Owning a guinea pig is usually not high maintenance. That being said, it is still important to keep a close eye on your guinea pig in order to monitor their health and behavior. You should be able to notice changes in behavior which could signal a health problem.
In today’s article, we will discuss everything you need to know about guinea pig pee.
What does healthy guinea pig pee look like?
If your guinea pig is healthy, their pee should be a yellow or whiteish color. It is also normal for a guinea pig to have a cloudy color. This is a result of the high level of calcium in their diet.
A guinea pig’s pea can also be an orangish color. This can result from the red pigments from the plants that they eat. This is common if your guinea pig eats a lot of cabbage or broccoli. A guinea pig’s urine can also sometimes cause their pee to be a reddish color. Your guinea pig’s pee should return back to a normal yellow or white color after a few days.
However, if your guinea pig’s pee consistently stays red for longer than a couple days, then you might need to worry.
Why is my guinea pig’s pee red?
As stated earlier, your guinea pig’s pee might be red because of their diet. However, if your guinea pig’s pee stays red for longer than a couple days, it could be the sign of a medical issue. In particular, it is a sign that your guinea pig has traces of blood in their urine.
Your guinea pig could have blood in their urine as a result of a urinary tract infection. Additionally, they could also have developed kidney stones. If you suspect this is the case, you should keep a look out for other symptoms.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection and kidney stones
If your guinea pig has a UTI or kidney stones, it will be extremely painful when they pee. They might let out a cry of pain when they pee. They may also pee in very short streams. In some cases, they may even not pee at all.
A guinea pig suffering from these issues may also experience a loss of appetite. In extreme cases, they may become lethargic and lose their movement. If this happens, you should take your guinea pig to the vet immediately.
Other reasons your guinea pig’s pee is red
There are also other reasons why your guinea pig’s pee might be red. For example, if your guinea pig is pregnant, their pee might be red due to complications in their pregnancy. A male guinea pig might also have red pee as a result of genital cancer. If you suspect any of these, you should take your guinea pig to the vet immediately.
Should I be worried if my guinea pig’s pee is red?
For the most part, no, you should not be worried if your guinea pig’s pee is red. The only exception to this is if your guinea pig is displaying other symptoms of pain or illness.