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Patrick - Crystal formation.

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Sorry to read this, I thought he'd turned the corner. Hugs to you and keeping beautiful Patrick in my thoughts. Healing vibes and healing wheeks from the girls x
 
I actually feel really positive about everything we are doing for Patrick although I understand looking at me and Patrick's situation people may think the pigs been though enough, if Patrick was to give up I would have no problems saying right then it's time to let you go but Patrick has such life and we have successfully managed to monitor his condition and relieve his pain.

Now we have some more obstacles to overcome, Patrick is gaining weight and doing everything a piggy should do and well he keeps behaving how he should I won't give up.

Glen clearly has researched P's history, and it makes perfect sense why we are doing this, if we are able to kill the infection and remove the stones P will hopefully be off med's for good I imagine.

The important thing to remember is just because your guinea pig has been diagnosed with IC you should not stop having Xray's as it's so easy to over look stones.
 
Have Patrick with me now, went to visit a friend, we had piggy cuddles and veggies. They aren't to fazed especially now Patrick knows he's not at the vets.

Saw Patrick's Xray, he has a cluster of tiny stones, I counted 4 I think but they are tiny. Patrick has no crystals.

The next step is waiting patiently for results and monitoring his urine output. He's still on his Tramadol to.
 
What results is it your waiting on? How do you get rid of the stones? Is he happy to be home with his mum? Is he in less pain?
 
Patrick is fine, just as he was previously before his episode and delighted to be back home. We have sent a culture to the lab to be checked for infection and Antibiotic resistance.
 
Joanne I was reading about an interesting study on glucosamine and UTI's and crying when weeing - it completely went away in more than one guinea pig when given a certain glucosamine daily. Having to be very careful as animal products are in most glucosamine. You may have already read about it?
 
Lisajazz said:
Joanne I was reading about an interesting study on glucosamine and UTI's and crying when weeing - it completely went away in more than one guinea pig when given a certain glucosamine daily. Having to be very careful as animal products are in most glucosamine. You may have already read about it?
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Thanks for the information, Patrick has been on a capsule of cystease which is glucosaine? He's been on cystease for months and months I don't if it does anything but I just keep giving it just in case.
 
Just a quick update, firstly thanks LisaJazz for the pm, I have read it but have not been able to reply due to the issues with the messages.

We're more leading away from his original diagnosis, especially now P has 4 stones and the lab appear to be culturing 'something' but still no results as of yet.

Now on to Patrick, he does make me laugh, as he comes wondering up for his pearl barley, hanging out the cage and moving his head side to side ' where's my fluids'? After 25mls Patrick decided he needed the toilet after urinating he decided he could fit another 25mls in :)).

He then went over and had a munch of hay, only to result in a sitting down popcorn follwed by a flop onto his hay, and then to really rub it in he decided a nap was in order, I'd love to be a guinea pig such a sample life meanwhile his human slave had to leave for work. :(
 
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Oh bless him! I think Patrick is loving all this extra attention! :))

Sending him my healing vibes xx
 
Patrick's urine culture came back negative, we stopped the barley water for 2 days well I got urine samples as a result Patrick had a terrible night crying/wretching and fluffed up. The urine samples had crystals in them so we know now Patrick is still manufacturing crystals but the Barley water is flushing it out. Barley Water has been re-introduced.

Patrick is going to be Xrayed routinely and we shall be trying different regimes until we find the best protocol for him.

We believe Patrick's main problem is the bladder stones.
 
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Its good that you have identified that the pearl barley is helping aleviate his symptoms.
 
Awww Flintstones, I'm so sorry to read about poor Patrick. You know our little Biscuit has been through much the same thing.

In my opinion, there seems to be a kind of vicious circle. X-Rays have never shown any large/visible crystals or stones in Biscuit's bladder, yet he's had several bouts of painful urination and passing blood. We eventually ruled out infection with a successful urine sample test so it has to be very small crystals/sludge forming in the bladder.

We've now had about four or five weeks without any issues. I think the only thing to do is to try to ensure that Patrick doesn't get anythjing that has even moderate levels of calcium. We're down to a few fruit and veg and extremely limited levels of pellets (only until he puts his weight back on then he's coming off them entirely).

I don't know what diet Patrick has at the moment but we're really scrutinising the calcium and protein levels to try to keep them down. Since Patrick's problem is also ongoing, I suspect it's something very similar. I don't know if this is helfpul but, as ever, you have all our sympathy and our best wishes for Patrick.

Love all of us x
 
doglovinpiggylover said:
guys, please dont think i am being thick, but what is it about pearl barley that helps? thanks
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Pearl Barley - helps by flushing Patrick's bladder of crystals. I give Pearl Barley as Patrick loves it, trying to syringe water was a nightmare - he would cry when he saw the syringe, try to bite me and shake. It was an awful experience for me and Patrick.

