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Peggy is drinking lots

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tattyruncy

tattyruncy

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My little Peggy pig is drinking rather alot :( She seems to have so much more than any of my other pigs. Her weight has gained since I got her in November - she has put on over 120g and weighs 838g.
She seems ok in herself eating and of course drinking - alot.
I thought I would take a urine sample along to my vets and she has just rang to tell me there is blood, protein and crystals in her urine :(
I am going to take Peggy to see her tomorrow afternoon for a check over, however, the vet thinks she may have a urine infection or kidney stones :(
If she has kidney stones what will they do for my little Peggy?
 
Sorry to hear Peggy is unwell. I haven't experienced a piggy with kidney stones, but UTI's are quite common and treatable I think. Let's hope it's that rather than Kidney stones

Fingers crossed here for Penny

Sophie
x
 
My piggie had bladder stones and she was urinating blood. This was the only tell tale sign. I hope things go well at the vets tomorrow :)
 
Sorry to hear about Peggy. Try not to worry about it too much. Your vet will need to do an X ray to see if there are bladder stones. If there are bladder stones, your vet can surgically remove them. If they are not too big, your vet may be able to give Peggy something to disolve them.
If Peggy has an infection, she should be prescribed a course of antibiotics.
My Connie had blood, protein and crystals in her urine back in November. She was given a course of antibiotics and had an X ray which luckily came back clear. Unfortunatly, Connie is going to always have bladder problems but thats just her.
Try cutting back on calcium rich foods as this is mainly the caurse of bladder stones. My 2 girls (especially Connie) is now on a low calcium diet and her urine is now crystal free.
The fact that Peggy is drinking a lot is doing her some good as the water will be helping to flush her bladder out.
My vet told me that a guinea pig is more likely to have bladder stones than they are kidney stones.
I hope that all goes well tomorrow. I completely understand your worry. Please keep us posted x
 
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Peggy has been to the vets this afternoon. The vet is just treating her for a UTI with a course of antibiotics, then I need to take her back in ten days. If her urine is still showing the blood, protein and crystals then the vet said they will x-ray and take bloods to further investigate.
She had a good feel of her kidneys and said they both felt the same size and she could not feel anything abnormal. :) Poppy went with her for the ride to help keep Peggy calm and she was a good little girl and never even squeaked when the vet was prodding her about. :)
 
I know how you feel, I still feel sick when I go to our vets after having my dog put to sleep a few years ago. Just the smell of the waiting room brings it all back.

You should really give BioLapis or AviPro pro-biotic, you can order them online, don't give them at the same time as syringing the anti-biotic though - hopefully someone else can advise, but you have to leave it an hour or two I believe.

What antibiotic did they give? I've found that they usually give Baytril but each time I've used it I feel that it depresses their appetite.

Sophie
x
 
If you don't have Critical Care I'd get some at the same time, just in case her appetite is affected - have you weighed her?

Such a worry when they're ill. I do hope she's feeling better soon

Sophie
x
 
I've got some critical care :) I weighed her today and she is similar to what she was on Sunday. I will weigh her every day to keep a close eye on her. She seems ok in herself and I'll keep an eye on her appetitie.
I was looking at a Peter Guerney website and it suggests giving unsweetened natural cranberry juice diluted in water? I know that is something recommended for humans with urinary problems. Is this something you have tried?
 
I haven't tried it with Connie but I suppose it's worth a try. If you do decide to give her this, only give her a bit at a time as some piggies like it ad some hate it.
Baytril didn't effect Connie's appetite but like Sophie said, it can effect the appetite in some pigs. Also, it can give them soft poops. If the poops are soft, don't worry as it's just the antibiotics. If she gets diarrhea though, you must take her straight back to the vets. If you do not mind me asking, what colour does Peggy's urine dry? I am just trying to com[are with Connie for my own peace of mind. Please keep us updated xx
 
It's hard to see what colour her urine is as she is on pink vet bed :) I haven't noticed anything bright orange or red. When I took her urine sample I put her in a small carrier without any bedding for an short while and her urine I put in the bottle was dark yellow looking :)
 
Peggy has been back to the vets today. I took a urine sample with me, this time it only has a trace of blood and crystals, no protein :{
The vet wants to do an x-ray and she is booked in for next week.
I said to the vet that I don't want her putting under anaesthetic or sedating for this. She says that they will try to do it without.
Does anyone know how Peggy can be x-rayed so she sits still, I know that sounds a stupid question. The vet says they have an 'enclosure' they use for piggies and rabbits but it is too big for Peggy.
 
