blood in urine

Question
QUESTION: I observed that two out of three of my guinea pigs has some red substances in
their urine. Part of it is red but part is not. Are my guinea pigs sick?

ANSWER: Hi Jessica,

Yes, they are. But don't panic - whilst blood in the urine can be a sign of serious conditions such as bladder or kidney stones, it can also be the sign of a mild urine condition. Keep your guinea pigs' fluids up - try mixing fresh pineapple juice and water in a second bottle as this will help fight off infection - and take all three of them to the vet as soon as you can get an appointment.

Find a specialist small animal or exotic pet vet if you can. If you are in the UK, you can find a list of accredited small animal hopsitals using the "find a vet" online service, or call the Cambridge Cavy Trust and ask Vedra where your nearest rodentologist lives.

Good luck and I hope you've caught whatever it is nice and early - well done for checking on them regularly :o)

If you have any other questions, just ask.

Jenny.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i have given them cucumber for the past two days. their urine has less
concentration of blood. can only see a bit. does that means he is getting better
or ok?

Answer
Hi Jessica,

The lower concentration of blood will be because cucumber has a high water content and so they are urinating more often. Whilst the lower concentration will make going to the toilet less painful for your piggies, I strongly suggest you still seek expert vetinary advice to treat the cause.

Best wishes,
Jenny.