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Patrick - Crystal formation.

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Sending him healing vibes again today, that definitely sounds a bit better :laluot_29::laluot_29::laluot_29::laluot_29:
 
I can only presume Patrick's steroid injection has worn off now, well 3 days ago so we have had a very sore P for the last few days and this morning.

Patrick was at the vet's yesterday, the vet decided to change his protocol and although at first I was quite anxious about this decision after receiving some further information I was happy enough to administer the new protocol - fear of the unknown is always frightening.

As explained to me, what we are looking for is a long term solution and although steroids did help, if we can find something safer it will be in P's benefit long term. Steroids long term is not an ideal solution but if the new protocol does not work, we could find ourselves on Steroids once again.

Patrick is now on Tramadol - Original dose was 5mg's (twice daily), after discussing this with my vet we agreed to half the dose - quarter of a 10mg tablet (twice daily), if needed he can go up to 5mg.

He is to be pulsed with ABS (Septrin), this concerned me greatly as I always believed you finish the course but no in P's case this is not correct. We are giving high dosages of Septrin twice daily for a week, rest a week, repeat and then a two week gap - I will be reviewing P's protocol at this point with the vet.

If necessary, on top of this protocol he can have metacam, at my discretion but it's another pain relief options that's there if P needs it.

I have now lost count of how many Vet visits Patrick has had, urine sample, ABS or injections - Who really knows. Let's hope we find a treatment plan soon! He has got to be one of the most high maintenance Guinea pigs I have ever owned.

I sometimes wonder what we would do without vets, forums and other owners. I really appreciate all the advice given to me and Patrick over this last year.
 
Patrick certainly has kept us all and your vet on their toes with his problems. Hopefully he turns a corner and shows some improvement soon. He is certainly one very lucky piggy indeed to have you !
Hugs to you and Patrick
xx
 
Oh bless him. Hope he feels more comfortable now. Fingers crossed the change of plan will keep him pain free in the long term! Thanks for all the updates, this will be invaluable should any other people have the same issue!
 
Guinea pigs <3 said:
Oh bless him. Hope he feels more comfortable now. Fingers crossed the change of plan will keep him pain free in the long term! Thanks for all the updates, this will be invaluable should any other people have the same issue!
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There's nothing I hate more than a thread without an ending, I know one person that has used Tramadol and pulsed with Antibiotics, so at least Patrick makes two pigs that I know now :))..

I hope this information will be useful to somebody at some point but I also use it to remember all the important things. If only to show guinea pigs are indeed high maintenance. LOL
 
flintstones said:
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There's nothing I hate more than a thread without an ending, I know one person that has used Tramadol and pulsed with Antibiotics, so at least Patrick makes two pigs that I know now :))..

I hope this information will be useful to somebody at some point but I also use it to remember all the important things.
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Very true, it's a good way to keep track and to reflect on how far you've come!
 
What's that noise?

Silence, yesterday morning I actually got woke up by Patrick's crying. Gives you an idea of how loud he is.

This morning he's been sitting quite nicely and mooching at the bars for everything and anything clearly ill :)), only thing he won't take is Septrin voluntarily, Cystease, pain killers and metacam he'll come put his head out for it a long with water or Barley water...
 
Little Patrick, is doing really well he's mooching at the bars, I honesty think, he thinks 'I'll just mooch over here and she'll come give me a drink it's that look can you see me, he sits so patiently just waiting. He seem's to be very active and hyper, pottering about.

He's only needed tramadol, cystease and septrin. He hasn't needed any metacam although he loves metacam so I don't think he'd turn his nose up if he did need it. The Abs will be finished on Friday but at the moment he isn't squeaking at all and is only on half the dose originally recommended, he gets 2.5mg\twice a day.
 
That is excellent news. Such a relief for you! Well done Patrick and well done you for working so hard with the vets etc. You both deserve it.

Best Wishes

x
 
Aw I'm so pleased to read this! Really hope it continues. Thelma doesn't like Septrin either, yet she doesn't mind Baytril, funny piggie :))
 
So pleased to read that after all this time you have found a way through for Patrick! May it continue for a long time to come. x
 
Sappho said:
So pleased to read that after all this time you have found a way through for Patrick! May it continue for a long time to come. x
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Patrick's problems started in May scary thought to think for the last 8 months he's been crying, he is however still passing blood but there is no cure for his condition it's about managing the pain and making sure no infection is present which we have finally managed to do. Long may it continue! I'm delighted to think we might finally have had a break though.

I won't count my chickens just yet though LOL - it is however very positive! X
 
Keeping fingers crossed, this sounds very promising.
I hope you're feeling a little happier now there's some progress, just like Patrick. x
 
Patrick has went in for further tests.

Patrick had an awful night, I was up all night listening to him cry I even topped him up with metacam as well as his Tramadol but he was still crying. He is staying overnight at the vets so the vet can get a urine catch to send to the laboratory to check for infection, I brought his apt forward to get him seen today his urine is full of protein so we can assume he may have an infection which is the reason for the culture and previous notes show that when we did a urine sample with the other vet although it was sterile the sample before had initially shown an infection. We believe the infection could possibly be Baytril and Septrin resistant (from my understanding). The urine sample that was used previous may have been given a false negative, of course we will not know until we get the results back.

Patrick has also shown a couple of stones on Xray (1-2mm) in size, so perhaps pain monitoring isn't for him just goes to show you can't let your guard down when it comes to the urinary system. However it does look positive as his previous diagnosis of interstitial cystitis maybe incorrect.
 
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Awww no, what a shame. Is it all related? I know you've probably thought of it but do you watch the calcium in his water?
Does cranberry juice and pearl barley ease the symptoms?
its so frustrating not knowing what's wrong and I hate dragging poorly piggys to the vet. with theo he's fine if he hears me but Harry he's so scared of everything.
Is it Glen your seeing?
Glen was saying the other night after fixing my car he should be a mechanic, I thought to myself you probably make enough dosh alone from your gp forum clients to feed yourself for a month so **** not the wisest career move he he.
How's he doing today has the pain eased?
 
Yes it was Glen, I must admit I was using another vet for Patrick because of the distance but I decided to go see Glen with Patrick's problems. I think a fresh prospective is what was needed, his pain isn't to bad now :) as always I am glad I decided to visit Glen.

If I would have known I'd be at Glen's today I could have took Harry with me :)) I'm picking up Patrick tomorrow! x
 
Well I'm glad you visited. I wonder if they'd notice me sneeking through the back to see patrick he he.
I'm at Denny now........"Patrick""weeek.....weeek".
 
Oh no! I really hope that Glen can determine what Patricks problem is and figure out how best to help you. Sounds like he's a great Vet and I know that you won't stop until you get a firm diagnosis so between the 2 of you I really hope you're close to a solution. I really feel for you and Patrick - hugs to you both x
 
:( poor little Patrick, I know you'll get to the bottom of it though! Thinking of you both and sending healing vibes his way!
 
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