Post-op Question re: Bladder Stones

[harryhighlander]

Hello. My guinea pig, Rocky, had bladder stone removal surgery two weeks ago this Monday. After his three days of antibiotics, he's been eating and eliminating waste with no problems. The volume of his pees has increased steadily as he has healed. His activity level is great! He seems very happy. Today I noticed one of his pees had a pinkish coloration. When he was discharged we were told by the surgeon of the possibility of blood in the urine, but due to how normal he's been I assumed we were past that. How long, in your experience, have you found traces of blood in the urine after this procedure? (He did not eat any tomatoes, peppers--I have seen some say that this can cause discoloration of the urine) Thank you!

 

[5StarPigs]

Maybe if the vets said you might notice it then i assume it is normal? If it happens again or if he starts acting lethargic, not eating/drinking, and having runny or hard poops i would take him to the vet again.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello. My guinea pig, Rocky, had bladder stone removal surgery two weeks ago this Monday. After his three days of antibiotics, he's been eating and eliminating waste with no problems. The volume of his pees has increased steadily as he has healed. His activity level is great! He seems very happy. Today I noticed one of his pees had a pinkish coloration. When he was discharged we were told by the surgeon of the possibility of blood in the urine, but due to how normal he's been I assumed we were past that. How long, in your experience, have you found traces of blood in the urine after this procedure? (He did not eat any tomatoes, peppers--I have seen some say that this can cause discoloration of the urine) Thank you!

Hi and welcome!

Please have him vet checked for recurring stones or a cystitis (bacterial or sterile infection of the bladder walls).

Have you adjusted his diet yet? Please be aware that if something has gone wrong with the complex calcium absorption process, it can take while for it to normalise. It can also take a while to work any excess calcium out of the body. Sometimes stones or sludge can form very quickly again after a stone operation.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (includes tips for guinea pigs with bladder/urinary tract problems)

Is your boy on cystease or similar glucosamine based cat food supplement to support the natural glucosamine coat of the beleaguered bladder walls?

 

[harryhighlander]

Maybe if the vets said you might notice it then i assume it is normal? If it happens again or if he starts acting lethargic, not eating/drinking, and having runny or hard poops i would take him to the vet again.

None of those symptoms, no. Of course it's Memorial Day weekend so the vet won't be reachable until Tuesday. But I'll be keeping a close eye on him!

 

[harryhighlander]

Hi and welcome!

Please have him vet checked for recurring stones or a cystitis (bacterial or sterile infection of the bladder walls).

Have you adjusted his diet yet? Please be aware that if something has gone wrong with the complex calcium absorption process, it can take while for it to normalise. It can also take a while to work any excess calcium out of the body. Sometimes stones or sludge can form very quickly again after a stone operation.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (includes tips for guinea pigs with bladder/urinary tract problems)

Is your boy on cystease or similar glucosamine based cat food supplement to support the natural glucosamine coat of the beleaguered bladder walls?

Thank you, after consulting your linked post, it looks as though we are doing pretty well in terms of diet ratio/content. I was unaware though about the possibility of additional supplements, so I will look into that next. In the USA, it's Memorial Day weekend but I will be monitoring him closely and will follow-up with the vet. Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, after consulting your linked post, it looks as though we are doing pretty well in terms of diet ratio/content. I was unaware though about the possibility of additional supplements, so I will look into that next. In the USA, it's Memorial Day weekend but I will be monitoring him closely and will follow-up with the vet. Thank you!

Brand names may differ in the US but you should find what you are looking for when googling for 'bladder supplements for cats'.
Make sure that your water is filtered or soft and that your pellets are also low calcium.

All the best that it is just a straight forward bladder infection.

 

[5StarPigs]

Ah yes, it is memorial day for us people in the us. Vets arent open, i forgot

None of those symptoms, no. Of course it's Memorial Day weekend so the vet won't be reachable until Tuesday. But I'll be keeping a close eye on him!

 

[annachristina_piggies]

I have the exact same situation as @harryhighlander. My piggy has been put on a course of Septrim antibiotic in case it is an infection... would appreciate any experiences of whether the blood in urine is expected to be an infection or could a stone have formed again this quickly?! I completely adjusted his diet to low calcium immediately after the operation.