Penny's Med Thread

[ellisa]

I just went to bring the pigs their dinner, and in the corner of the cage near the hay rack I noticed a wee bit of what appears to be blood. I checked out the pigs, and Penny's vagina looks to have some brown discharge and the slightest bit of blood on a few of her hairs.
I'm pretty sure she is in heat, so I'm wondering if spotting can happen when a sow is in heat. Or maybe she was having some sort of rough sex with my neutered male?
It doesn't appear to be blood from a UTI. She hasn't been making any sounds when peeing. Her weight has remained the same and she has been her usual self. I'm freaking out though, because all the vets are closed for the day. It must have just happened. I left the house for an hour and it wasn't there before I left. It must have happened sometime when I was out.

Here are some pictures:

 

[ellisa]

I just had a thought. Could she have poked her vagina with a hard strand of hay? Or does that sound too crazy?

 

[mommmyof2]

I just had a thought. Could she have poked her vagina with a hard strand of hay? Or does that sound too crazy?

She could have. It is possible. Just keep an eye on it and if it continues to bleed then try calling a vet tomorrow

 

[bpatters]

Bleeding during heat is not normal for guinea pigs. I don't know that it requires an ER visit, unless she's acting sick or in pain, or appears to go downhill during the weekend. But I'd definitely take her to an exotic vet as soon as I could get an appointment.

 

[ellisa]

Yeah, I have never read anywhere that spotting during heat was normal. Since she's my first sow I just thought I would ask.
It came on all of a sudden. She doesn't seem sick or anything. She's been running around all hyper and like her usual self all day. I wonder if it actually could be a hay poke?

 

[bpatters]

I really doubt that it's a hay poke.

 

[ellisa]

Ok, thanks Billie.
I just had another good look at her lady bits. I gave it a wash off so when I check again later I will know if there is any new stuff. I had a good look, and I can't see anything wrong. I'm perplexed.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Ditto bpatters.

It could be a reproductive tract issue.

 

[ellisa]

Could it have been part of her plug?

[MENTION=13918]foggycreekcavy[/MENTION], what kind of reproductive problems could this be?

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Pyometra or a bleeding cyst.

 

[ellisa]

Ok, thanks foggy.

 

[ellisa]

There's a bit more blood in the cage now. I'm going to call the vet in the morning when they open. Hopefully we will be able to get in tomorrow because I really don't want to wait until sometime next week.

 

[EverGreenly]

I'm sure that it would constitute as an emergency. My vet has slots open daily for emergencies.

 

[ellisa]

There was a bit more blood in the cage this morning. I called as soon as the vet clinic opened and thankfully they told me to come in an hour from now. It's Canada Day weekend so I was worried that we wouldn't get in. Our usual vet isn't in so we'll be seeing her partner. Hopefully that should be OK.
I'm really worried. She's been eating, popcorned around, and has been wheeking, so that's a good sign. I just hope it's nothing too serious that's causing the bleeding.

 

[mommmyof2]

Awww Good luck at the vet. I hope everything turns out ok and it's nothing serious.

 

[ellisa]

Just got back from the vet.
Penny is now on a Baytril suspension. The vet wasn't sure if the bleeding is related to a hormonal problem or not. She's not our usual vet, so she looked through all of her books and online. She was very good, though, and gave Penny a thorough exam. She thinks it's an infection due to her slight fever. If the Baytril doesn't show improvement in the next few days we are to go back in for x-rays.
It's so hard to figure out since other than the bit of blood and fever she is acting like her usual self. I also haven't seen any recent blood.
Fingers crossed that she doesn't go off of her food from the Baytril!

 

[ellisa]

Yes, I'll be giving her a probiotic. I always do when I give ABs. I just crack open a human acidophilus pill and sprinkle some on veggies. I've had pigs go off of their food while giving a probiotic, though. I'm hoping that won't happen.

 

[Paula]

You might consider trying this probiotic. For some reason it seems to taste like candy to guinea pigs and they can't get enough of it. I've used it for years and have yet to find a pig who doesn't love it.

Make sure you give it 45 minutes to an hour before the antibiotic. It's always worked really well for me to give the probiotic, then feed them their meal, then give the antibiotic.

 

[ellisa]

Thanks, Paula! I will look into getting that probiotic.

Edit:
Darn, I can't find that kind on amazon.ca and it I can't order it from amazon.com. I'm not sure if they sell that kind in the health shop here, but since it's Canada Day weekend all the stores have shorter hours. Hopefully she will be ok on the probiotics I'm using for now.

 

[Paula]

It's Nature's Life Garden acidophilus if you do a google search. I have a couple stores that carry it but usually find better deals online.