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Post by rustypete on Feb 6, 2022 9:05:05 GMT
Hello again
I’m worried that my guinea pigs are not peeing. I noticed this yesterday after cleaning them out. As after I had finished around 10am. When I checked on them later in the day I noticed none of there areas were wet where they pee. This morning when I went to check there was still no pee. Meaning they haven’t peed overnight.
There still pooping and eating as well and drinking. The only diffenrent with there poop is that it breaks for easily so slighty softer,
But as pigs ussually pee every 15 mins. I’m concerned something might be wrong. Am I right with thinking this I thought I’d check on here? (As none of my vets are open till tommorow as it’s Sunday)
The veg I give is kale, fennel, asparagus, bell pepper, lettuce (Romaine), different herbs like basil, parsley and sometimes carrot. (Not all on the same day). They always have hay. They get pellets as well in morning.
Do you guys know what this could be a sign off?
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Post by Bean on Feb 6, 2022 9:38:31 GMT
Do they seem otherwise healthy and full of energy? No signs of pain or straining? Are they drinking the same amount of water as usual?
If they're otherwise acting normally, my first thought is that maybe something they've eaten a bit more of is just naturally retaining more water in their poos, so they're weeing less.
If you were worried, you could get them out on your lap (on a towel) for a while (or in a carrier if they don't care to be petted much) you could see if they are actually weeing? Hopefully it will just be one of those random natural variations, but if there are other signs something isn't right, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or something like that.
I hope they're okay, please keep us posted.
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Post by rustypete on Feb 6, 2022 9:54:49 GMT
Do they seem otherwise healthy and full of energy? No signs of pain or straining? Are they drinking the same amount of water as usual? If they're otherwise acting normally, my first thought is that maybe something they've eaten a bit more of is just naturally retaining more water in their poos, so they're weeing less. If you were worried, you could get them out on your lap (on a towel) for a while (or in a carrier if they don't care to be petted much) you could see if they are actually weeing? Hopefully it will just be one of those random natural variations, but if there are other signs something isn't right, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or something like that. I hope they're okay, please keep us posted. They seem to be active and noisier (they used to be relatively quiet when being handled and don’t bite anymore but will squeal when I try to health Check them, I think this is just them saying they don’t want to be handled) . As for water they are still drinking ussual amount. I meant to say also yesterday I did watch them for an extra 30 mins in the afternoon and didn’t see them pee. I am also keeping an eye on them today.
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 6, 2022 15:40:22 GMT
If you see them drinking, and you know they're getting liquid from the veggies you give them, then consuming liquid isn't the problem. Usually with a UTI, they stop drinking and even eating because eliminating waste hurts too much. They also stop playing, because they are in constant pain. Just based on that, and the fact that Baz's boy, Zeke is being treated for a UTI, so the symptoms of UTI are fresh in my mind, it doesn't seem to be that. There are other reasons for blockages, stones and tumors, but they also cause a lot of pain, and you get happy, active pigs when they are in pain. The only thing I can recommend at this point is taking apart the cage to see if they're peeing in a different place, someplace not as easily observable as before.
You can pick them up and palpitate their bellies near their genitals. Very gently push down and release. If they squeal about even the lightest pressure in a certain area, you have more information than you have now. I would continue to do what you're doing, especially watching for negative changes in their behavior.
If you take them to a vet, the vet needs all the information you can provide, so everything you're doing with the health checks helps provide the vet with information.
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Post by Bean on Feb 7, 2022 8:16:20 GMT
It sounds like they are doing well, so keeping an eye on them sounds like the best plan. Hopefully you will soon feel reassured that all is well, or things will go back to normal.
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Post by rustypete on Feb 7, 2022 8:33:04 GMT
Update: still worried as still no pee and they have started to drink more water now. There also usually go for there pellets straight away in the morning. But weren’t interested in them today.
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 7, 2022 21:19:20 GMT
I would take them to the vet. We can guess, but that won't help them. If they're really off their food, and drinking heavily without peeing, something is wrong If nothing else, you need a vet to give them the all clear, and hopefully that won't happen without thorough checks to find any possible problems. All digits crossed for you to get it sorted.
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Post by Bean on Feb 8, 2022 8:24:54 GMT
Do they seem at all bloated or do their bodies look and feel the same as usual? If they weren't able to pass fluid, you'd expect some changes.
