Male guide pig with UTI/ now IC

[Snowflake]

Hello, I have been to vets this am as my neutered boar has been passing blood. I was wondering if any of your male pigs have had the same problem?
His had a x ray and thank god no stone. His lost a tiny bit of weight. The vet has put him on metacam and sulfatrim for a week. He squealed in pain whilst she felt his abdomen. He doesn’t cry or is hunched when weeing. Acting normal eating and drinking and popcorning and zooming around the run.
She said it could be stressed that has caused it as he lost his brother. Paired with a baby but testosterone kicked in and the baby was fighting with him. Then he was neutered and on his own for 6weeks before pairing with the female his with now. And the went out on Monday to live outside for the summer. So a lot going on for him!
He now is on a low calcium diet.

 

[Piggies&buns]

A UTI is usually easily resolved with antibiotics and painkillers. Bugs can take their chance if the immune system is lowered, and stress is an immune system lowering factor.
I would recommend you switch from weekly to daily weight checks so you can be sure he is definitely eating enough hay (you cannot tell by eye). Sometimes antibiotics can upset their appetite so those weight checks are important to enable you to step in with syringe feeding to stop any weight loss if necessary.
Giving a probiotic alongside antibiotics (1-2 hours before or after an antibiotic dose) can help if you find his appetite is affected (it doesn’t occur in every case though).
If things havent improved when the course finishes, then do go back to the vet as sometimes UTIs can take longer course of antibiotics to resolve.
I hope he feels better soon

Make sure, with the heat we are experiencing, that you bring them back indoors for the next few days.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I have been to vets this am as my neutered boar has been passing blood. I was wondering if any of your male pigs have had the same problem?
His had a x ray and thank god no stone. His lost a tiny bit of weight. The vet has put him on metacam and sulfatrim for a week. He squealed in pain whilst she felt his abdomen. He doesn’t cry or is hunched when weeing. Acting normal eating and drinking and popcorning and zooming around the run.
She said it could be stressed that has caused it as he lost his brother. Paired with a baby but testosterone kicked in and the baby was fighting with him. Then he was neutered and on his own for 6weeks before pairing with the female his with now. And the went out on Monday to live outside for the summer. So a lot going on for him!
He now is on a low calcium diet.

Hi

It could have been the move outdoors and the bigger temperature swings that have caused the UTI in a piggy with lowered immune system - being outside on his own may have been frightening for him. In this case, antibiotics should do the trick. Please support him additionally with extra probiotics in case the antibiotic also impacts on the gut microbiome. Switch from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time in order to monitor his food intake.
Our new updated medicating and support feeding guide contains all the necessary information: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

If the antibiotic doesn't do the trick, then please contact us again. There is now increasingly a non-bacterial urinary tract infection around (sterile IC) that affects especially guinea pigs with a nervous disposition but that cannot be cured by antibiotics. we can heplp you further if that is the case.

Please bring your boy indoors again over the coming two days; the outdoors is not a safe place to be in hot weather. This guide here contains lots of practical information and links to plenty of how-to tips on both the cage environment AND keeping the house cooler that in combination really make a quite difference in keeping indoors temperatures down without costing the world.
Hot weather warning for the UK - plan now to keep your piggies safe!

 

[Snowflake]

A UTI is usually easily resolved with antibiotics and painkillers. Bugs can take their chance if the immune system is lowered, and stress is an immune system lowering factor.
I would recommend you switch from weekly to daily weight checks so you can be sure he is definitely eating enough hay (you cannot tell by eye). Sometimes antibiotics can upset their appetite so those weight checks are important to enable you to step in with syringe feeding to stop any weight loss if necessary.
Giving a probiotic alongside antibiotics (1-2 hours before or after an antibiotic dose) can help if you find his appetite is affected (it doesn’t occur in every case though).
If things havent improved when the course finishes, then do go back to the vet as sometimes UTIs can take longer course of antibiotics to resolve.
I hope he feels better soon

Make sure, with the heat we are experiencing, that you bring them back indoors for the next few days.

Thank you for your advice. I have the powdered prebiotic I will sprinkle some on his veg before the antibiotics.
Reguarding the heatwave we are very lucky to have a whole strip of shade the length of the garden which never gets the sun with a cool breeze to. So they are very lucky to be out in the run on the shady area. We sit out there too to cool down.x

 

[Snowflake]

Hi

It could have been the move outdoors and the bigger temperature swings that have caused the UTI in a piggy with lowered immune system - being outside on his own may have been frightening for him. In this case, antibiotics should do the trick. Please support him additionally with extra probiotics in case the antibiotic also impacts on the gut microbiome. Switch from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time in order to monitor his food intake.
Our new updated medicating and support feeding guide contains all the necessary information: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

If the antibiotic doesn't do the trick, then please contact us again. There is now increasingly a non-bacterial urinary tract infection around (sterile IC) that affects especially guinea pigs with a nervous disposition but that cannot be cured by antibiotics. we can heplp you further if that is the case.

