Bladder Stones

[worrier]

My piggie, Peanut (6 years old, 7 in May) has just passed a bladder stone with a bit of blood. She's had bladder stones twice before and has been on a low calcium diet for around a year or so now. Other than going to the vets, getting the antibiotics/ pain meds, what can I do? I feel awful that it keeps returning and an aware that if it ever got really bad she probably wouldn't be able to have surgery due to her age. Any tips for this issue? The only thing the vets have recommended is low calcium and then the antibiotics and pain meds.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to her this

Unfortunately there is very little that can be done to prevent stones. Diet is all we can control (keeping calcium low but not too low - too low is just as bad as too high) as the other side of stone formation is genetics so nothing we can do.

You might want to discuss potassium citrate with your vet but it is not a guaranteed help.

You can give glucosamine to help protect the bladder but in itself it doesn’t stop stone formation.

Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones

 

[worrier]

Thank you so much! I was afraid there was nothing much I could do to prevent any stone formation. I'll discuss potassium citrate with my vet - thank you! Just awful to see her in any sort of discomfort, wish there was a way to prevent stones completely.

 

[underthegojitree]

Hi there.

I’m so sorry to hear about Peanut. I unfortunately lost a female piggie to bladder stones a few years ago. My vet said they are usually genetic, but that doesn’t mean to give up hope. My guinea pig for some reason also wouldn’t drink water ever. She didn’t like it.
I read about Sherwood Urinary Support back when I was concerned about her. I didn’t try them, but it might be worth looking into. I hope everything goes well for Peanut!

 

[worrier]

I'm so sorry about the loss of your piggie I'll definitely look into Sherwood urinary support, never heard of it's before so thank you so much!

 

[underthegojitree]

I'm so sorry about the loss of your piggie I'll definitely look into Sherwood urinary support, never heard of it's before so thank you so much!

No problem and I appreciate it. Best of luck!

 

[Piggies&buns]

The Sherwood urinary are no better than oxbow urinary support. They won’t do any harm but we have seen no evidence that they will help, and can rather just be a waste of money. If you wish to provide glucosamine for urinary support then there are more effective ways to do it

 

[worrier]

The Sherwood urinary are no better than oxbow urinary support. They won’t do any harm but we have seen no evidence that they will help, and can rather just be a waste of money. If you wish to provide glucosamine for urinary support then there are more effective ways to do it

Thank you, what are more effective ways youd recommend?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Cystease is the most commonly recommended glucosamine

 

[AnxiousPigOwner]

I have recently lost a piggie to a stone and her sister (who will be 7 in April) had a bad sludge episode over Christmas. Shes not the best drinker, so we have been making sure that we top her up with fluids by syringing her with some bottled water (as much as she will willingly take), the additional fluids help pass a lot of the excess sludge that goes on to form stones (dont force it though).

We have also now been on potassium citrate for about 10 days (if your vet does agree to try it just be wary that my piggie had soft poops for a few hrs after each dose for the first few days so I supported with fibreplex but luckily she seems to have now adjusted to it).

She has 3 water bottles, 1 down either end and 1 in the middle - we have also recently started making up some bio lapis (dandelion flavoured probiotic/electrolytes mix) and then filtering all the bits out and put that in 1 bottle so she essentially has dandelion flavoured water and have noticed she is starting to drink a bit more so its reassuring to know that she's drinking more than she was especially when we are out at work etc.

Just a heads up with the sherwood urinary support - we have used it for years and although I still give it, we have still had stones and sludge form so dont put all your eggs in one basket!

Good luck!x

 

[KK327]

Hello ! Sorry about your piggy but great the stone passed. We use a very small amount of piggy parcels urinary pellets and have always given filtered water. I’ve learnt loads from lovely @Wiebke information handout for us going forward. Good luck !

 

[KK327]

I have recently lost a piggie to a stone and her sister (who will be 7 in April) had a bad sludge episode over Christmas. Shes not the best drinker, so we have been making sure that we top her up with fluids by syringing her with some bottled water (as much as she will willingly take), the additional fluids help pass a lot of the excess sludge that goes on to form stones (dont force it though).

We have also now been on potassium citrate for about 10 days (if your vet does agree to try it just be wary that my piggie had soft poops for a few hrs after each dose for the first few days so I supported with fibreplex but luckily she seems to have now adjusted to it).

She has 3 water bottles, 1 down either end and 1 in the middle - we have also recently started making up some bio lapis (dandelion flavoured probiotic/electrolytes mix) and then filtering all the bits out and put that in 1 bottle so she essentially has dandelion flavoured water and have noticed she is starting to drink a bit more so its reassuring to know that she's drinking more than she was especially when we are out at work etc.

Just a heads up with the sherwood urinary support - we have used it for years and although I still give it, we have still had stones and sludge form so dont put all your eggs in one basket!

Good luck!x

Sorry for your loss x this sludge and stones issue with piggies is horrendous x sounds like you are doing all you can xx

 

[KK327]

Cystease is the most commonly recommended glucosamine

When I asked vet about this for Stan they said they couldn’t advise due to it being unregulated for pigs. The pellet we use has glucosamine in it- piggy parcels of really like to know if I should do this going forwards with Stan after his bladder stone.

Also I remember years ago I used a natural product called waterfall d mannose - anybody used this or know anything that might be worth exploring please

 

[Piggies&buns]

When I asked vet about this for Stan they said they couldn’t advise due to it being unregulated for pigs. The pellet we use has glucosamine in it- piggy parcels of really like to know if I should do this going forwards with Stan after his bladder stone.

