Wet Bum & Smelly Wee

[Ness_B]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. Have had a quick look to make sure I'm not reposting a similar thread but apologies if I am.

My little Squeak (3.5 year old female) has been really poorly the past few days.

She has been completely soaked in her wee, I clean her cage every day so I know it's not that she's living in her own filth. Her wee also STINKS.

I took her to the vet last weekend and he gave her some antibiotics although to be honest he wasn't really sure what was wrong.

She's always been a bit underweight and drinks LOADS. But this hasn't really caused a problem with her being wet all the time before.

So since taking the antibiotics (she's on her last day of them now) she has perked up and is acting like her normal self, but she is still so wet and so so smelly.

Have any of you experienced this before? Please help!

Note - I've been giving her the odd shower and drying her off to try and make her more comfortable but this doesn't seem to be helping either

 

[helen105281]

Hi, welcome to the forum, please could you update your location on your profile as it will help us to help you.

It sounds like the vet was treating for a urinary tract infection, which was my first thought too. The urine can be very smelly with a UTI. Do you know the name of the antibiotic you were given? how long is the course?

Do you know if your vet checked for ovarian cysts? they can also cause a sow to leak urine but I don't think it would be smelly.

 

[Ness_B]

Hi Helen,

Sorry yes all updated!

He basically suggested a UTI, kidney disease or just "incontinence". He didn't do any tests or anything, he was very upfront and basically said they don't really know a great deal about small animals and maybe if she shows no signs of improvement then he can recommend an "exotic" vet.

He gave her a 5 day course (twice per day) of baytril.

I don't understand why she has perked up in herself but still obviously has a problem. I'm about to give her the last dose of antibiotics so thought she would have improved considerably by now. I'm just at a bit of a loss what to do

Hi, welcome to the forum, please could you update your location on your profile as it will help us to help you.

It sounds like the vet was treating for a urinary tract infection, which was my first thought too. The urine can be very smelly with a UTI. Do you know the name of the antibiotic you were given? how long is the course?

Do you know if your vet checked for ovarian cysts? they can also cause a sow to leak urine but I don't think it would be smelly.

n

 

[helen105281]

If it is a UTI Baytril is not the most effective antibiotic and a lot of vets are now using Septrin. Also a 5 day course is not long enough and it needs to be at least 10 days. Some stubborn UTIs need longer, even on Septrin. A lot of vets automatically go for Baytril as it is the only antibiotic actually licensed for pigs but more and more vets are able to prescribe alternatives where they are appropriate. Do you know if your vet would consider a change in antibiotic or a longer course? Also have a look on our vet locator as you may find there is a more experienced vet nearby. The Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in Camden has a really good reputation.

 

[Freela]

I would query a UTI. One of my pigs, Sundae, had chronic bladder issues and will have a wet bottom when she is having a low-grade flare of infection. Sundae does take Baytril, but it can take far longer than a 5-day course to completely clear a stubborn UTI.