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Help Please :(

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Beans&Toast

Beans&Toast

Adult Guinea Pig
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I had the pigs at the vet tonight because Toast has put on quite a lot of weight over the space of 2 weeks, despite absolutely no changes of their diet, I've not fed them more or anything new so there's no obvious reason to put on weight. I always watch them eat and finish their veg and there's no change in her eating habits.

The vet had a feel around Toasts tummy and as soon as she started prodding lightly, Toast went absolutely crazy, tried to bite the vet and just would not allow her to feel her tummy. This is EXTREMELY unusual for Toast, she never bites and is never aggressive, in fact she's quite a quiet nervous pig but she was clearly in a lot of pain/distress.

The vet wants to get an xray done of Toast to see why she'd be putting on so much weight despite no changes to diet. I'm absolutely terrified and my mind is going into overdrive as to what it could be. I feel sick.:(


She'd also like me to get a urine sample from both pigs, as there has been an awful lot of sludgy pee.
Firstly, what's the best way to get a urine sample from guinea pigs...?

And secondly, she mentioned giving them a little bit of cranberry juice.
Should this be given stright or mixed with water?

She probably told me how to do this but to be honest as soon as she mentioned Toast needing an xray I just panicked and wasn't really listening properly.. :(
 
Ok, I know it's a bit scary but hopefully the X-Ray can eliminate any nasty things and help the vet work out what's best to do.... There's obviously something going on as Toast is so out of sorts and obviously uncomfortable with being touched in certain areas so it definitely needs investigating.

Urine samples can be tricky but what you need to do is make sure your piggy (one at a time) has had plenty to drink or wet food, you can even syringe them some water... then sit them in a clean and dry plastic basin or box and wait for them to wee.... This can be a bit of a test of patience! Then you need to transfer the urine into the sample bottle. Make sure you don't use anything that could introduce material that affects the testing so a new, clean syringe or similar is ideal. Then repeat for the second piggy (with a newly dry, clean container to avoid cross-contamination). Others may have other techniques they can share.

For cranberry juice, use the reduced/low sugar ones if possible and you can mix it with water or syringe them some. Don't mix it with their drinking water as it can stop them from drinking as much as they would from a plain bottle so always give it separately. If your vet is concerned about urinary symptoms then making sure they drink plenty of water is important.

I can't remember when you got the girls but the other obvious thought to me is that is there any chance at all that Toast could be pregnant? It would account for the rapid weight gain and discomfort and grumpiness when being handled... I am sure your vet will check all options and then let you know what your treatment options are.

Good luck and try not to worry too much. I know it's easier said than done!
 
I started this thread when I was taking a urine sample ...


https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-to-the-vet-this-morning.134542/#post-1842333


it may give you some ideas
 
MerryPip said:
Ok, I know it's a bit scary but hopefully the X-Ray can eliminate any nasty things and help the vet work out what's best to do.... There's obviously something going on as Toast is so out of sorts and obviously uncomfortable with being touched in certain areas so it definitely needs investigating.

Urine samples can be tricky but what you need to do is make sure your piggy (one at a time) has had plenty to drink or wet food, you can even syringe them some water... then sit them in a clean and dry plastic basin or box and wait for them to wee.... This can be a bit of a test of patience! Then you need to transfer the urine into the sample bottle. Make sure you don't use anything that could introduce material that affects the testing so a new, clean syringe or similar is ideal. Then repeat for the second piggy (with a newly dry, clean container to avoid cross-contamination). Others may have other techniques they can share.

For cranberry juice, use the reduced/low sugar ones if possible and you can mix it with water or syringe them some. Don't mix it with their drinking water as it can stop them from drinking as much as they would from a plain bottle so always give it separately. If your vet is concerned about urinary symptoms then making sure they drink plenty of water is important.

I can't remember when you got the girls but the other obvious thought to me is that is there any chance at all that Toast could be pregnant? It would account for the rapid weight gain and discomfort and grumpiness when being handled... I am sure your vet will check all options and then let you know what your treatment options are.

Good luck and try not to worry too much. I know it's easier said than done!
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. I know I'm probably overreacting but I cannot stand the thought that something wrong with her and it's heart breaking seeing her so distressed.

I've had them around a year now so definitely not pregnant.
Could it be a tumour or something? I know I'm thinking the worst
 
Beans&Toast said:
I've got cucumber, I'll try this.

Only thing is I don't have a syringe.
The only thing I have in the house to use, unless I go out and buy a syringe, is little travel sized bottles for putting shampoo etc in. Would these do?
Click to expand...


I'm surprised your vet didn't supply you with a specimen bottle.

