Bladder issues - your thoughts?

[Guinea Slave]

Hi everyone!

I was just interested in your thoughts before I get my little Sow Thelma off to the vets later today?

History: She has had issues with bladderstones and recurring cystitis and ovarian cysts all her life (she is just over 6). She had a major operation 3 years ago to remove several barbed stones which had lodged into her bladder wall (we are still amazed she is here to this day!).

Since then she has always been uncomfortable peeing we suspect largely in part due to scar tissue as it was a bit of a hatchet job to get the things out.

She has been on uriflow and cystease with 2x 20 ml fluid syringed into her twice a day and has no grit or sludge and was recently xrayed again for stones and is clear (thank goodness).

She has had about 4 injections for ovarian cysts and in general these have worked and they have shrunk, but they eventally return and this is often accompanied by cystitis.

She had another attack of cystitis/UTI recently so she finished a 3 week course of Septrin which seems to have sorted the issue and she most of time is in no pain when peeing....occasionally she wheeks and is uncomfortable but thats usual for her.

She does drink a lot but always has since her op this has not changed recently.

So my problem: She has been very hormonal over last7days, mounting the other girls sometimes, more vocal than usual as well. This is not that unusual for her though but worse recently.

She has suddenly (last 5 days lost 28 g in weight, now weighs 976g was 1002g) this may be down to the stress with the hormonal behaviour and again I have seen this before with her and its been cysts again.

Finally, she is peeing about the same but her bottom is soaking (I bath her all the time and use baby wipes ) and her pee is incredibly strong smelling. No sign of blood. I have ruled out an infection as she only came off the antibiotics on Wednesday last week and it was three week stint.

She is eating absolutely fine, perky, coat is good, eyes good....

Any ideas? Very worried as me and her are exceptionally close :-(

 

[flintstones]

I can't comment on the cysts.

If she has a strong odour and soaking back end - it is likely an infection is present, stubborn UTI's can reappear if the course of Antibiotic is not long enough. I would advise taking a urine sample with you ask the vet to check for infection and glucose level, can be done Via dipstick. If Glucose are present then a pin prick behind the ear to take a small sample of blood to again check the glucose level. Reason I mention to check for diabetes as reoccurring UTI's and increased drinking are both sign of diabetes, although I would expect your girl to be negative but there is no harm in testing.

Perhaps a sterile urine sample could be an idea to send it off to the lab and check antibiotic resistance if it is yet another UTI.

My boy has IC 'internal cysistis' he passes blood daily.

As for weight loss 29grams can be the difference between a full and empty bladder so this would not concern me.

I cannot comment on Cyst's as I have no experience.

Good Luck. X

 

[sport_billy]

Poor Thelma, so many piggies seem to suffer with Bladder problems, it is so upsetting to hear them in pain.
Our 5 1/2 year old has ovarian cyst's and chronic cystitis, she is on metacam on a low dose for pain relief and 'Catrophen' injections - it's a supplement thats used for arthritis to lower inflamation in cats and dogs. It does seem to be having some affect. It has cut down her squeaking when pooing. We have been working hard on the calcium phosphorus ratio also. I believe it works in a similar way to cystease. may be worth asking your vet about.

Sending lots of healing vibes Thelma's way.

 

[Guinea Slave]

Thank you so much for your prompt responses.

Yes I am wondering if she is perhaps looking to be diabetic? I have checked the weightloss and weighed her at different times throughout the day and sadly she is consistently 28g under. She also feels like she has lost weight around her shoulders.

We have also been managing her calcium and phospourous intake, she is on the Ratewatchers food plan and has been since her bladder op. I will ask the vet about the medication you mention as well, thanks for that.

Its so weird that so many of them have this....I find it the most frustrating problem and it just seems to appear for no reason! It can be so cruel to them. I lost a girl last year to bladderstones...it was terrible and not something I want to repeat.

I do hope its not a UTI, she does seem to be on antibiotics rather a lot nowadays poor girl

Thank you ! x

 

[flintstones]

29 grams is nothing to worry about my diabetic Guinea Pig lost 100grams in 2 days. I would only worry if every week she lost 29 grams never gaining any weight.

 

[Guinea Slave]

Blimey really! Thats a huge amount!

Little more relieved then...thank you! I just tend to be very over protective of her, having nearly lost her once and losing another almost to the day a year ago to a similar problem I am a little anxious to say the least!

 

[flintstones]

Anything over 30 grams be alert, 60 grams see a vet.

For example I weighed my pig weekly he lost 40 grams in a week, I began weighing daily the following day he lost a further 10 grams and then the next day he lost another 10 grams - with a lose of 60 grams over 9 days we went to the vet - he had dental problems.

You are looking for a pattern with weight loss.

 

[Guinea Slave]

Thank you Flinstones. She lost the 28g in a couple of days has not regained it but not lost any more either....will keep monitoring.

