Guinea Lynx A Medical and Care Guide for Guinea Pigs

UTI

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Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Urinary tract infections are common in guinea pigs. Their short legs put them low to the ground where they are more likely to pick up bacteria from wet bedding and droppings.

The most noticeable signs of a UTI are:

Differential Diagnoses (other possible conditions)

What Your Vet Will Do

  • Your vet will examine your guinea pig and palpate the lower abdomen.
  • An x-ray (two views) may be taken to rule out bladder stones.
  • Your vet will collect urine or draw it directly from the bladder using a needle.
  • If there is no visible blood, the urine can be tested for the presence of blood.
  • A urine culture can help determine which antibiotics are most effective.

Treatment

UTIs are generally treated with a safe and effective antibiotic like Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) for two or more weeks. Many guinea pigs require longer treatment to clear up the infection and allow the bladder walls time to heal. Call your vet immediately if bleeding recurs after antibiotics are stopped. If your vet did not take an x-ray and the original signs you observed are still present while on antibiotics, be sure to have an x-ray taken immediately. Go Up

Prevention

Your goal is to keep your guinea pig as dry as possible to prevent infection.

  • Keeping the butt hairs of a long haired guinea pig trimmed may help.
  • Change bedding more frequently, especially areas that are wet (spot clean).
  • Look into polyester fabrics which reportedly allow the urine to drain through but stay dry.
  • Some people use a safe plastic grid flooring like Envirotiles (different from wire flooring) to keep the guinea pig from direct contact with urine. Go Up

Cranberry Juice

If your guinea pig has recurrent UTIs, try offering plain unsweetened diluted cranberry juice. Antibiotics are required to cure a UTI but cranberry juice may interfere with its development, cutting the incidence of UTIs in half.

Use only unsweetened, natural cranberry juice. Syringe feed or place in water bottle. Change bottle containing juice at least daily and preferably twice a day. Plain unsweetened cranberry juice is quite strong and bitter in taste. Dilute with water. Do not use human cranberry drinks sweetened with sugar, apple juice, or other juices.

Check your local health food stores for this product.

Blood in Urine

Urine sometimes changes to an orange color on standing (this may be the oxidation of porphyrins in the urine). When your guinea pig has blood in its urine, it will appear red or pinkish (if diluted). Blood dries a brownish color.Go Up

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