How do you treat kidney disease in guinea pigs?Involves intravenous fluids ( a drip) to rehydrate the animal and to correct the electrolyte balance and flush the toxins out of the body. In some cases hormone and antibiotic therapy is also required to stimulate the appetite and prevent or combat infections.
How can guinea pigs prevent urinary problems?
Increase the amount of low calcium fresh green leafy veggies fed to your pet.
Limit vegetables high in calcium.
Feed oaten or timothy hay. Avoid feeding lucerne hay (which is higher in calcium)
How do you prevent kidney stones in guinea pigs?You can start by making sure your guinea pig diet is the best it can be. Offer clean water and make sure your cavy is drinking it. More dilute urine has a less likely chance of forming stones. 2 Reduce the amount of high calcium-containing plants in your guinea pigs greens- like spinach and kale.
What can I give my guinea pig for kidney stones?You can get this balance by avoiding high-calcium foods, such as alfalfa hay, kale, dandelion greens, and spinach. A guinea pig’s diet ideally consists of unlimited amounts of timothy hay, which is low in calcium, along with a smaller amount of timothy hay-based pellets and fresh, leafy green or colored vegetables.
How do you treat kidney disease in guinea pigs? – Additional Questions
What foods are high in calcium for guinea pigs?
High Calcium Vegetables
Spinach: Spinach has a lot of calcium and oxalate.
Turnip Greens: Turnip greens are a good source of calcium.
Beetroot: Beetroot is a good food for guinea pigs.
Parsley: As an herb with a high calcium concentration, it should be fed once or twice a week to your guinea pigs.
Can I give my guinea pig cranberry juice?
Can I Give My Guinea Pig Cranberry Juice? Yes, you can give your little furry cranberry juice but it needs to be diluted with water and (preferably) an organic brand that doesn’t have a bunch of added sugar.
How do bladder stones dissolve in guinea pigs?
If the stone is still quite small, then it might be flushed out naturally with increased water intake, though at some pain to the pig. A low-calcium diet, medication, or other tips prescribed by your vet may prevent it from growing even further.
How do you know if your guinea pig has a kidney stone?
The most common symptoms we see are pain or vocalisation when urinating, blood in the urine, straining, lethargy and urinating small amounts frequently.
What foods cause bladder stones in guinea pigs?
Oxalate content is high in things such as spinach, parsley, celery and strawberries. Vitamin C can contribute to urinary oxalate levels. Vitamin C is important in the diet of guinea pigs as they cannot produce their own however high levels should be avoided in guinea pigs prone to calcium oxalate stones.
How do you get rid of bladder sludge in guinea pigs?
What can I do to prevent/treat bladder sludge?
Increase water intake.
More exercise.
Improve sanitary conditions and enclosure.
Eliminate packaged treats.
Offer a variety of grass hays and eliminate alfalfa from the diet.
Offer a grass hay-based pellet at recommended daily feeding amounts.
How do you flush a guinea pig’s bladder?
What does bladder sludge look like in guinea pigs?
This sludge comes out as powdery deposits on fleece and bedding ranging in texture from baby powder soft to salt-like coarseness. It is important to take a guinea pig to the vet if they are producing bladder sludge since it can cause an inflammation leading to UTIs or cystitis.
What should guinea pig pee look like?
Guinea pig urine is normally thick, cloudy and white in color due to the presence of calcium carbonate and ammonium phosphate crystals.
What causes kidney failure in guinea pigs?
Acute renal failure is deemed an infrequent, but usually fatal, disease of guinea pigs (5). Suggested causes include oxalic acid poisoning following ingestion of oxalate-containing plants, such as beetroot, spinach, and rhubarb (5,8).
How often should you clean guinea pig cage?
In addition to cleaning your guinea pig’s habitat & accessories completely once a week, spot cleaning should be done daily. Spot cleaning can be done by removing soiled litter and bedding with a small food or litter scoop.
What is the white stuff in my guinea pig’s cage?
The white spots in themselves shouldn’t cause you alarm; they’re just how your piggy naturally passes unwanted calcium through their urine. You’ll usually see white marks a day after a heavy calcium meal. While calcium is an essential mineral in your guinea pig’s diet, an overload of it can be harmful to their health.
How do I know if my guinea pig has too much calcium?
Adult Guinea Pig
Too much calcium in their diet can be detected by the vet with a urine sample and if there’s a severe build up of calcium and the urine is thick sludge this would show up on an xray.
What does too much calcium do to guinea pigs?
Too much calcium can lead to problems like bladder stones. Timothy hay is best for your Guinea Pig as an adult. It’s got a lower calcium content and is higher in fibre, so it’s the best choice.
Why do guinea pigs cry white tears?
If you ever see a milky-white substance being secreted from the corner of your piggies’ eyes, then this is perfectly normal and is actually a super clever way that guinea pigs groom themselves! This substance cleans their eyes and they also rub it onto their paws to then clean their faces.
What do guinea pigs do when they’re cold?
They’ll also shiver and huddle together (if you have more than one). Also, if your guinea pig sleeps most of the time (especially during the day), this is another indication they’re too cold. They are conserving energy by sleeping instead of staying active and moving around.
How do you know if a guinea pig is dying?
Signs that your guinea pig is dying include: breathing difficulties, lack of movement, and extreme weight loss. Other signs include: loss of appetite, fluctuating body temperature, and abnormal pulse rate.
