Mini Pig Urinary Tract Infections
If you are on any social network and mention a potty problem with your pig, odds are someone has mentioned the possibility of a UTI. UTI's are the result of an organism invading the urinary tract. This is actually more common than you probably think, however, a lot of UTI's likely go undetected and untreated. So how do you know if your pig has a urinary tract infection? What are the symptoms?
What is a UTI?
UTI, or urinary tract infection, is usualy a bacterial infection which has invaded the urinary tract, or the area where the urine comes out. UTI's that are left untreated can easily become more invasive and lead to bladder or even kidney infections. A UTI is much different than a blockage or stone (which is discussed on a separate page of the website) and can usualy be treated successfully with antibiotics. A recurrent UTI is a urinary tract infection that always seems to be present or one that keeps returning.
Females get them because the fecal flora obtains access to the urinary tract more easily in females than males. when pigs are in small areas, the feces has easy access to the vulva which can obviously lead to urinary tract infections. Even if a pig sits down on their butt or rubs their butts on the ground, its easy for that area to be contaminated. Cytology tests can provide information to differentiate between pyelonephritis, cystitis and bacteriuria. Broad spectrum antibiotics (tetracyclines, trimethoprim sulphas, fluorquinolones) are often needed cephalosporins, penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin have the propensity to be excreted by the kidneys and are effective in alkaline conditions, but not against E. coli. Sulphonamides are nephrotoxic and are inactivated by pus and necrotic debris. so the antibiotic of choice may not actually be curing the infection, but more masking the underlying cause if specific tests haven't been done to see what the actual invading organism is. Recovery is sometimes possible by simply increasing access to water which leads to a natural washing and correction of the urine pH. Cranberries are the natural remedy of choice and can be helpful, but if there is an actual infection, finding the underlying cause is most important.
Males get them because of the narrow passage in which the urine travels as well as the location of the opening being on the belly. This area commonly gets dirty and muddy increasing the chances of bacteria being able to invade the opening and infect the tract. Same things apply, cytology can differentiate between the types of infection and give clues as to what specific antibiotic is most appropriate for that particular organism.
Signs of UTI
Treatment
Treatment will vary depending on whether or not a sample is tested and what those test results are. Typically, a pig will repsond well to antibiotics, IF the right antibiotics are ordered. The problem is if specific testing isn't done, the infection may be temporarily masked leading you and your vet to believe the treatment was successful only to have recurrent urinary tract infections. The amount of water your pig drinks is also very important. Obviously the more water they drink, the more often your pig will need to urinate. However, consumption of water also flushes out the kidneys and helps to keep bacteria out of the actual tract. If a UTI isnt treated, this can lead to bladder and kidney infections which can complicate a situation tenfold.
If you believe your pig is experiencing symptoms of a urinary tract infection, ask your vet if you can bring a sample of urine to be tested. You can easily obtain a sample by holding a soup ladle behind or under your pig when your pig does urinate. The urine can be placed in a clean container, such as a pill bottle or tubberware container. (the storage choice MUST BE CLEAN and DRY or you will contaminate the sample) The fresher the sample, the more accurate the reuslts will be. In most cases, the urine sample needs to be less than 4 hours old unless your vet gives you other time limitations. If there is no urination at all, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY and you need to RUSH YOUR PIG TO THE VET for treatment. Urinary blockages are a completely different beast and must be treated immedicately. Click here to read more about that.
What is a UTI?
UTI, or urinary tract infection, is usualy a bacterial infection which has invaded the urinary tract, or the area where the urine comes out. UTI's that are left untreated can easily become more invasive and lead to bladder or even kidney infections. A UTI is much different than a blockage or stone (which is discussed on a separate page of the website) and can usualy be treated successfully with antibiotics. A recurrent UTI is a urinary tract infection that always seems to be present or one that keeps returning.
Females get them because the fecal flora obtains access to the urinary tract more easily in females than males. when pigs are in small areas, the feces has easy access to the vulva which can obviously lead to urinary tract infections. Even if a pig sits down on their butt or rubs their butts on the ground, its easy for that area to be contaminated. Cytology tests can provide information to differentiate between pyelonephritis, cystitis and bacteriuria. Broad spectrum antibiotics (tetracyclines, trimethoprim sulphas, fluorquinolones) are often needed cephalosporins, penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin have the propensity to be excreted by the kidneys and are effective in alkaline conditions, but not against E. coli. Sulphonamides are nephrotoxic and are inactivated by pus and necrotic debris. so the antibiotic of choice may not actually be curing the infection, but more masking the underlying cause if specific tests haven't been done to see what the actual invading organism is. Recovery is sometimes possible by simply increasing access to water which leads to a natural washing and correction of the urine pH. Cranberries are the natural remedy of choice and can be helpful, but if there is an actual infection, finding the underlying cause is most important.
