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Bladder stone surgery

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Guinea pig slave

Guinea pig slave

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Harley our much adored Aby is booked in for surgery tomorrow as he has been diagnosed with a bladder stone :( In May he was treated for acute cystitis and we have taken every precaution to avoid reoccurance but unfortunately, had to take him back to the vets twice with the same symptoms. X-rays confirmed it last week :(
I'm ok at the moment, he's all bathed and nail trimmed, thought he may feel better in himself with this muggy heat we've been having but inside, I'm dying and feel so guilty. My work colleagues keep on 'it's only a bloody guinea pig' but they are our babies and the only reason I go out to work so they can have nice things and the best food and veggies (oh, and to pay their vet fees ;))
I've had two boars neutered and kept their pen scrupulously clean for weeks after their ops (I'm obsessive with poo's and wee's on their bedding rolleyes) so has anyone been through this with their little furry ? Any after care tips/advice we can follow would be so much appreciated.
The vet also said the chances of a reoccurring stone in the future is high - why does nature have to be so cruel to the gentle little ones - wish it was me !
 
So sorry to hear about Harley. I really hope the op goes well for him. Your previous experience with cleanliness and obsessiveness will be a good thing :)

Sending healing vibes from the girls here. All 8 of them...thats a lot of healing vibes :)

Is the vet able to give you any idea why the stones formed ? I know theres more than one type of stone (I think) and both can be caused by different things (I think). My sisters dog has had them and in her its down to an odd shaped bladder and she also needs a special diet (Compared to the rest of her dogs which are fine on a regular diet). I wonder if theres any thing that can help avoid more stones in future ? Maybe once its out and the vet knows more they could advise....

Hope everything goes well tomorrow - keep us posted

xx
 
We weren't given any real reasons as to why the stone has formed, I assumed it was down to diet - he has been on a very low calcium diet since having the cystitis and has cranberry juice diluted in his water bottle which he loves.
Poor little thing has been through a lot the past couple of months, severe diarrhoea from the Septrin, pain when weeing, critical care as the Metacam analgesia reduced his appetite and he hated the Fibreplex probiotic:... so I'm praying this will hopefully make his little life better after his op.
It's his first birthday on 27.07 so planning on some extra special treats for him and his brother :)
 
Awww I'm really sorry to hear that he has a stone. Don't feel guilty you are a good mummy and Harley is very lucky to have you as a slave.

Ignore the person at work, some people just don't understand the bond pet owners have and are especially dismissive of small furries. It is their loss as they will never feel the love and get the enjoyment that we have on a daily basis...

I will be thinking of you and little Harley tomorrow and have everything crossed that he makes a speedy recovery. *Big Hugs* x x x
 
I am sorry that your boy has a bladder stone. I hope that he can make it well through the op and recover quickly. You need to be aware that a bladder stone can sometimes reoccur within weeks of an op. In my opinion, there has to be a genetic disposition for stones. Piggies can happily through life on a "bad" diet, while piggies on here have had bladder stones even with the most careful diet. Guinea pigs are very prone to bladder infections and stones because their urine is very alcaline and there is noting you can do to change that.

My own Minx went through two bladder stone ops spaced 14 months apart a few years ago.

Here are tips for post op care:
http://www.guinealynx.info/postop.html
Bladder stones:
http://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html

I would try to discuss the use of cystease with your vet. It is a food supplement for cats with cystitis, but it is now more and more used for guinea pigs with interstitial/chronic cystitis and bladder stones, too. My Nerys (chronic cystitis) has been on it with excellent success. It can't prevent bladder stones, but it can protect the walls of the bladder and prevent further irritation/infection.
 
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Wiebke said:
I am sorry that your boy has a bladder stone. I hope that he can make it well through the op and recover quickly. You need to be aware that a bladder stone can sometimes reoccur within weeks of an op. In my opinion, there has to be a genetic disposition for stones. Piggies can happily through life on a "bad" diet, while piggies on here have had bladder stones even with the most careful diet. Guinea pigs are very prone to bladder infections and stones because their urine is very alcaline and there is noting you can do to change that.

