Help please Chips has blood in wee

[gpmum2]

Chips is weeing blood - but otherwise is eating and seeming quite happy but this week he has had curly kale, parsley, apple, cucumber and carrots - could this be the cause!

The vets are shut today and I can't get him there until tomorrow - he is 4 1/2 years old (boar) now could this be stones or UTI.

I have put him in a hospital cage and brought him inside and just given him hay and water. What should I be doing until tomorrow when I can get him to the vets. I have tried the cavy trust but no reply yet.

I am now in a panick.

Karen

[kimspigs]

I don't think the food you have given him is anything to worry about gpmum.

From time to time, guine pig urine contains a red pigment called porphyrin. Sometimes, it is associated with eating food rich in vitamin A e.g Dandelions. Sometimes though, there is no obvious cause. It is not associated with disease. A Urine sample shows no red blood cells and the pig has normal urine. Red urine should not be mistaken for infection in the bladder.

If it is a bladder infection the most common symptoms are frequent urination, whining during urination, and the coat around the vent being wet from urine and blood in the urine. As i have already said they can occasionally excreate red urine very similar to bloody urine. Diagnoisis is based on clinical signs and a urinalysis, where red and white blood cells and sometimes bacteria can be found on microscopy. Treatment is by suitable antibiotics.


If it bladder stones in boars the problem is much bigger than in sows (sorry don't mean to sacre you) A vet is needed asap in this case, so an appointment first thing tomorrow is advisable. This can cause bloody urine. Diagnosis is made by clincal signs followed by X rays. They are removed through surgerey. After they should be fed on a restricted calcium diet e.g no alfalfa or dandelion leaves.

I don't think there is anything you can really give them until you know for certain what the cause is. Just keep chips warm and quiet until tomorrow, if he seems comfortable then try not to worry about it to much.

[gpmum2]

Thanks Kim

He isn't wet around his rear, and he doesn't seem to be making any noise when he wee's.

I have put him in the smaller cage and there isn't as much blood and I am pretty sure it is blood. There was three big patches in his cage this morning - sort of the size of a loo roll circumference. But he is still spotting. He never has drunk alot of water.

Why are they always ill on Sundays, Xmas day etc when you can never get hold of anyone

[Dawn - Admin]

I would takew him to the vets tomorrow just to get him checked out. It could bejust something he has eaten that is making his pee red and look like blood but if that's all he has had then that doesn't seem likely to be the cause.

It could also be cystitis and that can be cleared up with a course of anitbiotics such as baytril.

If it doesn't clear up he will need an ultrasound to check for stones but first things first off to the vets with him

Let us know how you get on when you take Chips to the vet won't you Karen?

Dawn

[gpmum2]

I have got some baytril left over from Ranger, I wonder should I start him on that.

[rayfay]

I wouldn't start him on that yet because it might not be necessary. The main thing is BE CALM. If your piggie knows you're stressed he might start to stress himself.

The vet will tell you what to do. Has he had any red bell peppers or dandelions lately? That can turn their wee pink.

Good luck with him!

[gpmum2]

No he hasn't had any dandelions (too cold for those in my garden) or peppers lately - Rachel

After lots of searching today I think he has either a stone or sludge. Although for the last few hours everything seems to have stopped. I have given him some cucumber as he is a little devil for not drinking. Both mine seem either extreme for drinking water.

I will get him to the vets tomorrow. I will take him to work with me and leave him in the car so I can keep checking on him. I couldn't bring him inside as the Kids would all want to hold him.

Thanks everyone - I will let you know how he goes

Karen

[Dawn - Admin]

I would wait and see what the vet says Karen, it's only a day to wait

Just let us know how you go ok?
Dawn

[gpmum2]

I took Chips to the vets today and she thought it could be cystitis so he is on Baytril 0.4 ml, metacam a drop - painkiller and some probotic (on my request). He is to have the baytril mixed with fruit juice - which he seemed to like-- after a bit of trial and error with syringe.