Males get them because of the narrow passage in which the urine travels as well as the location of the opening being on the belly. This area commonly gets dirty and muddy increasing the chances of bacteria being able to invade the opening and infect the tract. Same things apply, cytology can differentiate between the types of infection and give clues as to what specific antibiotic is most appropriate for that particular organism.
Signs of UTI
- Cloudy urine
- Blood in urine
- Discolored urine (dark yellow/brown/various other colors)
- Particles in urine
- Lack of urination
- Straining when trying to urinate
- Painful urination
- Foul smelling urine (this is different from an intact pig urine smell)
- Lethargy
- Inappetance
- Fever (a baseline temp should always be known, but a fever in MY pig is > 102)
- "Forgetting" potty training/urinating in unusual places
- Weak urine stream (only a few drops at a time)
- Increased urination
- Decreased urination (holding the urine can result in UTI's too)
- Lack of interest in activites your pig typically enjoys
- Change in behavior
- Unwillingness to rise or get up
Treatment
Treatment will vary depending on whether or not a sample is tested and what those test results are. Typically, a pig will repsond well to antibiotics, IF the right antibiotics are ordered. The problem is if specific testing isn't done, the infection may be temporarily masked leading you and your vet to believe the treatment was successful only to have recurrent urinary tract infections. The amount of water your pig drinks is also very important. Obviously the more water they drink, the more often your pig will need to urinate. However, consumption of water also flushes out the kidneys and helps to keep bacteria out of the actual tract. If a UTI isnt treated, this can lead to bladder and kidney infections which can complicate a situation tenfold.
If you believe your pig is experiencing symptoms of a urinary tract infection, ask your vet if you can bring a sample of urine to be tested. You can easily obtain a sample by holding a soup ladle behind or under your pig when your pig does urinate. The urine can be placed in a clean container, such as a pill bottle or tubberware container. (the storage choice MUST BE CLEAN and DRY or you will contaminate the sample) The fresher the sample, the more accurate the reuslts will be. In most cases, the urine sample needs to be less than 4 hours old unless your vet gives you other time limitations. If there is no urination at all, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY and you need to RUSH YOUR PIG TO THE VET for treatment. Urinary blockages are a completely different beast and must be treated immedicately. Click here to read more about that.
My pig has discolored urine, what should I do?
Pigs can have unexpected colors in the urine that can indicate infection or it could be completely normal.
Pigs who eat lots of acorns in the fall can sometimes have brownish colored urine that will resolve once the acorns are removed from the area your pig is in. Acorns can cause kidney issues and you should not allow your pig to freely eat acorns. (Plus they're fattening to pigs)
Red color in the urine can indicate an obstruction, tear, stones, blood in the urine, bladder infection and many other things. Red typically means your pig needs to be seen by a veterinarian.
White colored urine- For female pigs: a certain amount of vaginal mucous and crystals in the urine is normal. As long as she is not urinating more frequently than normal, has no visible blood, and is not straining to urinate, there probably isn't much to worry about. However, if there is an unusual odor, pus, visibly straining to urinate or no urination, you need to take your pig to the vet to be seen or at the very least, a urine sample for a urinalysis. For male pigs: Again, a small amount of crytals in the urine is fairly common, however, boys can sometimes develop crystals too large to pass through the urinary tract causing urine retention and even bladder rupture. If your male pig is straining to urinate or isn't urinating at all, your pig needs to be seen...urgently.
This information does NOT replace your veterinarians advice or treatment. Should your pig need to be seen by a veterinarian, please follow your vet's advice and treatment plan.
Pigs who eat lots of acorns in the fall can sometimes have brownish colored urine that will resolve once the acorns are removed from the area your pig is in. Acorns can cause kidney issues and you should not allow your pig to freely eat acorns. (Plus they're fattening to pigs)
Red color in the urine can indicate an obstruction, tear, stones, blood in the urine, bladder infection and many other things. Red typically means your pig needs to be seen by a veterinarian.
White colored urine- For female pigs: a certain amount of vaginal mucous and crystals in the urine is normal. As long as she is not urinating more frequently than normal, has no visible blood, and is not straining to urinate, there probably isn't much to worry about. However, if there is an unusual odor, pus, visibly straining to urinate or no urination, you need to take your pig to the vet to be seen or at the very least, a urine sample for a urinalysis. For male pigs: Again, a small amount of crytals in the urine is fairly common, however, boys can sometimes develop crystals too large to pass through the urinary tract causing urine retention and even bladder rupture. If your male pig is straining to urinate or isn't urinating at all, your pig needs to be seen...urgently.
This information does NOT replace your veterinarians advice or treatment. Should your pig need to be seen by a veterinarian, please follow your vet's advice and treatment plan.