I don't suppose there's either anywhere the hutch could be leaking (so that if they're weeing in the same place, it's seeping out) or that they could be going against the front edge of the hutch where wee could leak out?
You know them best, so if you feel something isn't right, then it sounds like a check up would be the best plan. Good luck, hope they are okay.
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Post by rustypete on Feb 8, 2022 9:31:29 GMT
Do they seem at all bloated or do their bodies look and feel the same as usual? If they weren't able to pass fluid, you'd expect some changes. I don't suppose there's either anywhere the hutch could be leaking (so that if they're weeing in the same place, it's seeping out) or that they could be going against the front edge of the hutch where wee could leak out? You know them best, so if you feel something isn't right, then it sounds like a check up would be the best plan. Good luck, hope they are okay. I’ve only just woken up. So I’ll health check later. What confuses me is that as there not peeing. How can they poop? They are still eating veg & hay not pellets though.
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Post by rustypete on Feb 8, 2022 10:47:43 GMT
Update just health checked
Weight for Rusty is 712g & Pete 850g there between 6- 7 months
Pete does feel a lot heavier than usual. I
Rusty feels the same as normal.
my boys are males.
They didn’t squeal when held however when I was checking to see if there tiny private part won’t protrude and also they would would squeal when I tried to do that and felt around that area lightly. When they’ve been fine with me doing that before. Both do this. Can males get issues with their private bits?
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Post by rustypete on Feb 8, 2022 14:50:49 GMT
I would take them to the vet. We can guess, but that won't help them. If they're really off their food, and drinking heavily without peeing, something is wrong If nothing else, you need a vet to give them the all clear, and hopefully that won't happen without thorough checks to find any possible problems. All digits crossed for you to get it sorted. I gave an update, ^ as for appetite They are still eating hay and veg just not interested in their pellets
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Post by amber89 on Feb 8, 2022 18:53:19 GMT
Hi rustypete. It might sound as a stupid question, but have you checked also other corners of their enclosure? They might change their favourite places...mine do, sometimes the best spot in the cage is the big wooden house, sometimes it's below the hammock, sometimes is the upstairs. Also, what type of bedding do you use? Do they seem off to you? Meaning less active, their fur all risen up After so much time not peeing i would expect to see changes in their behaviour. As Bean and 3piggles said before, if your gut feeling is telling you that something is off, then better go and see a vet. These tiny furry potatoes like to hide their symptoms until the last moment and unfortunately can't speak to tell us what hurts them. You know your pets the best and if something feels off, then probably it is. Keeping my fingers crossed for your boys!
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 8, 2022 20:53:20 GMT
Considering they won't eat their pellets I would tend to thing tooth problems, stones, etc. All of which need a vet to resolve. Since both boys are protesting having their genitals palpated, it sounds like a guy thing. If it weren't for the not eating pellets and not peeing, I'd dismiss it as a guy thing. Their weights are good. I just don't know what to tell you. I'm totally stumped
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Post by rustypete on Feb 8, 2022 22:35:11 GMT
Hi rustypete. It might sound as a stupid question, but have you checked also other corners of their enclosure? They might change their favourite places...mine do, sometimes the best spot in the cage is the big wooden house, sometimes it's below the hammock, sometimes is the upstairs. Also, what type of bedding do you use? Do they seem off to you? Meaning less active, their fur all risen up After so much time not peeing i would expect to see changes in their behaviour. As Bean and 3piggles said before, if your gut feeling is telling you that something is off, then better go and see a vet. These tiny furry potatoes like to hide their symptoms until the last moment and unfortunately can't speak to tell us what hurts them. You know your pets the best and if something feels off, then probably it is. Keeping my fingers crossed for your boys! I’ve checked all there corners. I use hay, straw and sawdust as bedding. They’ve been a little less active but I thought this is either because of the weather or my housemate accidentally scaring them (as they live outside in a hutch due to my landlord) (my housemate is serverly autistic (doesn’t talk) so can be extremely loud and can be heard from the garden). Like with there veg they stopped eating halfway through and went to hide and then went back. But this was when my housemate was making a lot of noise. So I don’t know if this was a one off time or not As for fur rising up. I’ve always thought that’s just to tell his brother to go away or to stop humping etc..