Please bring your boy indoors again over the coming two days; the outdoors is not a safe place to be in hot weather. This guide here contains lots of practical information and links to plenty of how-to tips on both the cage environment AND keeping the house cooler that in combination really make a quite difference in keeping indoors temperatures down without costing the world.
Hot weather warning for the UK - plan now to keep your piggies safe!

Thank you for your advice. He is not on his own and is now bonded with a female. His brother had to be put to sleep as he had sterile IC and a bladder stone. He doesn’t cry or hunt him up whilst weeing so I’m praying it’s a infection. We are very lucky to have a large strip of shade the length of our garden that never gets the shade and has a nice cool breeze so they are lucky to go on that when very hot. We also sit there too to cool down.xx

 

[Snowflake]

Thank you all for your advice.
Just a update on blizzard. He started pain meds and antibiotics yesterday. He seems a lot happier in himself now and chasing and playing with his girlfriend. He has prebiotics twice a day. I think his uti had been going on for over a week as he was always wet around his private area and I had to keep washing him. But today his completely dry. I put a puppy pad in his sleeping area and his still bleeding. How long does it take for a uti to stop bleeding and there urine is clear?

 

[Piggies&buns]

It takes a few days before antibiotics properly kick in and really start killing the bacteria

 

[Free Ranger]

What good news that he's feeling a bit better! The dry bits are a good sign... as you noticed they are wet underneath from urine dripping. This is a combination of general inflammation (why he squeaked when the vet felt his bladder) and/or trying to hold it in because it stings to pee but there is a drippy overflow. If he is peeing normally and staying dry it's a sign he's feeling better!

However long he's supposed to be on ABs for you should complete the course or there is a risk that the infection will return. We've had prescriptions between 5 days and 3 weeks but the dose is adjusted accordingly so some pigs have high doses for shorter times and some have lower for longer. Now, what some posters have seen - and what we've seen too - is that occasionally you can finish a course but a few days later the symptoms return. In this case you think about how things have progressed for your pig. If piggy has improved on the antibiotics this is because they are killing bad bacteria. But if the course didn't quite kill off all the troublesome bugs when it finishes the bugs multiply again. A second course of antibiotics - either a different type, or a different dose, or the same for longer, is apparently not that unusual (according to my vet). We've only had to do that once though and in 10 years of UTIs that's pretty good going. So the chances are your little fellow will finish his course and be just fine - well done Blizzard, you've been a brave lad!

 

[Snowflake]

What good news that he's feeling a bit better! The dry bits are a good sign... as you noticed they are wet underneath from urine dripping. This is a combination of general inflammation (why he squeaked when the vet felt his bladder) and/or trying to hold it in because it stings to pee but there is a drippy overflow. If he is peeing normally and staying dry it's a sign he's feeling better!

However long he's supposed to be on ABs for you should complete the course or there is a risk that the infection will return. We've had prescriptions between 5 days and 3 weeks but the dose is adjusted accordingly so some pigs have high doses for shorter times and some have lower for longer. Now, what some posters have seen - and what we've seen too - is that occasionally you can finish a course but a few days later the symptoms return. In this case you think about how things have progressed for your pig. If piggy has improved on the antibiotics this is because they are killing bad bacteria. But if the course didn't quite kill off all the troublesome bugs when it finishes the bugs multiply again. A second course of antibiotics - either a different type, or a different dose, or the same for longer, is apparently not that unusual (according to my vet). We've only had to do that once though and in 10 years of UTIs that's pretty good going. So the chances are your little fellow will finish his course and be just fine - well done Blizzard, you've been a brave lad!