All this is for a week, if he isn't any better he will have an xray (£83) plus possbile surgery for bladder stones - couldn't give me a price as it is costed by time - in other words expensive.


Chips still seems fine in himself, but not peeing as much as normal. There again he pees a lot less than Ranger as he drinks a lot less. Oh yes and vet said he should only have curly kale about twice a week! He weighed 1.3.... and the vet said he looked healthy and well fed.

Karen

[Dawn - Admin]

OH poor Ranger,

I really hope he doesn't have to have an op like Beth did It is very expensive but then what can you do if he needs it he needs it. Maybe the baytril will work. I have all my fingers crossed for him. How long must he take it for?

Dawn

[gpmum2]

Dawn it is Chips this time who is the poorly one. See it isn't only me who gets confuses - lol

He has to take the Baytril for a week and only go back if the blood doesn't disappear. They haven't offered to take a urine sample - so it seems to me they are taking the easy and cheapest option. At the moment he is quite dry, I am only giving him cucumber at the moment and I am syringe feeding fluids every couple of hours.

Thanks for asking

Karen

[Dawn - Admin]

Oh yes sorry *slaps wrist* Well I hope it clears up. I know it took two lots of baytril to clear up Beth when she first had cystitis. She was taking it for 20 days in hte end but it did the trick in the end.

Dawn

[ccc]

To add onto the limited calcium diet, kale and parsley are each very high in calcium. Carrots and spinach are two others to steeer clear of until he's better.

Lottie has/had recurring UTIs - it used to be once every 3 months until I changed the diet to limit all carrot, parsley and kale to very rare treats (i.e. a small piece 1-2 times per month). Her day to day diet, along with the others, is packaged mixed lettuces, romaine, cucumber, peppers (all colors) and cherry tomatoes.
She hasn't had a problem since July 2006.

Good luck with Chips.

[gpmum2]

This is the first time Chips has ever had a problem and Ihave recently added in Kale and Parsley. So I shall be giving those up now. I hate it when any of my animals are ill .

I have just come home to find my Dog has been sick all over the hall carpet

Karen

[Dawn - Admin]

OH dear that's a nice welcome home mum Has he been eating something he shouldn't

Dawn

[gpmum2]

admin said:

OH dear that's a nice welcome home mum Has he been eating something he shouldn't

Dawn

We have quite a large garden and he seems to be out there for hours, I thought checking for hedgehogs, but god knows what he has got hold of as it had bones in it and seeing we are all vegetarians I am not sure what he has been at Unless he has got into next doors and raided the bins - which he hasn't done since they have got there new Jack Russell - his girlfriend Jess

Chips is still feeling very sorry for himself and wasn't impressed with the syringe business tonight - no more blood as far as I can see. So I am hoping that is a good sign.

Karen

[gpmum2]

I have noticed that since getting Ranger, Chips has been marking his cage area.

As I am not convinced about the idea that he has a UTI, stones, sludge etc, I beginning to wonder if this marking maybe the course. As in the lower levels I use wood shavings and maybe he has made himself sore or has got a cut etc from this behaviour. I hadn't seen him do this when Scampi was in his cage with him, but he seems to be doing it a lot now.

I shall now put him all on fleece and towels to see if this sorts the problem, he is still having Baytril.

Karen

[Dawn - Admin]

I hope it is this Karen Keep us posted wont you?

Dawn

[Niki]

I hope the Baytril does the trick & sorts him out Karen- it's such a worry when the "fur-kids" become ill because they can't tell you.

Healing hugs to Chips

Niki x

[gpmum2]

Thanks Dawn & Niki

After two lots of Baytril bleeding has stopped again, as he isn't showing signs of pain etc I am beginning to think it is a problem with him marking the cage.

He is on towels and vet bed at the moment - so I will see how he goes.

Karen