Possible bladder tumors

[Dark_unicorn1999]

So one of my guinea pigs has been having some issues and I just wondered if anyone had any ideas on options. My guinea pig has been bleeding from what seems to be her bladder on and off for a few months. I have taken her to the vets multiple times but they just aren't sure what the issue is. She's otherwise healthy and doesn't seem in pain. The antibiotics help and the change of diet to less calcium also seemed to help however it still comes back which makes me no longer think it is a recurring uti. The bleeding also seems to be getting worse when it does come back. Means it's looking more and more like a tumour of some kind. I will not put her through surgery as she's already 5.5 and gets stressed by the smallest of things. My vet isn't entirely sure what to do as he isn't an expert in piggies so I just wondered if there's any drugs that would be an option or is euthanasia my only one?
Thank you

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry to hear your girl is unwell. I would try and get her seen by a more experienced vet. People on here aren’t vets and no one can tell you what medicines or treatment would be suitable. That needs a hands on exam from an experienced vet.

Have a look at the locator below and see which one is near you. I hope you find out what it is soon.
Vet Locator

 

[SquiglyPiggy]

 

[Free Ranger]

There is something called Sterile Interstitial Cystitis but I have no further knowledge about it than the basics... they get cystitis flare-ups where they find peeing painful but there is no bacterial infection involved. There is a food supplement called cystease (I think!) which helps the battered bladder but it takes a few weeks to see the effects. When she has the bouts of bleeding is she in pain at that time? Does she squeal as she pees? Or is it all the same to her apart from the blood you see. People who have SIC piggies usually report they are in pain when they pee.

Are they sure it's her bladder and not her uterus is the next question.

If your vet has reached the limit of their knowledge it could be time to look for another vet. Presumably they have tried an x-ray or ultrasound scan to rule out stones so did this show up any other clues? You might be right in that you are now looking at palliative care but as long as she does not have pain and is still enjoying life in her own little way that's what is important to her. Good luck with your future decisions - she sounds like a much loved girl

 

[Swissgreys]

It would be helpful to know roughly what medications have been tried and also what tests have been done.
Recurring bleeding is not an uncommon problem and can have many causes, so it would allow others to share similar experiences if they knew a little more of the background.

For example Ruby suffered with this after a bladder flush, and it was resolved in the long run with diet changes and a longer course of a different antibiotic.

IC is another possibility and we have lots of advice available about that too if that might be a possibility.
How were the tumours diagnosed?

 

[Dark_unicorn1999]

I’m sorry to hear your girl is unwell. I would try and get her seen by a more experienced vet. People on here aren’t vets and no one can tell you what medicines or treatment would be suitable. That needs a hands on exam from an experienced vet.

Have a look at the locator below and see which one is near you. I hope you find out what it is soon.
Vet Locator

The nearest one is quite far away and I don't drive so would be very hard for me to get to. Plus at the moment they always seem to be fully booked so I can't get her in even if I wanted to

 

[Dark_unicorn1999]

I think she's been in pain when she wees a couple times but never noticed it that much tbh. It's mostly just the blood and no we haven't done an ultra sound yet that is the next step if it starts again. My vet just wasn't sure what to do if he does find something on the scan. Unfortunately I can't get her to a more experienced vet so was just trying to do a bit of research to help my vet on what we could do going forward

 

[Dark_unicorn1999]

It would be helpful to know roughly what medications have been tried and also what tests have been done.
Recurring bleeding is not an uncommon problem and can have many causes, so it would allow others to share similar experiences if they knew a little more of the background.

For example Ruby suffered with this after a bladder flush, and it was resolved in the long run with diet changes and a longer course of a different antibiotic.

IC is another possibility and we have lots of advice available about that too if that might be a possibility.
How were the tumours diagnosed?

So far she's just been on general antibiotics as we thought it was just a uti that came back a couple times. She's not had any tests done yet. The next step will be ultra sound and urine tests as the antibiotics and diet changes haven't seemed to help long term and the bleeding is getting more but I'd love more information on whatever anyone thinks it could be. If it's more treatable than a tumour then that's great. As of yet the tumours haven't been diagnosed bit it's looking more and more like that is the issue with her being older and the antibiotics/diet not getting rid of it. Also last time there was a lot of blood not just a little in the wee but since having the antibiotics she's completely fine which is what's confusing me more than anything

 

[Siikibam]

What is the antibiotic she was on? Is it baytril? Perhaps book her in for a scan soon. I think you can’t eliminate/assume things without a thorough check. Is anyone able to help you get her to another vet? Or a taxi or bus?

 

[Dark_unicorn1999]

Yea she's been on baytril and another one but I can't remember what it was called. No one can take me to the other vet and getting public transport would take 3 hours just to get her there and she'd be stressed the whole time so I think it would do more harm than good

 

[Freela]

Before jumping to tumors, especially without proper diagnostics, I would wonder about bladder stones or interstitial cystitis (which is basically when the bladder lining gets irritated and inflamed even without the presence of bacteria.) I would think a scan is your next best move. A simple x-ray can look for bladder stones and you may not need a specialized vet for that... being as they are solid, they show up white on x-ray. Unfortunately no one can diagnose over the internet, but when talking to your vet that would be my starting point based on my own past bladder piggie.

 

[Free Ranger]

I've had some pigs with UTI which cleared with a course of baytril in about a week and never came back. Then I had a girl that got an infection that baytril didn't touch and they put her on another one for three whole weeks... it stopped the main symptoms of (1) blood in pee, (2) quiet, pained squeaking while peeing, (3) wet, stained back end because of dripping pee and incontinence. Two weeks later these came back and I despaired, thinking it must be something more serious, but my vet said this was actually pretty normal and just repeated the 3 weeks... this time it cleared up for good! Maybe your vet can contact another vet for advice? The Stockton-on-Tees guinea-pig rescue is in your 'general' area (see link at top)... I wonder which vet they use?

 

[Dark_unicorn1999]

Well she's had this 3 times already and each time it gets worse that's why I'm starting to no longer think it is a uti and yea jacqui Pattersons is the closest vet to me that would be good for guinea pigs however I live near Whitby so it's quite a journey out and I don't drive

 

[Josie_lg]

Deffinitley try and find an exotic vet who has experinace with piggies. Maybe they could do an ultrasound or some x rays? We managed to x ray one of my girls twice for her respiratory infection.
hope she feels better soon x