My own Minx went through two bladder stone ops spaced 14 months apart a few years ago.

Here are tips for post op care:
http://www.guinealynx.info/postop.html
Bladder stones:
http://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html

I would try to discuss the use of cystease with your vet. It is a food supplement for cats with cystitis, but it is now more and more used for guinea pigs with interstitial/chronic cystitis and bladder stones, too. My Nerys (chronic cystitis) has been on it with excellent success. It can't prevent bladder stones, but it can protect the walls of the bladder and prevent further irritation/infection.
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I found Cystease on the internet a while back so will discuss with the vet tomorrow. Thanks - all comments are very much taken on board. Have got Wednesday off to be home all day with him and my OH has the remainder of the week so at least we can keep a close eye on him. Feel awful as he is nomming on a baby sweetcorn and spring green leaf totally oblivious as to why I keep going over to him and fussing him :))
 
It doesn't sound like the bladder stone is in a dangerous spot (stuck in the urether), so it should be a straight forward op with a much, much higher success rate.

Take heart!
 
Sorry to hear about this :( i'm a relatively new owner to piggies (7 months!) so don't have any advice to offer, but looks like you already have lots from more experienced owners!

Just wanted to say GOOD LUCK to little Harley, will keep everything crossed for you and sending healing vibes your way :laluot_15::laluot_15: keep us updated post op please!
 
Wiebke said:
It doesn't sound like the bladder stone is in a dangerous spot (stuck in the urether), so it should be a straight forward op with a much, much higher success rate.

Take heart!
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Thank you Wiebke - I always enjoy reading your advice and class you as one of the real piggy experts on the forum. The stone is not in his urether thank goodness as we saw the X-rays but just sitting there in his bladder. The vet says there is a chance it could move causing serious problems so we opted for the surgery asap.
Knowing it's not in a danger zone makes this on the whole a little less of a worry (she says ;)(
People say piggies can be quite hardy but it's horrible to see them suffering although he has had a nice day today. Deep cleaned pen, bath and nail trim - his butts all fluffy and his brother keeps having a crafty sniff at him but Harley has faced him off :(|)
 
I have no experience with bladder stones so can't advise but just wanted to send my best wishes.
Hope Harley is on the mend soon.

Lx
 
If it is any consolation, I think your vet has made the right decision. Once a stone has a certain size, there is a good chance that it will get stuck in the urether - and depending on where, it can be inoperable. Boars have a longer urether with a nook, so stones are not good news!

If you need "hand holding" during the op, come on here for support! I have always found this the hardest bit (apart from saying good bye to the piggy at the vets).
 
Wiebke said:
If it is any consolation, I think your vet has made the right decision. Once a stone has a certain size, there is a good chance that it will get stuck in the urether - and depending on where, it can be inoperable. Boars have a longer urether with a nook, so stones are not good news!

If you need "hand holding" during the op, come on here for support! I have always found this the hardest bit (apart from saying good bye to the piggy at the vets).
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I have to work early tomorrow so my OH will be taking the little fella - was bad enough taking him for X-rays last week, I must have been awful to work with :(|) We can pick him up after 2pm when I finish. Never take my mobile to work but it will be in my pocket switched on again all morning for progress reports and may get out earlier if possible.
I will certainly be doing an update tomorrow evening when he's back in his comfort zone as he's not happy when we take him out for anything longer than his cuddles etc.
Thanks guys for your kind words and support - we all dote on our piggies here that's for sure :)
 
