Connie has crystals in her urine :(

[Claire W]

It has now been confirmed by the vet that Connie has crystals in her urine The vet said that there is no blood though so we're not sure why her urine is still a funny colour. She is going to the vets on Friday morning to have an x ray to see if she has bladder stones I'm just so worried now. If she has a big stone he will need to operate to remove it. Does anyone no what will happen if she does have a big stone? I am so worried about the anesthetic If it is found that she has a big stone, do you think that the surgery will take place on Friday? How are guinea pigs with this kind of surgery and anesthetic? I just want her to get better x

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

So sorry to hear Connie is still poorly, I don't know anything about crystals or stones but just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and have fingers crossed - for what it's worth!

Sophie
x

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

Claire I'm so sorry to hear that Connie is still having problems and that crystals have now been found in her urine. I'm afraid we are becoming somewhat "experts" in the field of bladder problems, 4 of our piggies have had issues, including 2 that have had actual stones (both boys). Smudge is our latest patient, she had an x-ray and bladder flush carried out yesterday. The vet found no sign of stones or sludge, but felt it was a good idea to flush her through. When the boys have had stones removed, which is a much trickier op, they have both recovered well, particularly Curly who had his op earlier in the summer. GA's are always a worry, but meds have improved considerably and to be honest if the stone can't be manipulated or flushed through (not usually possible in boars) you have no option but to go down the route of surgery.

Because I have experienced this problem several times (some of my pigs are related too) I have changed their diet in an attempt to help. The gang now have Cavy Cuisine pellets (SPH Supplies on line) mixed with a little P@H pellet, unlimited meadow hay, filtered tap water. I avoid veggies that are high in calcium so nothing like kale or greens. Their daily ration is usually a mixture of a small amount of little gem lettuce (or similar), some sliced pepper, carrot, cucumber, celery, parsnip, tomatoes, green beans, basil, coriander, apple and melon. They don't get each item every day, I mix it around.

Try to increase the amount of water your Connie drinks, this helps to flush through any sludge that might be irritating the bladder. You could try offering some cranberry juice (Sainsbury's do an unsweetened one now) or boil up some pearl barley and offer the liquid (the cooked pearl barley can also be mixed in with their food) - be warned, it feels very "slimy" but that is the point, it coats the lining of the bladder, again to stop irritation. Another trick is to wash all your veggies and leave them wet when offering them to the pigs, again another source of liquid.

Post surgery, if it comes to that, put Connie on white or light coloured towels as you can then see what colour wee they are actually passing. Keep her warm and as comfortable as you can, ask your vet about pain relief as she will be sore for a few days and expect red wee. Also ask about changing over to Septrin which seems to be the AB of choice for bladder issues. Curly didn't drink a huge amount after his surgery and he had to go back in for a bladder flush because sludge had formed so I would try to offer her fluids via a small syringe or make her veggies extra wet.

Keeping my fingers crossed that a stone hasn't formed, feel free to pm me if I can be of any further help. Give Connie a little head scratch from me and the gang send wheeks.

 

[MemberY]

What wonderful advice Sandra!

Hope Connie will be ok, fingers crossed here xx

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I'm sorry this is turning out to be so drawn-out and stressful. If only the little darlings knew what they put us through!

Sometimes crystals are just caused by a pH inbalance in the urine; it doesn't always mean stones. I expected stones when one of my pigs had actual visible crystals, but it was just a case of the urine was crystallising due to a simple urinary infection. Baytril cleared it up for him as it was so mild, but I found other ABs do a better job.

As Caviesgalore said, avoid high calcium veg. Carrots, kale, parsley and spinach are most notably high in this, as are most herbs like dill, basil and mint. Coriander is about the best herb nutritionally speaking. Since excess calcium is eliminated in the urine, it goes through the bladder, and pigs with bladder issues tend to have a flare-up if too much excess calcium is in the system.

Some vets prefer to operate immediately upon the xray results; the pig already being anesthetised for the xray, it's better to get the surgery out of the way while the pig is out of it, instead of waking the pig and and putting it under again. The vet will ring you as soon as he has the xrays and ask for your permission, if immediate surgery is what your vet chooses to do.

Surgery should be relatively "straight forward" provided you have a very knowledgeable and skilled vet. The right anesthetic (no injectable), surgical suture and the right post-op care are usually the areas that, when done wrong, cause problems. When done right, the pig has received the best medical attention possible and the pig has the best chance at recovery. The majority of pigs do recover from this surgery just fine, but it doesn't make it any easier when it's our own pigs having to go through it.

Keep us updated. xx

 

[tattyruncy]

Sending lots of love and hugs to Connie xxxxxxxxxxxxx xoxo

 

[Lucinda]

Riff had a huge stone removed in September.

I agree with the advice offered above. Cranberry is excellent, and lots of water.

Riff's surgery was uneventful. Ask your vet to use Isoflurane for the anaesthetic. As someone else has said, anaesthetic problems come from I'm injections, rather than inhalation. Scarby had difficulty with an I'm ages ago.

Riff is returning for an x-ray in the new year to ensure there are no stones back. I suggest you do the same.

All I can say is that Riff is a different pig now the stone has gone. It was the size of a baked bean and Riff was in agony, and crying all the time when going to the lav. Riff is now bouncy and naughty, and has no blood in urine at all.

Good luck!

 

[moonie8404]

sorry to hear about Connie, and sending lots of hugs. sorry i have no experience in this area, but hopefully some on will know bout it on here. I'm sure all will be ok x x

 

[rw3399]

Sorry to hear about Connie's results. Most of the advice has been posted above. I had a sow who had 3 bladder stones removed. The op was straight forward with no complications and she came home the next day. She coped well with the anesthetic and she was 6 years old at the time. I hope Connie has no stones and the meds clear away anything nasty.

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

How is Connie today Claire? Thinking of you.

 

[Claire W]

Thank you all so much for the excellent advise especially to Sandra, CCC4 and Lucinda. I am stressing out loads tonight OH was off work today so he had them out for a few hours in the kitchen. Connie is acting normal and is still eating like a horse. He didn't hear her doing any horrible squeaking sounds. She has been running around unaware of all the stress she is causing me I just want her to get better xx

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

I'm glad to hear Connie seems well in herself Claire. They are a worry aren't they - with my lot just as I think I have everything sorted someone else comes down with something!

Give Connie a little head scratch from me and my bladder piggy Smudge sends her love.