PUPD Guinea pig

RE: PUPD Guinea pig

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 21:26:04 GMT

I use Pinmoore labs but to be honest most small animal labs will run GP bloods quite happily

RE: PUPD Guinea pig

Linda Filshie — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 18:41:16 GMT

Thanks Marie, especially for the blood sampling tip. I will give it a go! Is Idexx ok or are they best being sent to another lab?

No other abnormalities on dipstick, no recent husbandry changes that I am aware of but I will double check. Urinating fairly large volumes. The bladder expressed readily with no signs of discomfort when I examined him. Incisor occlusion was ok but I didn't check the molars - will do that when he is back in for his blood test

RE: PUPD Guinea pig

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 16:36:25 GMT

Any dental changes? Increased drinking is often seen with low level discomfort, the cool water seems to ease pain slightly. Appetite for greens and pellets can be maintained but hay intake will drop off.

Any changes in husbandry (including water source type, social group) or diet offered? Can the owner tell if urine is passed in normal volume or smaller amounts?

CRF is common in this age group but SG is pretty unexciting. I would still check bloods fir renal and hepatic function. Renal markers can be difficult to interpret- caecal bacteria will use urea as a food source so BUN doesn't show a rise until later in the course of disease. Calcium and phosphorous are often more useful early markers as both tend to go up. I usually use conscious sampling from the medial femoral vein as a first line-palpate arterial pulse in femoral triangle and go in just caudal.

I presume no other abnormalities on dipstick if done for glucose?

Marie