable. the discharge wiped off on my bed sheets (how lovely) and I haven’t seen any since.

I have separated her from the others because she was being mean to them. I haven’t seen her drink anything at all today but she was in a cage with 6 other pigs so could’ve just missed it. She’s only eaten a bit of cucumber today too. I haven’t seen her eat hay or pellets but then again she hasn’t lost any weight so she must be eating something.

I also had a phone call appointment with a vet who said something about ‘uterine...’ I didn’t really understand what he said. I have to take her in tomorrow morning to be checked over.

what could it be? How is it treated? Will she be alright or is it likely she can die from this whatever it is?
Thanks!

Hi

At 6 months of age your girl is right in the most hormonal phase of the teenage months; some sows can be hit hard while others sail through them seemingly unaffected.
Please only separate if the group is very stressed out. Things will eventually settle down again.

Also be aware that milky pees are the natural way of the body for excreting excess calcium and are nothing to worry about if you filter your water and don't overfeed on pellets (even low calcium ones contain more calcium that any high calcium veg) and if you have your piggies on a reasonable veg diet.
Occasionally in my own experience a cluster of calcium pees can herald the very onset of a cystitis but it can take up to a week for symptoms to solidify and a diagnosis to be made as they would be very hit and miss at the start with bright red porphyrine coloured pees (that may or may not test for blood) interchanging with normal clear pees (that be free of blood or test high on it).
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

Your girl is still a bit too young for serious issues in the reproductive tract to develop. They generally become more common the older a sow gets. Calcium pees are however not related to them.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[Hnrpiggies]

Hi

At 6 months of age your girl is right in the most hormonal phase of the teenage months; some sows can be hit hard while others sail through them seemingly unaffected.
Please only separate if the group is very stressed out. Things will eventually settle down again.

Also be aware that milky pees are the natural way of the body for excreting excess calcium and are nothing to worry about if you filter your water and don't overfeed on pellets (even low calcium ones contain more calcium that any high calcium veg) and if you have your piggies on a reasonable veg diet.
Occasionally in my own experience a cluster of calcium pees can herald the very onset of a cystitis but it can take up to a week for symptoms to solidify and a diagnosis to be made as they would be very hit and miss at the start with bright red porphyrine coloured pees (that may or may not test for blood) interchanging with normal clear pees (that be free of blood or test high on it).
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

Your girl is still a bit too young for serious issues in the reproductive tract to develop. They generally become more common the older a sow gets. Calcium pees are however not related to them.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Thanks, I’m cleaning out their cage today so I’ll make it a bit bigger and put her back in with them.
I haven’t actually seen any of her pee so I don’t know what it looks like.
I’m just getting worried because now she isn’t drinking water or eating much. She has only eaten cucumber and romaine lettuce in the past 48 hours. I know she is getting water from that but I don’t know if it’s enough.

 

[LMPigs]

Is this the same pig you had posted a previous thread about? Did you start weighing her as advised?

80% of the piggies diet is hay and the only way to really tell how much of it they are eating is by regular weigh ins. If her weight is remaining stable you don't need to worry too much about how much you *see* her eating.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks, I’m cleaning out their cage today so I’ll make it a bit bigger and put her back in with them.
I haven’t actually seen any of her pee so I don’t know what it looks like.
I’m just getting worried because now she isn’t drinking water or eating much. She has only eaten cucumber and romaine lettuce in the past 48 hours. I know she is getting water from that but I don’t know if it’s enough.

Hi

Please do not post several threads about the same guinea pig!
You will not get the best help as different people will only snippets and not the whole picture. None of us has so much free time to read every thread on here next to their own piggies, their family life and job.

Switch to weighing daily at the same time and step in with syringe feeding support ASAP to keep your piggy alive for any medication to kick in. 80% of the diet is hay. If your piggy is only eating a little cucumber or lettuce then that is in the way of having a glass or two of lemonade. Unlike humans, piggies can't fast and wait for several days without food! Make sure that you have her seen ideally tonight or latest tomorrow morning and start support feeding NOW!
You can find all the necessary tips (including how to improvise) in here: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

 

[Hnrpiggies]

Hi

Please do not post several threads about the same guinea pig!
You will not get the best help as different people will only snippets and not the whole picture. None of us has so much free time to read every thread on here next to their own piggies, their family life and job.

Switch to weighing daily at the same time and step in with syringe feeding support ASAP to keep your piggy alive for any medication to kick in. 80% of the diet is hay. If your piggy is only eating a little cucumber or lettuce then that is in the way of having a glass or two of lemonade. Unlike humans, piggies can't fast and wait for several days without food! Make sure that you have her seen ideally tonight or latest tomorrow morning and start support feeding NOW!
You can find all the necessary tips (including how to improvise) in here: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

I’ve never posted about this guinea pig before. I’ve only posted about the pregnant one. I have 9 guinea pigs in total. 2 of which are about 6 months old.

When I put her back in with the other girls, she started eating normally again. She also seems completely fine now. Has not had any more discharge and doesn’t seem to be in pain when picked up. Keeps pop corning. I only separated her because I thought she was in pain and wanted to be left alone. Her breathing is still odd but it’s been that way since I got her.

I had to reschedule the vets appointment to tomorrow evening because I would’ve had to walk 4.5 miles in the rain with her where she would be exposed to cold/wet weather for over an hour. She seems fine now so I might just ask for a general health check rather than an intense examination.

 

[Hnrpiggies]

Is this the same pig you had posted a previous thread about? Did you start weighing her as advised?

80% of the piggies diet is hay and the only way to really tell how much of it they are eating is by regular weigh ins. If her weight is remaining stable you don't need to worry too much about how much you *see* her eating.

no. I haven’t ever posted about this one before. I do have 9 guinea pigs. since I last weighed her (About 10 days ago - 815g) she’s gained about 50g - weighed last night. Now 861g.

 

[Wiebke]

I’ve never posted about this guinea pig before. I’ve only posted about the pregnant one. I have 9 guinea pigs in total. 2 of which are about 6 months old.

When I put her back in with the other girls, she started eating normally again. She also seems completely fine now. Has not had any more discharge and doesn’t seem to be in pain when picked up. Keeps pop corning. I only separated her because I thought she was in pain and wanted to be left alone. Her breathing is still odd but it’s been that way since I got her.

I had to reschedule the vets appointment to tomorrow evening because I would’ve had to walk 4.5 miles in the rain with her where she would be exposed to cold/wet weather for over an hour. She seems fine now so I might just ask for a general health check rather than an intense examination.

Thank you very much for clearing that up! We not rarely have members posting multiple threads about the same case; and it can lead to us missing a crucial bit of information or posting confusing advice. I am currently very busy with my day job, so don't have time to do a lot of digging around.

Hopefully nothing major is wrong if she is still popcorning. Separation should be avoided if at all possible but especially with younger piggies. If you have more than 3 sows living together always consider quarantining with a 'paw holding companion' and also take them to the vet with one. Single separation is such a huge stress factor for them.

What you need to be alert about in terms of sows is mucus discharge, swelling or bleeding from the anus (not red pees); this is usually a sign that something serious is wrong in the reproductive tract (womb or ovarian cysts) but it generally only happens adult to older sows.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)