Buck Won't Urinate?

I have a buck a little over a year old who just isn't urinating enough. His bladder is usually full, round, and hard. He has been this way for a week. I have been giving him Baytril just in case it is an infection, but it doesn't appear to make a difference. His urine, when he produces it, appears healthy, not the thick stinky UTI type stuff. Would a vet perscribe him anything different, or does this sound like a blockage such as a tumor or growth? Would you euthanize this mouse? Thank you.

Wow. He seems like he may definately be blocked or partically blocked. His bladder being large and hard concerns me. I see it a lot at work in cats, never in mice. Usually in cats we need to unblock them and place a urinary catheter, BUT...... other things can be done if he is not completely blocked. As long as he is urinating then he is only partially blocked but this can change quickly. The inflmation alone can completely close off his uretha completey. A block or even a partial block can be caused by many things. The most common reasons being an infection, some form of mass, or stones. If stones, a dietitary change will also be needed.

There is a drug called praozin that may help. Even urodial ( possibly spelled wrong) May help. We use those two drugs in cats. It is worth a try. Either way I think he should be brought to a vet. BUT......... If he is not urinating I am not sure what they can do to relieve the pressure. I do not think they make urinary catheters small enough for a mouse. In this case I feel he should be euthanized, but I am saying not to give up hope yet.

Well, if you truely feel there's not a lot to be done, I will go ahead and PTS--I don't want him in any pain, for sure.

Do you know how the vet would tell for sure what's wrong? How would they know the difference? I've sort of run out of time today but I may try tomm.

What are classic signs of a UTI?

Is he tender in the problem area?

He's wiggly but he will let me palpate it...he's usually wiggly so I can't really tell. Urine comes out in small drops when I palpate him, but just a few.

How are you certain he isn't urinating as much as a normal mouse?

Well- I am pretty sure there's something wrong. Mice just don't normally have hard, round, full bladders most of the time, right? I am not 100% sure of exactely how much pee he's peeing...but something's not right.

I dunno, I've never really felt up their bladders before. . .
Feel around on some of your other males, see if they feel anything like the one in question.

That's what I am saying, it's not the same. It's like it's full to burst every time I check on him! It's weird!

Hmm... If nobody else chimes in, and we kind of default to thinking it's a UTI, then you can try antibiotics to treat it before resorting to culling.

Well he has been on Baytril for a week, is there a better one you can think of?

Darn. . Hmm . . .

The vet will feel his bladder and express it if he can. Sounds like he can pee , which may mean he is partially blocked. The vet May want to xray him. He may prescribe one if the two medications I mentioned. They may help, but a vet needs to prescribe it. He may make a full recovery. He may also just need a longer trial of antibiotics if he has a bad uti. He may also have a resistant uti that is baytril resistant, meaning that baytril will not work but another antibiotic will.

Also- you could place paper towels in his cage so you can better monitor his urination. I am not saying to euthanize/ cull him. It just depends on how far you Want to go. It could be something simple to something more severe. It is hard to determine without a vet evaluation.

Sorry I don't have a straight answer for you.

Well- I did put him on paper towels and he DID urinate-but it's like a giant puddle. So he's going, just all at once. Weird.