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Little Jeff's urology issues-keeping him healthy!

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2280CLAIRE

2280CLAIRE

Adult Guinea Pig
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Jeff has always been the smaller of the two piglets, weighing about 1.4 kg, since he had his UTI/renal stone issues, he now weighs 1.25 kg (although he is much better now and no longer passing bloody urine).

I have two questions:
I hate seeing him skinny, especially as he was a lovely, round pig! His appetite is well and truly back, but is there anything in particular I can do to help him put his weight back on? I know it's selfish, but I just want him back to being a lovely cuddly piglet!

How do I maintain his urinary health? I kept saying to my Mum that I am really worried about the stones returning, and so she phoned her vet and asked what we could do for him. She sold us this: https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Foo...nary+Tract+Health+Formula+for+Rabbit.701.html (for £18.49...:O! Rip off! Although we had no idea at the time). Has anyone had experience of this product? Are there any other products that you would recommend?

Thanks :)
 
Did he have a firm diagnosis?

Dietry wise, different things would be recommended based on cystitis/sludge etc. or whatever is going on.

Take a look at this thread if you haven't already seen it http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=87419

Other than that, I'd say low calcium, you can use a supplement like cystease/cystaid and keep his fluid levels up.
 
Thanks for bumping it up, Karina :)

Hi Amanda, I took him to the vets who prescribed baytril and metacam as he was having haematuria (very frank blood, as bright red as when you cut yourself), squeaking when urinating, and had decreased mobility (probably due to pain). The urine did not clear until I got some potassium citrate myself and worked out the dose using guinea lynx. A day later, gritty calcium particles were on the dark fleece where he had been sitting (in his house). So, although it wasn't a formal diagnosis, I've never seen a UTI cause visible blood, and the potassium citrate appeared to work, suggesting it was crystals/stones causing the problem.
Odd, as I am so paranoid about a low calcium diet, knowing that piglets are prone to stones. I can only blame the tap water, as we live in the South East...water is hard here. Although, he hardly drinks from the bottle, anyway-preferring to get his fluid from juicy fruit and veg.

Where can I get the cystease from?

Thanks for your advice.
 
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