Lie pig on it's back on a thin cushion or pillow. Place crepe bandage around pig and fasten around the cushion. Pig should lie still for at least 5 minutes, provided it feels secure, ie don't have the bandage loose so pig can wriggle around. Safe, effective and NO sedation nor GA. Whole process should take less than 2 minutes, even 1 minute, as the exposure time is less than second.
 
Septrin is a better anti biotic than Baytril for UTI,and it does not depress the appetite as much as Baytril..

Surgical tape can be used to strap the piggy down for x ray,or a small container similar to the one used for larger animals could be used.

My vet x rays without sedation and she is always happy to help other vets,either by email or by phone.

Pm me if you would like contact details.


Maryh
 
Some guinea pigs have a naturally rather alcaline urine which can be the cause of bladder stones (crystals lumping together) and more frequent UTI through the constant irritation of the crystals that won't get dissolved as much as in normally acid urine.

If you want to have that tested on your next visit to the vets, a little drop of urine and some lackmus paper will do the trick.

Also be aware that some low calcium foods can make the urine even more alcaline, especially lettuce! Most multivitamin additives contain extra calcium; if Peggy has alcaline urine, you might prefer to regularly stick to avipro (which hasn't) and a bit of cranberry juice in your water to prevent the build-up of crystals in the urine.

PS: Be glad that Peggy is drinking so well; she should be OK again soon. I've been through the wars with my Minx who acerbated her very alcaline urine with a stout refusal to drink AT ALL - an ultiimately fatal combination.

All the best to you and your little friend!

Vicky
 
Your Peggy sounds like my Connie. I don't understand how a guinea pig can have too much protein in their urine but Connie did also. I hope that her X ray goes well and that it comes back clear xx
 
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Peggy is off to the vets now for her x-ray. I just hope they can do this without an anaesthetic which I will definately not allow. Poppy is going with her for company - she has a bald patch on her back towards her back end - I think it's just Peggy been pulling her hair when on heat rolleyes but will have it checked out.
Have been reading lots of health and illness threads lately and my thoughts are ovarian cysts with Peggy as she is quite an aggressive little tinker for a little piggy - apart from Poppy who she clambers all over she does love her xoxo but she hates my other girls who live next door :(
 
Both girls are gorgeous. Which is Peggy? Good luck at the vets, let us know how she gets on.
 
Standing up for what you believe and know in front of 'professional' opposition is hard. Well done. :)
 
Just got back from the vets and it's good news :) Peggy x-ray is fine - no abnormalities or stones. They did a blood test and there were no abnormalities with that either :) so maybe the blood in the urine was just a urine infection which she had the antibiotics for.
Apparently she sat still for the x-ray and didn't even squeak when they took her blood - the vet said she was such a good girl :)
As for mummy Poppy - the vet is not convinced it is mites and just to keep an eye on her :)
So all in all I am so relieved and glad that they found nothing sinister :) and I'm so glad they are home again cos I missed them loads today :)
 
Thats great news that the x-rays are clear and well done for not letting the vet sedate her. When my piggy recently went in for an x-ray I also refused to let them sedate him and I could tell the vet wasnt happy. The vet had to take a couple of shots as Mimsi did move during the x-ray, but i was happy to pay for ten x-rays if it meant no sedation! I'm sure your piggy will be fine and you are doing a great job in your care for them. Keep us up to date..
 
Where did the vet take the blood from for the test?
I have frequently commented unfavourably about the vet profession in the last few weeks....to the extent I was warned about what I said.
I now see that more and more people are questioning the treatment that is recommended for their pigs, especially in regard to not needing sedation/ga for dental treatment or xrays. Good.
 
aww little meg started drinking lots and it turned out she had diabetes.hugs to you and i hope she is better soon.probiotic is a good idea
 
Peggy's blood was taken from her neck area - not sure whether this is normal practice - she has a nice bald area where they shaved her hair :)
Overall, I was pleased with the vet's attitude towards Peggy and I know they were specifically looking for any evidence of kidney function problems, hormone levels and diabetes. I did ask about whether there was any evidence of cysts on the x-ray and nothing abnormal was seen :)
 
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