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Post Bladder Operation Care..

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pigpigpiggies

pigpigpiggies

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Hi Guys,
My 5ish year old piggie Zoonie had an operation today to remove what was initially thought to be a bladder stone but turned out to be a build up of something (can't remember what the vets exact words were) and some sludge was found, everything was cleared out and she is now recovering back at home. We have been given metacam and septrin for her and she is due back at the vets in a couple of days for a check over. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice for preventing these bladder problems returning? I have read a lot about Cystaid/Cystease and also about certain vegetables that may help. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

P.s. Here is a picture of Zoonie for you to enjoy! image.webp
 
Hello and welcome to the forum! Zoonie is a little stunner! :)

I'm pleased to hear that the operation has gone well. Please keep a close eye on her food and water intake over the next few hours, and also make sure that she is pooing normally. Try to keep her warm too.

This thread has some information that should be of use to you:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...der-stones-advice-needed.109795/#post-1493428
 
She is eating her hay quite happily and having a little drink now and again, she has also had some cucumber as it was the only way to get her to take her meds! Will keep an eye out for poops :) thankyou for the link, I will check it out!
 
Glucosamine (found in Cystaid/Cystease/Cystophan) is helpful for bladder piggies as it lines the bladder against the gritty calcium. It would definitely be worth speaking to your vet about it.

Foods high in calcium should be avoided or severely limited. This chart is really helpful for locating appropriate veg: http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_order-cal.html

Timothy hay is the lowest in calcium. You may also wish to change or limit the amount of pellets you feed.

My Jerry had his bladder flushed 2 years ago, so I completely understand your worries!
 
Great, will mention it to the vet on Wednesday :) This is very helpful advice, thankyou ever so much! I just don't want Zoonie to end up needing her bladder operated on again at her age, will do all I can to keep her happy and healthy!
 
I live in a hard water area, and so I filter the water I give to my piggies. Some may think this is a little excessive, but it takes 2 minutes to do and personally I think that 'every little helps'! :)
 
Yes ask your vet for Cystaid. When my piggie Junior had a stone removed last april we started him on Cystaid the same night and he seems to be doing extremley well no sludge or crystals in his urine fingers crossed.
 
Hi!

Glucosamine can help; but you may not see the same effect in all piggies.

At the top of our food section, you can find practical advice for a low calcium diet as well as for a ph : ca diet as recommended on Guinea Lynx. Personally, I have had more success with a low calcium diet with my bladder piggies. Make sure that they get plenty of fresh water and greens to help keeping the bladder flushed. Please filter your piggy water if you are living in a hard water area; that can also make a noticeable difference. Also keep in mind that pellets contain calcium, too.
 
Thankyou all for the advice! I don't know much about the water in this area, will ask my parents about it. Zoonie still seems to be doing okay this morning, eating, drinking and pooping as normal although I have cut down on the amount of pellets I give due to the calcium
 
Gorgeous piggie. There isn't a huge amount to be done at the moment with recovering. Just making sure that the wound itself is kept dry and clean and if need be giving it a clean 1 to 2 times a day with saltwater (though often not necc). Cystease can be helpful yes, it helps to relax the bladder wall and sooth it. (i need to do some personal research on the drug to see exactly what it does). So long as you have your piggie on pain relief (which you do) then wait and discuss with your vet in a few days. It may be worth considering changing the diet to make sure your little guy has less calcium in it. There is also a special diet from Supreme science selective which can help with bladder issues. (will see if I can look it up later for you).

x
 
I have a kidney stone and sludgey bladder pig - as everyone says the low calcium diet will make the most difference - my vet has 6 pigs of her own - 2 who have sludgey bladders - stay away from burgess excel food -it has 8g of calcium per kilo - fibre first do one of the lowest at 0.8g of calcium and this can be picked up at some branches of pets at home - the best low calcium food I have found (and I have tried them all - including oxbow cavy cuisine which is £13 a bag) is the one my vet recommended - it is called vetcare multimodal food - it looks like long thin shredded wheat - it also contains cranberry extract,echinachia and thistle extract, - it has been designed to specifically help bladder pigs - it costs £5.99 from VET.UK on line and £1.99 postage - comes in about 2/3 days - lasts my 3 pigs about 10 days / 2 weeks.Also try to encourage drinling and feed a little extra cucumber,my 3 love drinking from a syringe (lazy toads) and this is the only way I can get my bladder boar to drink sometimes.Hope this helps.
 
Thankyou, discussed the Cystaid/Cystease with the vet this afternoon, she said it sounded like a good idea, and is going to do a bit of research on them and another similar product she knows of (which I can't remember the name of) and call me in the morning. Thankyou for the advice on food, my pigs are currently on a mix of Burgess excel blackcurrant nuggets and Pets At Home nuggets, will definitely stop feeding the Burgess excel! I'll look online for the Vetcare food now :)
 
If you have a look on your water providers website they should have a tool whereby you input your postcode and it gives you the level of calcium present in your water.

We live in a very hard water area and have moved onto bottled water although I am looking at a filter instead.

I don't want to take your thread off topic pigpigpiggies, bit does anyone know if bladder problems are genetic? Jerry had suspected bladder stones and his brother Benny has bladder sludge and is on the low calcium diet. We are wondering whether their mum would also be susceptible to bladder problems aswell, although hasn't displayed any signs to this day.
 
guineaguy said:
I don't want to take your thread off topic pigpigpiggies, bit does anyone know if bladder problems are genetic? Jerry had suspected bladder stones and his brother Benny has bladder sludge and is on the low calcium diet. We are wondering whether their mum would also be susceptible to bladder problems aswell, although hasn't displayed any signs to this day.
Click to expand...

A vet I spoke to in the past seemed to think that there might be a genetic link, but there really hasn't been enough study in this area to prove definitively
 
I would love to do some research in this area as its such a big problem in piggies. not trying to tempt fate, but i currently live in a hard water area have had over 20 piggies of different ages and background (all fed Burgess excel) and currently not had any bladder stones or issues. *touch wood*

x.
 
Have had a look at the Vetcare food for bladder pigs and am going to order some now, this may sound stupid but is it okay to feed all four of my pigs on this food? As they all live together and would be difficult to feed it to just Zoonie
 
As others have said, low calcium diet is better. I have a bladder boy who has had a stone removed and a bladder washout performed almost a year ago - touch wood, not a wheek since :clap: He has half a capsule of Cystaid daily in his water bottle which has unsweetened Cranberry juice in.
I reduced his veggies high in calcium i.e. parsley, spinach, kale etc. he only has very small quantities per month but increased watery stuff like cucumber, melon, celery etc. I use these capsules so have a chat with your Vet about them:- http://www.vetuk.co.uk/pet-cystitis...100-sprinkle-capsules-for-cat-cystitis-p-9835
None of our other piggies ever have waterwork issues and our Vet said it is something Harley has inherited :( His brother Chops has never had any illness and is 3.5 yrs old but with diet changes and extra careful husbandry, can help your piggy as much as possible.
Chops loves the Cranberry juice too and the Cystaid is not harmful to healthy piggies :)
 
Guinea pig slave, do you feed any nuggets/pellets? If so what brand do you give?

UPDATE: Popped into the vet today and she has put something up called Nutracys, which is apparently very similar to cystaid/cystease, has anyone else heard of this?! I've been told to give Zoonie 1/4 of a capsule daily, does anyone have any advice on how to quarter the powder and give it to Zoonie, as shes not the easiest pig to give medicines to!
 
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