Help with a UTI - Pebble

[weepweeps]

We are home. First of all the vet was lovely.

So Pebble hasn’t had the scan as the vet said what would it change if I’m not going to operate. Fair point. He said I don’t want to take your money or put an animal through any procedure that isn’t necessary. He said I could go ahead with it if I wanted.

He said to stop the Baytril. As he was on a high dose and it should have cleared up any infection if there was one.

I asked about a second painkiller. He said the anti inflammatory pain medication is the most important. So didn’t prescribe anything else.

I asked about cat bladder glucosamine supplements. He said he’d not heard of using them on piggies.

He said it’s likely a stone would return.

I mentioned to him about Pebbles overgrown molar operation in January. So he looked at his teeth and said Pebbles teeth are already longer than usual.

I’ve got some more loxicom for a few days and then I think the vet is expecting me to return to PTS . He said in a nice way that Pebble shouldn’t suffer. Which I totally agree with.

So my plan is to carry on with loxicom, start glucosamine to give it a go. I’ll need advice on dosage though.

He couldn’t feel a stone but Pebble did squeak loudly when his bladder was palpated.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

The tragedy of soaring vet bills is that even caring and responsible owners think twice about some treatments.
...
It does make you wonder how many people will simply not go the vet or abandon their ‘cheap starter pet’ .

RSBM

I know my local guinea rescue surmised that people were abandoning their guineas due to vet costs, which increased by quite a lot 2-3 years ago. My local rescue has a 'guinea pig drop', (like a baby drop where human mothers can give up a newborn baby anonymously), with a special hutch outside but sheltered, and apparently there's been an increase in people using it. But better that than abandoning the guineas somewhere. It's not always singles either, it can be pairs or little groups.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

So Pebble hasn’t had the scan as the vet said what would it change if I’m not going to operate. Fair point. He said I don’t want to take your money or put an animal through any procedure that isn’t necessary.

I know you write "fair point" but are you happy in general with the vet not wanting to do the scan? I mean I suppose doing the scan would mean you would know fairly definitely one way or the other. Or maybe you don't even really know yet.

Nice that the vet was lovely, that helps somewhat.
Keeping my fingers crossed for Pebbles and sending you hopefully comforting thoughts.

 

[Janey]

We are home. First of all the vet was lovely.

So Pebble hasn’t had the scan as the vet said what would it change if I’m not going to operate. Fair point. He said I don’t want to take your money or put an animal through any procedure that isn’t necessary. He said I could go ahead with it if I wanted.

He said to stop the Baytril. As he was on a high dose and it should have cleared up any infection if there was one.

I asked about a second painkiller. He said the anti inflammatory pain medication is the most important. So didn’t prescribe anything else.

I asked about cat bladder glucosamine supplements. He said he’d not heard of using them on piggies.

He said it’s likely a stone would return.

I mentioned to him about Pebbles overgrown molar operation in January. So he looked at his teeth and said Pebbles teeth are already longer than usual.

I’ve got some more loxicom for a few days and then I think the vet is expecting me to return to PTS . He said in a nice way that Pebble shouldn’t suffer. Which I totally agree with.

So my plan is to carry on with loxicom, start glucosamine to give it a go. I’ll need advice on dosage though.

He couldn’t feel a stone but Pebble did squeak loudly when his bladder was palpated.

My vet, Ellie Whitehead, recommended half a capsule of Cystophan or Cystease daily some years ago. I’m now on one and a half capsules per day for Dori, along with 0.6ml Loxicom and 0.3ml Calpol 6+, twice daily. I’m in the process of reducing the Loxicom as she’s not squeaking at all when peeing, but at her last vet check her bladder felt thickened.

The glucosamine does take 2-3 weeks before you’ll notice any difference though.

 

[Ramia]

I'm sorry it's not better news

Thinking about you at this difficult time

 

[fluffysal]

Sir George has o.4ml of 4 joints (which he loves)

 

[weepweeps]

Pebble is so perky. Running around, eating everything and sleeping on his side. Very comfy.

I’m definitely not ready to let him go yet. He still has a very good quality of life. I’m basically going to treat him with painkillers and bladder supplementation for now and see where it takes us.

I’m not expecting a miracle. Just giving him a longer time with happy days with me and Patrick.

@fluffysal and @Janey please could you take a picture of the products for me? Thank you so much

 

[weepweeps]

I know you write "fair point" but are you happy in general with the vet not wanting to do the scan? I mean I suppose doing the scan would mean you would know fairly definitely one way or the other. Or maybe you don't even really know yet.

Nice that the vet was lovely, that helps somewhat.
Keeping my fingers crossed for Pebbles and sending you hopefully comforting thoughts.

