Introduction

Discovering unusual urination in your guinea pig can be alarming. It’s vital to know what’s normal to effectively prevent and address health issues. Our guide offers a deep dive into understanding your guinea pig’s urinary health, with a quick video for easy insights. Plus, don’t miss our Guinea Pig Poop Chart for a complete health assessment.

Be sure to enhance your pet care with our Premium GuineaDad Liner, designed to make detecting changes in guinea pig pee and poop color, ensuring a comprehensive health assessment.

You are viewing: Why Is My Guinea Pigs Pee White

(Note: This post was originally published on 8/2/2022 and has been completely updated and revised for accuracy and comprehensiveness as of 2/7/2024.)

3 Types of Normal Urination

Guinea pigs’ urine can vary in color, but three types are generally considered normal and not a cause for concern. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Clear/Light Yellow Urine: This is typical and healthy, often appearing milky due to the natural expulsion of calcium and other minerals.
• Orange Urine: Common and not alarming, especially in young males. This can occur from natural chemical processes in the body after exposure to air.
• Pinkish/Reddish: Often a harmless result of diet, including certain vegetables and fruits. Monitor for a few days to confirm no health issues are present.

2 Types of Abnormal Urination

When it comes to guinea pig health, not all urine signs are benign. Recognizing abnormal urination is key to addressing potential health issues early. Here are three types of abnormal urination that warrant attention and may require a visit to the vet. This overview will help you identify when something is amiss with your pet’s health.

• White Urine: Indicates a potential excess of dietary calcium, leading to gritty residue that could harm the bladder. Adjusting the diet for balance is recommended.
• Dark Red Urine: Suggests possible internal bleeding, potentially from urinary stones or kidney issues, necessitating immediate veterinary attention.

Diseases and Illnesses

A veterinary check-up is crucial for diagnosing and treating your guinea pig’s health issues effectively. Recognizing symptoms early aids in addressing potential problems. This section covers common conditions affecting guinea pig urine, underscoring the importance of professional assessment for accurate treatment and recovery.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI):

Urinary tract infections are a type of bladder infection caused by bacteria from the skin, fur, or anus entering the urethra and beginning to multiply.

Read more : Why Do Authors Use Pseudonym Names

Some symptoms can include difficulty and pain during urination, blood in the urine, lack of appetite, weight loss, fever, and lethargy. Your guinea pig’s veterinarian may run a urinalysis and get an x-ray to diagnose and begin treatment properly.

Reoccurring infections are common and can lead to more severe symptoms and permanent damage to the urinary tract.

Urinary Calculi / Urinary Stones

More commonly referred to as urinary stones, this calculus is primarily made of calcium carbonate, though several other salts and minerals can also form them. These urinary stones, if left untreated, can cause severe pain and discomfort, infections, blockages, and permanent damage to the urinary tract.

The cause of this condition is not well understood but is associated with genetic predisposition and high calcium diets. These ‘stones’ are sometimes dissolved with medication or removed with a non-surgical procedure, but larger stones may require surgery.

Some experts suggest using a Chinese herb, “shilintong,” for pain and inflammation, noting it should be administered with care following veterinary advice.

Kidney Disease

Also known as renal disease, this condition is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function over time. It is most common in older guinea pigs and can cause severe thirst, dehydration, weight loss, excess urination, depression, and even sudden death.

The causes of kidney disease are not clear, but vascular disease, autoimmune disease, chronically triggered immune responses, infectious agents, and ingestion of plants containing oxalate are all contributors.

Poorly Balanced Diet

We already know that some fruits and vegetables turn urine orange and that excess calcium can make urine white and gritty, but your guinea pig’s diet is more important than the appearance of the urine alone.

Read more : Why Is Ashley Madison So Expensive

The nutritional balance of your pig’s diet determines their overall health. Guinea pigs may have abnormal droppings, weight loss or gain, change in appetite, dehydration, and loss of energy when eating a poorly balanced diet.

Additionally, pigs who do not get enough vitamin C through their diet can develop scurvy. (To find out more about scurvy in guinea pigs and how to prevent it, click here!)

What to Expect for Treatment

The best treatment for your cavy will depend mainly on your veterinarian’s findings and your pet’s official diagnosis. Some issues, such as a urinary tract infection or a poorly balanced diet, are relatively easy to correct or cure.

Your veterinarian can help ensure your guinea pig gets enough vitamin C and just enough calcium to fix a poorly balanced diet. (Check out our GuineaDad Rosehip here that contains a lot of vitamin C needed by guinea pigs!)

A urinalysis can determine the type of bacteria causing issues in the urinary tract so that the proper antibiotics are prescribed. Health conditions such as urinary calculi and kidney disease are more serious, difficult to treat or manage, and detrimental to your cavy’s quality of life.

Urinary calculi, or uroliths, can cause painful blockages along the urinary tract, often requiring removal through surgery. Because kidney disease can occur in treatable and non-treatable forms, management such as a balanced diet, fluid therapy, nutritional support, and medication are necessary.

If you notice abnormal urine from your guinea pig, especially if it contains blood, you should promptly contact your veterinarian for advice and treatment for your furry friend !

If you liked this article, click the links below to find out more about :How to Keep a Guinea Pig Cool in SummerGuinea Pig Poop Chart

Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY