DougalandDiego
Teenage Guinea Pig
Hi everyone,
I’m sure you’ll all be aware of the bladder issues that my poor boy Diego has faced since last year when he was diagnosed with IC.
A month or so ago he dropped a larger amount of weight than was normal during one of his usual IC flare ups and an ultrasound revealed bladder stones (after the surgery we found out it was 3 small ones and two slightly larger ones).
Since he has had the op to remove them he is still squeaking when peeing (he was doing this before with his IC but I wouldn’t say quite so frequently) and has blood on and off with his pee - all of these being his usual IC symptoms but it has made me paranoid it could be bladder stones returning.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke to my vet, who is an exotic specialist, and she suggested we do a conscious X-ray to put my mind at ease as he had been squeaking a lot and peeing more blood. She could do it conscious as he is so still and well behaved. Luckily the X-ray showed no stones but did show he’s starting to get arthritis in his back legs (he’s only about 2y 2m). After the X-ray we discussed giving him an additional painkiller to the dog metacam he is already having (he was having 0.45ml twice daily at a max dose and still squealing) so we have decided to put him on tramadol at 0.12ml x3 per day or x2 per day if he is having a better day (which he hasn’t really as of yet). Although he is still squeaking when he is peeing he is starting to put more weight on, and has put 30g on since starting the tramadol a couple of weeks ago. Which I can only guess must be having some sort of impact even though the squeaks aren’t disappearing?
He is still having his monthly cartrophen injections and gets his urine checked during the check up for any infections etc. But after the X-ray and ruling out stones our vet thinks that the painful wees are just down to his IC and the bladder trauma from the op.
I guess I’m not asking for any advice, more so reassurance that I’m doing all I can to try and relieve his pain and suffering? My vet and I have also spoken about gabapentin as a possibility over the tramadol but he seems to be doing really well and hasn’t had any negative side effects which I’m really pleased about. I want him to have quality of life over a long, painful one hence starting him on the tramadol. He seems very happy between the painful wees and is always eating and exploring (as much as his brother) but it’s so hard when you hear them squeal so often.
Thanks in advance and sorry for my rambling… yet again! X
I’m sure you’ll all be aware of the bladder issues that my poor boy Diego has faced since last year when he was diagnosed with IC.
A month or so ago he dropped a larger amount of weight than was normal during one of his usual IC flare ups and an ultrasound revealed bladder stones (after the surgery we found out it was 3 small ones and two slightly larger ones).
Since he has had the op to remove them he is still squeaking when peeing (he was doing this before with his IC but I wouldn’t say quite so frequently) and has blood on and off with his pee - all of these being his usual IC symptoms but it has made me paranoid it could be bladder stones returning.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke to my vet, who is an exotic specialist, and she suggested we do a conscious X-ray to put my mind at ease as he had been squeaking a lot and peeing more blood. She could do it conscious as he is so still and well behaved. Luckily the X-ray showed no stones but did show he’s starting to get arthritis in his back legs (he’s only about 2y 2m). After the X-ray we discussed giving him an additional painkiller to the dog metacam he is already having (he was having 0.45ml twice daily at a max dose and still squealing) so we have decided to put him on tramadol at 0.12ml x3 per day or x2 per day if he is having a better day (which he hasn’t really as of yet). Although he is still squeaking when he is peeing he is starting to put more weight on, and has put 30g on since starting the tramadol a couple of weeks ago. Which I can only guess must be having some sort of impact even though the squeaks aren’t disappearing?
He is still having his monthly cartrophen injections and gets his urine checked during the check up for any infections etc. But after the X-ray and ruling out stones our vet thinks that the painful wees are just down to his IC and the bladder trauma from the op.
I guess I’m not asking for any advice, more so reassurance that I’m doing all I can to try and relieve his pain and suffering? My vet and I have also spoken about gabapentin as a possibility over the tramadol but he seems to be doing really well and hasn’t had any negative side effects which I’m really pleased about. I want him to have quality of life over a long, painful one hence starting him on the tramadol. He seems very happy between the painful wees and is always eating and exploring (as much as his brother) but it’s so hard when you hear them squeal so often.
Thanks in advance and sorry for my rambling… yet again! X
You are so caring and I can fully understand you having doubts about the squealing. When you have a long term illness in a pet at the back of your mind you always think are you prolonging any suffering, I had these thoughts a few times with my dental piggie Ted. But when you see them enjoying life so much then that’s not the case, they have a very good quality of life and you are helping to prolong that happy life by using painkillers/meds, then that’s absolutely fine. If Diago is putting on weight then that’s a good sign he is pretty much pain free and the tramadol is working well. It may be that he is squealing more from learned habit than actual pain now so try not to worry or let those doubts spoil the fun of having them x
he put on another 13g in the last couple of days and is now at 1226 which is nearly back up to his pre op weight which I’m so pleased about and it seems the tramadol is helping! He’s such a lovely boy and I want to do the best I possibly can for him so I really appreciate you all taking the time to reply to my post. Xx