• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Recurring UTI

M

Mon59

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 14, 2022
Messages
117
Reaction score
37
Points
220
Location
Hampshire
Hi,

I’ve got a lovely sow aged about 3 .

Eats loads. Runs around all day.
No sign of distress apart from a very slight noise when she wees.
Signs of blood last week so on antibiotics. Vet says she has put on weight in last 6 months.
Vet says no stones on examination last week.
Blood in wee on my lap last week which I put down to some sort of infection/clot clearing after day 4 antibiotics.
Noticeable Blood again today after 7 days antibiotics which is worrying. Not a huge bleed but came out on her towel.
Still no sign of distress.

Quite worried now.

Anybody else with a happy pig who has similar trouble ?
 
Yes. Much less now after antibiotics just finished.

Maybe a penny sized stain on a saucer of wee on towel.

I have another vet appointment in two weeks but wondered if cranberry juice or something should be added to water ? She is a very happy pig and eating and pooping normally.

Vet said weight gain over 6 months and no stones on examination.
 
Mon59 said:
Yes. Much less now after antibiotics just finished.

Maybe a penny sized stain on a saucer of wee on towel.

I have another vet appointment in two weeks but wondered if cranberry juice or something should be added to water ? She is a very happy pig and eating and pooping normally.

Vet said weight gain over 6 months and no stones on examination.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

If the antibiotic cannot stop the UTI or if it recurs after the end, then you may be rather looking at a sterile (i.e non-bacterial) cystitis, also known as interstitial cystitis or IC. It is now the most common urinary tract infection in especially indoors piggies but sadly still not much known outside vet circles that do not deal with lots of guinea pigs.

You may find this link here helpful: Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones
 
That’s very interesting. I will discuss with the Vet next week. She is a bit of a GP expert and helps out in the rescue.

Any comments on behaviour during these IC episodes ?

My lovely Olivia is very happy, but always seems to have blood on the test strips. Also urine does smell a bit occasionally.

She eats for England and never squeals when weeing. Maintains weight very well over 2 years.

She is however very docile, and lays in her cage, or on my lap for over an hour at a time without fidgeting.
I’m not complaining about that 😃

How do I tell if she is ill ?

I will report back after Vet next week for others benefit. She did say to spay her to narrow it down, but I don’t want to put her through this unnecessarily. My other sow spayed and she was quite knocked out by it.
 
Mon59 said:
That’s very interesting. I will discuss with the Vet next week. She is a bit of a GP expert and helps out in the rescue.

Any comments on behaviour during these IC episodes ?

My lovely Olivia is very happy, but always seems to have blood on the test strips. Also urine does smell a bit occasionally.

She eats for England and never squeals when weeing. Maintains weight very well over 2 years.

She is however very docile, and lays in her cage, or on my lap for over an hour at a time without fidgeting.
I’m not complaining about that 😃

How do I tell if she is ill ?

I will report back after Vet next week for others benefit. She did say to spay her to narrow it down, but I don’t want to put her through this unnecessarily. My other sow spayed and she was quite knocked out by it.
Click to expand...

Spaying is quite a major operation so you want to do that for a very good reason. But having the womb and ovaries checked, if they haven't yet, wouldn't hurt. It is rather tricky to work out what exactly is going on in your case and the urinary and reproductive tracts have their openings very close together.

I can only give you avenues to pursue with your vet based on my own and forum experiences but as I am not a vet I cannot tell you what is going on, as I have neither access nor training.

But I am wishing you all the best.
 
Update.

She was fully checked for anatomy including scans and x ray (v v expensive) . I said if anything sinister to ring me but all looked ok.

I had to get a wee sample for lab cultures and she has E. coli in her bladder.

So 3 weeks antibiotics now to shift it .

Poor little thing still quite happy and eating ok. No sign of distress.

I don’t think everyone would go this far or spend this amount . I’m not rich.

But she sat on my lap for an hour this afternoon as good as gold so what’s money ?

I guess you go by behaviour if no access to a vet? but she has had this a long time, and still a very contented and affectionate pig.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top