Aww thank you for your advice. I’ve been weighing him everyday as vet said his lost 50g in weight. His stayed 1,200g so far. This am he was 1,100g but I think he had done a wee just be fore I got him out. Will weigh again later. His out on

grass all day. And has soft meadow hay and Timothy hay. His on a low calcium diet so is not happy at having coriander, cucumber, peppers, chicory etc....
His urine yesterday was clear. The vet prescribed sulfratrim and metacam for 1 week. I don’t know if to give him an extra week of the antibiotics will ask my vet. His had a x ray and no stones. He was neutered 2 months ago. His also on probiotics. Xx

 

[Piggies&buns]

Aww thank you for your advice. I’ve been weighing him everyday as vet said his lost 50g in weight. His stayed 1,200g so far. This am he was 1,100g but I think he had done a wee just be fore I got him out. Will weigh again later. His out on

grass all day. And has soft meadow hay and Timothy hay. His on a low calcium diet so is not happy at having coriander, cucumber, peppers, chicory etc....
His urine yesterday was clear. The vet prescribed sulfratrim and metacam for 1 week. I don’t know if to give him an extra week of the antibiotics will ask my vet. His had a x ray and no stones. He was neutered 2 months ago. His also on probiotics. Xx

Can you clarify whether his weight yesterday morning was 1200g but this morning he is 1100g?
If so, that is too much for it to just be a wee - a wee typically weighing around 10g. If he has lost 100g since yesterday then that is an emergency and he needs urgent syringe feeding of mushed pellets or critical care and a vet check by an out of hours vet today. That much weight loss means his hay intake has dramatically and suddenly dropped.

Weight - Monitoring and Management

You should only weigh once a day and at the same time each day. If you weigh more than once a day then you will pick up too much fluctuation which means you will not accurately be able to compare.

 

[Free Ranger]

I don’t know if to give him an extra week of the antibiotics will ask my vet.

You can ask if you like but the chances are he will be clear after the week if that is the vet's original prescription. Esp if his bits are dry already. They do get a bit grumpy if they see the other pig eating things they like but in my experience they like grass more than anything else so if he's got grass he should be feeling cheerful!

 

[Snowflake]

Can you clarify whether his weight yesterday morning was 1200g but this morning he is 1100g?
If so, that is too much for it to just be a wee - a wee typically weighing around 10g. If he has lost 100g since yesterday then that is an emergency and he needs urgent syringe feeding of mushed pellets or critical care and a vet check by an out of hours vet today. That much weight loss means his hay intake has dramatically and suddenly dropped.

Weight - Monitoring and Management

You should only weigh once a day and at the same time each day. If you weigh more than once a day then you will pick up too much fluctuation which means you will not accurately be able to compare.

My fault. My scales needed to be re set properly again. his still 1,200g thank god.x

 

[Snowflake]

You can ask if you like but the chances are he will be clear after the week if that is the vet's original prescription. Esp if his bits are dry already. They do get a bit grumpy if they see the other pig eating things they like but in my experience they like grass more than anything else so if he's got grass he should be feeling cheerful!

His on puppy pads so I can asses his colour wee. His wee is clear but after a while they turn a brown reddish colour? Do puppy pads have chemicals in them?
Also I mentioned to someone else on here today I thought he had lost a 100g but it was my fault the scales needed to be reset again. his 1,200 g and not dropped any weight since Thursday. Yes his out 12 hrs a day on grass and looks at his new veg in disgust but is eating it. Also vet said he had lost50 g of weight but his been neutered 2 months ago and is loving his new girl to the point of lots of chase play and humping so he could have lost that through excersize.
Thank you again.xx

 

[Piggies&buns]

His on puppy pads so I can asses his colour wee. His wee is clear but after a while they turn a brown reddish colour? Do puppy pads have chemicals in them?
Also I mentioned to someone else on here today I thought he had lost a 100g but it was my fault the scales needed to be reset again. his 1,200 g and not dropped any weight since Thursday. Yes his out 12 hrs a day on grass and looks at his new veg in disgust but is eating it. Also vet said he had lost50 g of weight but his been neutered 2 months ago and is loving his new girl to the point of lots of chase play and humping so he could have lost that through excersize.
Thank you again.xx

I'm glad to hear he hasn't lost weight!
Once urine hits the air it oxidises and consequently turn a orange/red/brown colour

 

[Snowflake]

I'm glad to hear he hasn't lost weight!
Once urine hits the air it oxidises and consequently turn a orange/red/brown colour

Thank you.

 

[Snowflake]

I'm glad to hear he hasn't lost weight!
Once urine hits the air it oxidises and consequently turn a orange/red/brown colour

My heart has sank today blizzards urine has been clear so far on the antibiotics but this am there is now traces of blood in the puppy pad. The vet is going to call me sometime today. Don’t know if he needs different antibiotics.... his had a x ray all clear. The next thing the vet suggested was a ultrasound to see if any sludge present and a flush out.
I’m still hoping it’s a uti and it’s being stubborn.
His not dropped no weight and is dry around his private area.
I feel so sad now.

