How to know if your guinea pig has a urinary tract infection

With their short legs, guinea pigs live very close to the ground, which makes it easy for them to pick up bacteria that may be in their droppings or wet bedding. The bacteria can enter into the urethra and cause a urinary tract infection. Knowing the symptoms of a urinary tract infection in guinea pigs, and getting prompt treatment, can make all the difference in your pet's quality of life.

Things You'll Need

  • Veterinarian
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean your guinea pig's cage at about the same time as you usually do--in other words, if you suspect a urinary tract infection, don't go looking for evidence in two days if you usually clean the cage weekly. If you stick to your usual schedule, you'll be more likely to spot urinating behavior that's abnormal for your pet, which could indicate an infection.

      While cleaning, take note of whether there is more urine in the cage than normal. Also note if you see blood in the urine, or if it appears cloudy or dark. These are signs of a urinary tract infection.

    • 2

      Check to see if your guinea pig is drinking more water than normal. If you usually refill the bottle every other day and now you're filling it daily, it may indicate a problem because guinea pigs drink more when they have an infection.

    • 3

      Take your guinea pig out to play and note any abnormal behavior. Depression and lethargy are common in guinea pigs with urinary tract infections. Try to interest your guinea pig in a favorite toy or treats and note if it is slower to react or just seems plain uninterested.

    • 4

      Pay close attention to your guinea pig throughout the day. Try to watch while it is urinating and notice if it expresses any signs of pain, such as squeaking or squealing. You may also notice that your guinea pig squats frequently to urinate but is unsuccessful in getting the urine to pass.

    • 5

      Take your guinea pig to the veterinarian as soon as you suspect it is suffering from a urinary tract infection. Delaying treatment can be dangerous to its health. Urinary tract infections can spread to other organs and cause complications as well as permanent damage. Eventually an untreated urinary tract infection could kill your guinea pig.