Squeaking when using the toilet

[Kats_guineapigs]

So my guinea pig Rem has been squeaking when he wees and poops. We thought it could be a uti so we took him to the vets and he was on antibiotics and painkillers. He was on them for almost 2 weeks but it continued so today we took him to the vets for an x-ray. The x-ray showed no sign of bladder stones or sludge in his bladder. The vet had no idea why he would be in pain so we are continuing with the painkillers but I was wondering if anyone had experienced this or has any other ideas for what it could be.

 

[Wiebke]

So my guinea pig Rem has been squeaking when he wees and poops. We thought it could be a uti so we took him to the vets and he was on antibiotics and painkillers. He was on them for almost 2 weeks but it continued so today we took him to the vets for an x-ray. The x-ray showed no sign of bladder stones or sludge in his bladder. The vet had no idea why he would be in pain so we are continuing with the painkillers but I was wondering if anyone had experienced this or has any other ideas for what it could be.

Hi!

Your piggy could be suffering from a sterile interstitial cystitis (IC), which has become a lot more common over the last decade but is not necessarily well known to general vets. It is good that your vet has checked for stones/sludge because that is step 2 in the elimination process.
Unfortunately, as we don't know what is causing IC, it can only be treated symptomatically but not be healed as it stands, and it can only be diagnosed by default after excluding all other potential urinary tract problems. It does not much or at all react to antibiotics and cannot be cleared by them.
The good news is that is not causing any bladder stones or sludge and that it doesn't shorten life expectancy.
The bad news is that it is going away on its own eventually, but rather in a matter or years than months.

If it is any consolation, I currently have an IC piggy myself again.

Metacam and cystease (a glucosamine-based cat food supplement to help protect the natural glucosamine coating of the bladder walls) are the main treatment on a permanent basis. During acute flare-ups, you up the dosage.
Here are our diet recommendations: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Here is more information on IC: Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records

Thankfully so far, symptoms are on the mild side for your piggy.

 

[Veggies Galore]

If stones have been ruled out, I would imagine it's either an infection which was resistant to the antibiotics he had ... or Sterile Interstitial Cystitis

This thread may be of help ...

Confusing piggie with blood in urine


Edit - posted at same time as above answer

 

[Kats_guineapigs]

Hi!

Your piggy could be suffering from a sterile interstitial cystitis (IC), which has become a lot more common over the last decade but is not necessarily well known to general vets. It is good that your vet has checked for stones/sludge because that is step 2 in the elimination process.
Unfortunately, as we don't know what is causing IC, it can only be treated symptomatically but not be healed as it stands, and it can only be diagnosed by default after excluding all other potential urinary tract problems. It does not much or at all react to antibiotics and cannot be cleared by them.
The good news is that is not causing any bladder stones or sludge and that it doesn't shorten life expectancy.
The bad news is that it is going away on its own eventually, but rather in a matter or years than months.

If it is any consolation, I currently have an IC piggy myself again.

Metacam and cystease (a glucosamine-based cat food supplement to help protect the natural glucosamine coating of the bladder walls) are the main treatment on a permanent basis. During acute flare-ups, you up the dosage.
Here are our diet recommendations: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Here is more information on IC: Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records

Thankfully so far, symptoms are on the mild side for your piggy.

 

[Kats_guineapigs]

Thank you so much that’s some really useful advice. I’ll give those things a try and see if it helps him feel more comfortable