Hi,
I adopted Draco 1.5 yrs ago and think he is about 2.5- 3 yrs old. For the past year I have seen blood in his urine multiple times. I am fortunate to have a good, experienced vet and the means to pay for exams/tests (I am in US). The first x-rays showed what the vet called a deposit adhered to the urethra. So he advised to change from Timothy hay to orchard grass and oat Hays. And to reduce pellets to 1 tbsp/day, which I did. I also switched from Oxbow to KMS pellets. And he said to use only distilled water (our water is soft and I have a filter, so I wasn't that diligent about this). He treated Draco with Baytril and probiotic and that took care of blood in urine. 2 months later, I saw blood again. X-ray showed the deposit was smaller and no other stones. So vet prescribed antibiotics again. That cleared the blood in urine again. The blood showed up again a few months later, so back to the vet, another x-ray and nothing showing. So he prescribed antibiotics again and cleared up again. About 4-5 months later, blood again, x-ray negative, antibiotics again but this time the blood never cleared up. So he prescribed a different antibiotic and that didn't work either. So back we went and now- 2 months since previous xray- a clear picture of a stone in his bladder. He said it needed to be removed since it was too big to pass- as is the case for most stones in males. So tomorrow morning he goes for surgery. This vet has done many of these surgeries so I feel confident in him. But I still feel sad/bad for putting Draco though it. I just am worried about stones reoccurring. The vet said I had to cut out lettuce (was giving butter or green leaf twice a day). But all the other changes in diet didn't seem to help. He also put him on potassium citrate and vitamin B6 a year ago, which I have continued. I guess I will do everything I can and hope for the best. If anyone has any success with diet changes that seems to have lead to reduced stones, let me know. And keep Draco in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. Thanks so much. Sorry this is so long!
I adopted Draco 1.5 yrs ago and think he is about 2.5- 3 yrs old. For the past year I have seen blood in his urine multiple times. I am fortunate to have a good, experienced vet and the means to pay for exams/tests (I am in US). The first x-rays showed what the vet called a deposit adhered to the urethra. So he advised to change from Timothy hay to orchard grass and oat Hays. And to reduce pellets to 1 tbsp/day, which I did. I also switched from Oxbow to KMS pellets. And he said to use only distilled water (our water is soft and I have a filter, so I wasn't that diligent about this). He treated Draco with Baytril and probiotic and that took care of blood in urine. 2 months later, I saw blood again. X-ray showed the deposit was smaller and no other stones. So vet prescribed antibiotics again. That cleared the blood in urine again. The blood showed up again a few months later, so back to the vet, another x-ray and nothing showing. So he prescribed antibiotics again and cleared up again. About 4-5 months later, blood again, x-ray negative, antibiotics again but this time the blood never cleared up. So he prescribed a different antibiotic and that didn't work either. So back we went and now- 2 months since previous xray- a clear picture of a stone in his bladder. He said it needed to be removed since it was too big to pass- as is the case for most stones in males. So tomorrow morning he goes for surgery. This vet has done many of these surgeries so I feel confident in him. But I still feel sad/bad for putting Draco though it. I just am worried about stones reoccurring. The vet said I had to cut out lettuce (was giving butter or green leaf twice a day). But all the other changes in diet didn't seem to help. He also put him on potassium citrate and vitamin B6 a year ago, which I have continued. I guess I will do everything I can and hope for the best. If anyone has any success with diet changes that seems to have lead to reduced stones, let me know. And keep Draco in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. Thanks so much. Sorry this is so long!