 

[Snowflake]

The vet seeing him at 6.15pm today. She is going to ultrasound him. Said it could be sludge which can be dissolved by a medicine. His not himself today.vet said to give him some calpol today. His had x Ray. All clear no stones.
I don’t know if he needs a different antibiotic his on sulfratrim twice daily and metacam.xx

 

[Snowflake]

So the vet has thrown everything at blizzard tonight. Ultrasound showed no sludge, no masses or nasties, bladder wall normal. Urine has been sent off to be cultured. So his now on a course of cartrophen injections. Cystease twice daily. Metacam twice daily. Sulfratrim twice daily until results from culture come back. Calpol 3 times a day. And on weds collect potassium citrate twice daily. His bladder is still very sore and painful,
My vet has been great with him.
Come on blizzard you can do this.xx

 

[Free Ranger]

Looks like they're trying to identify the cause - we can still hope it's a simple UTI but remember what @Wiebke mentioned in her post

There is now increasingly a non-bacterial urinary tract infection around (sterile IC) that affects especially guinea pigs with a nervous disposition but that cannot be cured by antibiotics. we can heplp you further if that is the case.

Perhaps your vet is trying to eliminate all other possible causes before addressing this possibility. I don't think there is a test for SIC - I think you just have to rule out everything else. If it does turn out to be SIC it will help the experts if you can keep everything in the same thread so they can check the history etc.
Hang in there Blizzard x

 

[Snowflake]

Looks like they're trying to identify the cause - we can still hope it's a simple UTI but remember what @Wiebke mentioned in her post

Perhaps your vet is trying to eliminate all other possible causes before addressing this possibility. I don't think there is a test for SIC - I think you just have to rule out everything else. If it does turn out to be SIC it will help the experts if you can keep everything in the same thread so they can check the history etc.
Hang in there Blizzard x

Thank you. His improved so much over night! I think his responded to the cartrophen injection. His so much more alert. Climbing the hutch for food. Fighting the meds. And his out more and popcorning in the run. Was no blood so far last night or today. his got another 3 week course of those. And cystease capsule half a capsule twice daily.
How he was yesterday I was ready to put him down. He wasn’t eating much and very lethargic. But his changed overnight. His mother had sic, his brother had it. He was put to sleep as he formed a large stone.

 

[Free Ranger]

Wow what a difference! I have not heard of this cartrophen before - on google it said it is given for joint pain (in dogs)?
I wonder whether there is a genetic link for SIC then... I'm so sorry for the loss of his brother. We had a stone op for a boar one time and although he came round he just couldn't pull through afterwards. It's a risk for them

Here's hoping he continues to improve

 

[Snowflake]

Wow what a difference! I have not heard of this cartrophen before - on google it said it is given for joint pain (in dogs)?
I wonder whether there is a genetic link for SIC then... I'm so sorry for the loss of his brother. We had a stone op for a boar one time and although he came round he just couldn't pull through afterwards. It's a risk for them

Here's hoping he continues to improve

Yes so do I his having another injection on Tuesday. His starting potassium citrate today. His bladder is still very sore after 6 days. It may take a few months for his bladder to heal. Since having the injection of cartrophen on Monday his stopped bleeding so I’m wondering if his responding to glucosamine it may be sic? I don’t know....

 

[Snowflake]

The urine culture has come back clear of infection. So have stopped antibiotics.
Vet said it is sterile IC .
His on cystease for 2 months. And vet said give him prebiotic everyday as this helps sterile IC. Potassium citrate for another 4 weeks. Slowly under vet supervision gradually weeing off calpol and reducing metacam.
On low calcium veg.
If he has flare ups the vet will X-ray him as sterile IC the vet said can lead to bladder stones.
Anyone on here good with sterile IC?
Am I doing everything right?
His also having a course of xeno ivermectin. I think the sterile ic has been caused by him having so much stress in his life for the last 5 months.
His got left 3 cartrophen injections he has 1 every week .

 

[Free Ranger]

At least you have a definite diagnosis. And yes, there are members on here with SIC piggies who will be able to advise. I hope he can continue to pick up x
Perhaps you could drop the staff a message if you would like to change the title of your thread from UTI to SIC if you think that's going to be useful? I normally just hit the 'report' button and report myself... don't know if that's right but it's seemed to work!

 

[Piggies&buns]

This guide has a section on feeding piggies with IC and what veggies should be removed, but it’s also about finding what works and doesn’t work for him. Different piggies find different things as triggers of a flare up.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Low calcium, limited amounts of pellets and filtering water is also important.

I will pop IC in the thread title now you have a diagnosis

 

[Snowflake]

This guide has a section on feeding piggies with IC and what veggies should be removed.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Low calcium, limited amounts of pellets and filtering water is also important.

I will pop IC in the thread title now you have a diagnosis

Thank you very much