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Bladder Stone

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Pernilles mummy

Pernilles mummy

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Hi all, I wish I found myself here under happier circumstances, but one of my piggies is poorly, in a nutshell the vet has diagnosed a large bladder stone today. Basically she looked a bit off colour last Sunday and we took her to the vet who thought she had a UTI as she was squealing when peeing and passing blood, we have been giving antibiotics and pain relief and all was ok until yes today evening when she seemed to be going off her food again and very quiet, so a trip to the vet this morning, and the stone was diagnosed. Surgery has been discussed, but we don't know what to do for the best, she is just over 2, but has lost weight so isn't in tip top condition for surgery next week. What would be the kindest thing for Pernille? Hope that she endures surgery with no guarantees in anaesthetic or post op or the alternative......help me please xx
 
Pernilles mummy said:
Hi all, I wish I found myself here under happier circumstances, but one of my piggies is poorly, in a nutshell the vet has diagnosed a large bladder stone today. Basically she looked a bit off colour last Sunday and we took her to the vet who thought she had a UTI as she was squealing when peeing and passing blood, we have been giving antibiotics and pain relief and all was ok until yes today evening when she seemed to be going off her food again and very quiet, so a trip to the vet this morning, and the stone was diagnosed. Surgery has been discussed, but we don't know what to do for the best, she is just over 2, but has lost weight so isn't in tip top condition for surgery next week. What would be the kindest thing for Pernille? Hope that she endures surgery with no guarantees in anaesthetic or post op or the alternative......help me please xx
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Hi and welcome!

Please start syringe feeding Pernille asap to keep her alive and too keep her weight up as much as possible. Here is our guide; it includes tips of what you can do in an emergency: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-syringe-feeding-guide.115359/

Has your vet given you painkiller to ease the excruciating pain, which is keeping her from eating while you are making up your mind?

Unfortunately, you only have got two options: operate or euthanise and you haven't got much time for dithering once your piggy has gone off food completely and may lose weight further due to the pain; the sooner you can operate, the better!
The GOOD NEWS is that bladder stone operations in sows are a pretty straight forward operation with a usually good recovery as soon as the pain from the stone has gone and the body has settled after the operation. At 2 years old, your girl is just starting to be at the peak of her life. So please take heart!

Operation success has made major strides forward in the last few years, but it very much depends on how experienced with small furry ops your own vet and his support team is. How good is your vet or have you access to a piggy savvy vet?
Recommended UK vets: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/
Recommended vets in other countries: http://www.guinealynx.info/cabinet/index.php/Veterinarians

Guinea pigs are particularly prone to bladder problems and stones, as they have naturally alkaline urine. There are however measures that you can take to minimise the risk of a return in the long term. Diet can't prevent everything, as calcium absorption is a complicated and not yet well researched process in guinea pigs, but it can go a long way.
Here are our tips for long term care of bladder piggies (which can easily live a normal lifespan and can even come through a second bladder op if necessary!):
Filtering water (not just for calcium but also minerals that can contribute to the build-up), low calcium and/or reduced pellet intake and a balanced low calcium veg diet are what has stood the test of time best so far.
You can find tips for a balanced daily diet under the IC diet (i.e. daily veg) in our general diet thread: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
More information here: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/low-calcium-diet-for-bladder-piggies.105930/
We also strongly recommend to put bladder piggies on a bladder wall coating glucosamine-based food supplement like vegeterian glucosamine or cystease (and similar food supplements for cats, the other species prone to bladder problems). this helps to protect and heal irritated and damaged bladder walls.

As we have members from all over the world, we find it very helpful in being able to tailor any advice to what is available and doable where you are if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details. click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. thank you!
 
Hi, we are in the UK and pernille has almost has a week of baytril and also on metacam. She has been taking small amounts of food and the vets have just syringe fed her with critical care and have given me supplies. She is drinking ok. The vet said its a 1cm single stone and her bladder wall seems inflamed from the ultrasound scan this morning. She is back in with the other girls now, and indoors, but quiet. I have been told to syringe feed the critical care three times a day.
 
Pernilles mummy said:
Hi, we are in the UK and pernille has almost has a week of baytril and also on metacam. She has been taking small amounts of food and the vets have just syringe fed her with critical care and have given me supplies. She is drinking ok. The vet said its a 1cm single stone and her bladder wall seems inflamed from the ultrasound scan this morning. She is back in with the other girls now, and indoors, but quiet. I have been told to syringe feed the critical care three times a day.
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Please feed her as much as she will take in one go; the more often round the clock the less you get in. You can find more information on amounts etc. in our syringe feeding guide, which also contains tips for post op care.

