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Interstitial cystitis- serious high level squeaking the past few days

Elephonty

Elephonty

Junior Guinea Pig
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Woody has been on cystease capsules (one a day) potassium citrate and dog metacam 0.4 mls twice daily since May last year but the past couple of days his squeaking has been getting worse.


I am going to try and book him in with the vets to discuss what next steps are, am I right in assuming he may need another xray for stones?

I have had a very bad experience in the past with another piggy that had to unfortunately be pts as he had recurrent stones with no responses to treatment.

Woody is otherwise healthy, still eating and drinking but when he goes to toilet he is in very obvious pain and I'm worried this is going down the same path.
 
In an immense whirlwind woody actually passed a stone whilst the vet was taking the ultrasound in front of us, his bladder was full as the stone was at the beginning of his urethra but he did one big wee due to the manipulation for the ultrasound and the stone pictured appeared on the consult table! The pictures of the miracle are attached below
 

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Glad that the stone has come out at the vet's without needing an op. The scan certainly shows plenty of crystals.

I would give him one capsule twice daily for the next week to help with healing the scratches in the glucosamine layer in the urethra and bladder in order to reduce any discomfort as quickly as possible.

Have you checked whether your diet may be either a bit too high or too low in calcium? If the ratio is just out of the phosphorus : calcium sweet spot, then it can lead to the formation of stones. It can take some fiddling to get it just into the right spot. Perhaps an experienced forum member more local to you can give your their diet plan to see whether that would work for you, too?
 
Wiebke said:
Glad that the stone has come out at the vet's without needing an op. The scan certainly shows plenty of crystals.

I would give him one capsule twice daily for the next week to help with healing the scratches in the glucosamine layer in the urethra and bladder in order to reduce any discomfort as quickly as possible.

Have you checked whether your diet may be either a bit too high or too low in calcium? If the ratio is just out of the phosphorus : calcium sweet spot, then it can lead to the formation of stones. It can take some fiddling to get it just into the right spot. Perhaps an experienced forum member more local to you can give your their diet plan to see whether that would work for you, too?
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Thank you for the advice, do you mean 2 capsules daily? I will do that for sure!

A diet plan would be great, I'm trying to keep him on low calcium for now but knowing a good balance would greatly help!
 
Unfortunately woody had a bad turn yesterday, he was given a vetergesic inj in the afternoon and still hasn't come round fully.

He hasn't passed poos since the morning and refuses to eat anything but grass and no fluids.

I have syringe fed him what I can and am going back to the vets for an emergency appt at 4:45 after going this morning (he's gone downhill since that appt)

The vet this morning said he needs to have his bladder flushed but gave us time to decide, I will be going ahead with this when and if I can. Please keep him in your thoughts as the outcome doesn't look too good at the moment 😔
 
Another update! Woody unfortunately has been admitted for a bladder flush. The analogy the vet used was his bladder resembles a snow globe with all the sludge stuck at the top but no big stones so hopefully the flush will do the job. He is very certain the pain will be what caused the inappitance and lack of drinking. He will also not be given any more vetergesic!
 
Fingers very firmly crossed!

Vetergesic is widely used by vets but can unfortunately come with serious side effects for guinea pigs and REALLY wipe them out. :(
I hope that Woody comes well through his procedure. When done properly (i.e. very gently), the relief of a bladder flush is instant.

My Cariad needed quite a number of them due to her ongoing bladder issues when something suddenly went wrong with her calcium absorption process that diet could slow down a little eventually but not control. At least the repeated flushes allowed her to live a normal life span.
 
Wiebke said:
Fingers very firmly crossed!

Vetergesic is widely used by vets but can unfortunately come with serious side effects for guinea pigs and REALLY wipe them out. :(
I hope that Woody comes well through his procedure. When done properly (i.e. very gently), the relief of a bladder flush is instant.

My Cariad needed quite a number of them due to her ongoing bladder issues when something suddenly went wrong with her calcium absorption process that diet could slow down a little eventually but not control. At least the repeated flushes allowed her to live a normal life span.
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Bless her, I have a feeling that woody may be the same as he is on everything imaginable and his diet is very strict. He is back home now walking around, even eating some profibre nuggets and treats! He is like a new man bless his heart
 
Ah that’s lovely to hear - come on Woody keep improving 🥰
 
Does anyone know how long metacam injections last? Woody was given one last night at around 7pm and I am wondering whether to give another dose at the 12 hour mark or wait the 24 hours 😊
 
Roselina said:
How is Woody doing today and how are you Elephonty ?
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Thank you for checking in ❤ Woody is unfortunately not doing too great, he has started peeing blood from the sludge irritation caused by the flush which is leading him to be in pain causing him to reduce the amount of wee and poo he reduces. I myself am feeling pretty deflated at the moment as I have tried all treatment options available but I will keep on with the fibreplex paste and syringe feeding however much woody tolerates. He is still eating hay and drinking at the moment but I am keeping a very close eye on him ❤❤
 
Ah Elephonty it’s tough isn’t it ! You’re doing a great job looking after Woody. Hopefully all the treatments and the flush out will really help him. It’s great he’s eating hay and drinking and you’re doing the right thing with the syringe feeding and the fibreplex stuff. Keep strong….these lovely piggies always worry us
 
It's such a relief when they poo again isn't it. I remember having 15 poops in my lap one evening after Peanut had been syringed fed and feeling like doing a dance round the room!
Sending healing vibes to Woody.
 
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