Advice needed re: Bladder Stones

[Jojoba]

Hi everyone

I have some questions about my little piggie Furio .
I got him from Sokel last July and he is a lovely little pig, just turned a year old last month.
Earlier this year I took him to the vets as he was distressed when peeing, and passing a small amount of dilute blood. He was given Baytril for a UTI and the blood stopped (there was only one day when he passed blood anyway) and the discomfort seemed to pass.
Then about a month ago he showed discomfort peeing again and passed blood again. He was put back onto antibiotics but this time after a week there was no improvement, so he was admitted for x-rays and ultrasounds and showed up a monster bladder stone .
2 days later he went in for surgery, the stone was removed successfully, along with a smaller shard found during surgery. His bladder was flushed out.
He took a little while to come round but once he did he began eating well and was allowed home the next day.
He was put on Baytril and Metacam post-surgery and after a week the Baytril was discontinued. He was checked twice shortly following the op and I mentioned he was still in discomfort peeing, but the vets were confident this was due to the fact the poor chap had just had his bladder cut open!
However a week ago he suddenly started peeing blood again .
I took him straight to the vets and they put him back onto the antibiotics, hoping it was a secondary infection. A week on we have no improvement, he went back to the vet this morning who was just as frustrated as me - he has been completely back to normal from the minute I got him home from the op; peeing, pooing, wolfing down food as always and drinking plenty. He is bright and happy, still cuddly and friendly. He shows no discomfort in his bladder being manipulated and his wound has healed extremely well. He hasnt lost or gained a single ounce throughout this whole thing. The only time he doesnt look fine is when he suddenly stops, pees whilst crying pathetically, then bounces off again, leaving a little dilute blood behind him. He does this quite frequently.
The vet has decided to try a stronger antibiotic - Septrim - and see if that shifts any infection as we are going to work on the assumption that this is due to the damage and inflammation caused by the bladder stone, surgery and perhaps even reaction to the stitches too. He is also taking vitamin C to try and support his immun system, and staying on Metacam to help with the pain.
I was really just wanting to know if anyone has any experience of something like this happening when their pig had a bladder stone?
I'm going to talk to the vet about a probiotic next time I go in, since he has now been on prolonged antibiotics. He is back to be checked on next week again.

Also, I'm going on holiday in just under 2 weeks - luckily my friend who trained as a vet is moving in to look after my animals so he will be in good hands, but I hate to leave him if he's poorly!

He is bedded on Carefresh, has fresh water every day from a gravity bottle, eats Burgess Excel Nuggets, sometimes has Woodland or Excel treats (nettle sticks, leaf mix etc), has ad lib dandelion and marigold meadow hay, and each day has a mix of parsley, cucumber, pepper, carrot, parsnip, apple or strawberry.


Any thoughts?

x

 

[Jojoba]

Have just read that someone is having a similar experience with their pig a thread or two down...

x

 

[Wiebke]

Bladder stones can come back within weeks after an operation. Please have another x-ray done (if possible without or only very light anaesthetics). The screaming when peeing sounds to me like he has another one.

Septrin is certainly a better antibiotic than baytril when it comes to bladder problems.
http://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html

You might like to try and discuss cystease; this is a cat supplement that lines the bladder and is increasingly used for guinea pigs as well. I just put my interstitial piggy on it and have heard of bladder stone piggies on it for the rest of their lives.
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/digestive-su...cystitis-glucosamine-sprinkle-capsules-p-1146

Here are links for ca : ph balanced diet that may help avoid or at least slow down the forming of another bladder stone.
http://www.store2go.net/shop/planetguinea/ratewatchersrainbowdiet.pdf
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37030

I have had a bladder stone piggy with two ops; sadly long before I found this forum - it would have made our lives a bit easier and her more comfortable!

Best wishes to your poorly boy!

 

[Jojoba]

Hi

Thanks for the advice
It is only 13 days since he had the stone removed - surely another one cant have formed already?! It was a big stone - the size of a ballbearing .

