Bladder stones with a bit of history

[dearbarbie]

Last week, our beautiful Herbert was back at the vet. Diagnosis is a bladder stone as you can see from this x-ray. Apparently it's too big for him to pass.

Herbert is a trooper. He had major spleen surgery last year in November three weeks after we adopted him (he's famous! Apparently in a medical journal!), so the vet recommended we don't operate again due to the likelihood of lots of scar tissue and complications. We'd go for the surgery in a heartbeat if it wasn't so risky. Although tbh there's no good outcome here...

Instead, it's palliative care (gabapentin as painkiller on top of the metacam he's already having) until it doesn't help anymore...he's had a. week of gabapentin so far and still squeaking but apparently they're starting him on a low dose.

He's was peeing regularly and they're not small pees either, but the last day or so they're smaller and more frequent. He's eating and drinking absolutely fine, popcorning about and his usual inquisitive self until he needs the toilet (poops are perfect), no weight loss.

We're back in a week for a review and long-term plan. Obviously we dont know how long he has left, he's 4 years old now.

They also warned the stone could break up at any time and block his urethra, they didn't want to prescribe anything to break it down because of this. So I assume that means no urinary biscuits (he's not a fan of these anyway tbh).

They also offered to pts that day (although they said it was 'an option' but not the one they'd recommend, it was a locum and think they were saying it due to potential costs/care) - he's absolutely fine (his crazy abyssinan self) apart from when he pees, so don't think we're there yet.

I'm heartbroken if I'm honest! They really do find their way until your heart don't they...

Vet said that a low calcium/oxalate diet isn't proven to help but won't do any harm, recommended the RVC list. So we're doing that and also bottled mineral water.

We know he'll let us know when it's time, but I want to know if there's anything else we can do for him that I've not thought of here - even taking certain toy s/treats away?
Would you go for the surgery?
I can't really get my head around it because he doesn't seem ill until he's relieving himself. Sorry that's a lot of info, wanted to cover everything. Thank you

 

[GuineaDobbin]

I'm sorry you're in this situation, bladder stones are a really tricky one with peegs.

I'll share my experience for what it is worth to you as I had a similar situation last year.

My Albert had a bladder stone early last year when he was four (ish, rescue). He had previously been a 1500g chonk and had steadily lost weight. On diagnosis, we decided to go for the surgery, by the time he went in for it he had dropped to 1200g or so (good exotics vets mean a waiting list).

He came through initially alright, eating, drinking etc... but as the surgery painkillers wore off, he started to deteriorate. I was syringe feeding and watering him and it was a dreadful time, he dropped to aroung 1000g. Thankfully I got the nod to up his painkillers significantly and he eventually came round with careful tending and a bit of luck.

He's not back to his old weight, but he's a fairly steady 1200g and living life well with his new wife after his buddy died in November.

He's not having surgery again likely unless it is very low risk and essential.

Do I regret it? No. It was one of the worst periods of last year (and there were many), but he is a delight and giving him this extra time to enjoy pigging is priceless.

If pig is in good condition and you have a cavy-savvy vet then I would say take the leap. Make sure you have bags of painkiller and know your dosing limits, prepare for syringe feeding etc... as it can be a hard operation to recover from. I suspect that my experience would have been better if he hadn't lost so much condition before the op and he had adequate painkillers straight after.

Regards other things you can do, with a bladder stone still in there it's just painkillers IMHO.

In terms of diet he's on a low calcium diet: hay based pellets, low calcium hay, low calcium veg. He is also on a cystark supplement which helps clear out bladder sludge.

 

[GuineaDobbin]

Re urinary biscuits, I would avoid entirely! I looked at the nutrition information and they were loaded with calcium and sugar!

 

[WWDrew]

I've always approached these kids of decisions though a different lens. When my guinea pig was considered a senior. I chose not to go forward with surgery. I saw she had a wonder life, full of space, hay and enrichment.

You've given Herbert such a high quality of life and that's something not all piggies are lucky enough to have. He's clearly very loved and well cared for and that means so much.

Take care of yourself during this hard time.

WWDrew