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Kidney/bladder stone

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Hector's house

Hector's house

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Hello! This is my first post although I have been an avid reader of the forum since I got my pigs last December.

First, introductions - my name is Sarah and I have two very handsome boars called George and Hector. They are both about 9/10 months old (Will try to sort photo as soon as I work out how!)

About a month ago Hector stated crying when he was wee-ing and poo-ing and he had some blood in his urine. I took him to my vets who thought he might have cystitis, she told me to up his fluids (he's a rubbish drinker) and give it a couple of days. she said that if he wasn't any better she'd put him on antibiotics - when i asked about septrin (see - I have been paying attention!) she said they'd only prescribe Baytril. Anyway, I don't live too far away from the CCT so I took Hector to see Vedra. She xrayed him and he has a stone. Unfortunately, its on the edge of his ureter/bladder which apparently makes it very difficult to operate. She said that if we could get it into his bladder it would be a lot more straightforward. She gave him some buscopan, some septrin ( just in case of infection ), told me to give him regular fluids and told me to bring him back in a couple of weeks. So we're going back tonight for another xray.

My question is whether, if the stone hasn't moved, I should go ahead with the op. Vedra said there is only one vet she'd really recommend for this - Amir ? in Hertfordshire - which is about an hour and a half from me.

Up until this weekend Hector has been really quite bright in himself, although he has been steadily losing weight ( he was 1060 g/2lb 5oz) before his illness and is now about 900g/2lb.). The last couple of days however he's been a bit more quiter than he normally is which has worried me even more.

I would really appreciate any thoughts/advice.

Many thanks

Sarah
 
Hi
I have a boy(he's 5-6yrs old) who's had a bladder stone removed and 'touchwood' he's doing fine.The operation went smoothly and I managed him post operatively on metacam and baytril. He's drinking more now and is a lot happier in himself so he must have had a problem for a while before showing symptoms.
I know that I would have lost him if I hadn't have gone ahead with the operation, but as with any anaesthetic there's always a risk.
 
I am so sorry! Bladder stones are always BAD news, but even more so in boars, as their urethra is longer.

Unfortunately, I don't think that you have much of a choice once your guinea pig is starting to go downhill and suffers from the sheer amount of pain caused by the stone that is driven into the already hurting flesh with every pee.

The good news: you've been given access to a really good vet - if he can't do it, nobody will! Hector will have the best chance possible; and that counts for a lot!

PS: My Minx had a rather dodgy first bladder stone operation with several crystals embedded in the wall of the bladder and the urethra as well as a stone, and she not only surprised the vet with her quick recovery, she lived for another precious 14 months. It was amazing how much better she was in herself as soon as the wound was starting to heal!

If you can afford it financially - go for it!
 
So sorry to hear about Hectors bladder stone. If the stone is affecting Hectors health and weight then an op may be the best option for him. Poor wee man. My Mimsi has a bladder stone, but it is embedded in the bladder wall and causes only occasional bleeding. He has apparently had this for years but it was only picked up recently during an x-ray. I saw a GP specialist who said that as the stone is embedded it would involve intricate surgery as they would need to cut into and through the bladder wall. Due to Mimsis age and that fact that his stone cannot move as it is surrounded by tissue I didnt get an op. Mimsis case is very unique and of course is a very different scenario to Hectors issue. Keep us up to date on Hectors progress and I'm glad you were able to get to Vedra for advice..
 
Thanks for the advice. The good news (well, sort of!) is that the stone has moved and is, in Vedra's words "sitting nicely in the middle of the bladder". So now just trying to get an appointment with Amir.

I'm still worried that Hector is contuining to lose weight. I started syringing him some of his mushed up pellets yesterday to see if I can help him as he's clearly not getting enough left to his own devices.

Any other tips?

Thanks

Sarah
 
Make sure he's getting unsweetened cranberry juice (good for vitamin C and against bladder infections), best mixed half juice/half water. You can also try and give him probiotic to boost his appetite!

Sending poor Hector my love and good vibes

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Picture now up ! Hector's the little sandy coloured pig! (so cute, though I say so myself!)
 
Hector looks like My Mimsi. Maybe theres something about ginger piggies getting bladder stones! Fingers crossed for Hectors Op.
 
Good luck! And I agree, Hector does look like a sweet little mite ;) I'll tell my girls to cross their paws for him.
 
Vickyt said:
Make sure he's getting unsweetened cranberry juice (good for vitamin C and against bladder infections), best mixed half juice/half water. You can also try and give him probiotic to boost his appetite!

Sending poor Hector my love and good vibes

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Click to expand...

I have just had one of my pigs diagnosed with a kidney stone. very large apparently. She's home now, but very uncomfortable and doesn't have much appetite. What sort of probiotic would you recommend?

Thanks
 
I use cranberry tincture for Fanny Adams Chrissy from gorgeous guineas recommended it in her last newsletter. She also has biolapis from time to time which is a probiotic if that helps :)
 
As far as I know, they sell a probiotic in pets@home; I always forget the name; but it is there, if you need something quick and you have a shop nearby.

If your poor boy is on antibiotics, he'll always do better with a probiotic to stimulate his appetite.

Here's the link to Gorgeous Guineas: http://www.gorgeousguineas.com
 
Some sad news - I'm afraid we lost Hector a couple of hours ago.