I will look into the other things you have suggested and discuss with the vet

x

 

[Jojoba]

Sorry to be a pain but worried about my boy and just wanted to bump this up a bit....


x

 

[Jojoba]

Been on the Septrin a few days now with no improvement . Very worried about him .

He is still eating, drinking etc as normal and looks perfectly healthy, devouring veg and licking my fingers as I cuddle him. He is perfectly normal -
then he will go for a bloody pee and cry as he does it .


x

 

[Farquhar]

My boy Mimsi was diagnosed with a bladder stone last year at the age of six. Mimsi has had problems with unrinating pretty much since I got him (bleeding and yelping) and the vets just kept saying it was UTI's and prescribing baytril. An x-ray was never offered and bladder stones were never discussed It was only when I got my laptop and was able to read up more of piggies that I insisted Mimsi be x-rayed and lo and behold a bladder stone was revealed. Mimsi has bleeding and pain when urinating every six weeks or so. Apart from that he eats and drinks like normal and his weight has never fluctuated. When Mimsis bladder stone was diagnosed I agreed for this to be removed. Mimsi was at the vets with his abdomen cut when the vet called me to say that the stone had a growth around it and that they didnt feel able to carry out such intricate surgery. Mimsis wound was closed and a few days later I went to a GP specialist. HE said that the stone was embedded into the bladder wall and as Mimsi must have been living with this for years, I had to make the decision of having him operated on or leaving him. This decision was not easy but I chose to leave Mimsi as he was and manage his intermittent pain with calpol (just when necessary) and also by giving him cranberry juice to flush the bladder. I must stress that Mimsis case is unique as his stone is embedded in the wall and not 'floating'. Should his symptoms change or increase I wouldnt hesitate to rush him to the vets. I wish you the best with your piggie. PErhaps another x-ray would be of benefit to you in any decision you may make. Apologies for the long story about Mimsi, most people on here already know Mimsis story. Please keep us up to date..

 

[sarahp]

I'd definitely get him checked for another stone. One of my boys had a second stone form just 2 weeks after his first operation. See if your vet will do another x-ray or ultrasound.

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

I have also experienced a second stone post surgery with one of my boars. Tetley had a large stone and several smaller ones removed, bladder was thoroughly flushed but 10 days later crystals had begun to reform and his bladder was full of them. I would highly recommend another x-ray. Good luck.

 

[clairelove]

my boar is 5wks post bladder stone removal op and has been on cystaid cheaper version cystease since his op its very good and can be brought over the internet at 20 pounds for a hundred capsuals its half a capsual every day diluted in 1 ml water so the 100 capsuals will last 200 days..

ask for another xray as stones can from very soon after ops especially if he hasnt been put onto cystaid/cystease ..have you changed his diet ?has he needs a low carb diet now after having stones...?

 

[The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue]

Been in this dark place

Hi
I really do sympathise with you i have been there and got the t shirt with My Darcy.
I have had all of the similar problems and Darcy had surgery and yes after no problems 6 weeks later he started again.He was put on Cystaid and has had no problems after 9 months ! Its the wonder medicine.
He has low calcium diet as do all my piggies the forum diet off laurac is great and i also sought vedras advcie off the cambridge cavie trust.
Please dont lose heart i know its awful watching piggies having painful wees.Just regular paracetomol and metacam for analgesia.
Most importantly is the change in gut motility through antibiotics.Claire love has excellent experience of this with her recent piggie op Buff.
Helen xx>>>

 

[Jojoba]

Thanks for all the replies guys . He is due back at the vets in a few days so I will discuss all these things with them then - I feel bad leaving a sick pig with my friend and will worry all holiday though!
If crystals have reformed does that mean another op or is there something else which can be done?

I havent changed his diet yet as the vet told me there was no low- calcuim diet for pigs, though obviously on here I seem to have discovered differently. I think I will be getting my money's worth at the next consultation .

The noise he is making is breaking my heart, he sounds like a puppy crying .

x