Guinea pig bum swollen?

[Fifi's piggies]

My sow went to the vets on friday after I noticed her peeing blood and seeming like she was in pain while peeing. She has since been on antibiotics and painkillers for a UTI. She's seemed okay but just today I noticed her bum looking extremely swollen and dirty. I haven't noticed this before and she has been pooping normally. Will most likely be taking her for another check up anyway but anyone know why/what this could be?

 

[Wiebke]

My sow went to the vets on friday after I noticed her peeing blood and seeming like she was in pain while peeing. She has since been on antibiotics and painkillers for a UTI. She's seemed okay but just today I noticed her bum looking extremely swollen and dirty. I haven't noticed this before and she has been pooping normally. Will most likely be taking her for another check up anyway but anyone know why/what this could be?

Hi and welcome

That looks very sore indeed and should be vet checked. Please give her a gentle bath in baby warm water as part of it looks like urine scald. Your vet will hopefully prescribe flamazine cream for that.

Please make sure that you clean her gently daily with a soft rag and that you also clean the area she is sitting/sleeping in at least once or twice daily and replace any bedding.
The practical care tips in this thread can also be applied for guinea pigs with a bad urine infection or problems with the reproductive tract.

 

[Fifi's piggies]

Hi and welcome

That looks very sore indeed and should be vet checked. Please give her a gentle bath in baby warm water as part of it looks like urine scald. Your vet will hopefully prescribe flamazine cream for that.

Please make sure that you clean her gently daily with a soft rag and that you also clean the area she is sitting/sleeping in at least once or twice daily and replace any bedding.
The practical care tips in this thread can also be applied for guinea pigs with a bad urine infection or problems with the reproductive tract.

Thank you! Will be taking her to the vets again asap. This piggy has really been in the wars lately

 

[Wiebke]

Sorry, I forgot to parse in the mobility care link: Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
The tips in the guide also work for any piggy not being well and not moving around lots; guinea pigs with strong urination/infection fluid are also at an increased risk of complications. I hope that the practical tips will help you.

If the antibiotic isn't working, the urinary tract is free of stones/sludge and the reproductive tract is fine, then your vet may look at a sterile interstitial cystitis, similar to a FSC (feline sterile cystitis). It is generally characterised by the presence of blood in the urine but a lower than expected bacterial count unlike a UTI, which is a bacterial urine infection caused by faecal bacteria getting into the urinary tract. Most piggies have some faecal bacteria in theirs because the tiny scent gland is located straight in front of the genitalia so bum wiping is a regular territorial behaviour in both genders. However, UTI can take over in piggies with a weak or lowered immune system.

 

[Fifi's piggies]

Sorry, I forgot to parse in the mobility care link: Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
The tips in the guide also work for any piggy not being well and not moving around lots; guinea pigs with strong urination/infection fluid are also at an increased risk of complications. I hope that the practical tips will help you.

If the antibiotic isn't working, the urinary tract is free of stones/sludge and the reproductive tract is fine, then your vet may look at a sterile interstitial cystitis, similar to a FSC (feline sterile cystitis). It is generally characterised by the presence of blood in the urine but a lower than expected bacterial count unlike a UTI, which is a bacterial urine infection caused by faecal bacteria getting into the urinary tract. Most piggies have some faecal bacteria in theirs because the tiny scent gland is located straight in front of the genitalia so bum wiping is a regular territorial behaviour in both genders. However, UTI can take over in piggies with a weak or lowered immune system.

Thank you again! Her mobility seems regular at the moment, although she is getting slightly older now so she doesn't run around much. I will be cleaning the area daily and keeping a close eye on her. Hopefully the vets sort her out

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you again! Her mobility seems regular at the moment, although she is getting slightly older now so she doesn't run around much. I will be cleaning the area daily and keeping a close eye on her. Hopefully the vets sort her out

PS: If you are interested, here is our information and care collection for older piggies (a useful one ofr bookmarking) Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

 

[Fifi's piggies]

PS: If you are interested, here is our information and care collection for older piggies (a useful one ofr bookmarking) Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

Thank you so much