A lot of things are unregulated and unlicensed for piggies.
Cystease is just a supplement, it is not a prescription medication (so it has nothing to do with any licensing). Cystease is recommended a lot.
But the piggy parcels urinary pellets also contain the recommended amount of glucosamine.
So you can use either the pellets or cystease but not both as it’ll be too much.
If you’re using the piggy parcels pellets then I would stick to the pellets

 

[KK327]

A lot of things are unregulated or unlicensed for piggies.
Cystease is recommended a lot.
But the piggy parcels urinary pellets also contain the recommended amount of glucosamine.
So you can use either the pellets or cystease but not both as it’ll be too much.
If you’re using the piggy parcels pellets then I would stick to the pellets

Thanks that’s great - they eat their allowance every day. I just want to give them the best chance. Thanks @Piggies&buns

Ps I told my vet when they complimented me on the care I’d given Stan that I could not have done it without the support of the guinea pig forum and all pig owners should join. I hope they will advise pig owners to join. It’s such a valuable source of information and support and gave me a lot more confidence when dealing with the vets.

 

[KK327]

It’s Monday ! Happy Monday everyone wishing you and your piggies well.

It’s two weeks today since Stans op so thought I’d give you an update.

He is still in his meds - baytril, Metacam and Tramadol. We stop the Baytril on Thursday, the tramadol will be reduced to once a day and Metacam will carry on a week after that (assuming he goes ok I may be able to stop it sooner). We are being super cautious.

His external wound healed beautifully and with the barrier cream being applied twice a day to his feet after washing them, they are healing.

He’s eating brilliantly ! His weight this morning a drum roll please……1219g clever boy. This increase is literally the three hays - Cotswold, Timothy and meadow. The piggy parcel urinary pellets daily allowance and a little sprinkle of oat hay. Veg - romaine, red pepper and cucumber and extra leaf of lettuce twice a day dunked in probiotic water. I’m still syringing probiotic water in as well.

He’s wheeking and drama queening that he’s being starved as he used to before. Something I did think about about 6 weeks before he got really sick he stopped wheeking - he was still keen for everything and I thought maybe he had gone deaf… I did ask the vet but he couldn’t really say. This now will be a massive alarm bell to me that something isn’t right even though everything else looked well. I am determined to learn every possible thing I can from the horrendous experience. I thought I knew my piggies very well - subtle changes shouldn’t be dismissed. Don’t be palmed off at the vets - next time (praying there isn’t a next time) I will push for tests/x rays earlier and longer time on painkilling drugs - the most effective they can give. The metacam just didn’t cut it for Stan.

Cost is in the region of about £1800 but he is absolutely worth every penny.

 

[KK327]

Brand: Alfavet
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars(564)

[HEADING=2]alfavet RodiCare uro, supplementary feed to reduce urinary stone formation in rabbits, guinea pigs and small rodents, 20 ml, dosing syringe[/HEADING]

Hi all

I wondered if anyone had good experience with this please - actually any experience at all. Stan will be finishing his baytril in the next couple of days and then his pain meds and I am desperate to keep him well.

Thanks so much

 

[Piggies&buns]

Brand: Alfavet
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars(564)

[HEADING=2]alfavet RodiCare uro, supplementary feed to reduce urinary stone formation in rabbits, guinea pigs and small rodents, 20 ml, dosing syringe[/HEADING]

Hi all

I wondered if anyone had good experience with this please - actually any experience at all. Stan will be finishing his baytril in the next couple of days and then his pain meds and I am desperate to keep him well.

Thanks so much

This is herbs to encourage urination, I don’t know if there is any scientific evidence that it actually prevents the formation of stones - there are other supplements like this who also claim to prevent stones but there is no evidence of it .
You can encourage urination by giving extra cucumber (stones are a risk factor in piggies who don’t drink well)
Some vets will prescribe potassium citrate which might help.

It would be best if you posted your updates on your own thread so as to not cause confusion for the original poster of this thread

 

[worrier]

I have recently lost a piggie to a stone and her sister (who will be 7 in April) had a bad sludge episode over Christmas. Shes not the best drinker, so we have been making sure that we top her up with fluids by syringing her with some bottled water (as much as she will willingly take), the additional fluids help pass a lot of the excess sludge that goes on to form stones (dont force it though).

We have also now been on potassium citrate for about 10 days (if your vet does agree to try it just be wary that my piggie had soft poops for a few hrs after each dose for the first few days so I supported with fibreplex but luckily she seems to have now adjusted to it).

She has 3 water bottles, 1 down either end and 1 in the middle - we have also recently started making up some bio lapis (dandelion flavoured probiotic/electrolytes mix) and then filtering all the bits out and put that in 1 bottle so she essentially has dandelion flavoured water and have noticed she is starting to drink a bit more so its reassuring to know that she's drinking more than she was especially when we are out at work etc.

Just a heads up with the sherwood urinary support - we have used it for years and although I still give it, we have still had stones and sludge form so dont put all your eggs in one basket!

Good luck!x

I'm so sorry for your loss, may your piggie rest well .

Peanut has always been a pretty good drinker. Every time we've just been given the same antibiotics/ painkillers and same dietary advice but I am worried that these bladder stone episodes are getting worse - I found a bit of quite thick blood on her genitals a few minutes ago which is worrying. All this and the cost of vet bills are a nightmare. I just turned 20 and am a student so can barely afford an appointment let alone the extra scans. Feeling a bit hopeless right now, just hoping the medication works for a while.

 

[KK327]

This is herbs to encourage urination, I don’t know if there is any scientific evidence that it actually prevents the formation of stones - there are other supplements like this who also claim to prevent stones but there is no evidence of it .
You can encourage urination by giving extra cucumber (stones are a risk factor in piggies who don’t drink well)
Some vets will prescribe potassium citrate which might help.

It would be best if you posted your updates on your own thread so as to not cause confusion for the original poster of this thread

Sorry about posting it in the wrong place. I thought I had put it in mine. Thanks for the tip