He went in for his op on Saturday and not a moment too soon as the stone had moved into his urethra. He came out of the op ok, was eating a little on his own but had to be syringe fed and watered. I picked him on Sunday lunchtime. From the time I got him home, he wouldn't eat anything of hisd own accord, so I was syringe feeding and watering him. However as the day progressed he got less and less responsive and it got really difficult to get anything down him. I got an appt at the vets this morning at 10.30 but he died at 9.30.

I'm currently going through my personal recriminations phase, perhaps I shd have got the emergency vet out last nite, shd havet tried harder with the syringe feeding, shd have got him booked in for his op sooner, but realistically, I know i did my best. I guess it all became to much for him.

My heart goes out to anyone else who's lost a piggie recently. I know I feel so sad it hurts.

Sx
 
I am so sorry that you have lost Hector :0 I too lost a piggy 3 months ago after she had surgery. She didn't have a stone but from the x ray, the vet could see something and wanted to know what it was. Connie had problems for 5 months before and it turned out it was a very nasty infection that wouldn't go away. She had her bladder flushed and came came round from the op well. She sadly died 5 days later when we thought she was so much better. My heart goes out to you at this sad time but Hector decided it was his time to go x
 
My heart is aching for you, I am another piggy owner who has lost a beloved boar after the removal of a stone.

In Tetley's case crystals had reformed two weeks after surgery and he was so weak and in such pain, despite pain meds etc., the vet recommended that PTS would be the kindest thing to do under the circumstances8.... I know exactly what you are going through, we've all been there, but please don't blame yourself, you did everything you possibly could for your wee man, and most importantly you were with him at the end. Sending hugs.
 
I am so sorry for poor Hector and you. I know how you must feel; I lost Minx after her second op. Despite KNOWING that I did my best at the time, I couldn't help but feel guilty and kept on examining what I could have done better! You can't help it; it's the other side of love and the responsibility we take for our children and pets...

Bladder and kidney stones are BAD news and the odds are against you. Not something you want to tell anybody looking for help upfront; but it is a - sad - fact!

My heart goes out to you!

BIG HUG

Wiebke
 
Thank you, both. Your words mean such a lot. I'm just so sad that he was only 10 months old and the last few weeks he's been in such pain.

I'm supposed to be going into work this afternoon but I'm struggling to compose myself x
 
You can't help feeling absolutely gutted! Losing somebody is always deeply upsetting!

It's the depth of the bond and the love that counts, not the breed or the duration...

Your Hector was precious to you, and you fought for his life as much as you could. He has gone knowing that you loved him very much and tried your very best to make him better.
 
Aww I'm so sad you lost him he looked like such a sweet boar, i am another piggy owner who lost my beloved marble very suddenly but we are not sure why he died, I'm very sorry for your loss. x
 
I know I shouldn't do this to myself but...

do you think he died of post anaesthetic shock? According to the vet he was fine immediately after the op and the morning of the next day but started to go down hill about 18hrs after the op ( and died another 18 hours later)

Did I make it worse by keep trying to force him to eat whan he was so unresponsive and struggling to swallow?

If I'd taken him to the vet last nite do you think he'd have recovered?

I'm not just beating myself up (well, I am a bit)- I want to know for the future. I've never had a piggie who's had a GA before and perhaps shd have picked up sooner that this was not 'normal' post operative behaviour.

Thanks

Sarah
 
I am sorry; I'm not qualified enough to answer your question. My guinea pigs died all days after the op. It could have been shock.

You'd better have a chat with your vet about that.
 
My heart sank when I read that you had lost Hector. You did everything you could for your boy and I'm so sorry that you lost him.. I know you have so many questions at the moment and that is only natural. After I lost Farquhar in January, I had a list of 'What ifs' as well. Your care for Hector has been wonderful and sometimes no matter how much we do, the Rainbow Bridge Angels still come. I wish I could take away your hurt as I know how you must be feeling. Let the tears come and remember that we are all here if you want to chat or share some memories of Hector.
 
I am so so sorry you have lost Hector, what a beautiful boy. It sounds like you did everything you could for him and I bet he had a great life. I think we've all been there where we beat ourselves up over something like this and think is there something we could have done to prevent this but sometimes there just isn't. At least he is no longer in pain, I really do feel for you but it will get easier in time although it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

Take care.

Joy xx
 
I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost little Hector.
I'm sure you did everything you could have done for him so try not to beat your self up about it (I know we all do it)
It was touch and go with my Teddy for the first few days following his bladder stone op so I know how tricky it can be (thankfully he came through.)

Myself,Teddy and the rest of the boys are thinking of you at this sad time X
 
From a purely lay persons point of view, and as a piggy slave who has had 4 pigs that have suffered with bladder stones, I think each pig deals differently with the stone/surgery/recovery. It sounds as if you did everything you could/should have post op, so please don't beat yourself up.

My girls have recovered more quickly than my boys despite all having similar stone issues and 3 of the 4 having been operated on by the same vet. Boys anatomy makes stones more problematical, particularly if the stones have entered the urethra, again small stones and crystals can be expressed more easily without surgery from girls than from boys.

Whilst it doesn't really answer your question, I think you have to remind yourself that you did everything possible for Hector, sometimes these little furballs just aren't quite strong enough. Keep your chin up and my gang send comforting wheeks.
 
I am so very sorry to hear the sad news. It is heartbreaking losing a piggie. Do not be hard on yourself. You did more than a great many owners would do. Hector was lucky to have you as his carer.

Rest well, sweet Hector. xx
 
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