It is easier to use a syringe - as you can just draw the urine up. If you don't have a syringe, a clean bottle will have to do
 
PiggyOwner said:
I'm surprised your vet didn't supply you with a specimen bottle.

It is easier to use a syringe - as you can just draw the urine up. If you don't have a syringe, a clean bottle will have to do
Click to expand...
I was as well, especially as it's a very highly recommended vets.

In fact I do have a syringe, it's the ones that come with kids calpol. I'll use that to put it in a bottle.

Thank you
 
You have to take the urine sample within an hour or so of taking it, so do the sample just before you go to the vets :) I have loads of sterile syringes, the vets always gives me a ton of them. Just ask for them next visit :)
 
Beans&Toast said:
Thank you so much. I know I'm probably overreacting but I cannot stand the thought that something wrong with her and it's heart breaking seeing her so distressed.

I've had them around a year now so definitely not pregnant.
Could it be a tumour or something? I know I'm thinking the worst
Click to expand...
Ok, not pregnant then but it was the first thing that jumped out at me... It could be a multitude of things which is why the vet wants a urine sample as well as an X-ray. Sounds like they are concerned initially about bladder things which could include but is not limited to: UTI, Interstitial cystitis, bladder sludge, bladder stone or tumour.

Abdomen wise if it's not bladder related it could be lots of things. Obviously tumour is an option but there are lots of other things too so try not to worry...
 
It can be a number of things that can cause the sudden weight. An x-ray will hopefully bring clarity as what you are dealing with. Speculating now will only give you worse nightmares!

Generally urine samples should be as fresh as possible, ideally not older than half an hour, otherwise they can give misleading readings in some aspects. Normally, the vet would express the bladder during the consultation, but as Beans is so sensitive in that area, it is kinder on her if you take a sample at home; that is why you have been asked to it that way.
Best sit her on a plastic surface after a meal so you can suck up any pee and then wait and wait... Keep the pee sample in the fridge until you set off and ask the receptionist to put it in her fridge straight away. I hope that you have been given a little medicine bottle?
 
Wiebke said:
It can be a number of things that can cause the sudden weight. An x-ray will hopefully bring clarity as what you are dealing with. Speculating now will only give you worse nightmares!

Generally urine samples should be as fresh as possible, ideally not older than half an hour, otherwise they can give misleading readings in some aspects. Normally, the vet would express the bladder during the consultation, but as Beans is so sensitive in that area, it is kinder on her if you take a sample at home; that is why you have been asked to it that way.
Best sit her on a plastic surface after a meal so you can suck up any pee and then wait and wait... Keep the pee sample in the fridge until you set off and ask the receptionist to put it in her fridge straight away. I hope that you have been given a little medicine bottle?
Click to expand...

Thank you :nod:
I wasn't given a bottle, which now that I think about it I'm surprised at as it's a very good, highly recommended vets. Maybe I was meant to ask for one at reception but I was in that much of a panic I didn't think (I almost walked out without paying!) I'll phone tomorrow and get one organised, luckily the vets is only a 5 minute walk from my house so I can go get it, back home and wait patiently for some pee, then run back down to the vets with it.

I know I shouldn't be thinking the worst, I don't even know whats wrong yet so there's no point worrying, but that's easier said than done :(
 
Have you never been given the 1ml syringes that come in packets? I use those for wee samples, the syringe is sterile, suck up the wee & just pop it back into the packet & then drop it in at the vets :)
 
Beans&Toast said:
Thank you :nod:
I wasn't given a bottle, which now that I think about it I'm surprised at as it's a very good, highly recommended vets. Maybe I was meant to ask for one at reception but I was in that much of a panic I didn't think (I almost walked out without paying!) I'll phone tomorrow and get one organised, luckily the vets is only a 5 minute walk from my house so I can go get it, back home and wait patiently for some pee, then run back down to the vets with it.

I know I shouldn't be thinking the worst, I don't even know whats wrong yet so there's no point worrying, but that's easier said than done :(
Click to expand...

Normally, your vet would not ask you to bring in a urine sample, so there is probably not a routine for it and you forgot to ask. Best get one from the vets if they are so close by or get one from your local pharmacy.

It is very difficult to keep your worries and nightmares under wrap; this phase is in some ways the worst. Once you know what is up, you can deal with it, as good or as bad as it is - and as your mind has probably played through all the worst case scenarios by then, any diagnosis is welcome!
Try to be strong for Beans and try to concentrate on sending her healing vibes whenever you find your mind going in a vicious circle. You can't change what is going on, but you can send her your love to make things easier for her.
 
