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Advice?

Dollyx

Dollyx

Junior Guinea Pig
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Not sure if this is the right place to put this thread, sorry if it isn't 🙏

I've just been really weighing my options for past month or so and I'm stuck, I don't know what to do. In February, I took my girl Dolly to the vet as it seemed a bladder stone had come back, which it did. Fortunately though, it was small enough and Dolly passed it on her own, which the vet confirmed with a x-ray. During that vet visit the vet also recommended that I get Dolly spayed, as she is 4 years old and exhibiting hormone symptoms(if that's the right way to put it) i.e. crusty nipples.

The problem I'm having is that I am very nervous about putting Dolly through another surgery. She did good with the bladder stone removal surgery last September, but my anxiety was through the roof with that and I don't know if I want to put her or myself through that again. It also sucks as during the stone removal, it was planned to have her spayed at the same time but due to complications, they didn't have the time to do that. I feel incredibly selfish for holding back on the recommended spay as I know that could improve her QOL down the road (she also has cysts but as far as the vet and I'm aware, they aren't causing issues) and I know I'd never forgive myself if I did go ahead with the spay and she'd die from surgery. The same would go for if I'd have to put her down if she developed cancer at all, or if the cysts were affecting her.

I truly have no idea what I'm going to do, or what I should do. Another problem is the costs, as it's never cheap. If it was absolutely necessary, I'd spend that money in a heartbeat but I just don't know if it is.

Here's a picture of my girl for reading my rant 🙏

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And as of tonight, it appears yet another bladder stone has developed. There's small blood spots where Dolly spends the most time and by now I know far too well what that means. My poor girl has been through a UTI and two bladder stones already.

It's extremely frustrating. Even more so because I can not for the life of me remember what my vet told me if the stones came back. He'd said that Dolly may have to go on medicine for the rest of her life, but I can't remember what the name of that medicine was or what the side effects are, which is the reason why the vet didn't put her on the medicine in the first place.
 
Hi there I'm sorry Dolly is unwell again. Have you adjusted her diet at all to account for her being prone to stones?
I'm no expert at all and hopefully one will be on here soon but I had a foster guinea white had to have low calcium diet and water as he was prone to stones 💐
 
CTWC said:
Hi there I'm sorry Dolly is unwell again. Have you adjusted her diet at all to account for her being prone to stones?
I'm no expert at all and hopefully one will be on here soon but I had a foster guinea white had to have low calcium diet and water as he was prone to stones 💐
Click to expand...
Yes 🙏I forgot to mention that. I've done everything the vet recommended to cut back on calcium which further adds this frustration. Thank you.
 
CTWC said:
Is your water ok for her? 😢
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The vet recommended distilled water, I'm on well water of course, so that's what I've been using. I've been doing half distilled though, as I'm also worried about doing 100% distilled though. What water did you use for your foster?
 
Bottled water it's from a supermarket here Ashbeck Water as it's the lowest we can find.
Have you read the link I added? 🙂
 
CTWC said:
Bottled water it's from a supermarket here Ashbeck Water as it's the lowest we can find.
Have you read the link I added? 🙂
Click to expand...
Sorry, I'm not seeing a link
 
I'm so sorry you and Dolly are going through this. Hope it clears up 💜

To be clear: I never tested this product and I "recommend" it because my vet did when my boar had a bladder stone and because it has very good reviews on Amazon. Alfavet URO
it helps to prevent sludge and stones. Maybe it could help Dolly?
 
Dollyx said:
The vet recommended distilled water, I'm on well water of course, so that's what I've been using. I've been doing half distilled though, as I'm also worried about doing 100% distilled though. What water did you use for your foster?
Click to expand...


I’m sorry to hear this.

Piggies should never drink distilled water. I'm sorry the vet has given you poor advice on that.

They can have bottled water as long as it’s low enough in calcium.

Do also remember that cutting calcium too low can also cause bladder issues and stones.
As you are in the US, our recommendations won’t necessarily work for you.

You have to find the balance which is right for your piggies.


All About Drinking, Bottles and Dehydration
 
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