• DONATIONS NOW OPEN! TGPF relies on donations to run. If you'd like to donate towards running costs you can find out more HERE
  • Fresh grass and lawn tips to avoid springtime deaths Click here for details
  • Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Nibbler has a bladder stone

Status
Not open for further replies.
Cat&ThePiggies

Cat&ThePiggies

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
1,409
Reaction score
8
Points
450
Location
Aberdeen
Took Nibbler to the vets this morning, as after completing a course of Baytril and then a course of Septrin and Metacam for a suspected UTI, he still wasn't better. He kept losing weight and just wasn't himself at all. He bit me for the first time ever on Tuesday!

It was decided that some x-rays of him would be taken. The vet has found a bladder stone, it's about half a cm in diameter.

We're putting him back on the Septrin and Metacam to try and build him up as much as possible. He goes in for his op next Thursday. I am so nervous but I trust my vet, he's done the op before and has good success rates.

Any tips for looking after him after the op?

I've taken the Thursday, Friday and Monday off so I'll be there 24/7 to look after him but I've never had a piggie go through an op before. I'm obviously going to do as much reading as possible on it but any tips and advice would be great.
 
I'm sorry to hear this news, I have only had a pig that was just neutered.

I would suggest changing the bed twice daily to prevent infection in the wound. Have Critical Care or similiar (ie nuggets Burgess) to mash into a syringe food incase he loses his appetite initially. I'm sure lots of people will have lots more advise.

Good luck Nibbler we're rooting for you! Huge Hugs xx
 
awww poor thing.

When my late pepper had his op, he was really good straight after, he came home from the vets eating loads and drinking loads and was really very active,i gave him lots of avipro as he was on baytril.

sadly i lost him in the end, he never ever stopped squeaking when peeing, even after his op, so i guess it just wasnt meant to be for him. i wish you lots and lots of luck, i dont know what else to suggest except maybe have lots of yummy stuff in for him to eat incase he is fussy x
 
I keep all my piggies on fleece, so this should help with keeping things clean, shouldn't it?

Jo, will I still need to change the bedding twice daily if it's fleece and towels?

I've got critical care already as I've been topping up his feeds with this to try and get his weight back up. I'm also going to make sure I have lots of scrummy veggies in for him.

Also, I'm thinking of putting a divider in the cage for the first couple of days, so Nibbler can still see and smell his brother but can get peace to recover and so he isn't running about too much. Is this a good idea?

Thanks for the best wishes, I'm really hoping everything goes well.
 
I think I'll probably go for every other day. Nibbler is quite particular about where he pees and poos. Normally only goes in two places, which he doesn't normally lie in, so should be ok.

Just so nervous about it. I'm going to be an absolute mess on Thursday.... I love my brave little guy so much.
 
Thanks for the advice. I've had a good read of the guinealynx page already and I've got it bookmarked.

Yeah, the stone looks like it's in the bladder going by the x-rays, so hopefully all goes well.

Been busy this weekend getting prepared for Thursday. Got the divider all made, got a snugglesafe heatpad and given the cage a good scrub. It'll get another clean out and scrub on Wednesday night. Just want everything to be as clean as possible!
 
We'll be thinking about you guys Thursday! I'm sure he will be fit and well in no time!

It's so stressful when they are ill! xx
 
Eek he goes in tomorrow morning. I'm so nervous I actually feel sick. Fingers crossed everything goes well!
 
Thanks. Leaving in half an hour..... actually feel sick with nerves and like crying. I'm such a plonker. Will update when I know how its gone.
 
We Wish Nibbler a very successful OP, me and the gang will be thinking about you.

Good luck Nibbler! x
 
yeah good luck Nibbler. Dont be daft thinking you are a plonker, i always feel sick with nerves/worry when going to the vets even if just for a check up. Its natural.

Keep us updated x x>>
 
Oh no don't think you are a plonker! I HATE going to the vets, does'nt matter what the appointments about it always makes me nervous!

Really good luck today, one of mine went through this op nearly two years ago, she is now nearly 6 years old and thriving, he'll be fine and he knows his mum loves him and I am sure that helps a lot!

To warn you though, my little girl is a bit of a drama queen (although to be fair it's not a nice op) at the best of times, for the first two nights after the op she spent the whole night asleep on my chest, I had to sleep on the sofa with her....but it was worth every single minute to see her well again.:<>

GOOD LUCK from me and all the guineas.
 
Guinea Slave said:
Oh no don't think you are a plonker! I HATE going to the vets, does'nt matter what the appointments about it always makes me nervous!