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Post by rustypete on Feb 8, 2022 22:49:20 GMT
Considering they won't eat their pellets I would tend to thing tooth problems, stones, etc. All of which need a vet to resolve. Since both boys are protesting having their genitals palpated, it sounds like a guy thing. If it weren't for the not eating pellets and not peeing, I'd dismiss it as a guy thing. Their weights are good. I just don't know what to tell you. I'm totally stumped Thanks. I guess better to be on the safe side. With the pellets I find it weird how there not eating them but there still eating most of their veg. So I guess it’s possible for guinea pigs to get issues with their private parts.
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Post by Bean on Feb 9, 2022 8:18:01 GMT
If they had stones, it could cause local discomfort around their private parts. But yes, it's not uncommon for them to make a slight objection to having this area meddled with!
I've had a few issues with guinea pig boys' bits, but it's been more about semen drying and stopping them from cleaning themselves properly, and one time the inflammation stopped the penis from retracting properly. It's never caused any issues with weeing. It sounds like you were able to check this area out properly.
I know pellet consumption can change depending on energy demands, as staying warm takes a lot of energy. So if it's been milder, maybe they've just needed to eat a bit less? Or could it be the end of a bag and the pellets aren't quite as fresh and appealing as they were a few weeks ago? I'd probably do daily weigh-ins for now as if there's weight loss it'll give you a good idea that there is some problem with eating/ digesting or passing.
You're not describing anything about the boys' general health which is jumping out at me as a red flag, but if you feel something isn't okay, then you're probably right.
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Post by rustypete on Feb 9, 2022 8:38:21 GMT
If they had stones, it could cause local discomfort around their private parts. But yes, it's not uncommon for them to make a slight objection to having this area meddled with! I've had a few issues with guinea pig boys' bits, but it's been more about semen drying and stopping them from cleaning themselves properly, and one time the inflammation stopped the penis from retracting properly. It's never caused any issues with weeing. It sounds like you were able to check this area out properly. I know pellet consumption can change depending on energy demands, as staying warm takes a lot of energy. So if it's been milder, maybe they've just needed to eat a bit less? Or could it be the end of a bag and the pellets aren't quite as fresh and appealing as they were a few weeks ago? I'd probably do daily weigh-ins for now as if there's weight loss it'll give you a good idea that there is some problem with eating/ digesting or passing. You're not describing anything about the boys' general health which is jumping out at me as a red flag, but if you feel something isn't okay, then you're probably right. With there general health apart from being a little less active and not eating there pellets etc.. I guess the weather wasn’t as cold recently as It wasn’t the end of the bag, They seem fine. When fur rises up. I’ve thought that’s there way of telling the brother off.
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Post by rustypete on Feb 9, 2022 13:02:38 GMT
If they had stones, it could cause local discomfort around their private parts. But yes, it's not uncommon for them to make a slight objection to having this area meddled with! I've had a few issues with guinea pig boys' bits, but it's been more about semen drying and stopping them from cleaning themselves properly, and one time the inflammation stopped the penis from retracting properly. It's never caused any issues with weeing. It sounds like you were able to check this area out properly. I know pellet consumption can change depending on energy demands, as staying warm takes a lot of energy. So if it's been milder, maybe they've just needed to eat a bit less? Or could it be the end of a bag and the pellets aren't quite as fresh and appealing as they were a few weeks ago? I'd probably do daily weigh-ins for now as if there's weight loss it'll give you a good idea that there is some problem with eating/ digesting or passing. You're not describing anything about the boys' general health which is jumping out at me as a red flag, but if you feel something isn't okay, then you're probably right. I thought I’d update my previous page. I haven’t been to the vet yet. i was watching them for like 30 mins recently and both of them made a small sound almost like a small yelp (I don’t know how else to explain the sound) a couple times when arching their bottoms. There still eating veg. Though. But they still seem active only a little bit less. So I’m still confused
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 9, 2022 20:40:58 GMT
It could definitely be stones or a UTI. The arch/yelp is usually a sign of a UTI, but since their penis and anus are in the same place, it could be a problem with both. I would definitely take them to a vet. They need to pee to eliminate bodily waste, and to keep it from becoming toxic to them. If they really can't pee, they need medical help.
I agree with Bean. You've done all you can to find out what's going on. I really wish I could give you better advice, but a vet visit is the best I can manage. Good luck, and please keep us informed.
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Post by Bean on Feb 10, 2022 7:48:00 GMT
I agree with 3piggles, the yelping when they're passing would seem to suggest there may be an issue. I hope they remain otherwise well, and that you can get them checked out at the vets soon.
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