Okay I've just been doing a lot of reading about suggies getting UTI's. People said if the symptoms show go immediately to a vet. I was wondering though, if any one knew or heard from a vet if feeding suggies cranberries or cranberry juice (nautural not fake stuff) was a cure for a UTI. I don't even know if suggies can have cranberries but I was just wondering since it works for humans.

I did hear somewhere that cranberries can HELP but a vet is always the best shot.

many gliders don't like cranberries because they tend to be tart. the best bet as Lindsay mentioned is a vet check (and in most cases antibiotics )

Yeah - cranberry juice can help prevent UTI's and maintain female health. However it is not a cure, and as mentioned already, a glider wouldn't really be fond of it anyway because it's very tart. Cranberry juice can be a valuable supplement to the antibiotics necessary to help treat an infection, but that's all it is.

KittyKatRynn~ I am going to the vet tomorrow because of UTI also. This will be the third time though because I think the first 2 times she was put on antibiotic, it didn't get rid of it. I would take the glider to the vet and get the PH checked in the urine and have it checked for crystals as well.

On of my gliders had a UTI a few months ago. I took him to the vets where she gave me an antibiotic, but she also recommended that I try to force feed him as much fluids as possible to flush everything out. So when I would give him his medication, I would also sneak in some apple juice and pedialyte.

Has anyone ever heard of putting a little apple cider vinegar from the health food store in their water? It was recommended that we do this once in a while with our birds to lower the pH and keep their yeast population down.

I have read somewhere where they did this in the gliders water. Cant remember where though, sorry.

my guys like cranberry juice mixed with grape juice and then diluted, too strong just as it is. I have heard about putting 2 drops in their water, but when i have done this i give them a plain water bottle also in case they don't like the vinegar. my guy doesn't have uti's but has a *lot* of crystals in his urine that hurt when he goes. the more liquids the better and this helps flush it out. so i offer him a syringe on fluids that he loves to take, loves being offered food or drink while in bed

Becci~ If your glider has a lot of crystals in his urine, and he is hissing when he goes, you need to get him to a vet ASAP, because that is part of a UTI! He needs to have a urinalysis done and also have the PH checked. My glider was just at the vet this past week and she had crystals in her urine and was put on 2 antibiotics. I hope you can take your little guy in so he can get better!

Cronic UTI's.... one should have a culture done.

My kids like cranberries, so when they are in season (and as long as the ones I freeze keeps) I add them into the mix. They usually eat out the center and leave the skin, and of course like the fresh/raw the best.

Some crystals are indicative of infection, others are not. It depends on what crystal was noted. The crystals are nothing one would see unless a microscopic exam of the urine had already been done - most likely by the veterinarian.

He doesn't hiss when he goes, I was experimenting with getting a urine sample and after quite a few weeks of trying for practice sake I did! I was so excited I ran it into the vets to have it examined, that is when he said there were crystals in the urine. I never did find out what would be GC's opinions on how to reduce the crystals. The vet said to push liquids and he would like to see the gliders get more insect variety, mainly by doing a sweeping of insects but to take out any with hard shells.

Most crystals are NOT caused by a UTI and are often diet related. They are microscopic in size and are not what causes pain during urination. Most UTI's are crystal free. The inflamed bladder wall and urethra cause burning during urination, especially with concentrated urine or extremes of pH.

Thank you, Schlep! Once again, you come through with the right answers for us