He said he would do the scan if I definitely wanted it done but then said if I’m not going to operate if it’s a stone then there’s not much point.

 

[Janey]

Pebble is so perky. Running around, eating everything and sleeping on his side. Very comfy.

I’m definitely not ready to let him go yet. He still has a very good quality of life. I’m basically going to treat him with painkillers and bladder supplementation for now and see where it takes us.

I’m not expecting a miracle. Just giving him a longer time with happy days with me and Patrick.

@fluffysal and @Janey please could you take a picture of the products for me? Thank you so much

Here you go, I hope you have good results

 

[Truffolo]

He said he would do the scan if I definitely wanted it done but then said if I’m not going to operate if it’s a stone then there’s not much point.

Also the molars might become more significant and affect how fit he is for any procedure, including scans perhaps? Once humans were in this situation themselves. Medicine can keep us alive longer, but at what cost?

 

[Janey]

I forgot to mention that Cystophan and Cystease are both exactly the same product just different brands.

 

[piggieminder]

Poor Pebble and poor you, I am so sorry you are in this situation.
I absolutely agree about not doing the scan if you aren't going to operate. I have had this situation before and am feeling the same with Timmy now. Some vets are really good like this and other's will push for all the tests at £100 plus each and all the other trimmings and end up costing a fortune to tell you the piggy needs PTS. Bracken cost me over £5,000 in the end to keep him going for 3 months. The same year Rusty was over £2,000, that year the vet bills were more than my income, thank goodness for savings!
Fingers crossed the meds help. Timmy has Cystease I buy it on line from where ever is cheapest at the time. It's often cheaper on ebay because you get free postage. Also look at VetUk and Viovet, there are other online places for animal supplements but those are the main 2 I use.
4 Joints is great if you want glucosamine for joints but is no good for bladder problems like cystitis which are usually caused by stress. Cystease and similar products contain ingredients like L-Trytophan to help lower stress. (That's what Timmy's last vet told me when I said we had 4 Joints), she also said if a piggy is taking 4 Joints for arthritis it's fine to give Cystease as well.
Good luck little Pebble, I hope you just have an irritated bladder.

 

[fluffysal]

 

[weepweeps]

Thanks everyone. I’ve been crying all evening. It’s not just the piggies. I’m moving house after 28 years in my home, parents are not doing too well either. Add In HRT and I’m a bit of a pressure cooker. . Guilt is high at the moment.

 

[weepweeps]

Poor Pebble and poor you, I am so sorry you are in this situation.
I absolutely agree about not doing the scan if you aren't going to operate. I have had this situation before and am feeling the same with Timmy now. Some vets are really good like this and other's will push for all the tests at £100 plus each and all the other trimmings and end up costing a fortune to tell you the piggy needs PTS. Bracken cost me over £5,000 in the end to keep him going for 3 months. The same year Rusty was over £2,000, that year the vet bills were more than my income, thank goodness for savings!
Fingers crossed the meds help. Timmy has Cystease I buy it on line from where ever is cheapest at the time. It's often cheaper on ebay because you get free postage. Also look at VetUk and Viovet, there are other online places for animal supplements but those are the main 2 I use.
4 Joints is great if you want glucosamine for joints but is no good for bladder problems like cystitis which are usually caused by stress. Cystease and similar products contain ingredients like L-Trytophan to help lower stress. (That's what Timmy's last vet told me when I said we had 4 Joints), she also said if a piggy is taking 4 Joints for arthritis it's fine to give Cystease as well.
Good luck little Pebble, I hope you just have an irritated bladder.

Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this
Sending hugs

 

[Truffolo]

That is a lot of things happening at once, a lot of things to come to terms with, and it will be difficult to deal with them all. Wishing you comfort and peace. You are a good, kind person and whatever choices you make will be the result of you caring deeply

 

[Wiebke]

He said he would do the scan if I definitely wanted it done but then said if I’m not going to operate if it’s a stone then there’s not much point.

BIG HUGS

There is an important point in it for you and your conscience - knowing what you are up against and having more clear data for important decisions re. life prolonging measures or not.

Knowing that something crucial is not right and knowing what is at the bottom of it (or being able to rule things out) can make a real difference for your decision making when you struggle with anxiety, strong feelings of guilt or feel overwhelmed by stress.
You have to weigh that up against the cost and a smaller risk of GA side effects impacting further on the appetite. It's never easy is it?

But then, striking the perfect balance between quality of life and severe pain is difficult to get right; it's not like there is a clear line. There are kerbs when you are obviously too much on one side or the other but there is quite a broad band that is open to interpretation, especially when you are yourself emotionally sooo not ready.

