Bladder Stones.

[sweetcavy]

Hello everybody! I have a guinea pig, his name is Toni and he is 3 years old. 2 weeks ago I took him to the vet because he was peeing blood and was straining while urinating and pooping. I assumed the worst and thought it was a bladder stone (and upon getting him x-rayed, it turned out it was). The vet had put Toni on Sulfameth and Meloxicam for about a week, and I was seeing some improvement as he wasn't in pain when he pooped and he wasn't straining as much. I came back last Tuesday and proceeded to schedule the cystotomy which will be in 2 days (Feb. 13, at 8-9 am). He has run out of his Sulfameth and Meloxicam and hasn't gotten any refills. He seems to be doing worse when he tries to use the bathroom, straining much more than he was before and squeaks more often and more loudly. He's still active during floor time, but his appetite has decreased (he was 1064g yesterday, and today he is around 986g). The stone seems to have grown as I can feel his bladder and it feels hard compared to when I brought him in the first two times (the vet and I couldn't feel it at all). I've been syringe feeding him vitamin C as per the vet's orders and have critical care for him which I will start giving him, but I'm a little worried about the effects because if he stops eating he will go into gut stasis, but he seems to be having such a hard time defecating and urinating. I'm unsure what to do as this is the first guinea pig that I've had that has gone through this (I've had 3 others before him who didn't have any problems besides one with a head tilt). Is there something I could do to have him be in less pain whenever he poops or pees? What else should I do while I wait for the day of his cystotomy? Any and all tips and advice are appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry your boy is unwell. I would contact the vet tomorrow and explain the lack of meds and his subsequent increase in pain.

As he has already lost more than 50g in a day, you will need to step in immediately with syringe feeding. Try and get him to take 60ml in a 24 hour period (excluding sleep time) you could put some in a bowl as long as his companion won’t scoff it all down.

Hopefully they’ll give you more meds to tide him over till his procedure on Tuesday.

 

[sweetcavy]

thank you he's stopped pooping now, but i have been syringe feeding him (both critical care and water since he seemed very dehydrated when i woke up) since then and he is now at 996g. today he woke up so lethargic (he won't even take his vitamin C, which he goes nuts for!) and light i thought he'd be on the verge of death! I'll check his weight again tonight to see if there's any improvement, and he'll be staying in my room so i can check on him throughout the night. the vet called and said the cystotomy might be even riskier now that he's gotten into this state. i'm hoping everything improves during and after his recovery.

 

[piggieminder]

I'm linking the syringe feeding guide for you. Poor boy is obviously in pain he really needs more Metacam.

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[sweetcavy]

thank you! i was going through these earlier today as it's the first time i've ever had to step in and syringe feed. I'm suspecting bloat now too, seeing as he's exhibiting a lot of symptoms for it (his tummy sounds hollow when i lightly flick it, and i definitely think that's why his stomach as been feeling harder than usual + no pooping). he is now peeing, but strains a LOT, which most definitely is because of the bladder stone. we are going to the vet very early tomorrow and i'll have to ask how bloat and gi stasis will affect him during his op.

 

[eileen]

Maybe stronger pain relief gabepentin is good for bladder stones.He may take his critical care if he is in less pain.I'm sorry you are going through this.x