Worried about Phoebs - **good news!**

[babyboos]

Oh they really can make us worry - evil minxes at times. Have you tried moving her house down there?

[Emma]

Yup. Just after I posted, I moved some of her bedding down there, and she made herself a nest and went to sleep. Finally!!! When I got up this morning, she was awake but sitting in her nest quietly. Now I've come home (no lectures 11-2 today ) she's got up and is being very active again!! Her body clock must be all messed up. She's behaving less strangley than yesterday though, she's now using all the cage, seems to be exploring, chewing, moving things around. Yesterday it was the aimless pacing that was worrying me.



One thing - her wee has gone quite orangey - but she had half a cherry tomato yesterday so that might explain?



Yes, I am THAT sad that I will take pictures of wee when it looks interesting! I think it's probably normal, its just usually paler more creamy yellow. Don't have urinalysis sticks at home to test it which I'd like to - really should get some of those.

[Skwee]

I'll be able to post some soon if you are still worried Goodness knows what I'm going to do with 50 Diastix and 50 Ketostix!

[Emma]

Thanks - although it'd be multistix I'm after, they do lots of things. I have ketostix in!!! Loopy me.



I've posted that picture on a vet website to see if I can get an expert opinion.

[babyboos]

It may be a sign of a urine infection (if reddish tint in pee is from blood) though she would look a little uncomfortable usually if she was suffering from this - it could just be the tomato, or she could be going through the menopause... Do let us know what they think.

[Emma]

Well worry got the better of me!! I got a Multistix from university and tested Phoebe's urine, it showed positive for blood and protein and also had a very low specific gravity (meaning it was very dilute). She was showing strange behaviour again - the pacing and also burying herself in litter and squirming - so she came into see a clinician at uni with me. She thought the same as me, possible urine infection, so Phoebs is on Baytril for 5 days and I also have some painkiller to give if I feel it is necessary. Phoebe has actually been behaving pretty normally since we got back so I haven't given that yet but its good knowing I have it here.



It was quite reassuring that the university vet wasn't any surer than I was about whats going on!! Fingers crossed Phoebe improves, if she's still doing this in 5 days then we go to imaging to look for pyometra or bladder stones. But I've got a gut feeling it's just mild UTI.



The vet complimented me on Phoebe's good condition

[babyboos]

Oh I do hope so too Emma I would be expecting more discomfort if it were bladder stones.

[souffle]

Glad to hear your mind is at rest now she is examined & on treatment. It is hard to tell what is wrong with our tinies sometimes. Get well soon Phoebe

[Emma]

Well, good news and bad news! Phoebe has improved in herself although still does not seem 100% to me, I've left her off pain medication for a few days and her behaviour is definitely improved.



However I re-checked her urine today, and it is still abnormal, in fact even more blood than last week.



We're a bit puzzled, and we're going to ultrasound her tomorrow - she doesn't need anaesthetic for this so there's very little downside. We're not quite sure what to look for though, as it's not a very common thing to do!! The ultrasound department agreed to do it though on the grounds that she doen't bite through any wires - which she had better not do as these things are worth four figures.



So, she's doing better in herself but I'm still worried :s going to try and speak to the US experts again about whether hamster urine affects dipsticks differently.

[babyboos]

Oh Emma fingers crossed, I was hoping she would be well enough to come to Birmingham at the weekend It is sounding more like stones than a UTI but the ultrasound will hopefully show something up