You make Pearl Barley by boiling Barley Pearl (Half a cup full - to a full cup), you add twice the amount of water and be careful not to burn it topping up with water when needed it ends up like a gloupy liquid.

It is suppose to soothe the bladder.
 
flintstones said:
Pearl Barley - helps by flushing Patrick's bladder of crystals. I give Pearl Barley as Patrick loves it, trying to syringe water was a nightmare - he would cry when he saw the syringe, try to bite me and shake. It was an awful experience for me and Patrick.

You make Pearl Barley by boiling Barley Pearl (Half a cup full - to a full cup), you add twice the amount of water and be careful not to burn it topping up with water when needed it ends up like a gloupy liquid.

It is suppose to soothe the bladder.
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wow, thats amazing so its just like a natural remedy type of thing. Isnt it hard to syringe?
 
doglovinpiggylover said:
wow, thats amazing so its just like a natural remedy type of thing. Isnt it hard to syringe?
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I am just doing an updated post on Patrick - you can see how hard it is first hand bear with me, he get's between 50 and 80 ml's a day, the hardest thing is making it fresh everyday have to get up an hour earlier :))!
 
mikulinek said:
Awww Flintstones, I'm so sorry to read about poor Patrick. You know our little Biscuit has been through much the same thing.

In my opinion, there seems to be a kind of vicious circle. X-Rays have never shown any large/visible crystals or stones in Biscuit's bladder, yet he's had several bouts of painful urination and passing blood. We eventually ruled out infection with a successful urine sample test so it has to be very small crystals/sludge forming in the bladder.

We've now had about four or five weeks without any issues. I think the only thing to do is to try to ensure that Patrick doesn't get anythjing that has even moderate levels of calcium. We're down to a few fruit and veg and extremely limited levels of pellets (only until he puts his weight back on then he's coming off them entirely).

I don't know what diet Patrick has at the moment but we're really scrutinising the calcium and protein levels to try to keep them down. Since Patrick's problem is also ongoing, I suspect it's something very similar. I don't know if this is helfpul but, as ever, you have all our sympathy and our best wishes for Patrick.

Love all of us x
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Thank you to everyone that has posted to ask how Patrick is, it means a lot to me.

Mukulinek, Patrick's diet has been reviewed countless times. I have went as far as removing everything except hay nothing as of yet has got the problem under control. Patrick's problems have been constant since May 2011, with very few bouts of relief it's only now we have a regime that works. I have managed successfully to rid his bladder of crystals by giving 50-80 ml's liquid daily. His last Xray showed 4 stone's previous scans and Xray have never showed any signs of stones or sludge.

Had Patrick not still been eating and maintaining his weight, I fear he may not be here. I am constantly questioning if it's fair to keep him the way he is. On Tuesday night, Wednesday morning I sat with Patrick all night trying to make up my mind if tonight was the night, should we go to the E-vet to do the kind thing this was the night without the Pearl Barley water I got no sleep for my worry. I spoke to his vet and I've never had to try so hard not to cry on a phone call. I find it horrifically difficult being rational when it comes to my pigs and constantly question my own judgement. I am a very sensible person and cope well with everyday life but seeing Patrick in pain actually breaks my heart and trying to make that decision, should I help him or is this a bad bout he'll get over is my idea of hell. An animal need's to suffer before there owner will intervene but how much suffering is to much?

When you see them in so much pain, you forget you did have it under control, they aren't always like this but it's hard to remind yourself there is a way back for them it's just a matter of relieving there pain for the time being. For Patrick we did have a regime that was working successfully and it seem's to be the fluid's is key to Patrick's relief.

I don't envy being a vet you have irrational owner's and sick pet's to deal with it can't be fun!

Now, we're back on track again and Patrick is much more happier, I am relieved that we have got though that terrible night and Patrick is back to what I would identify as normal.

I have posted countless video's with his love of barley water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1RMJZ3FyaY&list=UUL0pbVMXk69UPEKe922dR2g&index=5&feature=plcp

He doesn't get syringed at much in one go, in case he aspirates now, I give 0.3 ml's at a time much more sensible!
 
I think you deserve a medal or at the least a ferrero rocher for all the dedication you have shown to Patrick and his dark days, it isnt easy, i went through it with Pepper and it just breaks your heart.

I so admire you for carrying on with things even though it must be costing you an arm and a leg, it is so worth it to see Patrick working those syringes!

Hope you have plenty more 'normal' nights x
 
As your all aware Patrick has been suffering for 10 months with this chronic condition, I have spent a lot of money, time and effort making sure he has the best vet attention.

In view of the types of threads we have seen recently I am saddened that the guinea pig forum appears to be morphing towards the needs of the owner and not the needs of the guinea pig.
 
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