Need some help! Guinea pig with rusty urine.

[amberlynn550]

Hi I am new to the forum and was needing some advice. My little peanut has rusty urine. I him took to the vet (One of the best exotic vets where I live) he tested his urine for blood, and took an x-ray. The vet could not find anything wrong, no blood in the urine, or cysts on the X-ray...etc. What the vet told me that he probably has a malformed kidney from when he was born.

Peanut is very active, eats well, is gaining weight they he should be, and just seems very healthy beside the urine. I was wondering if any of you have had this problem, or have any advice in what I should do next? I have taken Peanut to the vet three times in the last two weeks to make sure he is ok. I know I am worrying a lot but I care for the little guy.

 

[Jaye]

Hi

Does he make a sort of cry noise when he pass urine.
My sister has a guinea pig he once did and we gave him Cranberry Juice.

Jaye

 

[Suzygpr]

Hi and welcome to the forum - I hope I can put your mind at rest about your piggy. As you've already ruled out cystitis and bladder stones then I think this is the most likely explanation.

This is taken from Guinea Piglopaedia, pg 114 (a book I highly recommend).

"From time to time, guinea pig urine contains a red pigment called porphyin. Sometimes, it is associated with eating food rich in vitamin A (e.g. dandelions). Sometimes, there is no obvious cause. The condition is not associated with disease. Urinalysis shows no red blood cells in urine and the pig has normal urination. Red urine should not be mistaken for infection in the bladder or stone formation in the bladder."

It can also occur after they've eaten highly coloured foods - carrots (lots of vit A too), beetroot and dried foods with a lot of colourants.

Hope this helps

Suzy

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I agree with Suzy, first thought of mine was it being dietary related. Red pepper is another common one that tints the urine, along with the carrot and beetroot.

 

[amberlynn550]

Thank you!

Thank you all for the replies, this really does put my mind to rest. I am still monitoring him, but he seems just fine and is not sqeaking when he urinates. Once again thank you for your replies. Hopefully it will clear up on its own and I am giving him cranberry juice.

 

[piggiewiggie]

I agree if infections and stones are ruled out then it sounds like red urine. I have that book to, its amazing

 

[sport_billy]

Both of our pigs have rusty coloured urine also for quite some time. A sample taken to the vets ruled out UTI's.

The Urine comes out clear but turns rusty after been in the air, Vets pretty sure its diet related, it also co-incides often with them having a new 'chube' that is covered with a orange paper which as well as running through the like to gnaw...

try not too worry, best just keep an eye on things though...

 

[amberlynn550]

I will have to find this book. It sounds pretty amazing

 

[Ruffles]

Sorry to poach this thread. I have noticed this with one of my guinea pigs. One of them weed on the top of their house last night and it was very dark red/brown in colour. Could this also be associated with eating dried dandelions?

 

[Sappho]

Quite possibly. Mine get it after eating banana skin (a very rare treat!)