Test wee for blood

[Lel]

Hi lovelies, long story short my boy had a bladder stone removed at 10 mths old. A few months later I noticed he had pink wee, we did xrays, no signs of stones and his wee was back to normal within a day.
He is now almost 3 yrs old and today I noticed pink spots all over his run.

Is there a way that I can test his urine for blood myself?

He is showing no signs of discomfort.

Thanks in advance xx

 

[Claire W]

You can buy urine test sticks from places like amazon to check the wee for presence of blood. Just type in urine test stick

 

[Wiebke]

Hi lovelies, long story short my boy had a bladder stone removed at 10 mths old. A few months later I noticed he had pink wee, we did xrays, no signs of stones and his wee was back to normal within a day.
He is now almost 3 yrs old and today I noticed pink spots all over his run.

Is there a way that I can test his urine for blood myself?

He is showing no signs of discomfort.

Thanks in advance xx

Hi!

Please see a vet so they can check whether you are dealing with a urine infection, a bacterial or a sterile (i.e. not reacting to antibiotics much) cystitis or bladder stones/sludge. Symptoms for all of these issues are very similar and require a vet examination.

Pink to intensely red porphyrine pees are very typical for the very onset of an infection of some sort; they may or may not contain blood and they can be interspersed with clear pees which may or may not test high for blood. Symptoms take generally several days to become consistent, so if your boy is well in himself you can book him in during regular opening hours in the coming week.

Dip tests for blood are quite expensive but at this stage they won't necessarily help you as things are so inconsistent - and by the time symptoms are consistent, you can't fail to notice them anyway. Blood in the pees is present in all four cases so it won't answer your most pressing question as to whether you are dealing with a return of a stone.
Your vet will also rather check for indicators of infection and the presence crystals in the pee as well as - if they are experienced - feel the bladder to see whether it is soft and relaxed or contains a stone and take it from there.

 

[Lel]

Thank you so much for that info! My vet is a prominent small animal specialist and I'd never doubt her ability, however, every time I have mentioned the possibility of UTIs in the past I've never gotten a straight answer about the testing process, she always jumps towards x rays.
Do you know how a vet does go about checking for UTIs other than dipsticks? I'm at a loss trying to look this stuff up online.

I can't thank you enough, I'm shaking as I type x

 

[Lel]

You can buy urine test sticks from places like amazon to check the wee for presence of blood. Just type in urine test stick

Thank you xx I was going to order some but I've read on this site that they may not be suitable for testing pig pee plus I've just been given info from a moderator there which makes me think dipsticks won't give me thee info I need. I'm in a bit of a panic atm x

 

[Lel]

Thank you so much for that info! My vet is a prominent small animal specialist and I'd never doubt her ability, however, every time I have mentioned the possibility of UTIs in the past I've never gotten a straight answer about the testing process, she always jumps towards x rays.
Do you know how a vet does go about checking for UTIs other than dipsticks? I'm at a loss trying to look this stuff up online.

I can't thank you enough, I'm shaking as I type ❤ x

Hi!

Please see a vet so they can check whether you are dealing with a urine infection, a bacterial or a sterile (i.e. not reacting to antibiotics much) cystitis or bladder stones/sludge. Symptoms for all of these issues are very similar and require a vet examination.

Pink to intensely red porphyrine pees are very typical for the very onset of an infection of some sort; they may or may not contain blood and they can be interspersed with clear pees which may or may not test high for blood. Symptoms take generally several days to become consistent, so if your boy is well in himself you can book him in during regular opening hours in the coming week.

Dip tests for blood are quite expensive but at this stage they won't necessarily help you as things are so inconsistent - and by the time symptoms are consistent, you can't fail to notice them anyway. Blood in the pees is present in all four cases so it won't answer your most pressing question as to whether you are dealing with a return of a stone.
Your vet will also rather check for indicators of infection and the presence crystals in the pee as well as - if they are experienced - feel the bladder to see whether it is soft and relaxed or contains a stone and take it from there.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for that info! My vet is a prominent small animal specialist and I'd never doubt her ability, however, every time I have mentioned the possibility of UTIs in the past I've never gotten a straight answer about the testing process, she always jumps towards x rays.
Do you know how a vet does go about checking for UTIs other than dipsticks? I'm at a loss trying to look this stuff up online.

I can't thank you enough, I'm shaking as I type ❤ x

They have testing equipment at the back to test for blood, protein content (indicates infection) and crystrals/sludge content in the urine, which they can spin out. An x-ray is indicated with any suspicion of a bladder stone/sludge somewhere in the urinary tract.

