Ideal Pellets For A Bladder Stone Pig

[Ehssan]

Hello,

Last weekend I found blood in Mowgli's pee, he was also having a bit of discomfort while going to the toilet. The vet poked and prodded him on Monday, found that touching his bladder and kidneys caused discomfort so prescribed Baytril (for potential infection) and Metacam to fight the pain. It worked very quickly and any signs of discomfort vanished. Mowgli then went for an X ray on Friday where a small bladder stone was found (image attached).

After a discussion with my Vet, who seemed optimistic that due to its small size he might be able to pass it on his own, I'm now trying to give Mowgli the best chance to avoid surgery. Compared to his friend Rafiki he doesn't drink as much water so I've started syringe feeding him a bit more (success can vary!) as well as completely soaking his food in water. I'm also buying a bigger run cage and will put him in it more frequently to increase exercise - http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/runs_fencing/73280/8_sided/184138

I've been told my diet is okay - one tea plate for two pigs at around 9pm containing two cherry tomatoes with seeds removed, slice of cucumber each, slice of pepper (green/red/yellow variation), handful of round lettuce and celery cut up. A couple of times a week I'll give them carrots instead of cucumber. They'll also get coriander and romaine instead of the round lettuce and celery sometimes, they also like a leaf of parsley or basil now and again. I used to give them a slice of apple or a strawberry once a week but they haven't had that for a while.

I also give them Ings Hay primarily with a bit of Western Timothy Hay too.

They get 40g of Cavy Cuisine divided into two bowls beside two water bottles at different ends of their C and C 2 x 5 cage. This brings me to the main reason why I started this thread. I've read on this forum that Cavy Cuisine isn't always the best choice for bladder stone pigs and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions that have worked for them? I switched to Cavy Cuisine from the Pets at Home guinea pig nuggets around easter time and I have a hunch that this could be the cause. I have a spare pack of the guinea pig nuggets and I'm tempted to switch back to them for now until I find a long term alternative.

I've heard Excel is quite good - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/burgess-excel-tasty-nuggets-guinea-pig-food

Also this - http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/bunny/195679

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I think Mowgli's (he is the black short haired one) two biggest failings are not having a lot of water compared to his friend and also being the greedier of the two, meaning he probably steals some of Rafiki's Cavy Cuisine when I'm out at work.

Thanks for your time. Sorry about the essay, it's been that kind of week!

 

[Kerrie74]

I think @helen105281 can help you with this

 

[Deleted member 114675]

Welcome to the forum @Ehssan . Where are you based ? We have members for all over the world so it is handy to know whether you are based in the UK /US or elsewhere - even better if you can let us know what county you are in too.

I agree with Kerrie that Helen is the best person to advise you on pellets.

Your Guinea pigs diet isn't bad - but I wouldn't advise giving tomatoes daily .

This is a good diet to give a "bladder " piggie ...


1 french/dwarf bean.
1 piece cucumber
1 sprig of dill or coriander
1 small piece of spring green
1 piece green pepper
2 pieces of celery


These portions can be given twice a day .

 

[Ehssan]

I think @helen105281 can help you with this

Hello, I'm from Edinburgh Scotland!

Any help from any source is welcome ^_^ I've only had pigs for just under a year so while I've done a lot of reading, there's no substitute to 'been there, done that' experience. If it turns out that there is more appropriate hay or veg or pellets I could be giving them I won't hesitate. I don't usually give them a cherry tomato or cucumber a day (usually 4/7) but I have been a bit eager to give Mowgli more water so it has been daily since last weekend.

I'm also curious about cranberry juice. I hear it mentioned a lot on this forum. I found a no added sugar, no sweetener one in Holland and Barrett and I'm currently debating whether to put that in a water bottle occasionally for both of them.

 

[Deleted member 114675]

Hello, I'm from Edinburgh Scotland!

Any help from any source is welcome ^_^ I've only had pigs for just under a year so while I've done a lot of reading, there's no substitute to 'been there, done that' experience. If it turns out that there is more appropriate hay or veg or pellets I could be giving them I won't hesitate. I don't usually give them a cherry tomato or cucumber a day (usually 4/7) but I have been a bit eager to give Mowgli more water so it has been daily since last weekend.

I'm also curious about cranberry juice. I hear it mentioned a lot on this forum. I found a no added sugar, no sweetener one in Holland and Barrett and I'm currently debating whether to put that in a water bottle occasionally for both of them.

I've heard some people mention cranberry juice - but I think it's generally recognised that glucosamine is more effective in guinea pigs.

 

[Deleted member 114675]

.... another thread for you to read

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/low-calcium-diet-for-bladder-piggies.105930/

 

[Ehssan]

I've heard some people mention cranberry juice - but I think it's generally recognised that glucosamine is more effective in guinea pigs.

As a way of preventing or managing bladder stones and urinary infections? Would it be worth buying this and grinding it down into powder to give to Mowgli? http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/sh...-glucosamine-sulphate-caplets-1000mg-60004165

Also unfortunately neither of my pigs are keen on green beans (which I assume is another name for french beans?), Rafiki will also only touch red peppers, not green or yellow but thankfully Mowgli loves any colour. When you say a piece of pepper is that 1/8? That's what I usually give them

Thanks for your time.

 

[helen105281]

It needs to be vegetarian Glucosamine, a lot of brands have fish in, but yes it is good for bladder pigs as it helps with any inflammation. A product from the vets called Cystease can be given as an alternative as it contains Glucosamine too. The starting dose is 125mg a day.

