Lower Urinary Tract Diseases in Guinea Pigs: A 14-Year Retrospective Study (2004–2018)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The clinical records of all guinea pigs diagnosed with a lower urinary tract disease in a single veterinary hospital, over a period of 14 years (2004–2018), were searched in order to characterize this population and investigate the potential association between the different features relating to the animal and the clinical approach toward them. A total of 117 clinical cases were identified, corresponding to 57 animals. The formation of stones in the urinary tract (urolithiasis) was the most common diagnosis (n = 52; 44.4%), followed by bladder inflammation (cystitis) and/or a urinary tract infection (UTI). Several associations were identified, showing that female guinea pigs were more likely than the male ones to have a previous family history of urinary disease, to present abnormal micturition signs at admission, and to have recurrence. Moreover, males were more prone to urolithiasis and females to cystitis/UTI, and animals diagnosed with cystitis/UTI frequently had more clinical urinary signs and abdominal pain on palpation compared to those diagnosed with urolithiasis. Finally, the use of potassium citrate and the urethrotomy approach were associated with a better therapeutic response. Further studies are needed in larger populations of guinea pigs to confirm the present findings, especially as some of them were described for the first time. ABSTRACT: The clinical records of all guinea pigs diagnosed with a lower urinary tract disease in a single veterinary hospital, over a period of 14 years (2004–2018), were retrospectively searched in order to characterize this population and investigate the potential association between the epidemiological and clinical variables. A total of 117 clinical cases were identified, corresponding to 57 animals. Urolithiasis was the most common diagnosis (n = 52; 44.4%), followed by cystitis and/or a urinary tract infection (UTI). Several statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between different variables, showing that female guinea pigs were more likely than the male ones to have a previous family history of urinary disease, to present dysuria and stranguria at admission, and to suffer recurrence. Moreover, males were more prone to urolithiasis and females to cystitis/UTI, and animals diagnosed with cystitis/UTI frequently had more clinical urinary signs and abdominal pain on palpation compared to those diagnosed with urolithiasis. Finally, the use of potassium citrate and the urethrotomy approach were associated with a better therapeutic response. Further studies are needed in larger populations of guinea pigs to confirm the present findings, especially as some of them were described for the first time.