Help, I may have an ermergency.

**suzilovespiggie** · #1 10-22-05, 03:15 pm

My new piggie that I got last, is bleeding from her vagina area. It has water mixed with it. I have them in the bathtub for cleaning their cage, clipping nails etc. I just had her on my lap putting her and such and there was nothing.
Finished cleaning the cage and i went into the bathroom. On the paper is blood.
We inspected all 3 pigs and found nothing. Put them back on the paper and where she is sitting is the blood mixed with water. She is acting totally normal not in pain eating. I called the vet and he said she could be coming into heat.
He said if she is acting normal it may not be an ermergency. My daughter is in the room with her and it seems to be stopping. I'm frantic! Should I take her to the vet anyway? Is this normal? Is she pregnant? She is 8 months old.
Help! Suzi

**VoodooJoint** · #2 10-22-05, 03:19 pm

Deep breath, Calm down...she is most likely in heat. I doubt she is pregnant unless you have good reason to expect it.

Just to be safe keep an eye on her. If she's eating, drinking and moving around normally then most likely she is fine.

**JennG** · #3 10-22-05, 03:22 pm

What about an UTI? (I'll probably get yelled on this one but just let me know.) Anyways when I first got my girls, one of them was having bloody urine. Not too much but enough for me to notice. I couldn't figure out who it was. Someone that I work with has a friend who is an animal guru, she suggested putting alittle cranberry juice (no sugar added) into their water bottles for a few days. This actually cleared things up. I still don't know who it was but that was back in early August. You may want to try this. I didn't think that when the girls are in heat that they had a bloody show but I could be wrong.

PS All the girls acted and ate fine.

**suzilovespiggie** · #4 10-22-05, 03:33 pm

Ok, she has stopped bleeding. I have never had this happen before. Most of my pigs have been boys. My Maggie is a very old pig. This piggie, Matilda, like I said I just got last week. She is not fat. She came from a lady who had 20 pigs and gave them to another lady. Most were found homes. She and 2 boys were left. They were not kept together. The sight of blood panicked me.
I just fed them cilantro and she is eating and acting normal.
I will watch her. Should I keep her alone in the bathtub so I can tell if there's anymore? Should I get her non suger cranberry juice.?
Thanks guys!!!!

**JennG** · #5 10-22-05, 03:36 pm

VJ, what do you think about the juice? I don't think it would hurt. But we'll let the experts answer this one.

**suzilovespiggie** · #6 10-22-05, 04:40 pm

Another question? If Matilda is in heat, how long does it last and how long does she bleed?

**daftscotslass** · #7 10-22-05, 04:48 pm

It is a possibility but so is some sort of uterine infection. Can you get her checked by a vet just in case?

**amyjane** · #8 10-22-05, 04:57 pm

I've heard of trying cranberry juice for UTIs. The general concensus I've gotten from vets is that it probably won't work, but you can sure try it out. Guinea pigs have an alkaline urine so a little cranberry juice probably won't have an acidifying effect on the urine. Best to see a vet and get on antibiotics if necessary.

weaseldropping · #9 10-22-05, 05:01 pm

When my girls are living on wood-based bedding, it is occasionally pink where they wee, and I always assumed that it was some kind of a period-like mini-bleed.
They never seem any different, and I've never had any get on me - maybe some pigs are like people and just bleed more heavily than others? Not sure!

P.S. sorry to the boys for being a bit graphic - best you have some idea what goes on, though!

**suzilovespiggie** · #10 10-22-05, 05:07 pm

The bleeding seems to be stopped. I have watched her pee and it is now looking normal.
The vet is on call with me. I can bring her in anytime. I am watching her. Any change and I'm on my way. I can get cranberry juice tomorrow when I go to town. Do I put it in the water or do I give it to her by syringe? Will it hurt my other pigs?
I do believe I just turned more gray. Seeing blood, oh my gosh! My poor piggie.

**Ly&Pigs** · #11 10-22-05, 05:17 pm

Pigs don't bleed when they come into heat. It's either a UTI or a bladder stone. Get to the vet now.

**amyjane** · #12 10-22-05, 05:19 pm

This is just a thought, but I don't believe guinea pigs bleed during their cycle. Forgot to add that to my previous post. Only humans and and primates experience menstruation. Hematuria (or blood present in the urine) is more likely. You should probably bring your pig in for a quick urine analysis. Those are fairly inexpensive and can detect blood that might not be visible to your naked eye.

weaseldropping · #13 10-22-05, 05:20 pm

Genuine question here, Ly:
I have always assumed untreated UTI's or bladder stones were really serious requiring immediate vet treatment. My pigs are generally fine, so I guess these two problems can be excluded, but there is this occasional pinkness in the damp shavings. What do you think it might be?
I never noticed it when I just had boars.

Or rabbits!

**amyjane** · #14 10-22-05, 05:26 pm

Weaseldropping, while UTIs and stones are very much medical emergencies, there can be other causes of blood in the urine. Sometimes guinea pigs accumulate sludge in their bladder and it scrapes the urethral wall on its way out, resulting in a little blood.

**Ly&Pigs** · #15 10-22-05, 05:28 pm

Pink urine is a sign of blood in the urine. It can be a mild urinary tract infection, it could be from bladder sludge or stones, it could be a female problem. I would seriously consider having it checked by a vet. It's not normal for any sows to have pink in the shavings.

The only other possibility I can think of would be from something they have eaten.

**suzilovespiggie** · #16 10-22-05, 05:58 pm

I don't know anything about sludge. There at first appeared like a good amount of blood to me. About two inches long, 3/4 inch wide. She did 2 of those. Then it got less and less mixed with pee. Anyway, I am scared again. We are going to the vet. I will leave shortly. I don't want it any worse.

**Ly&Pigs** · #17 10-22-05, 06:12 pm

Not a great thing to have to do on your birthday (see my thread in GC when you get back) but she really needs to see the vet. I wish you luck Suzi. Keep us updated.

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