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Renal cysts and urate crystals

M

MrsHappyH

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 9, 2022
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Location
Uk
Hi All, Mario is in fine form apart from having a cauliflower sheath (leading to UTI) chronic cystitis and renal cysts. Now also a LOT of urate crystals. Leading to pink red urine (not blood). The cysts are probably genetic as they are bilateral , he is on cystease daily and loxicom for inflammation. I've been advised to feed dandelion and nettle stew. Are there any other known ways to treat urate crystals? N.b. these are NOT calcium crystals and he has no sludge whatsoever. Luckily it's rare to get both and every xray has been fine. Thanks so much 🤞 .
 
MrsHappyH said:
Hi All, Mario is in fine form apart from having a cauliflower sheath (leading to UTI) chronic cystitis and renal cysts. Now also a LOT of urate crystals. Leading to pink red urine (not blood). The cysts are probably genetic as they are bilateral , he is on cystease daily and loxicom for inflammation. I've been advised to feed dandelion and nettle stew. Are there any other known ways to treat urate crystals? N.b. these are NOT calcium crystals and he has no sludge whatsoever. Luckily it's rare to get both and every xray has been fine. Thanks so much 🤞 .
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Hi

Dandelion and nettles are both mildly diuretic. They are natural forage foods that help with making bigger pees in order to flush out the kidneys and bladder (and therefore remove the crystals) properly.

Your vet obviously doesn't want to use any further medication to help keeping the urinary tract flushed as Mario is doing fine but they want to minimise the risk of a build up of the crystals in the bladder so it doesn't get damaged and there are more problems down the line.

I hope that this helps you?
 
Hi yes thanks.. I was hoping to find other ways to treat the crystals or prevent them forming .. just thought there might be a magic bullet on the forum.. thanks
 
Although their formation may be secondary to the renal cysts .. I read a paper saying that too much vit d in guinaepigd can cause renal cysts and noticed that many of the more well known brands e.g. science selective and Burgess have twice the recommended daily amount for adults. (2k) I've found oxbow and Johnson's both containing 1k vit d so hoping this may do something if not genetic
 
MrsHappyH said:
Although their formation may be secondary to the renal cysts .. I read a paper saying that too much vit d in guinaepigd can cause renal cysts and noticed that many of the more well known brands e.g. science selective and Burgess have twice the recommended daily amount for adults. (2k) I've found oxbow and Johnson's both containing 1k vit d so hoping this may do something if not genetic
Click to expand...

It could be the combination of genetic and overfeeding because renal cysts and urate crystals - especially the latter - are so rare? We haven't come across them so far, hence the absence of a magic wand measure from both your vet and us. But diagnostics are improving all the time so we regularly come across new things on here.

Your vet's advice is clearly about management and minimising the risk of damage to the bladder.

Sadly, there is neither medication, dietary advice or personal experience for you on here. I do however hope that Mario can continue to enjoy his life.
 
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