Hi all,
Has anyone's piggie gotten a UTI before? If so how many days after they started the antibiotic's did they start to show signs of getting better ? Also do you have any suggestions on how to get them to eat? I did get critical care so that's how I've been feeding my little .
We went to the vet yesterday and got pain meds and antibiotics the vet who helped us wasn't our normal exotic vet . Our normal vet is out of town and here we only have ONE exotic vet . I guess I'm just looking for someone who's dealt with this and made it through . It's so sad and heartbreaking to see him so sick . I appreciate any information , have a wonderful day !
Hi
Antibiotics are not instant medication, unlike painkillers. They take several days to build up to full effectiveness and then gradually phase out again over the course of several days after the end of the course. You may have to wait a week.
Which antibiotic have you been prescribed and at which dosage/body weight?
If there is no sign of improvement, your piggy continues to deteriorate or symptoms return in the weeks after the antibiotic you are not dealing with bacterial urine infection (caused by an overgrowth of faecal bacteria in the urinary tract) but rather by a sterile interstitial cystitis - a non-bacterial recurring infection that can at the best just temporarily suppressed by antibiotics but not healed. it is characterised by flare-ups every few weeks and has to be managed because it cannot be healed.
Sterile IC is characterised by a low (only rarely zero) count of bacteria in the urine but the other common infection markers are there. It is most commonly diagnosed by default after all other issues have been ruled out. It is the (relatively) new kid on the block that has been increasingly around for over 15 years but it is still not much known outside vet circles that see guinea pigs on a very common basis even though it has become much more common, especially in indoors guinea pigs with a commercial for sale background (both chain stores and online breeders).
More information on sterile IC:
Links - Interstitial Cystitis - Guinea Lynx Records
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Your vet may also want to check for the presence of stones or sludge in the urinary tract if they haven't already.
Sensitivity to antibiotics is not uncommon, especially with the higher dosages that are required in the urinary tract. Loss of appetite happens when the antibiotic doesn't just kill the 'bad' bacteria in the gut but also the 'good' ones in the digestive tract. If your piggy is really struggling to take any syringe feed then please contact your vets promptly after the weekend. Bad reactions can happen to any antibiotics but they are more common with some brands.
Here is our syringe feeding guide which contains all the how-to information an tricks:
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
All the best.
