Bladder Sludge

[SybilEdith]

This is a question for any of you who have helped a pig through a bout with bladder sludge.

My girl Sybil was diagnosed 8 days ago with bladder sludge. Telltale signs like crystal deposits on the fleece; squeaking when pooping.

She is my inactive pig. She is lazy and despite best efforts she just doesn’t exercise. I’ve really been pulling out all the stops with exercise this week in an attempt to help move this sludge out.

She has had subcutaneous fluids Sat, Mon, Weds, Thurs and today. I would say her sludge is reducing but it’s still there.

She is on Metacam and Bactrim.

How long can it take for sludge to clear out? I am assuming she must have quite a bit in there. But is it normal for it to take a while for it to expel?

She is under good care with an exotics vet and x-rays do NOT show any stones.

And I should mention that she is now on a reduced calcium diet. Slowly transitioning. She is prone to bloat and GI stasis so I can’t make any abrupt dietary changes.

How many inches of English cucumber is it safe to give each day? Skin off. It does help motivate her to exercise. Green leaf lettuce is being reduced due to calcium. Peppers cause her bloat so no peppers. She is NOT on any pellets.

Thank you in advance

 

[Wiebke]

This is a question for any of you who have helped a pig through a bout with bladder sludge.

My girl Sybil was diagnosed 8 days ago with bladder sludge. Telltale signs like crystal deposits on the fleece; squeaking when pooping.

She is my inactive pig. She is lazy and despite best efforts she just doesn’t exercise. I’ve really been pulling out all the stops with exercise this week in an attempt to help move this sludge out.

She has had subcutaneous fluids Sat, Mon, Weds, Thurs and today. I would say her sludge is reducing but it’s still there.

She is on Metacam and Bactrim.

How long can it take for sludge to clear out? I am assuming she must have quite a bit in there. But is it normal for it to take a while for it to expel?

She is under good care with an exotics vet and x-rays do NOT show any stones.

And I should mention that she is now on a reduced calcium diet. Slowly transitioning. She is prone to bloat and GI stasis so I can’t make any abrupt dietary changes.

How many inches of English cucumber is it safe to give each day? Skin off. It does help motivate her to exercise. Green leaf lettuce is being reduced due to calcium. Peppers cause her bloat so no peppers. She is NOT on any pellets.

Thank you in advance

Hi and welcome

Continue to give her watery foods in order to try and reduce the sludge and please filter her water and reduce her pellets to 1 tablespoon per day. You cannot go zero calcium as that is damaging the health as badly as too much. Water and pellets are the biggest contributors of calcium; more so than any high calcium veg.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

If that doesn't work she may need a bladder flush, which needs to be done carefully. If the sludge is very tightly packed, it may require an operation.

Has a scan or x-ray been done and what medication is she on? Can you also please add which country you are in? We have members and enquiries from literally all over the world.

 

[SybilEdith]

Thank you. The meds she’s on are Metacam and Bactrim. Thank you for your wise response. I’m from Canada and will add that.

 

[Shelley anne]

My girl lola was also sore when she pooped and she had sludge. I stopped all dry food except for the hay, Plenty of hay but no pellets, no dried herbs and gave lots and lots of grass and some veg same as the special needs diet. Taking in lots of grass really helped add more liquids to her diet and reduced the sludge a lot.

 

[SybilEdith]

My girl lola was also sore when she pooped and she had sludge. I stopped all dry food except for the hay, Plenty of hay but no pellets, no dried herbs and gave lots and lots of grass and some veg same as the special needs diet. Taking in lots of grass really helped add more liquids to her diet and reduced the sludge a lot.

Oh really? What is it about the grass that helped add liquids? Does it absorb more water? I’m gradually switching her to Orchard Grass from Timothy. I like the name Iola by the way . And thanks for your reply.

 

[Shelley anne]

Oh really? What is it about the grass that helped add liquids? Does it absorb more water? I’m gradually switching her to Orchard Grass from Timothy. I like the name Iola by the way . And thanks for your reply.

Grass contains liquid in it. My understanding is that this helps add more liquid to her bladder which helps to dilute whatever is in the bladder. I am not really sure of the science but it works for my wee gals and as long as I give lots of grass and stick to something similar to the diet Wiebke recommended above, they are doing well. Although if you increase grass quantities, like any food, build up gradually.

 

[Wiebke]

Oh really? What is it about the grass that helped add liquids? Does it absorb more water? I’m gradually switching her to Orchard Grass from Timothy. I like the name Iola by the way . And thanks for your reply.

@Shelley anne is talking about fresh grass, not grass hay.

If you have got grass growing and can access it (and introduce it slowly, amking sure that it is free of dog pee), it is the best high vitamin C fresh food to add fluid to the diet. otherwise you may want to make do with a combination of smaller amounts of higher grade vitamin C, and other trace elements (including higher calcium) greens like fresh herbs, bits of kale, salad mixes that include young spinach with normal lettuce etc. in combination with low nutrient but fluid rich foods like green lettuce (excepting iceberg), cucumber and celery sticks.

 

[Merab]

Hope Sybil clears her bladder sludge quickly.

 

[SybilEdith]

Thanks everyone! You’ve been great. Thanks for the warm welcome and responses.