Hugs xx
It's so worrying when one of your fur babies is unwell. Your chemists can sell you syringes or you can get them from the vets (foc).
Please try not to fear the worst or to torment yourself - trust your vets to get to the bottom of the problem.
Hugs to your girlies.
 
Managed to get a sample from both piggies this morning.
Had to improvise and put one in the sink basin and the other in the washing basket (fully washed before using)
It involved a lot of waiting about and a fair bit if cucumber but we got there.
The samples have been dropped off at the vet, and now we wait...

They just looked so bewildered by the whole thing.:blink:

20160317_094711.webp

"Why have you done this to us, Mother?"
 
So the vet just phoned with the results if the urine sample.
Beans was fine, slight calcium but nothing to be worried about.
Toast's pee was very dilute so she's going to prescribe antibiotics and probiotics to treat a urine infection.

Does this sound right to everyone? Not that I'm questioning the vet whatsoever, I'm just looking to see if people think this sounds right to them.
Another thing, when I got Toasts sample, she had done a few poos, which had been sitting in the pee. Does this make a difference to the pee?
 
Sounds fair to me.... It's not always the case that an infection is definitely obvious from a sample (just like in people) and as she is displaying clinical signs of UTI it's not unreasonable to prescribe antibiotics to clear up anything that might be lurking there... the probiotics will help keep her tummy right whilst she finishes the course. Make sure she has all the doses as antibiotics are not effective if not and it can increase the chances of antibiotic resistance in the future.

Are you still having an x-ray?
 
I'm glad that Beans is fine.
When you say Toast's is dilute, do you mean the wee itself is diluted or do you mean he has dilute blood in it?
Dilute wee perhaps indicates he's drinking a lot? If so this would likely help with a bladder infection.

Treatment with antibiotics is common for bladder infections. May I ask which antibiotic has been prescribed? I'm no expert on these matters, but others would be able to tell you if it's a good one to be using or not :)
 
MerryPip said:
Sounds fair to me.... It's not always the case that an infection is definitely obvious from a sample (just like in people) and as she is displaying clinical signs of UTI it's not unreasonable to prescribe antibiotics to clear up anything that might be lurking there... the probiotics will help keep her tummy right whilst she finishes the course. Make sure she has all the doses as antibiotics are not effective if not and it can increase the chances of antibiotic resistance in the future.

Are you still having an x-ray?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the antibiotics they are I will ask tomorrow morning about them when I go pick them up.
Toast's pee was dilute as in she's drinking too much water..
Toast has always drank quite a lot more water than Beans and has done since I got them a year ago.

I was told to give the medication for a week I believe, then get another urine sample to see if there's been a change.
If there's no change I believe that is when the xray would be done. Does this sound accurate?

Is there anything I can expect to happen to Toast whilst on the antibiotics? Is she going to go off her food or act differently?
I'm so worried for her I feel sick :(
 
Beans&Toast said:
I'm not sure what the antibiotics they are I will ask tomorrow morning about them when I go pick them up.
Toast's pee was dilute as in she's drinking too much water..
Toast has always drank quite a lot more water than Beans and has done since I got them a year ago.

I was told to give the medication for a week I believe, then get another urine sample to see if there's been a change.
If there's no change I believe that is when the xray would be done. Does this sound accurate?

Is there anything I can expect to happen to Toast whilst on the antibiotics? Is she going to go off her food or act differently?
I'm so worried for her I feel sick :(
Click to expand...

Antibiotics can act as appetite dampeners or killers as they don't just address the bad bacteria but also the good ones in the guts. However, it is very individual how guinea pigs react. Most actually don't, but some can show a strong reaction. If Bean has the second, then please contact the vets promptly. We naturally see more problem cases on here than are representative. Baytril is usually the worst when it comes to side effect, but even with that, the majority of piggies don't have any problems. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Antibiotics can act as appetite dampeners or killers as they don't just address the bad bacteria but also the good ones in the guts. However, it is very individual how guinea pigs react. Most actually don't, but some can show a strong reaction. If Bean has the second, then please contact the vets promptly. We naturally see more problem cases on here than are representative. Baytril is usually the worst when it comes to side effect, but even with that, the majority of piggies don't have any problems. ;)
Click to expand...
I've been given a probiotic also, not sure which one. But will this help her so she doesn't go off her food?
 
Beans&Toast said:
I've been given a probiotic also, not sure which one. But will this help her so she doesn't go off her food?
Click to expand...

The probiotic can help to bolster the guts. Give a pinch 1-2 hours after the antibiotic for best effect. It doesn't really matter which brand.
 
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