Feeling hurt and incompetent.

RosieLily

RosieLily

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Hi all, hope you’re doing alright.

I really want to vent somewhere so I chose to come here.

My Lily has bladder sludge again. She first had it months ago, with lots of watery veg and vitamin C drops we managed to flush it out and she felt better for a while. Well, she’s been crying again when using the bathroom and today the vet confirmed it’s bladder sludge. She showed me the wee test they took and the amount of calcium crystals in it is horrifying and it must hurt her so much when using the bathroom.

I just really don’t understand how it could’ve gotten this bad. I keep her nuggets below 1 tablespoon per day, her daily veg doesn’t contain much calcium at all, her water is a-okay, I really don’t understand.

My vet and I decided to cut out the nuggets altogether, and I’ll resort to using these “hay stick” thingies they sell at the vet. We came back with pain killers and now the long painful process of flushing it out begins again.

I feel so so bad and guilty. I so want to take her pain away but I can’t. She’s being so good, eating, running and playing but I know it still hurts her.

I know there are people on this forum in much worse situations and I’m so sorry, but seeing her in pain is really taking a toll on me and I just wanted to let it out. Thanks for listening.

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I'm so sorry you are feeling guilty but this is just a natural reaction to being a caring concerned puggy parent with a sick piggy!

Calcium metabolism is very complicated and there is definitely a strong genetic component- some piggies get bladder sludge and stones even with an excellent diet, just like with humans and heart disease or cancer... you can minimise dietary and environmental factors, but, you cannot rewrite the DNA that predisposes people and pets to certain illnesses.

Cutting out pellets is a great idea, also are you filtering the drinking water? I'm not sure about these hay stick things, I imagine ordinary hay and fresh grass would do just as well and be cheaper and healthier!

But it sounds like you are doing a great job, and of course it is natural to feel upset your piggy is in pain, but you mustnt blame yourself. Sending hugs and healing wheeks x
 
Please don't feel guilty. You are doing the best you can, and Lily is clearly well cared for and loved. Sending love and healing vibes to you and beautiful Lily 💕
 
I agree even doing the right things it seems hard to avoid. This year I've had bladder issues in 2 piggies. My current two, I'm being a bit paranoid and giving 1 oxbow bladder support tablet a day and sprinkling a bit of a cystease capsule on their veg. I've only ever used filtered water as water is so hard here. But I accept it'll also depend on the piggy, whether they get bladder issues down the line.
 
Please don’t feel bad. My piggies are on low calcium diet, minimal grain free pellets, filtered drinking water and yet still Holly produces crystals and has persistent bladder issues. I know I’m doing all that I can, but some piggies seem to just be predisposed to certain problems that never trouble other piggies. You are not alone. Many of us have the same issue and we are here to support each other.
 
I echo what others have said.
Sadly some piggies will get bladder sludge no matter what you do.
Glad you felt you could rant here, it’s something that needs to be done.
You sound as if you are a brilliant piggy slave and Lily is a very lucky girl.
Hope the sludge clears quickly
 
Please don’t feel bad. You sound like you are doing everything you can. So it must be genes. I live in a hard water area. What water should I be giving to Percy and Pepper? I’m worried now. Not really thought of that before. 😬
 
please don’t feel bad, you are such a caring owner, she is a beautiful girl but sometimes certain piggies are just prone to sludge and even stones. It’s nothing you have done just bad luck for you both :hug:Hope you can get those horrid crystals flushed out again. If you have hard water you could perhaps try a Brita type water filter?
 
Hugs...I have a piggie with bladder issues too. On meds for life to try to prevent stones, and doing what we can during flares.

I understand feeling guilty. We have metacam for when she starts to show symptoms. We are in the middle of a 2 week course of antibiotics because she didn't reaspond to a week of pain meds, and I wish I had called sooner.

Your piggie is adorable! Here's Buttercup this week, having her butt soaked. It makes me feel so bad to see her fur stained. 😕

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Thank you so much for taking the time out of your days to offer sympathies and kind words. It means a lot to me and the pigs, knowing we're not alone is helping a ton! Thank you!

Lily's being a fantastic piggy. She drinks a lot of water on her own, takes her pain killers with no fuzz, just makes some funky faces and then patiently waits for her pea flake. Rosie's being a fantastic sister as well, I've caught her grooming Lily a couple times, which is lovely to see as she's quite feisty otherwise. They're being great.

Lily is passing the sludge and it hurts, hopefully it will all be over soon.

Our water here is very good quality, not harsh at all, but I have started filtering it now to make sure I'm doing all I can for her.

Again, thank you ❤️
 
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