UTI and bacterial cystitis will react to a course of antibiotics but sterile interstitial cystitis (i.e. a non-bacterial recurring bladder infection) won't.
The latter can only be managed but not healed until it very eventually goes away on its own, rather in a matter of years. Sterile IC has unfortunately become a lot more common over the last decade but it is not much known outside piggy savvy vet circles that see guinea pigs on a regular basis. It is usually only diagnosed by default after antibiotics have not been effective and symptoms have persisted or returned very quickly and after stones or sludge in the urinary tract has been excluded.
The one good thing is that sterile IC is usually not fatal, does not cut short the life span and does not cause bladder stones but it is also no fun for the piggy. I currently have one of them again, but my Nerys (the big teddy in my picture had it for three years, then was free of any bladder issues for another three years and lived to 8 years of age).

As you have a known bladder stone pig, checking for a new one is the first thing your vet will do while they will otherwise normally treat with an antibotic first and for stones second.

I hope that that makes sense to you? You are only just at the very start of it, so please don't panic. My money is on a UTI or a sterile IC but not on another stone. Not nice, but not a tragedy, either.

 

[Lel]

Thank you thank you thank you. I now feel so much more equipped to not have a meltdown and get this issue sorted.
Nerys is a trooper thank you.
I am taking loads of notes from your responses, A4 sheet almost full.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your time and help with this!

I really don't want to put him through xrays again after the last time but I'm fairly sure my vet will insist on it so your info is priceless to me.

Thank you so so much, I will call vet tomorrow and ask to speak with her as atm they are only taking emergency appointments.
Sending so much love to you and your pigs, thank you, thank you xxxxxx

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you thank you thank you. I now feel so much more equipped to not have a meltdown and get this issue sorted.
Nerys is a trooper thank you.
I am taking loads of notes from your responses, A4 sheet almost full.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your time and help with this!

I really don't want to put him through xrays again after the last time but I'm fairly sure my vet will insist on it so your info is priceless to me.

Thank you so so much, I will call vet tomorrow and ask to speak with her as atm they are only taking emergency appointments.
Sending so much love to you and your pigs, thank you, thank you xxxxxx

As your boy is just starting up with symptoms, you have about 5-7 days to play with before it becomes fully acute with wheeking when peeing etc. For the next first days symptoms will be very off and on.

All the best! But take a deep breath and do some piggy cuddles as your Mindfulness calming exercise - you can do them consciously in your mind, too; did you you know that?

 

[Lel]

I'm just praying it's like last time and there is nothing wrong
My meditation is my guys sleeping on my heart. Getting licky kisses when they wake up, it is my ultimate place.

I'm watching him like a flippin hawk and I'm psyching myself out. BREEEEATHE

Your kind words are helping so much. Let's hope I can speak with vet tomorrow.
You are an angel, THANK YOU x

 

[Lel]

Vet is off today, I have sent in pics and she will be calling me tomorrow afternoon to discuss the best course of action.
I need to try and get a urine sample but he is only doing small wees, not enough to syringe up so I need to figure out how to go about that.

Thank you so much for your help x

 

[Wiebke]

Vet is off today, I have sent in pics and she will be calling me tomorrow afternoon to discuss the best course of action.
I need to try and get a urine sample but he is only doing small wees, not enough to syringe up so I need to figure out how to go about that.

Thank you so much for your help x

Here are our tips; you have some time to collect it anyway. Please be aware that in the early stages of an infection the pees are very variable and very mixed; not all will contain blood. You also have to be aware that porphyrine (the red stain in the pee) is a colourant and does not by any means mean that the pee contains any blood. Also that clear blood can test high in blood content. I have been there more than once myself to know that it takes a while for symptoms to firm up and really get going!
How To Collect A Urine Sample

 

[Lel]

Here are our tips; you have some time to collect it anyway. Please be aware that in the early stages of an infection the pees are very variable and very mixed; not all will contain blood. You also have to be aware that porphyrine (the red stain in the pee) is a colourant and does not by any means mean that the pee contains any blood. Also that clear blood can test high in blood content. I have been there more than once myself to know that it takes a while for symptoms to firm up and really get going!
How To Collect A Urine Sample

Thank you, that is really helpful! There have been a couple of small red spots which obviously are alarming so I appreciate that info greatly!
He is only doing tiny wees atm so I will try that method tomorrow before I have to take it into vet. He fefuses to drink plain filtered water from a syringe however if I mulch a urinary tablet in water he will drink loads.
The support from this site is invaluable, thank you so so much x

 

[Lel]

Hi all, quick update, any input you have would be great.
I was due a phone consultation yesterday, it didn't happen.
Just called the vet and she said to keep an eye on him and bring a sample in if his wee is discoloured again.
There has been no discoloured urine since Monday morning, no behavioural changes etc.
I asked what the urine tests would check for, was told that there are loads of tests.
After asking a third time I was told, it will be a microscopy test, so no answers.

The last time this happened was the same, one day of pink / red spots then nothing.

Surely there must be a reason for it.

So I guess it's a case of keeping a close eye on him and his fleece.

My nerves are shot atm, feel like I'm hitting my head off a brick wall x