I do weigh all mine weekly and have a spreadsheet and graph which helps me track any patterns They typically vary 3-10 g each time but just not as much as 20+g

The advice is great, thank you.

 

[marge]

Its so weird that so many of them have this....I find it the most frustrating problem and it just seems to appear for no reason! It can be so cruel to them. I lost a girl last year to bladderstones...it was terrible and not something I want to repeat.

Of coarse there is a reason, The calcium in the food is not good. Calcium should come from plants in the food and Ca:Mg should be 3:2:1.
In most foods the calcium comes from a groundmineral and this gives bladderstones.

 

[flintstones]

Of coarse there is a reason, The calcium in the food is not good. Calcium should come from plants in the food and Ca:Mg should be 3:2:1.
In most foods the calcium comes from a groundmineral and this gives bladderstones.

Do you know how to avoid this - What food's to feed?

 

[marge]

Yes but I'm Dutch and our food is not available in the UK.
You can try Science Selective. This food is healthier then most other foods.
Our forum developed a new food out of a horsefood called Hugho to avoid many foodproblems.
Cold pressed herbs without any added sugars and only 5% corn and barley.
The price is 55 euro for 20 kilo's without importcosts.

 

[Guinea Slave]

Yep spent a long time working with Karen at RGPR religiously follow the RateWatchers food plan so yes I do monitor calcium etc.

It turns out not to be stones at all but very large cysts on both ovaries which are causing the infection. She has had Chorulon and due for another 10-14 days and is on Septrin.

With regards to the stones and 'of course there being a reason'....I am sorry I don't agree. Having spoken to many experienced people on this subject including my brilliant gp vet, over the last 5 years. Having lost a guinea who was also on Ratewatchers religiously and been very aware of what she could and could not have, sometimes they are just genetically susceptible and there is little you can do to avoid it. Overbreeding at its best no doubt.

Anyway, looks like Thelma will be ok. Long term prognosis is that she is likely to have this issue again but she is too old to be spayed but we'll just keep on managing it. She does like to put me through the mill that one! rolleyes

 

[marge]

sometimes they are just genetically susceptible and there is little you can do to avoid it.

Yes sometimes they are, most of the times they are not.

Sorry to read that you pig has cysts.

 

[Saysie]

Aww poor Thelma hope she feels better soon. Good news its not stones. Think the Chorulon injections are really good for cysts, my Thelma has also had the injection, although not going to have the second one, as its now clear that her problems are bladder related.
Healing wheeks from my Thelly to yours xx

 

[Guinea Slave]

Well last night was 'interesting' rolleyes. For whatever reason...the trip to the vets or the Chorulon perhaps? Set off hormonal moods BIG time. Thelma is a tiny little sow and very old but thought nothing of running around trying to mount everything that moved including the large boar that I have, who was absolutely furious! She did'nt care it was or even which end of the guinea she was at ! :red

So cue mad times in the guinea house, lots of wheeking, running around and fighting. So fortunately I can divide my C&C very easily so they can all see each other, so Thelma was confined to a smaller area and seems much much settled. Eating like a mad thing too so hopefully she'll start recovery now. She seems much, much more settled now and tonight will put them altogether again and monitor them.

She does'nt half put us all through the mill though! :{

 

[Guinea Slave]

OK I don't vehemently disagree but just out of interest,..genuinely interested not arguing

I have six piggies, all kept together in the same environment, same diet, same filtered water, treatment the same. OK, I cannot ensure they all actually EAT exactly the same amounts each. But in this environment only one sow (Thelma) has been prone to stones (now seemingly managed successully...caveated with lots of fingers crossed).

IF as you are saying stones are often down to poor diet, or environment, surely all would have this issue?.....really just interested in your reasoning thats all...

Yes sometimes they are, most of the times they are not. .

 

[marge]

Not all guinea pigs are the same. It's like people.
One has an intolerance for milk and the other doesn't.
And it's not just reasoning.
The new guimea pig food is developed out of the best horse food on our market and this food has helped a lot of horses who have similar problems as our piggies.

 

[Sappho]

Well last night was 'interesting' rolleyes. For whatever reason...the trip to the vets or the Chorulon perhaps? Set off hormonal moods BIG time. Thelma is a tiny little sow and very old but thought nothing of running around trying to mount everything that moved including the large boar that I have, who was absolutely furious! She did'nt care it was or even which end of the guinea she was at ! :red

This made me laugh! Sorry to hear that Thelma is having cyst issues, as you know our Sappho struggled with them (and recurrent UTIs) for a long time, she put us through the mill too! Hope all is well! x

 

[Guinea Slave]

Thanks Sappho! Fortunately all is a little calmer now and she just looks a little sheepish! Her 'bladder issues' seem to have all but disappeared already so keeping everything crossed. Although she did manage to pee right down my neck last night....I swear she was smiling when she did it!rolleyes