You hear a lot about guinea pigs and poop, as your sweet furballs poop a grand total of 100 times a day! But that’s not the only thing that piggy pawrents end up cleaning after…
On average, guinea pigs pee every 15 minutes, requiring you to spend just as much time changing bedding soaked in urine. Like poop, guinea pig’s urine can tell us a lot about the health of your furry friends. The most common pee-related health issue is a urinary tract infection, and like most things related to piggies and health, spotting the signs early can be life-saving.
So let’s take a look at the symptoms of urine infections in guinea pigs, what the different colours of urine tell us about your piggy’s health, and what are the signs of bladder stones in guinea pigs.
Urinary Tract Infection in Guinea Pigs
Urine infections in guinea pigs are quite common, especially in female guinea pigs, as their urethras are shorter. However, any piggy can be affected by it, since their short legs keep them close to bacteria on the ground. That’s why it’s so important to remember to clean your guinea pig bedding weekly, to prevent them from spending too much time sitting on urine-soaked liners.
Symptoms of Urine Infection in Guinea Pigs
The most common symptoms of UTI in guinea pigs are blood in the urine, incontinence, and discomfort when peeing. You might notice your piggy squeaking in pain when urinating.
These signs call for a vet visit - the earlier you catch a urine infection, the sooner your piggy can feel better and avoid the worsening of symptoms!
How to Prevent UTIs in Guinea Pigs
The best way to prevent a urine infection in guinea pigs is to keep your piggies dry. This means frequently replacing dirty bedding, and ensuring that your piggies clean their bottoms (checks are required if your piggy is a senior, as they might need help with their cleaning routine). You can use pet-safe wipes to clean any excess poop or urine deposits that remain on their fur. And if they’re particularly dirty, you can also bathe the bum area with a pet-safe shampoo, but no more than 2 to 4 times a year.
Fleece liners are great to prevent UTI in guinea pigs as they trap urine between layers, keeping the top layer that comes in contact with piggies dry. Other bedding is more likely to remain soaked until replaced, and can’t be reused after a simple machine wash.
How do you treat a urine infection in guinea pigs?
Once your vet confirms that your guinea pig has a UTI, they will provide an antibiotic and a painkiller that should relieve them of their symptoms. If the vet discovers that your guinea pig has bladder stones, and they’re too large to pass, they will need to undergo surgery to remove them.
Bladder Stones in Guinea Pigs
Another issue that affects the urinary tract of guinea pigs is the formation of bladder stones. You can find out if your piggy has bladder stones by looking at the colour of their pee, which will be white and grittier in texture. While this is the excess calcium, which is common to see, it can be a cause for concern if accompanied by other symptoms. Signs of bladder stones in guinea pigs include difficulty peeing, discomfort when peeing, and blood in the urine. If you notice these symptoms, don’t hesitate to bring your piggies to the vet!
You can prevent guinea pigs’ bladder stones by feeding them a diet low in calcium and promoting regular exercise outside of the cage. Hand out veggies high in calcium in moderation, and if you live in an area with hard water, it can also help to filter the water before you give it to your furry friends.
What Colour Should Guinea Pig Urine Be?
The colour of your guinea pig’s urine can tell you a lot about their health. You’ll be able to notice any changes by looking over their bedding and pee pads, and checking the fur around their urethra for any dry deposits of urine (common with calcium excess). The normal colour of guinea pig urine is clear, light yellow. If you see that, you know you have no reason to worry! Here, instead, are a few different urine colours that may require a vet visit:
Cloudy and White Urine - A guinea pig’s white urine happens when your pet is expelling excess calcium, which appears chalkier in consistency. This indicates that their diet might be too high in calcium, so keep an eye on what vegetables your guinea pigs eat to balance their nutrients!
Brown Urine - Brown urine in a guinea pig can be a sign that your furry friend needs to drink more water. But if the pee turns brown only once it dries out, it’s completely normal!
Orange Urine - Orange urine in guinea pigs can be normal if it has turned this colour when drying out, or a sign of dehydration. Try feeding them some veggies high in water, like cucumber, and make sure you’re providing plenty of water sources around the cage. If they keep not drinking, a trip to the vet is a must!
Pink or Red Urine - Pink or light red urine can indicate guinea pig blood in the urine. This should be checked by a vet as it could point to an infection. However, some fruits and veggies can affect the colour of your piggies’ pee, like beetroot. So think about what they recently ate before you start to worry!
How do you clean pee from guinea pig fleece liners?
We recommend you wash fleece liners for guinea pigs once a week. But more frequent washing might be required if you have a big herd! Check the bedding in your daily spot clean, and if any liners appear particularly soaked, don’t hesitate to put them in the wash and replace them with clean bedding. By leaving any soaked bedding in their cage, you’re exposing your furry friends to bacteria that can lead to infections.
You can also place pee pads in “high traffic” areas (where every piggy sleeps or eats), use potty-proof pads when they're out of the cage, and add a litter tray for guinea pigs to their enclosure to contain some of the mess. This will save your liners from having to be washed so frequently!
How do you keep guinea pigs hydrated?
Guinea pigs need access to unlimited water at all times. You can give them water with a bowl or a water bottle, which one you choose is down to personal preference. We recommend using a guinea pig water bottle as it limits spillage and keeps the water fresh.
It’s best to add a few bottles or water bowls to minimise bickering and encourage drinking, especially if you have multiple male piggies in the cage. And regardless of whether you choose a guinea pig water bottle or a bowl, clean them & refill them daily alongside their food bowl.
How long can guinea pigs go without water?
Guinea pigs shouldn’t go without water for more than 8 hours. Any longer and they’ll be at severe risk of dying from dehydration. If you notice that your piggy has stopped drinking, consult your vet.
Conclusion
Urine infections in guinea pigs are common, especially in female piggies. Spotting the signs early can help reduce discomfort for your piggies and potentially stop the infection from causing bladder stones. As with everything, prevention is key, so keep their bedding and cage clean to limit the chances of your furry friends developing a UTI or any other health issues.
You can make prevention easier by choosing an enclosure that is simple to clean, like a C&C guinea pig cage, and bedding that absorbs moisture, like fleece liners for guinea pigs.
