Red urine / hematuria

Bloody urine (hematuria) can be seen in guinea pigs. Cases of bloody urine in guinea pigs often turn out to be normal guinea pig urine which is simply a deep red color due to the excretion of plant pigments within the diet. True cases of blood in the urine are often due to stones/sludge within the urinary tract, cystitis, uterine adenocarcinoma (tumors), polyps or abortion.

Red urine is observed in guinea pigs, and although it can be caused by plant pigments and does not affect the animal’s health, it can also be caused by a urinary tract problem. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and dandelions will often result in the excretion of red urine. Normal guinea pig urine will vary from a pale yellow or clear color, through various orange and brown colors, right up to a deep red color. Guinea pig urine may also look cloudy due to the presence of calcium carbonate being excreted within the urine. Red urine is not a medical problem and usually returns to normal within one to three days, although it has been seen to take as long as three to four weeks before the urine returns to the pale-yellow color. You can always speak to your veterinary practice for advice if you are concerned.

Dark and/or very strong-smelling urine can result from heat stress or dehydration, so always ensure that your guinea pig has plenty of fluids, especially in the warmer months of the year when they may appreciate a water bowl to drink from as well as a water bottle. Most guinea pigs, given the choice, prefer a water bowl over a bottle. It enables a natural drinking method, doesn’t block, like can happen if the ball bearing jams in the bottle, and enables them to ‘quench’ their thirst easier than a water bottle. If using a bowl, you will need to replace the water more frequently as it is likely to get contaminated quickly. If your guinea pig frequently has dark or very strong-smelling urine, then it may be worth discussing this with your veterinary surgeon.

For obscure reasons red urine may occur due to any of the following:

• While on certain antibiotics.
• At the first cold snap in fall.
• After eating fir leaves.
• After eating carrots, spinach or other veggies containing beta carotene.
• Eating cabbage, broccoli and dandelions, especially if the guinea pig isn’t used to eating these.
• Sometimes there isn’t an obvious cause.

If your guinea pig appears well in themselves; is eating and drinking normally, active and bright, producing lots of normal droppings then do not panic when you observe a change in color of your guinea pig’s urine. Monitor the situation and if it doesn’t resolve then speak to your veterinarian for advice. If your guinea pig seems unwell in anyway then always consult your veterinary surgeon as soon as possible.

Blood in the urine is also known as hematuria.

True hematuria can occur due to disease anywhere within the urogenital system. An unspayed female guinea pig might show a bloody discharge from her vulva, or drops of blood after urination, which could be confused with urine; either of these occurrences could be a sign of uterine cancer. An un-neutered male guinea pig could have genital cancer or trauma which could cause blood to appear in his urine in either case you should take your guinea pig to see your veterinarian immediately. If two male guinea pigs live together, they may fight and can bite each other’s genitals which can cause blood to be seen.

Other causes or hematuria may result from calcium stones or sludge anywhere within the urinary tract system (kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra), cystitis, polyps or even abortion. All of these conditions need urgent veterinary attention as most are painful to the rabbit and life-threatening if not given immediate veterinary care.

When we see red urine, most of us worry about a bladder or urinary tract infection. However, actual blood in the urine is usually difficult to see with the naked eye. Blood in the urine usually appears as distinct areas of red (blood) within normal urine, whereas red urine appears as the whole amount of the urine being red in color. When due to kidney disease, straining to urinate may not occur, but straining is the most common sign of urinary bladder disease.

If you notice your guinea pig is straining, you should immediately clean the litter box/toileting area so you can determine if he is producing urine or not. If no urine is being produced this is an emergency and you must take your guinea pig to your veterinarian immediately.

Cloudy/white urine

Guinea pigs metabolise calcium very differently from other mammals such as dogs and cats. Whereas dogs and cats will only absorb the amount of calcium their body needs from their diet, guinea pigs absorb all of the calcium within their diet and excrete the excess through the urinary system. This is why guinea pig urine is often observed as being cloudy or white in color.

Passing cloudy urine can be normal for guinea pigs which are fed a high calcium diet or those guinea pigs which are slightly dehydrated. However, guinea pigs who are fed a high calcium diet are much more likely to develop stones or sludge deposits within their urinary system, which often require corrective surgery and can be impossible to rectify. There are many other precursors to developing urinary stones and sludge which go hand in hand with having a high calcium diet. Examples include obesity, inactivity, lack of opportunity to urinate and a dry diet lacking in grass and greens. The amount of calcium in the diet isn’t the most important or sole reason for these to develop.

It is recommended that guinea pigs are not given calcium supplements unless specifically stated by your veterinarian, and are not fed excessive amounts of alfalfa hay or vegetables high in calcium, such as carrot tops, spinach, water cress, kale or dark cabbages, etc.

It is not necessary to take your guinea pig to the veterinarian for the condition of red (pigmented) urine, unless your guinea pig is showing any other symptoms.

If you notice urine that is red or pink (orange is OK) and there are no other symptoms, you could wait until the next available appointment at your veterinary practice to ask them to test the urine for blood.

If your guinea pig is straining to urinate, he may only produce a drop or two of urine at a time because of the frequency with which he is attempting to urinate, if this is the case you should make an appointment for your guinea pig to see your veterinarian on the next available appointment. However, if your guinea pig is straining and isn’t producing any urine at all, there could be a blockage, which is an emergency, and you should take your guinea pig to see your veterinarian immediately to determine if there is a blockage. If there isn’t a blockage your veterinarian may want to perform further tests to find out what the problem is.

The guinea pig should be taken to the veterinary surgery if it is showing any signs of pain, eg hunched position or teeth grinding, anorexia, lethargy or weight loss.

Yes, your veterinarian can test a urine sample (urinalysis) to determine if there is blood within the urine.

If hematuria is diagnosed, then your veterinarian will want to determine exactly what is causing the blood in the urine.

This may involve taking x-rays of the abdomen to look at the bladder and associated ureters and urethra to look for stones or sludge, which show up very well on x-rays.

Ultrasound may be used to check for any changes in the bladder, ureters or kidneys.

If bladder stones are found, surgical removal is the considered the treatment of choice. Increasing the water intake and dietary changes including higher fibre and lower calcium intake can help decrease the risk of uroliths developing.

A urine sample may be taken and tested for bacterial growth and to determine what antibiotics would be most effective.

If your guinea pig is an entire female, then the veterinarian may do an ultrasound examination to look at the reproductive tract for any sign of tumours. If any growths are located, then it is advisable to take chest x-rays to look for any spread of the disease before embarking upon any surgery.

Blood tests may also be used to assess kidney function and to look at the blood cells.