I hope that me trying to put your dilemma into a bit of a perspective will help you. It's not a choice about love or care, and it is not a choice between right and wrong. It is trying to bridge the grey area without falling off what to you seems a tight rope walk between some very strong desires and there not being any clear facts to help you out and take that decision out of your hands.

My thoughts are with you.

 

[Merab]

Thanks everyone. I’ve been crying all evening. It’s not just the piggies. I’m moving house after 28 years in my home, parents are not doing too well either. Add In HRT and I’m a bit of a pressure cooker. . Guilt is high at the moment.

Moving house is very stressful, never mind everything else you’re dealing with.
Having moved house several times I developed some strategies to cope.

If it hasn’t been used in the last 5 years it doesn’t go with you.
Be ruthless with what goes to a charity shop, Vinted or some other site, or to the tip.
Plan the declutter- clothes, books, kitchen stuff etc and tackle them one at a time.
Pack as you go along, don’t leave it all to the last moment
Keep the kettle handy
Build in some relaxing time when you don’t think about the move.
Get your removal company to pack the breakables
Take the most valuable and precious items with you - piggies, jewellery, the kettle and enough mugs and stuff to make tea / coffee

It’s still stressful but these are my tricks to minimise the stress.
If possible arrange boarding for the piggies to reduce their stress.
Maybe MerryPigs can take them for a few days.

Remind yourself that your feelings of guilt are misplaced - you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

Hugs

 

[weepweeps]

BIG HUGS

There is an important point in it for you and your conscience - knowing what you are up against and having more clear data for important decisions re. life prolonging measures or not.

Knowing that something crucial is not right and knowing what is at the bottom of it (or being able to rule things out) can make a real difference for your decision making when you struggle with anxiety, strong feelings of guilt or feel overwhelmed by stress.
You have to weigh that up against the cost and a smaller risk of GA side effects impacting further on the appetite. It's never easy is it?

But then, striking the perfect balance between quality of life and severe pain is difficult to get right; it's not like there is a clear line. There are kerbs when you are obviously too much on one side or the other but there is quite a broad band that is open to interpretation, especially when you are yourself emotionally sooo not ready.

I hope that me trying to put your dilemma into a bit of a perspective will help you. It's not a choice about love or care, and it is not a choice between right and wrong. It is trying to bridge the grey area without falling off what to you seems a tight rope walk between some very strong desires and there not being any clear facts to help you out and take that decision out of your hands.

My thoughts are with you.

Thank you as always @Wiebke

Between a rock and a hard place sums it up well.

 

[weepweeps]

Moving house is very stressful, never mind everything else you’re dealing with.
Having moved house several times I developed some strategies to cope.

If it hasn’t been used in the last 5 years it doesn’t go with you.
Be ruthless with what goes to a charity shop, Vinted or some other site, or to the tip.
Plan the declutter- clothes, books, kitchen stuff etc and tackle them one at a time.
Pack as you go along, don’t leave it all to the last moment
Keep the kettle handy
Build in some relaxing time when you don’t think about the move.
Get your removal company to pack the breakables
Take the most valuable and precious items with you - piggies, jewellery, the kettle and enough mugs and stuff to make tea / coffee

It’s still stressful but these are my tricks to minimise the stress.
If possible arrange boarding for the piggies to reduce their stress.
Maybe MerryPigs can take them for a few days.

Remind yourself that your feelings of guilt are misplaced - you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

Hugs

Thank you. Hugs Heather

 

[Merab]

Thank you. Hugs Heather

Just realised that it’s @fluffysal moving closer to MerryPigs, not you.
Where are you moving to ?

 

[weepweeps]

Just realised that it’s @fluffysal moving closer to MerryPigs, not you.
Where are you moving to ?

Near Highworth. So not too far from friends and family.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you as always @Wiebke

Between a rock and a hard place sums it up well.

Indeed. And neither the rock or the hard place are ever getting any softer.

 

[Roselina]

Dear Weepweeps I really feel for you and Pebble.
It must feel overwhelming these days
If those feelings are taking over….. some meditation will help just 5 mins here and there
You know Pebble best and while he’s loving life, especially eating and is painfree go with it
You’ve had great advice from the forum friends
Take care

 

[AidaB]

Thinking of you, and Pebble.

 

[CTWC]

Sending you all a happy hug

 

[weepweeps]

Morning all. I’m feeling better today. Sending you all hugs

 

[weepweeps]

Everything is normal today in the piggy room.

 

[Claire W]

I’m so sorry that you’re going through all this those vets fees are eye watering and I think you’ve made the right decision.

I’m glad Pebble is still happy in himself and he’s definitely not ready to be PTS.

I hope you have lots of happy days and that your house move goes well x