Hi all,
I have six Guinea pigs and one of them has recently had a UTI, it has been 6 days that she has been separated from the other five, she seems to be getting better, she is eating drinking and still quiet energetic. I’m cleaning there cage today should I put the Guinea pig who is recovering from a UTI and on her last day of antibiotics back in with the others? If so what can I do to stop it spreading to the other Guinea pigs.
Thanks!
Hi and welcome
Are your piggies indoors or outdoors piggies?
Most companions can actually fend off these kinds of infections unless they come with an environmental trigger that lowers the immune system (frosty nights and big temperature swings over the course of 24 hours, cold/wet ground etc.) This is much more likely in outdoors piggies, especially at this time of year.
UTI is actually pretty rare in indoors guinea pigs where the most common urinary tract infection is now sterile (i.e. non-bacterial) cystitis (often better known under its older name interstitial (recurring) cystitis or IC). It is unfortunately still not well known outside vet circles that do not deal frequently with guinea pigs. Symptoms are very similar but while antibiotics can temporarily suppress sterile cystitis symptoms, they cannot cure it and it will come back.
Healthy companions can fend it off with their own strong immune system.
Please take the time to read this link here. You will find it informative and helpful; especially if you are faced with the problem recurring:
1 The Urinary Tract
2 Pees
- Water intake changes
- Pee discoloration
3 Infections
- Bacterial urine infection (UTI)
- Bacterial cystitis
- Sterile cystitis (interstitial cystitis or IC)
4 Stones, Sludge and Crystals
- Crystals, stones and sludge
- Stone and sludge removal
5 Kidneys...
I second to please not separate because a separation means extra stress/additional lowering of the immune system for the ill piggy and more upset for the companions with a fully working immune system. At the worst, it can lead to a permanent fall-out if there are underlying issues between your piggies. There has been a major rethink on that issue over the last decade.
UTI is in fact an overgrowth of faecal bacteria, which are present in smaller numbers in the urinary tract of most piggies because the tiny scent gland is located just in front of the genitalia, so they are usually picked up when scent-marking their group territory on a regular basis. What triggers UTI is usually not the presence of the bacteria themselves but a usually a dip in the bodily defence (i.e. the immune system), either from an environmental factor (which can affect the whole group) or iondividual stress.
Sterile IC is generally seen in guinea pigs born with a high stress level default and a nervous disposition. Their comrades may pick it up but their immune system can deal with it without them ever developing any acute symptoms past some bright yellow hay stalks for a little while.
All the best.
