Guinea Pig Pee - What's Normal & What's Not?
👍 What's Normal
Colour: The normal colour of guinea pig urine is extremely variable, ranging from a clear to pale yellow colour, to orange (pictured), pink, and even light red.
Young males urine can often present as an orange colour, changing to brown as it dries. This is normal for young male guinea pigs.
The reason why all of these colours can be considered ‘normal’ is due to the wide variety of pigmented fruits and vegetables that guinea pigs love, where the pigments are then excreted out of the body through the urine.
Consistency: Normal urine is relatively thin and watery, without any unusual thickness or cloudiness.
Odour: Guinea pig urine has a mild odour. If you have a clean cage and fresh bedding, the smell shouldn't be overpowering.
Frequency: It's normal for guinea pigs to urinate frequently throughout the day.
👎 What's Not Normal
CLOUDY or CHALKY (Pictured): Occasional your piggy may pass cloudy, white or chalky urine, which indicates the presence of calcium. Calcium excretion through the urine is a normal process for guinea pigs, however when there becomes too much calcium (usually from high levels in their diet), the excess forms what is called 'sludge'. Sludge has a very gritty sand-like texture, and can be dense, heavy, and difficult for your piggy to pass. Sometimes this sludge will stick together forming small stones - known as uroliths or 'bladder stones' (more on that below!).
If you notice this on your piggies' bedding, try making adjustments to their diet to limit the amount of calcium they're eating to see if it improves. If this type of urine persists, it could indicate a risk of bladder stones and should be checked out by your exotics vet.
PALE RED OR PINK URINE: Certain foods can change the colour of your piggies' wee! Things like carrots, beets, dandelions, red cabbage or tomatoes can all affect your piggies urine colour, but just temporarily. But, pink or red urine can also indicate traces of blood in the urine, which might be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, or other serious conditions.
You can trial eliminating dark pigmented foods from your guinea pigs diet for 2-3 days to see if the red discolouration resolves, however if the symptoms persist or worsen, get your guinea pig to an exotics vet asap.
BRIGHT OR DARK RED URINE: This means there is blood in your guinea pig's urine and is a medical emergency. You will need to see an exotics vet as quickly as possible.
It is also important to note, female guinea pigs do not ‘menstruate’ or go into ‘heat’ like many other mammals, so any sign of blood is a concern.
ODOUR: A strong, foul-smelling urine could indicate an infection, like a UTI.
PAIN or DIFFICULTY URINATING: If your piggy appears unwell, seems pained, is urinating small droplets, has a hunched posture, is losing weight, teeth grinding or is not eating appropriately, veterinary care should be sought. If your guinea pig is straining with no urine production, this is an emergency and should be assessed by a vet ASAP!
Urinary Stones
Urinary stones, also known as uroliths or bladder stones, are common in guinea pigs and can form in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra.
These stones are typically composed of calcium salts and can vary in size. In severe cases, stones can lead to blockages, which are life-threatening.
Symptoms:
- Difficulty or straining to urinate
- Blood in the urine
- Small amounts of urine
- Pain or vocalising when urinating
- Lethargy or loss of appetite
Causes:
- High calcium intake in diet
- Genetics or breed predisposition
- Low water intake
- Urinary tract infections
Treatments:
- Dietary changes to reduce calcium intake
- Increasing water consumption
- Pain management with medications
- Antibiotics if there's an infection
- Surgical removal of stones if necessary
It's important to monitor any changes in your guinea pigs urine, and if symptoms persist or worsen, to get your pet to an exotics vet asap.
(Image credit: Long Beach Animal Hospital)
Calcium in Your Piggies' Diet
It's important to remember that while calcium in high doses can cause health issues in your guinea pigs, your pets also need it in their diet for good piggy health! There's no need to eliminate all calcium-rich foods entirely - just be aware of which foods are higher in calcium and just feed them in moderation.
⚖️ Balance is the key!
Foods that are higher in calcium for guinea pigs:
🥕 Vegetables
Kale
Spinach
Collard greens
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Broccoli (including leaves and stems)
Bok choy and other Asian Greens
Parsley
🥝 Fruits
Kiwi
Oranges (including the peel)
Blackberries
Apricots
🌾 Grasses
Alfalfa/Lucerne hay (high calcium content, suitable for young or pregnant guinea pigs but should be limited for adults)
🌿 Herbs
Dill
Basil
Thyme
Cilantro
Oregano
☘️ Forages
Clover (both red and white varieties)
Plantain (the weed, not the fruit)
Chickweed
Dandelion leaves and flowers
Thistles (all varieties are high in calcium; feed in moderation)
It's essential to balance these high-calcium foods with other low-calcium options to maintain a well-rounded diet for your guinea pigs.
