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Bladder stone questions

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Dolomite66

Dolomite66

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Hello! My 3 three year old female piggie had a trip to the vets last week as she was crying whilst weeing. I'd done the research regarding bladder stones/sludge via older posts on this forum so came as no surprise that my vet found crystals in her wee. She was put on septrin and I have changed her diet to a low calcium one and her water is now Deeside water which is low in calcium.
I am now finding calcium deposits on her vet bed and she has suddenly started to cry again despite improving in the week.
She is booked in to the vets tomorrow morning for an xray. Is there anything else I should be asking for?

Also please could anyone advise me as I'm also not sure whether the crystals in her wee is a definite indication of a stone or does it mean that the conditions are right for one to form? Thanks, Helen
 
A greater number of crystals in the urine can be an indication of bladder sludge - not a fully fledged stone but a bladder filled with crystals which is equally uncomfortable and painful. An x-ray will bring clarity what you are up against. If possible ask for no or only a light anaesthesia.

This link here may give you more information: http://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html
 
Crystals do not necessarily indicate stones but many pigs do go on to then develop stones.

Perhaps offer Pearl Barley water via a syringe to increase fluids and soothe the bladder.
 
Many thanks to those who replied but sorry but I have a few more questions since last time I posted. Alexis was xrayed and no stones were found. They also had a good look inside her bladder by way of a tiny camera to check for abnomalities and nothing was found.
She was still producing crystals in her urine so she was put on Metcam dog strength 0.3 once a day from 2nd May and was given more Septrin 0.28 twice a day.

At first she improved, her appetite returned and her weight went up to a very respectable 949g (for her). Her weight was in freefall previously and got as low as 700 (can't remember exactly what it was). And the real bonus was her crying stopping.

In the last couple of days she has started to cry again. It's as though the Metcam isn't working for her anymore. And she's started to lose weight again.

She cries when she is passing pellets and the cries get more urgent when she passes urine.

Late last night I was syringing barley water into her and she passed alot of pellets that seemed to be stuck together with mucus. They were all normal sized except one which were three pellets glued together. And that really hurt her. Why were they like that? And why does she cry when passing pellets - normal sized that is!?

Then she did a wee on me and there was a large gritty deposit left on my black trousers. I took photos of all this and will post them online as soon as I can when I get home from work.

The question is, I quess, is were do I go from here? Do I go back to the vets and ask for stronger painkillers? Do I ask for more Septrin? She's been on Metcam since 2nd May and Septrin since April 24th.
Do I ask the vets to flush her bladder or do I persist trying to flush it naturally with barley water?

If I had one wish it would be for her to have a pain free life as this bladder issue has been going on along time before my own vets got to the bottom of it. Thanks in advance for your help! Helen
 
Flintstones should be able to help you with this one, she had Patrick with ongoing bladder issues. Heres what i think.
I would firstly ask your vet for some stronger pain relief, your piggie probably isnt eating due to pain. Trama-dol works wonders, but there are others available such as Tem-gesic sub ling tablets (dissolve on the gums), also veter-gesic oral. They are all in the same type of drugs so should all work around the same amount. And to add you can give metcam along side these. I would flush your piggies bladder in a sitting. I think Flintstones syringed little Patrick around 40ml of water in a sitting. There is also a new piggie food that is coming out in the next month, may be worth a look into... http://www.supremepetfoods.com/zones/vet-zone/
Your piggie may well need some more antibiotics, so maybe some more septrin would be worth it, but discuss with your vet if you can try septrin and another one maybe, this is something you need to discuss with them really.
It may well be worth getting your piggie's bladder ultrasounded and also a sample sent to the lab (all should be discussed with the vet to see what they think).
As with the poop, she probably is having some digestive upset due to the antibiotics, so it may be worth putting her onto some pro biotics, these are available from vets and good pet shops. She is probably squeaking when pooing as the place where she poos is very close to the urethra opening, so its therefore going to be very uncomfortable.

