Older male pig weeing blood

[PatchandSilky]

Hi all, my gp is nearly 7 and up until now has done really well. I took him to the vets a month ago as I noticed blood in his urine and he was squeaking seemingly in pain. He was treated for a urine infection with metacam and sulfatrim which did the trick.
However I’ve noticed the blood is back again, probably more than before although he’s not making any noises when weeing. He’s also sitting in his wee for long periods, so while I’m cleaning him out and bathing him more, he’s often soaked underneath.
He’s also had what I think is bumblefoot on one foot for a long time (vet tried various things which didn’t work) but it doesn’t appear to bother him. That’s now spreading to his other feet...not sure if it’s because of him sitting in his wee?
Anyway, I have some medication left so plan to start him again today and get him back to the vet. The vet mentioned investigations etc if it came back, and I guess I’m wondering what it’s worth putting him through? He’s an older boy bless him, and he also has a couple
lumps that the vet felt.

Photo below is from the bed section in his run...I put him out earlier and an hour later found this although he seems absolutely fine in himself, eating and running around.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all, my gp is nearly 7 and up until now has done really well. I took him to the vets a month ago as I noticed blood in his urine and he was squeaking seemingly in pain. He was treated for a urine infection with metacam and sulfatrim which did the trick.
However I’ve noticed the blood is back again, probably more than before although he’s not making any noises when weeing. He’s also sitting in his wee for long periods, so while I’m cleaning him out and bathing him more, he’s often soaked underneath.
He’s also had what I think is bumblefoot on one foot for a long time (vet tried various things which didn’t work) but it doesn’t appear to bother him. That’s now spreading to his other feet...not sure if it’s because of him sitting in his wee?
Anyway, I have some medication left so plan to start him again today and get him back to the vet. The vet mentioned investigations etc if it came back, and I guess I’m wondering what it’s worth putting him through? He’s an older boy bless him, and he also has a couple
lumps that the vet felt.

Photo below is from the bed section in his run...I put him out earlier and an hour later found this although he seems absolutely fine in himself, eating and running around.

Hi!

Please have your boy seen by a vet for a beginning urinary tract infection (UTI) or a cystitis (bladder infection).
If you are dealing with a recurring infection, your vet may need to check for bladder stones or sludge or kidney stones.

If that can be excluded, then you are likely dealing with sterile interstitial cystitis (i.e. a non-bacterial recurring bladder infection), which can unfortunately only be managed but not healed.
IC can be only diagnosed by default after all the other issues that present with very similar symptoms have been excluded. Management is by analgesic (painkiller and anti-inflammatory like metacam) and by glucosamine to protect the natural glucosamine coating of the bladder walls, typically a by a glucosamine based cat food supplement like cystease. Because it is unknown what is causing it, it cannot be healed as things stand.
Sterile interstitial cystitis in guinea pigs has become rather common over the last decade, but many general vets are not yet aware of it.

Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records

All the best!

 

[PatchandSilky]

Thank you, I will definitely take him back. I’ve started him on the medication (the vet gave me a little too much and said to use it if it happens again). It was just what tests etc they may have to do to treat him further that worry me.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I will definitely take him back. I’ve started him on the medication (the vet gave me a little too much and said to use it if it happens again). It was just what tests etc they may have to do to treat him further that worry me.

You are not all that far from Northampton; the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic is one of the best guinea pig vets in the country as they basically treat only cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in about equal measure. They see a lot more piggies in a week than many general vets do in one or two months, or more.
I've just had a sow of mine spayed there for an ovarian cyst that was going to turn cancerous and I see them for anything that surpasses the experience of my local general vets, including a number of bladder stone ops in years past when I was experimenting with my diet and did get it wrong.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

 

[PatchandSilky]

You are not all that far from Northampton; the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic is one of the best guinea pig vets in the country as they basically treat only cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in about equal measure. They see a lot more piggies in a week than many general vets do in one or two months, or more.
I've just had a sow of mine spayed there for an ovarian cyst that was going to turn cancerous and I see them for anything that surpasses the experience of my local general vets, including a number of bladder stone ops in years past when I was experimenting with my diet and did get it wrong.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

That sounds great, thank you..will take a look