For pellets I recommend either of these:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/bunny/195679

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/vitakraft/262148

Stones can be formed from calcium carbonate and these pellets don't contain it.

I also recommend these:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/jr_farm/178336

 

[helen105281]

The brand of Glucosamine I use is this one as it doesn't contain calcium carbonate:

http://www.devanutrition.com/vegan-glucosamine.html

 

[Deleted member 114675]

As a way of preventing or managing bladder stones and urinary infections? Would it be worth buying this and grinding it down into powder to give to Mowgli? http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/sh...-glucosamine-sulphate-caplets-1000mg-60004165

Also unfortunately neither of my pigs are keen on green beans (which I assume is another name for french beans?), Rafiki will also only touch red peppers, not green or yellow but thankfully Mowgli loves any colour. When you say a piece of pepper is that 1/8? That's what I usually give them

Thanks for your time.

I think Helen's answered you questions about glucosamine.

1/8th of a pepper is plenty.

If I were you , I'd persevere trying to give green (French) beans ... and green peppers - mine didn't like them at first - but love them now.

 

[Ehssan]

The brand of Glucosamine I use is this one as it doesn't contain calcium carbonate:

http://www.devanutrition.com/vegan-glucosamine.html

 

[Ehssan]

The brand of Glucosamine I use is this one as it doesn't contain calcium carbonate:

http://www.devanutrition.com/vegan-glucosamine.html

How do you give the gluscosamine to your pigs?

Also with the pellets you recommended, is there feeding portion guidelines on the packet like there is for Cavy Cuisine (20g)? I'd be a bit worried about messing up their portion size in relation to veg with something new. I think I'll go with Bunny Guinea Pig Dream Basic since they look tasty ^_^

 

[TAN]

I have a 4 year old boar who had a kidney stone and has a sensitive bladder - my specialist exotics vet put him on Vetcare multimodal food for piggies with sensitive bladders - she has 7 pigs herself (buy online from VET Uk )

 

[Ehssan]

I have a 4 year old boar who had a kidney stone and has a sensitive bladder - my specialist exotics vet put him on Vetcare multimodal food for piggies with sensitive bladders - she has 7 pigs herself (buy online from VET Uk )

Hmm, thanks for the suggestion, how was he able to get rid of the kidney stone? When my vet mentioned the possibility of a kidney stone before the x ray she suggested there was nothing that could be done other than managing it? Did you alter the rest of his veg and hay intake in anyway?

Also what does a sensitive bladder entail - bladder stones, urinary infections, anything else?

I think I will buy that along with the Bunny Guinea Pig Dream Basic pellets that @helen105281 recommended and see how my pigs get on.

Thanks for your time

 

[helen105281]

How do you give the gluscosamine to your pigs?

Also with the pellets you recommended, is there feeding portion guidelines on the packet like there is for Cavy Cuisine (20g)? I'd be a bit worried about messing up their portion size in relation to veg with something new. I think I'll go with Bunny Guinea Pig Dream Basic since they look tasty ^_^

Don't be surprised if your pigs don't take to them at first. They are much bigger than normal pellets. Mine only have 5 a day but I break them up. I feed mainly hay, with the small amount of pellets and the veg that piggy owner has listed above.

The Glucosamine we mix with water so that 1ml of the solution is the dose they need (mine have a higher dose of 250mg a day).

 

[Ehssan]

Don't be surprised if your pigs don't take to them at first. They are much bigger than normal pellets. Mine only have 5 a day but I break them up. I feed mainly hay, with the small amount of pellets and the veg that piggy owner has listed above.

The Glucosamine we mix with water so that 1ml of the solution is the dose they need (mine have a higher dose of 250mg a day).

Yeah, when I changed to Cavy Cuisine they took a while to get used to them. I should make the transition gradually over a week I think so they don't get upset stomachs? So 3/4 and 1/4, then 1/2 and 1/2, 1/4 and 3/4 and then sticking purely to the dream pellets.

So is that 5 each or 5 between them all? I do feel a little bad changing Rafiki's diet considering he is completely fine but I suppose this is the best way of preventing him from falling into a similar situation long term. Fingers crossed the change in pellets, along with the increase in water intake through syringe and sticking to the veg diet that @PiggyOwner has suggested will help my pigs

Sorry for all the questions, I'm used to having to wrestle with them in my own head so it's nice to be able to defer to someone with my experience.

Do you do anything special with your hay or is it just Timothy and Meadow Hay?

Also if you have a second could you confirm if you think this is similar to the Glucosamine you use? It looks to be the exact same but there's subtle changes to the packages so just wanted to be sure before I bought it -
Thanks for your time.

 

[helen105281]

That one has got MSM and CMO in and am not sure about whether they can have that. It's the same brand though. I get mine from here:

http://www.return2health.net/deva-nutrition-glucosamine/?gclid=COOCwciE_cECFarKtAodHxQA1g#info

5 pellets each pig a day. I feed mine last thing at night and they have the hay for the rest of the day and then their veg twice a day.

For hay mine have meadow hay, Oxbow Orchard grass and treat hays which are Burns green oat hay and Alfalfa King Timothy hay.

The diet I follow (including the IC veg) was put together by my friend who runs a piggy clinic with a vet and worked it all out very scientifically, including the calcium ratios. That includes the hay.