Harley had his op and we were horrified to see the bladder stone - size of a pea :... We were so worried pre op as he had become weak and listless but he has come out fighting (literally facing off to his brother when he got back home)
The incision is approx. 1.5 " in length and we are keeping his bedding poop and wee free, he's not happy about me taking his hay basket out as attempting to avoid any strain so has a tray and a hay rack instead :)
Can see his appetite has improved immediately and no squeaking when he wee's so am thrilled. We enquired about Cystease and have started him on that, half a capsule per day and 0.2ml Metacam daily.
Our vet has been nothing less than brilliant with him and would not trust any one else now, it may only be people doing their jobs but we cannot express our thanks to the Shelfield Vets4Pets practise recommended by Walsall RSPCA.
Oh well, off to spoil the little fella again...;)
 
hope everything goes well. I have dealt with bladder stones before and i know how difficult it can be xx
 
weelynne83 said:
hope everything goes well. I have dealt with bladder stones before and i know how difficult it can be xx
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Actually felt quite queasy seeing the stone and I'm an ex nurse mallethead
Think it was more 'anger' at this thing that had caused so much distress to our boy :(
The vet Sally explained that a piggy's bladder is roughly the size of a human thumb nail so to have something like that rattling around must have been excrutiating :0
 
hiyah, so glad the op went well, its so horrible leaving them at the vets not knowing what will happen next.

Anyway, hope he recovers well, get as much food in him as you can and build him up.

Fingers crossed for him xx
 
doglovinpiggylover said:
hiyah, so glad the op went well, its so horrible leaving them at the vets not knowing what will happen next.

Anyway, hope he recovers well, get as much food in him as you can and build him up.

Fingers crossed for him xx
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I was really grumpy at work (ahem...snappy really :red) My OH popped in to see how I was which made it worse - I just broke at that point as I thought he had come to give me bad news :...
Oh the little dears cause us sooo much worry but our vet is lovely so knew he was in good hands :))
Harley has cleared almost a whole dish of veggies, lots of hay etc. so am really happy with his progress since he came home - we've virtually had to hand feed him lately and he was on Oxbow Critical Care over the weekend :(
Lovely to see him holding his own now but watching him like a hawk ;)
 
Guinea pig slave said:
I was really grumpy at work (ahem...snappy really :red) My OH popped in to see how I was which made it worse - I just broke at that point as I thought he had come to give me bad news :...
Oh the little dears cause us sooo much worry but our vet is lovely so knew he was in good hands :))
Harley has cleared almost a whole dish of veggies, lots of hay etc. so am really happy with his progress since he came home - we've virtually had to hand feed him lately and he was on Oxbow Critical Care over the weekend :(
Lovely to see him holding his own now but watching him like a hawk ;)
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yeah best thing and keep weighing him too, sadly i lost my lad even after his op, he must have formed another stone, the little lamb never stopped sqeaking for about the last 2 months of his life. Any signs of it happening again get straight to the vets, i know you arent daft, but sometimes you think you are over reacting, dont mean to worry you, just be on your guard thats all x
 
It is a worry it will reform at some point so spoke to the vet about putting him on Cystease which she agrees has a good success rate.
Yep, the minute we feel anything is wrong, he'll be whisked off again. At least with his medical history now, we won't have to put him through all of the to and fro visits for tests etc.
 
Glad the op went well....poor little guy. My Nibbler passed a stone that was just smaller than a pea....I cringe just thinking about how painful that must have been for him.

Just keep a close eye on him and I'd recommend reading up about Calcium : Phosphorous ratios of food. There's a thread in the food section that is very helpful.
 
Sorry to hear about Harley. Don't feel bad. It could happen to anyone! You are a great mummy!
 
Just caught up with your thread :...
This little guy sure has been thru heck hasn't he :(

HEALING WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEKY LOVES FOR HARLEY FROM THE GIRLS AND I XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Just another quick update - Harley has been peeing clear urine, no blood and is eating better than he has for weeks :))
Popped him back to the vets this afternoon for his post op check up and they are very pleased with him. Apparantly it was the largest stone the veterinary nurse had ever seen :( Had a good chat about diet - he loves Burgess Excel Blackcurrant & Oregano but have heard it is being discontinued :... Going to have to find it somewhere, maybe contact Burgess to confirm this.
He's had his last dose of Septrin now and is on the Metacam and Cystease but we are sooo happy he is now returning to be the cheeky piggy he's always been, a massive difference. I've actually been laughing at work this morning as I've been grumpy and anxious :red
A big thank you for all of your well wishes, the forum has been so helpful again :(|)
Harley sends his piggy hugs to you all as well for loving all of the little furries x>>
 
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