Piggy health problems, not sure what to do.

[abbyc1313]

Hi all. My 5 year old female guinea pig developed a UTI in late January. After the first round of Bactrim, it returned. It returned again after the second round of Bactrim, this was in late February. We put her on Baytril and probiotics for 10 days and she finished her last dose on Monday. Over the next few days, she began having fits of shaking and twitching her head and losing her balance. She was also lethargic and had lost weight, but was still eating and drinking on her own. Brought her to the vet yesterday and they said that she had an ear infection, sending us home with Ofloxacin drops to put in her ears. Today, Friday, I noticed that she has blood in her urine again! I'm at my wits end. She hasn't had any major health problems up until this point. She is an older pig and I don't know if I want to put her on Baytril again. The vets have taken x-rays and she didn't have any stones, but I don't know what else it could be or if it can be treated again. She has been acting normal the past two days other than having slight balance issues while walking and blood in her urine, and her poos look fine. Any advice at this point is much appreciated.

 

[Guinea pig love123]

If you haven't already then try an exotic vet or a vet that specialises in guinea pigs

 

[Merab]

I can’t advise but wanted to offer support

 

[DougalandDiego]

The piggy forum health experts will be along soon but has your vet considered interstitial cystitis? My guinea pig has been diagnosed with it after an X-ray, ultra sounds and urine samples ruled out any stones etc.

 

[Free Ranger]

Hi, the health experts will be along soon. There is a food supplement that can 'support' a bladder going through hard times. I have no experience but have read about it on here. Perhaps they will recommend trying this - it is not a medicine, just a food supplement, so it does not need to be prescribed. The name I am remembering is Cystease but don't take my word for it as there may be different types of product. I think someone else is on 'urine support' or something that sounds similar. Has the vet offered anything like this? Apparently it takes a couple of weeks to begin to help.

My pig last year had antibiotics for nearly 3 weeks for a stubborn UTI. It returned after 2 weeks and I felt desperate but the vet took it in their stride and apparently it just happens sometimes. We weren't that unusual! Back on the same ABs which were effective as symptoms went a couple of days in - 3 more weeks later she was OK - I held my breath but it did not return. This girl started on Baytril for 5 days but it had no effect so overall she had a shed-load of antibiotics and just took it all in her stride! She was 3. She also had metacam (loxicom) painkiller which is important to help them pee without pain. Did you get a painkiller?

Your poor girl sounds like she's going through the wars - I'm really sorry. Keep a check on her weight and if she's losing step in to syringe feed because she'll need her energy to fight off her illness. Good luck little girlie x

 

[abbyc1313]

Thank you all so much for your responses, they're definitely giving me some peace of mind. Interstitial cystitis might very well be what she's going through. I had been giving her meloxicam (metacam) while she was on the Baytril and still have some left, but I'm not sure if I'd need permission from my vet to give her the same dose again or if I should go ahead and do it. Also, she gets half of a Sherwood Pet Health urinary support tab twice a day and her veggies are low calcium. I'm looking into Cystease as well and i'll definitely give it a try! Thank you all again, everyone on this forum is amazing!

 

[Claire W]

I’m sorry that your girl is poorly. I’d definitely look at IC as a possibility but first ask your vet to send a urine sample off for a culture first if they haven’t done so already to see if there’s bacteria present and which antibiotic that bacteria is sensitive to before IC is considered