Really good luck today, one of mine went through this op nearly two years ago, she is now nearly 6 years old and thriving, he'll be fine and he knows his mum loves him and I am sure that helps a lot!

To warn you though, my little girl is a bit of a drama queen (although to be fair it's not a nice op) at the best of times, for the first two nights after the op she spent the whole night asleep on my chest, I had to sleep on the sofa with her....but it was worth every single minute to see her well again.:<>

GOOD LUCK from me and all the guineas.
Click to expand...

Awww a good ending to a stone op, you are very lucky, we always just hear bad things, so thanks :)
 
I know I was very fortunate! She is an amazing little girl, one of those 'once in a lifetime' piggies that come along and have this amazing lust for life and give so much with it. I dread the day she moves on, as that whole 'episode' gave us this tremendous bond.

One thing to probably think about is the ongoing after care to prevent recurrence? She is on the ratewatchers plan, has filtered water and is given uriflow and cystease daily with 40 mls of fluid (20 morning and 20 evening). Its time consuming but well worth it.
 
Guinea Slave said:
I know I was very fortunate! She is an amazing little girl, one of those 'once in a lifetime' piggies that come along and have this amazing lust for life and give so much with it. I dread the day she moves on, as that whole 'episode' gave us this tremendous bond.

One thing to probably think about is the ongoing after care to prevent recurrence? She is on the ratewatchers plan, has filtered water and is given uriflow and cystease daily with 40 mls of fluid (20 morning and 20 evening). Its time consuming but well worth it.
Click to expand...

So glad to hear your girl pulled through. I'm fully prepared for some sleepless nights but it'll all be worth it. I agree about the bond thing. We've now got such a bond, he's such a special boy...I can't even think about when he passes.

Yeah, I've already put all my piggies on a low calcium diet, following ratewatchers and the advice posted by Laura but tailoring it to their likes.

Can you tell me where I can get uriflow and cystease? I want to do all I can to prevent this from recurring.

Just waiting on the call from the vet to find out how Nibbler's doing. Just want to know that my little guy is ok.
 
Nibbler is home and is doing well. I couldn't believe this but when the vet opened him up, he couldn't find the stone anywhere. He flushed the bladder and everything to make sure it hadn't got lodged anywhere. An x-ray wasn't done before the op as we didn't want him under ga longer than necessary and we were sure there was no way he could pass the stone. Well lo and behold, he must have passed the stone. We think he passed the stone yesterday as he had bled. Just can't believe he managed to pass a stone of that size!

The vet thoroughly checked his bladder and urethra to make sure there was no damage done and flushed it all to make sure there was not sludge, grit or anything else. He also x-rayed him for free after he was stitched up just to be 100% share that there was nothing there and right enough, no stone, no nothing.

At the moment he is resting in his pigloo with a snugglesafe heat pad. Obviously the next few days are going to be crucial but so far, its looking good. I'm so relieved.
 
oh wow, what a clever boy, very lucky.

so glad for you, hope he recovers well, sending healing vibes for the little fella.


Hope they reduced the cost as no stone! :))
 
doglovinpiggylover said:
oh wow, what a clever boy, very lucky.

so glad for you, hope he recovers well, sending healing vibes for the little fella.


Hope they reduced the cost as no stone! :))
Click to expand...

He seems to be doing ok. He's eating and drinking. He's peeing and pooping too....although his poo is a bit soft at the moment but I was kind of expecting that. He's getting probiotics so that should sort things out.

They gave me medication for free, got Metacam and Critical Care for free. Also, didn't charge for the x-ray. Can't really complain though as they did his nails for me whilst he was in and you normally have to pay for that.

To be honest, I'm not worried about the money, just as long as he gets better!
 
ahhh fab news about Nibbler x)
what a clever boy, but ouchies i bet it hurt :{

Sending some healing loves from me and lots of girlie kisses from Velvet and Onyx to help make Nibbler feel better

GET BETTER NIBBLER XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
clairelove said:
my rabbit that i had for only 1 week passed this

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=56827

how she passed it i will never know@)
Click to expand...

Ouch! Animals are amazing sometimes. Just thinking about Nibbler passing the stone makes my insides hurt....eek.

The little guy is doing really well today. He's bright as can be, munching away, drinking, peeing and pooping. He's been such a tough cookie. Also, his wound is looking fine too.

I am, however, absolutely knackered. I've been checking on him every 2 - 4 hours, so not had a decent amount of sleep in one go.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top