Urine Pain on urination, vets don't know what's wrong!

[GuineaTV]

Dulcinea was vocalizing on urination - didn't sound painful but different than usual sounds. A urinalysis and X-ray (side view) did not reveal any concerns for the doctor.
Then, she started to sound more in distress and started to eliminate only in small amounts, if at all (at one point she seemed to try to urinate but didn’t). Her droppings were also few and sometimes small.
Now she's on Metacam and doing well. But, something was causing her great pain and we don’t know what! And, yesterday I heard her vocalization again. Going to a different vet this morning - hope they'll at least do a different view X-ray. No vet will talk to me without seeing her first, but it's so hard to get an appointment now even though I can literally come any time. They squeezed me in but I don't know whether I'm seeing their most guinea-pig-experienced vet.

What else should I ask for/suggest? A course of Bactrim? Ultrasound?

 

[bpatters]

Sounds like a stone to me, and I hope this new vet can find out what's wrong. I'd just relate the symptoms and see what they have to say.

But it's well worth while to seek out a good exotic vet so you've got one on tap when you need it. Small animal vet means they treat dogs and cats, not pocket pets, so you can look at their website for vet bios and see if they've got an exotic vet Or google "exotic vets" and the name of your city without the quotes, and you'll get a bunch of hits.

 

[GuineaTV]

Thanks! Yes, they have a couple of exotic vets at this practice, I just didn't catch who they said we'll be seeing (the receptionist gave next available dates late next week). If we aren't seeing one of them today, I'll ask if they can run her tests by one of the exotic specialists. The vet offices are running with skeleton crews right now.

There are a couple of places with very specialized exotic vets where I've heard both wonderful things (saved my pet!) and horrible things (waited in the parking lot for 4 hours, they charged me tons of money, and my pet died!). ARRGH!!!

Even back when I lived in the DC Metro area and went to a practice that was ONLY exotics, they made a mistake that ended up costing my pig his ear canal. So frustrating!!!

Anyway, hopefully they'll find something today!

 

[GuineaTV]

Oh wow, this place was amazing. D did see one of the exotics specialists. They were quick, had ideas, and managed to get a urine sample with no problem. They did X-rays, didn't see any stones or sludge, and are sending the urine out for a culture which is more thorough than the quick one at the previous vet. It can take 5-7 days to get results though. So they are giving her a course of Baytril (I would have gone with Bactrim but I didn't play Internet Doctor) and will call me with results of the culture and change antibiotics if necessary. And we'll see how she does. I'll be giving Bene-bac also. In a fit of panic this morning I also ordered KMS pellets and Sherwood urinary tabs. 'Cause why not give 'em a try.

If all goes well, we'll be trying to pair her with a friend once things are clear!

 

[GuineaTV]

Is there a place on this forum by state/area to recommend exotic vets? Guinea Lynx's list hasn't been updated in over 10 years and many of the practices have changed hands.

 

[bpatters]

Guinea Lynx's has been updated much more recently than that, because I helped update it. But we didn't have information about all the vets, and didn't get responses from all of them when we asked.

 

[GuineaTV]

Oh good! I'm just looking at New Jersey - I see that the websites were verified in 2016 - but the testimonials, except for one, are from over 10 years ago. Do you know if they'll take more recommendations for the page?

 

[bpatters]

Absolutely they'll take more. If you've got one to add, post over on GL and someone will put the info in the references.

 

[GuineaTV]

I will, I just need help joining their forum. I tried to do it but the form wouldn't accept my response. I'll contact them. I'm on a Facebook guinea pig group for my state so we're often recommending vets to each other.

 

[GuineaTV]

Dulcinea did well on the Baytril - took her off pain meds last week and no symptoms. Yesterday I heard her vocalize but sounding conversational again, so it's possible there was some other reason - continuing to monitor. No evidence of stones or bacteria was found in the diagnostics.