Metacam

[Bonjour]

My piggy has blood in her urine. Took her to the Vet who prescribed Metacam and anti stress tablets. I'm struggling to understand how Metacam will solve this problem and I am absolutely certain she is not at all stressed. She's still eating , drinking , sprightly but why isn't she on antibiotics? I've been told to take her back next week if it doesn't improve. I'm so very worried she has the wrong meds. Is there anything else I can buy?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Metacam is one of the right medications for her to be on - it is an anti-inflammatory painkiller and essential for a UTI.

Was her urine tested for the presence of bacteria?
If she has bacteria then an antibiotic is needed.

Anti-stress. If she does not have bacteria (or has just low levels of them) and has a history of recurrent UTI symptoms, then there is a condition which is called sterile interstitial cystitis. It is not bacterial so antibiotics won’t help, and it is thought to be caused by stress. However it is diagnosed by excluding all other bladder issues (bacterial infection, stones etc) first. It cannot be cured and instead treated by long term painkillers and glucosamine supplements.

There is nothing you can buy in the case of a bacterial infection, the vet needs to prescribe antibiotics.

 

[Bonjour]

Metacam is one of the right medications for her to be on - it is an anti-inflammatory painkiller and essential for a UTI.

Was her urine tested for the presence of bacteria?
If she has bacteria then an antibiotic is needed.

Anti-stress. If she does not have bacteria (or has just low levels of them) and has a history of recurrent UTI symptoms, then there is a condition which is called sterile interstitial cystitis. It is not bacterial so antibiotics won’t help, and it is thought to be caused by stress. However it is diagnosed by excluding all other bladder issues (bacterial infection, stones etc) first. It cannot be cured and instead treated by long term painkillers and glucosamine supplements.

There is nothing you can buy in the case of a bacterial infection, the vet needs to prescribe antibiotics.

Thank you. Her urine wasn't tested , it seemed to be a very basic check. I just couldn't understand why they gave me Metacam rather than antibiotics but you've explained it. I just hope it works.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you. Her urine wasn't tested , it seemed to be a very basic check. I just couldn't understand why they gave me Metacam rather than antibiotics but you've explained it. I just hope it works.

How long has she been displaying symptoms?
Has she had anything like this happen before?

In the case of a bacterial infection then metacam alone won’t be enough (it won’t kill the bacteria) but if her symptoms aren’t yet consistent then the vet may just be waiting to see if things firm up. It can take several days before the signs of a UTI become consistent enough to be diagnosed.
With that said, a lot of vets would prescribe antibiotics straight off. That is unless your piggy does have a consistent history of this kind of thing with antibiotics not working previously meaning an IC diagnosis may be more likely

 

[Bonjour]

How long has she been displaying symptoms?
Has she had anything like this happen before?

In the case of a bacterial infection then metacam alone won’t be enough (it won’t kill the bacteria) but if her symptoms aren’t yet consistent then the vet may just be waiting to see if things firm up. It can take several days before the signs of a UTI become consistent enough to be diagnosed.
With that said, a lot of vets would prescribe antibiotics straight off. That is unless your piggy does have a consistent history of this kind of thing with antibiotics not working previously meaning an IC diagnosis may be more likely

Just a couple of days but it happened two weeks ago. I thought it was dye from the food as it only happened I once. She is not peeing blood everytime, it was clear last night ( had her on a white towel ) but I can see blood in her cage this morning.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Just a couple of days but it happened two weeks ago. I thought it was dye from the food as it only happened I once. She is not peeing blood everytime, it was clear last night ( had her on a white towel ) but I can see blood in her cage this morning.

So, pink urine does not necessarily contain blood, it can be porphyrins which is a natural dye which can be present at the onset of bladder conditions. Equally, seemingly clear urine can test positive for blood.
Blood is distinctive as it dries brown and tends to separate out from the urine as it dries

 

[Bonjour]

Yea it's definitely blood.

 

[Wiebke]

Yea it's definitely blood.

Symptoms can take several days to become consistent at the start of any infection in the urinary tract, whether that is a urine infection caused by faecal bacteria (UTI) or a sterile/non-bacterial cystitis.

In both cases, it is usually porphyrin and not blood you see in coloured urine in the early stages of weither infection. Seemingly clear urine can hold a lot more blood than you'd think and can actually test high for it while very red 'bloody' urine can came back clear - I have got those t-shirts myself. Real fresh blood you usually associate more with damage to the bladder walls or the urethra from a stone.

Right now it is more of a waiting game with not much to go on for your vet.

