Intermittent straining

[Char.wilson]

Hi Everyone,

I posted a while back about my guinea pig Dougie who seemed to be having some bladder issues. He originally had very dark urine (no blood though) that often had calcium deposits in it (no grits). He has been thoroughly checked over by the vets and we are sure its not stones, an infection or parasites. As such the advice from this forum, which I am very grateful for, was to start treating him for sterile cystitis. I talked this through with the vet and he has been on Gabapentin (0.18 ml twice daily) and cystease tablets to try help him with the inflammation for about two months now. On this treatment plan he has very much improved with his urine back to normal and the straining much reduced.

That being said he is still straining occasionally but I have noticed its only when he is doing a poop he wants to eat. He is currently straining once every 1-2 days but never when urinating or just pooping normally, its only ever when he wants to eat what he is producing. The straining also doesn't seem to be that intense with no squeaking or teeth chattering. This has me scratting my head a little and I was wondering if anyone has come across this? or if his treatment needs to be altered at all? Is this normal for piggies with cystitis or is there something wrong with his diet? He currently gets lettuce (Romaine or gem) and cucumber daily with occasional treats (pepper, carrot or spinach), pellets and constant access to timothy hay. Furthermore he is just over 3 now so I was wondering if this was normal for older male piggies? I have been checking him to make sure its not impaction.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Everyone,

I posted a while back about my guinea pig Dougie who seemed to be having some bladder issues. He originally had very dark urine (no blood though) that often had calcium deposits in it (no grits). He has been thoroughly checked over by the vets and we are sure its not stones, an infection or parasites. As such the advice from this forum, which I am very grateful for, was to start treating him for sterile cystitis. I talked this through with the vet and he has been on Gabapentin (0.18 ml twice daily) and cystease tablets to try help him with the inflammation for about two months now. On this treatment plan he has very much improved with his urine back to normal and the straining much reduced.

That being said he is still straining occasionally but I have noticed its only when he is doing a poop he wants to eat. He is currently straining once every 1-2 days but never when urinating or just pooping normally, its only ever when he wants to eat what he is producing. The straining also doesn't seem to be that intense with no squeaking or teeth chattering. This has me scratting my head a little and I was wondering if anyone has come across this? or if his treatment needs to be altered at all? Is this normal for piggies with cystitis or is there something wrong with his diet? He currently gets lettuce (Romaine or gem) and cucumber daily with occasional treats (pepper, carrot or spinach), pellets and constant access to timothy hay. Furthermore he is just over 3 now so I was wondering if this was normal for older male piggies? I have been checking him to make sure its not impaction.

Thanks in advance!

Hi

I would rather look at something that is impeding or impacting on his body mobility when bending or the exit area when he is in that particular position and is either making it a bit more difficult to push out poos or is making it a bit more painful.

I wouldn't think that it is neither food or infection related if the poos are normal and there is no straining unless he is picking up a poo from his anus.

 

[Char.wilson]

Hi

I would rather look at something that is impeding or impacting on his body mobility when bending or the exit area when he is in that particular position and is either making it a bit more difficult to push out poos or is making it a bit more painful.

I wouldn't think that it is neither food or infection related if the poos are normal and there is no straining unless he is picking up a poo from his anus.

He has had an x-ray which indicated no form of arthritis and aside from this he is very active - a lot of running and jumping so doesn't seem to have any other mobility issues and his poop has been normal in consistency. I have also looked at it being impaction which was a very smelly job but everything seems okay with only a little hair stuck which I cleared away.

I am wondering if I keep him on the anti-inflammatory meds and see if it fully clears up? I don't know what else to do as he has had multiple vet checks all of which have said he seems okay (one did say his bladder was a bit tender hence the anti-inflammatory meds). His weight has been constant and he doesn't seem at all lethargic. Could this just be its getting a bit harder as he is getting a bit older? The only other thing I could consider is if it is sterile cystitis maybe bending in that one specific way is uncomfortable but it doesn't bother him the rest of the time?

I suppose what I am asking is does this need any further investigation or is this just his new "normal" as he is getting a bit older?

 

[Wiebke]

He has had an x-ray which indicated no form of arthritis and aside from this he is very active - a lot of running and jumping so doesn't seem to have any other mobility issues and his poop has been normal in consistency. I have also looked at it being impaction which was a very smelly job but everything seems okay with only a little hair stuck which I cleared away.

I am wondering if I keep him on the anti-inflammatory meds and see if it fully clears up? I don't know what else to do as he has had multiple vet checks all of which have said he seems okay (one did say his bladder was a bit tender hence the anti-inflammatory meds). His weight has been constant and he doesn't seem at all lethargic. Could this just be its getting a bit harder as he is getting a bit older? The only other thing I could consider is if it is sterile cystitis maybe bending in that one specific way is uncomfortable but it doesn't bother him the rest of the time?

I suppose what I am asking is does this need any further investigation or is this just his new "normal" as he is getting a bit older?

My suspicion is that bending in that specific way is for some reason uncomfortable for him. Any semen rods in the penis shaft or smegma build up should have shown up as well by now.

However, the instinct to eat poos for a second run through the gut is a very strong one and older piggies will prefer to pick them up straight from the source rather than turning around to look for them on the ground while still fresh.

You can try and see whether your meds do make a difference.

Sterile IC flares usually come with squeaking when peeing and pooing and they die down. It just doesn't quite fit that pattern.