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Question about cystease, Johnsons 4joints and potassium citrate

Fluffbabies

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Hi All,

I'm giving my four 4 year old piggies cystease and Johnsons 4joints to support their joint and bladder health. They've been seen by the vet and the ones that need a bit of pain relief are on it.

We mix half a capsule cystease with half a mil of 4joints and half a mil of water, to make 1ml syringe. Give each pig one 1ml syringe in the morning and one in the evening. So they each get 1 cystease capsule and 1 mil of 4joints a day, split into two doses (diluted for taste).

I wondered if those with experience of using cystease would know, whether it is okay to make up a batch of cystease diluted into a solution? And how many days in advance I could make up. Like how some medications are made into a solution by the vet.

I also welcome any comments on the doses (all pigs are 1100g). I'm sure when we last had elderly piggies (5-6.5 years old) with bad arthritis and bladder issues, we were giving a whole capsule cystease and whole mil of 4joints AM and PM, but this different vet hasn't given us much guidance with these ones. I got the impression she was recommending to play around and see what worked because she wasn't sure.

Also, a vet gave one of our past elderly pigs with chronic bladder issues potassium citrate and it made the biggest difference and cleared up her urine scald after months of pain relief, supplements and trying antibiotics. Unfortunately cannot see this vet again and other vets I've asked since say they haven't heard of it being used this way, for guinea pigs or the reasoning behind it. It made all the difference for her though and I possibly have another chronic bladder issues pig (still under investigation). Just wondered if others had their own experience or understanding they could share on potassium citrate?

As always, thank you to everyone for reading.
 
Hello I can only comment on the Johnson4joints
My piggy is 5.5 years old and weighs 1063kg
My vet recommended it and told me to give 0.4ml daily based on his weight
I’d advise always making up a new solution to anything daily - I always did when giving critical care etc
 
4joints is recommended at .4ml per kilo of piggy once a day.
I stopped giving Cystease when we went on to 4joints as the 4joints contains quite high levels Glucosamine as well. Higher than Cystease.
I've not heard of potassium citrate being used for urine scald but it does make some kind of sense. PC alters the ph of the urine (more alkaline?) in which case it wouldn't burn the skin so easily? Will be interested to see what a health expert/scientist says on that one. PC is usually used in cases where it is thought the acidic urine is likely to be causing stones.
 
4joints is recommended at .4ml per kilo of piggy once a day.
I stopped giving Cystease when we went on to 4joints as the 4joints contains quite high levels Glucosamine as well. Higher than Cystease.
I've not heard of potassium citrate being used for urine scald but it does make some kind of sense. PC alters the ph of the urine (more alkaline?) in which case it wouldn't burn the skin so easily? Will be interested to see what a health expert/scientist says on that one. PC is usually used in cases where it is thought the acidic urine is likely to be causing stones.
I think she did have very small stones/gritty urine come to think of it.

Looks like we're giving too much 4joints and the cystease might be surplus to requirements. I wonder if there's something in the cystease that isn't in the 4joints. And whether if it's a young pig with bladder issues but no joint issues, she would be better to have the cystease instead of the 4joints.
 
Potassium citrate is more commonly used in cases of sludge and stones.
Piggies have naturally very alkaline urine which it what makes then prone to stones and bladder issues. Potassium citrate is supposed to help raise the level to more acidic. However, it doesn’t often make a huge amount of difference, it is very hard to make piggies urine more acidic.
 
4joints is better for joints as it also contains Chrondrotin. I don't know what else Cystease contains but when one of mine had a urinary problem and was already on 4joints I asked the vet if it was okay to give Cystease as well and she said it was. It would probably be best to check with your vet.
 
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