 

[Bonjour]

Symptoms can take several days to become consistent at the start of any infection in the urinary tract, whether that is a urine infection caused by faecal bacteria (UTI) or a sterile/non-bacterial cystitis.

In both cases, it is usually porphyrin and not blood you see in coloured urine in the early stages of weither infection. Seemingly clear urine can hold a lot more blood than you'd think and can actually test high for it while very red 'bloody' urine can came back clear - I have got those t-shirts myself. Real fresh blood you usually associate more with damage to the bladder walls or the urethra from a stone.

Right now it is more of a waiting game with not much to go on for your vet.

I'm pleased she saw a vet, I've done what I can for now. She's such a sprightly piggy and no sign of slowing down. Fingers crossed.

 

[Eriathwen]

If it puts your mind at ease, my vets have said that increasingly they're realising that what was previously diagnosed as UTIs in guinea pigs (and also cats!) Is actually acute bouts of stress induced cystitis, while a week of antibiotics was usually given, often this cystitis resolved itself of its own accord within the same timeframe but of course the antibiotics were given the credit for recovery.

Due to fears of antibiotics resistance, often they are not the first line of treatment anymore unless urine is tested and bacteria identified, vets have actually been asked not to jump straight to giving antibiotics, so if it allays your worries, your vet appears to be going by the most up to date information we have regarding guinea pig urinary issues, which is a good thing as it shows they are updating their knowledge and treatment options for small furries as new information presents itself.

 

[piggieminder]

My vets have for several years not given antibiotics as a first line defence against UTI or mild URI. This has now become the new rule for all vets. They have to give a good reason for the ABs not give just in case.
Mine treat cystitis/UTI symptoms in the first instance with Cystease and Metacam while waiting for the result of a test for bacteria.
Mild URIs are treated with F10 nebulising and Metacam. I have treated URIs successfully this way. More serious respiratory infections have been treated with ABs straight off but I have been told in future my piggies would have to have a lung wash to check what if any bacteria is present before ABs can be prescribed.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

My vets have for several years not given antibiotics as a first line defence against UTI or mild URI. This has now become the new rule for all vets. They have to give a good reason for the ABs not give just in case.
Mine treat cystitis/UTI symptoms in the first instance with Cystease and Metacam while waiting for the result of a test for bacteria.
Mild URIs are treated with F10 nebulising and Metacam. I have treated URIs successfully this way. More serious respiratory infections have been treated with ABs straight off but I have been told in future my piggies would have to have a lung wash to check what if any bacteria is present before ABs can be prescribed.

That's useful information - but slightly concerning too, a "lung wash" sounds a fairly major procedure for a small animal such as a guinea pig. What exactly is it?

 

[piggieminder]

That's useful information - but slightly concerning too, a "lung wash" sounds a fairly major procedure for a small animal such as a guinea pig. What exactly is it?

It involves anaesthesia and taking a sample from the lungs. It sounds barbaric and not something you would want to do with a sick animal who can't breath well as it is. I refused to let them do it when mine had pneumonia last year. They won't do the simpler nose sample because they say it's to easily contaminated. I suspect the simpler sample doesn't pay the shareholders enough! I love my very knowledgeable vets but they are after all only employees and have to do what they are told. I am compiling a list of piggy vets within a 1 hour distance who may do a less invasive test just in case.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

It involves anaesthesia and taking a sample from the lungs. It sounds barbaric and not something you would want to do with a sick animal who can't breath well as it is. I refused to let them do it when mine had pneumonia last year. They won't do the simpler nose sample because they say it's to easily contaminated. I suspect the simpler sample doesn't pay the shareholders enough! I love my very knowledgeable vets but they are after all only employees and have to do what they are told. I am compiling a list of piggy vets within a 1 hour distance who may do a less invasive test just in case.

That's what I was afraid of ... sticking a needle into a guinea pig's lung sounds very risky.
I remember when Zebedee had his last URI, we tried just about every available antibiotic. Then by chance while I was holding him he sneezed, and I was able to get a tiny bit of mucus onto a swab I'd been given. It probably got contaminated by my hands, but they still managed to find that he had a bacteria best treated by the one AB we hadn't tried (sulfatrim) - and it worked.

I can't help but think that pushing owners to have invasive, expensive tests will end up with them choosing pts instead or not getting pets at all.

 

[piggieminder]

My impression @Qualcast&Flymo is they suck/remove fluid from the lung, maybe put it there in the first place to suck it out again? rather than a biopsy.

 

[Merab]

Just offering support