Good luck with your little one.

xx.

Ps excuse all the - in the middle of words, it wont post if not.
 
Some very good advice from Abi, I was in your exact situation just the other month. My Patrick cried well urinating and passing pellets for at least 10 months he also had acute blood in urine (not visible to the naked eye), before we finally found out he had 2 stones in his uretre they gearing up to block his uretre tube which would have brought on kidney failure.

Considering the fact my Patrick is now cured and no longer in need of any painkillers I think it's fair to assume the problem was the stones all along unfortunately I think they where perhaps to small to appear on Xray.

With Bladder pigs like your girl and my Patrick pain management is a big thing I had days where I would think I should give up but well my P was able to maintain his weight and mooch for food I couldn't give up. Although I did say to two vets should I just let him go and both advised otherwise however even if they did say yes I honestly don't think I could of.

Patrick's pain brought other problems, as he then began having teeth problems but thankfully once the pain was controlled Patrick was able to live happily.

After numerous course of antibiotics I do believe at one point he was on Antibiotics for 6 months along with metacam at first for some reason he reacted well to Antibiotics which gave the impression it was an infection after 2 urine cultured we ruled out infection and Patrick no longer responded well to antibiotics (we used both Septrin and Baytril). We then gave Patrick 4 weekly injection's Cosquin -I noticed no improvement, Cystease didn't help either, I noticed improvement with a slow acting steroid injection after the first 2 days it lasted about 5 days not very good for long term use so wouldn't recommend this course of action. We then went on to find Trama-dol which is amazing and Patrick's life saver he was given 5mg's twice daily and I noticed no negative effects I had Patrick on Trama-dol for 4 months before his operation.

You need to keep Xraying your girl I know it's costly but it is so important I know another pig who was diagnosed with IC (Interstitial Cystitis), the symptoms continued but as it was ongoing he wasn't Xrayed unfortunately the pig went on to develop a blockage even though emergency treatment was sought he still passed away, if I had been a week later with Patrick he would most likely be dead. Patrick was Xrayed every 4 weeks religiously, this was done well Patrick was conscious.

I think fluid is ridiculously important and even though Patrick no longer has bladder problems every day he is syringed 90 ml's of Pearl Barley water I do also think this would benefit your pig to flush her bladder, I find Patrick loves Pearl Barley.

Pearl Barley is found in the lentil aisle of the supermarket, I use 1 part Barley and 3 part water. Boil it for 30 - 45 minutes, do keep an eye to make sure the water does not evaporate if more water is needed then add it, allow to cool and syringe to pig. Do be careful not to aspirate the pig.
 
If it's saying your forbidden to post it's because your typing a medicine name for example '-'., trama '-' dol you need to break any medicines names up as the system won't allow you to post otherwise.
 
Abi Nurse - thanks so much for your reply! I 've got Alexis booked in to see my vet tonight and it's really helpful knowing there are other painkillers out there. I'll see what the vet says and take it from there.

Thanks for the info on the new piggie food. I'd seen it in an earlier thread and will be definitely buying that when it comes out.

Regarding her poops, I did wonder about using a pro biotic but I knew septrin was kinder on the stomach and mistakenly thought she wouldn't need any.
I do have some pro biotics and have syringed her some last night.
Thank you once againfor your advice, it is really appreciated!
 
Flintstones - thanks for your advice too! I'd read your thread about Patrick several times with interest. I started syringing Alexis pearl barley water after reading about it in your posts. Fortunately she seems to like it which is a bonus but I know I'm not getting enough in. I'm only managing 10mls before she really starts to resist and then I have to go work then around another 15 when I get home. I'm see I'm going to have to be tougher and get more down her.

I have started her on cystease despite reading about the mixed reviews. It's early days yet and might make no difference but I have to try as we have nothing to lose.

Thanks for the advice about getting her x-rayed regularly and yes it is expensive but it's really nothing for peace of mind!

Thank you once again for your advice and support, it is so much appreciated!
 
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