Just looking for people’s opinions on my recent vet visit with my 4 year old boar.
He has been squealing when peeing and leaving lots of calcium deposits in his cage. With the help of this forum and the internet I am leaning towards bladder sludge/ stones but I took him to the vet to see what they suggest.
The vet is a specialist exotic vet with experience with guinea pigs. Paid an absolute fortune but I knew it would be best to go straight to the specialist, or so I thought.
So she checks him over and determines he’s uncomfortable in the bladder area. I showed her pictures of the calcium wee patches on the fleece bedding.
She leaned straight towards the sludge/ stones potential and said he would need an X-ray, ultrasound and possible CT scan, under general anaesthetic. I did take in a fresh urine sample and expected at least for them to dip test it, but they didn’t. They said it needs to be sent away for testing, at a cost of £190! She didn’t mention the possibility of UTI really, just focussed on the sludge / stones.
The solution is to manage with painkillers (gabapentine and metacam, quite high doses) and support with low calcium diet and glucosamine supplements etc. he may need painkillers for life when it flares up. I’ve declined X-rays etc cos I know I won’t pursue surgery- she said with his age and size it likely wouldn’t go well, and frankly I think I’d have to remortgage to afford it. I darent even ask the prices of that. My bill was £174 for 15 ml of metacam, about the same of the gabapentine and a consultation. The gabapentine alone was over £60, for such a tiny amount. Obviously I don’t want my piggy in pain and I’m trying to do right by him, but I do feel a bit ripped off and unsupported. I’ll have to pay the same again on the next visit if the painkillers need refilling. I thought this was pretty steep , especially as she didn’t even dip test the urine or offer antibiotics in case it is infection so I worry maybe something has been missed. I had to ask several times for her to check his bottom and penis (I don’t feel very confident with that but wanted to check there was nothing amiss there) she was reluctant.
I have now bought some urine test strips and everything looks good, except protein levels are elavated slightly ( 2 /3 colours in roughly) and I’m not sure how to interpret that. I’ve read piggies do generally have some protein in the wee?
So looking for advice if anyone thinks I should seek a second opinion or if my vet visit sounds about right for this circumstance?
Hoping to manage the sludge and pain as well as we can, my Piggie is absolutely fine otherwise, no concerns at all except the discomfort when he pees. Thanks for any advice !
He has been squealing when peeing and leaving lots of calcium deposits in his cage. With the help of this forum and the internet I am leaning towards bladder sludge/ stones but I took him to the vet to see what they suggest.
The vet is a specialist exotic vet with experience with guinea pigs. Paid an absolute fortune but I knew it would be best to go straight to the specialist, or so I thought.
So she checks him over and determines he’s uncomfortable in the bladder area. I showed her pictures of the calcium wee patches on the fleece bedding.
She leaned straight towards the sludge/ stones potential and said he would need an X-ray, ultrasound and possible CT scan, under general anaesthetic. I did take in a fresh urine sample and expected at least for them to dip test it, but they didn’t. They said it needs to be sent away for testing, at a cost of £190! She didn’t mention the possibility of UTI really, just focussed on the sludge / stones.
The solution is to manage with painkillers (gabapentine and metacam, quite high doses) and support with low calcium diet and glucosamine supplements etc. he may need painkillers for life when it flares up. I’ve declined X-rays etc cos I know I won’t pursue surgery- she said with his age and size it likely wouldn’t go well, and frankly I think I’d have to remortgage to afford it. I darent even ask the prices of that. My bill was £174 for 15 ml of metacam, about the same of the gabapentine and a consultation. The gabapentine alone was over £60, for such a tiny amount. Obviously I don’t want my piggy in pain and I’m trying to do right by him, but I do feel a bit ripped off and unsupported. I’ll have to pay the same again on the next visit if the painkillers need refilling. I thought this was pretty steep , especially as she didn’t even dip test the urine or offer antibiotics in case it is infection so I worry maybe something has been missed. I had to ask several times for her to check his bottom and penis (I don’t feel very confident with that but wanted to check there was nothing amiss there) she was reluctant.
I have now bought some urine test strips and everything looks good, except protein levels are elavated slightly ( 2 /3 colours in roughly) and I’m not sure how to interpret that. I’ve read piggies do generally have some protein in the wee?
So looking for advice if anyone thinks I should seek a second opinion or if my vet visit sounds about right for this circumstance?
Hoping to manage the sludge and pain as well as we can, my Piggie is absolutely fine otherwise, no concerns at all except the discomfort when he pees. Thanks for any advice !