That is a sizeable stone, but three of my piggies have made a perfect recovery from stones of a comparable size and one from a stone that was even bigger - the lastwas a tiny 5 year old that went from 700g down to a very borderline 540g over the weekend, but she still made it through the operation and was back to 700g just two weeks after the operation. Ceri unfortunately had a "silent" stone that never caused any of the usual symptoms until she suffered a major loss of appetite/weight and deteriorated very quickly.

Here you can see her tucking in two days after the operation with her best mate Cariad on the left (another bladder stone up survivor)
upload_2015-8-8_15-19-4.webp

Recovery can take a bit longer with a very inflamed bladder, but it is absolutely possible. I would definitely talk about using cystease or glucosamine with your vet.

It would be great of you added your country to your details, so we can always adapt any advice to medical brands etc. that are available in the UK, as it always appears under your name on the left and can give your more specific recommendations than if we have to keep them to what is internationally available and possible. https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...cation-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/
 
Hi not much else to add, Wiebke has given fantastic advice as always but just to let you know a bladder stone for a guinea doesn't always mean a death sentence. My girl Rosie had her first bladder op in April when she had 2 stones removed. The biggest being 8mm across as well as having a bladder flush out. She made a fantastic recovery unfortunately at the end of May beginning of June she showed discomfort again when peeing. It came to a head the first weekend of July when she was admitted as an emergency and had another bladder op. We spoke to the vet who attended her ( the brilliant Justine) She told us Rosie had 4 stones and the only way she could clear the bladder of 'rubbish' was to scoop it out. Rosie has made another brilliant recovery - touch wood and she continues to do so. She is back to being the boss of the room, first out for food and has put on over 120g in weight. It's been a long struggle with highs, lows and frustration but having the old Rosie back has made it all worth while. I wouldn't be afraid to put one of my pigs through the op again. Love and hugs to you both xx
 
I have just had my Joe go through an operation for a stone. His was stuck in his urethra so an even harder operation. He is in the recovery period now. I would say that if you go for the operation, be prepared to be nurse maid for a few days after the operation around the clock to help recovery. Joe is 5 1/2 years old and has come through the operation. At 2, your guinea pig has an even better chance of recovery, providing you can hand feed and keep her strength up before the operation. However, only you can make this very difficult decision. Neither option is an easy option to take.
 
Our two other girlies are subdued, we took all the advice from the forum regarding allowing the girls time with Pernille etc, they seemed fine at first, but this morning didn't squeak or say good morning as usual, they don't want to come out for cuddles which is not usual for them, but are still eating. This is sad to see, but understand. How can we help them more, should we consider adopting a friend for them to make them a trio again?
 
Pernilles mummy said:
Our two other girlies are subdued, we took all the advice from the forum regarding allowing the girls time with Pernille etc, they seemed fine at first, but this morning didn't squeak or say good morning as usual, they don't want to come out for cuddles which is not usual for them, but are still eating. This is sad to see, but understand. How can we help them more, should we consider adopting a friend for them to make them a trio again?
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I am ever so sorry that Pernille has left for the Rainbow Bridge! All my piggies are very subdued for a few days after a death, whether it is in their own group or in another. Pining is never nice to witness. :(

You are welcome to post a tribute to her in our Rainbow Bridge section if and whenever it feels right for you.

I would recommend to contact both Palace Piggies (who has more sows) and Crawley Guinea Pig Rescue (for neutered boars) if you are considering a new companion, which can give you and your remaining girls a boost. Both rescues offer dating under expert supervision at the rescue, so you come home only with a new companion if there is mutual liking and acceptance. You don't run any risks and can be assured that any rehomed piggies are quarantined and healthy and definitely not pregnant for a smooth ride. It can sometimes help to consider going for a different gender companion to the one that has passed, so it is more the start of a completely new journey for you, especially if you are emotionally not yet ready yourself.
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
 
Thankyou all for your kind words and support from my original post. We took all advice and syring fed Pernille with the critical care which she accepted, but I had an inkling when I settled her and the other two came down and snuggled in close and were nuzzling and licking her. As much as I would have loved to have cuddled her, it was right that she passed quietly with the girls beside her. My daughter is devastated (as are we) and it is her first experience of losing a pet, and we are now on this incredibly emotional journey with continued and random questions about death. I wonder if there is any recommendations for books, not to replace the talking we have done and are yet to do, but to reinforce and reassure her. As upsetting as this is for us all, Pernille made her own decision and we were not left with the difficult decision of surgery or being PTS.
 
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