Is there any odor? I think you know some foods can cause urine discoloration. I think if it is more concentrated, you might see more discoloration. Urine will sometimes turn orange/dark brown from porpherines in the urine too. But I trust that what you are seeing is abnormal for her. I hope she managed okay. Syringing some water a couple times a day might help.
What antibiotics are you giving? If it is trimethoprim sulfa methoxizole (Bactrim), it might still be of benefit if there is any low grade infection.
Generally small poops indicate not eating enough.
Millie (born 26 july 2019)
Piggies are on wood pellets with fleece so it is difficult to see urine. I don’t see any spots on the fleece, but they do have a “kitchen area” that is stainless steel or aluminium (or something like that) tray filled with wood pellets. Millie often pees on its edge and that is where I found/find the blood. The brown might be from a reaction with the stuff the tray is made of, the last time it was not a super fresh puddle I soaked up with a q-tip to have a better look.
When I first noticed the blood her pee smelled rather sweet. Now I sometimes smell just a pee smell, nothing horrible. I smell her butt too, nothing horrible there either.
She is still her happy self, has been all this time. She drinks enough on her own I think, more than my other piggie. And though she is a slow(ish) eater, she does eat. Her weight is holding steady.
For now she isn’t on any antibiotics anymore, her last dose of enrobactin (a very strong antibiotic) was yesterday.
I am thinking about getting some urine testing strips so I can check for blood myself, probably cheaper than having it done at the vet.
When I first noticed the blood her pee smelled rather sweet. Now I sometimes smell just a pee smell, nothing horrible. I smell her butt too, nothing horrible there either.
She is still her happy self, has been all this time. She drinks enough on her own I think, more than my other piggie. And though she is a slow(ish) eater, she does eat. Her weight is holding steady.
For now she isn’t on any antibiotics anymore, her last dose of enrobactin (a very strong antibiotic) was yesterday.
I am thinking about getting some urine testing strips so I can check for blood myself, probably cheaper than having it done at the vet.
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
For the time being is there any way to use fleece instead of wood pellets so you can see for sure if there is blood or dark color? Have there been any tests for kidney function? I don’t know about guinea pigs, but people and dogs can have dark urine when the kidneys are struggling.
I hope she continues to feel good.
I hope she continues to feel good.
I have been using my lightest colour fleeces and I haven’t spotted any discolouration on them. Now my piggies, and especially Millie, are semi potty trained. They often hop into the kitchen tray, do their business and hop out again. Hence the blood showing up on the edge of the tray.
I will take Millie out tomorrow morning and pop her into a plastic tray until she has a pee, that should give me a proper look at her pee again. Might have to just do this more often for a while.
I haven’t had her blood checked for renal issues, mostly because there isn’t much to be done if her kidneys are not working properly. The vet did say she was much too vibrant to have any major kidneys issues right now. She put up quite the fight for such a tiny piggy.
I will take Millie out tomorrow morning and pop her into a plastic tray until she has a pee, that should give me a proper look at her pee again. Might have to just do this more often for a while.
I haven’t had her blood checked for renal issues, mostly because there isn’t much to be done if her kidneys are not working properly. The vet did say she was much too vibrant to have any major kidneys issues right now. She put up quite the fight for such a tiny piggy.
Oops, never replied to the bell pepper question. Yes, she does get red bell pepper. That might have contributed.
But… there seems to be a clear pattern forming with blood in the cage. It looks like it happens almost every time she goes into heat, which happens about every 18 days, give or take a day.
I have only started to write it down since July 22, but it happened again on August 10 and today August 28.
Mostly a drop here and a bit of a smear there. I think piggies lose more blood when accidentally clipping a nail too short.
The blood is bright red and there is no wrong smell coming from Millie’s bottom. Her behaviour isn’t affected, besides rumblestrutting a bit more due to being in heat.
Right now I am not really worried, but I will keep monitoring her.
But… there seems to be a clear pattern forming with blood in the cage. It looks like it happens almost every time she goes into heat, which happens about every 18 days, give or take a day.
I have only started to write it down since July 22, but it happened again on August 10 and today August 28.
Mostly a drop here and a bit of a smear there. I think piggies lose more blood when accidentally clipping a nail too short.
The blood is bright red and there is no wrong smell coming from Millie’s bottom. Her behaviour isn’t affected, besides rumblestrutting a bit more due to being in heat.
Right now I am not really worried, but I will keep monitoring her.
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