Possible bladder problems?

[quantumgnomes]

Hi, I'm feeling a bit confused by a vet visit today, it's not what would normally happen when i've had a pig with bladder issues before and I just wanted some feedback, in case i'm overreacting.

Jasper is a two and a half year old sassy abby, he has had few problems. Earlier this year he started doing the dreaded squeals but couldn't figure out if this was happening when he was pooping or peeing or not. I promptly took him to the vet, this was just before lockdown, we found a cyst that was tested too - it came back as a fatty lump. His urine was clean. He was given metacam and after a week or so he was back to normal, squealing very occasionally. I wanted him checked again but due to virus, he wasn't an emergency as he was still eating and not losing weight and is fine in himself so we couldn't be seen.

Fast forward to yesterday, he is suddenly squealing a lot and quite visibly hunching and in pain whilst passing pee and poop, the guinea pig cam we got finally helped me capture it! His poop changed shape and there was blood in his pee. I booked an online consult with a vet who basically said uti/bladder stones probably, give him vitamin C and if he gets worse to go to the emergency clinic. He did get worse last night, constant squealing, impacted and just laying in one spot.

He was better after we freed the poop but I got him to the emergency vet, but of course you can't go in so communication was via phone on a main road... not great. She didn't even suggest bladder stones even from the notes passed on from the video consult. I had to ask about that possibility, they said possibly and said they'd give him an ultrasound. I was always told from a previous cavy savvy vet to x-ray for bladder problems, I had a previous piggy with interstitial cystitis and it was always x rays to check for stones but they said no, to risky... which I get if you sedate them but i've never had to have them sedated before? The ultrasound showed no stones apparently, but i'm not confident if it's the best course of action. There's blood in his pee, they confirmed, and suggested a possible uti. They also said the cyst is bothering him, but prior to this he's moving fine, still is walking (running and jumping at floor time) and it's not too large (5p piece size) and that it should be checked again. They haven't given me antibiotics, which I normally would have been for that, just told me to get in contact with my normal vet tomorrow and gave me a whole 3ml of metacam, so three days worth?!

I feel a bit frustrated as i'd been given him leftover metacam myself, no closer to figuring out what's up and £250 down.

I'll get in touch with another vet tomorrow as he seems comfortable right now but our local vets has relocated due to the virus (we're still in lockdown and I don't drive) so I'm probably going to have to get in touch with a new vet - although I do know piggy people have used them. Just any help would be good, it's been a good two and a half years since I dealt with a uti/bladder pig and I don't know if things have changed? Am I overthinking? Anything I should ask for at the vets?

Thank you in advance!
Sorry for the essay.

 

[sport_billy]

Just typing a rely up now

 

[sport_billy]

Sorry you are going through this

I would see another vet for a second opinion and some actual treatment. Also ask that vet you have seen to send the xrays or ultrasound across to your new vet you see

once stones are ruled out I would expect a couple weeks worth of metacam and some antibiotics (hopefully septrin as it is good for uti)

@Wiebke ultrasound would show stones wouldn’t it?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I'm feeling a bit confused by a vet visit today, it's not what would normally happen when i've had a pig with bladder issues before and I just wanted some feedback, in case i'm overreacting.

Jasper is a two and a half year old sassy abby, he has had few problems. Earlier this year he started doing the dreaded squeals but couldn't figure out if this was happening when he was pooping or peeing or not. I promptly took him to the vet, this was just before lockdown, we found a cyst that was tested too - it came back as a fatty lump. His urine was clean. He was given metacam and after a week or so he was back to normal, squealing very occasionally. I wanted him checked again but due to virus, he wasn't an emergency as he was still eating and not losing weight and is fine in himself so we couldn't be seen.

Fast forward to yesterday, he is suddenly squealing a lot and quite visibly hunching and in pain whilst passing pee and poop, the guinea pig cam we got finally helped me capture it! His poop changed shape and there was blood in his pee. I booked an online consult with a vet who basically said uti/bladder stones probably, give him vitamin C and if he gets worse to go to the emergency clinic. He did get worse last night, constant squealing, impacted and just laying in one spot.

He was better after we freed the poop but I got him to the emergency vet, but of course you can't go in so communication was via phone on a main road... not great. She didn't even suggest bladder stones even from the notes passed on from the video consult. I had to ask about that possibility, they said possibly and said they'd give him an ultrasound. I was always told from a previous cavy savvy vet to x-ray for bladder problems, I had a previous piggy with interstitial cystitis and it was always x rays to check for stones but they said no, to risky... which I get if you sedate them but i've never had to have them sedated before? The ultrasound showed no stones apparently, but i'm not confident if it's the best course of action. There's blood in his pee, they confirmed, and suggested a possible uti. They also said the cyst is bothering him, but prior to this he's moving fine, still is walking (running and jumping at floor time) and it's not too large (5p piece size) and that it should be checked again. They haven't given me antibiotics, which I normally would have been for that, just told me to get in contact with my normal vet tomorrow and gave me a whole 3ml of metacam, so three days worth?!

I feel a bit frustrated as i'd been given him leftover metacam myself, no closer to figuring out what's up and £250 down.

I'll get in touch with another vet tomorrow as he seems comfortable right now but our local vets has relocated due to the virus (we're still in lockdown and I don't drive) so I'm probably going to have to get in touch with a new vet - although I do know piggy people have used them. Just any help would be good, it's been a good two and a half years since I dealt with a uti/bladder pig and I don't know if things have changed? Am I overthinking? Anything I should ask for at the vets?

Thank you in advance!
Sorry for the essay.

Hi

It sounds like either a bladder stone or one that has passed into the urethra and has fetched up in the awkward inglenook that boars have got there. Vitamin C is in any way just a waste of time and money. The only way to get rid of a stone is confirming it via an x-ray and then an operation.

Please be aware that infections can present with very similar symptoms. you have the choice between a bacterial urine infection (UTI), a bacterial cystitis (bladder infection) or a sterile interstitial cystitis (i.e. a non-bacterial recurring bladder infection that cannot be cured with antibiotics). The latter can usually only be diagnosed by default after all above options have been ruled out.
The first two are usually treated with metacam and an antibiotic (bactrim US/sulfatrim or septrin UK or with general vets usually baytril). Interstitial cystitis (IC) is treated with plenty of glucosamine (to support the affected natural glucosamine coating of the walls of the urinary tract) and metacam.

Here is some more information:
Guinea Lynx :: Bladder Stones
Guinea Lynx :: UTI
Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (including diet recommendations for guinea pigs with urinary tract problems, especially stones or sterile )IC

PS: if your boy is suddenly looking very ill, stopping to eat and very hunched up, you need to race them to the vet as a life or death emergency because in that case, he has likely got a stone in his urethra that is blocking the urine flow.

 

[quantumgnomes]

Thank you so much for your replies, I got another vet appointment today and they double checked the scan and gave him some baytril as a suspected uti and was shocked the emergency vet didn't give us that to start with, if he doesn't improve then he'll need an x-ray to check for stones. I feel a lot happier and he's more comfortable.

 

[Wiebke]

All the best!

Sadly many vets who have not the first idea about guinea pigs and how to treat them just prescribe some vitamin C as that won't harm them.