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Rupert - Small Bladder Stone

alpacasqueak

alpacasqueak

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Hi Everyone.

I posted around 6months ago about my nearly 5 year old neutered boar Rupert and a bladder stone that was removed from his urethra. Since then he has been on low calcium veg, low calcium pellets (JR Farm grainless) and filtered water. He's also had Cystease daily.
He's had no problems since (although I struggled to get his weight back on so has weighed around 925g since his recovery).

He's lost a bit of weight over the last few days (down to 850g today) so I've taken him to the vets this am with a pee sample. Vet has tested it and was a bit of blood in it. She said his bladder felt good though, nice and soft and doesn't feel inflamed etc. He was kept in for an X-ray to check for stones.

They've called me to say they've found a tiny stone on the X-ray, much smaller than last time thankfully. She wasn't keen to do an op straight away with it being so small so we're going to have him on metacam and Sulfatrim for a while and I'll be monitoring him v closely! And another X-ray soon.

Should I be syringing extra water to try and flush his bladder as much as poss? I'm worried about leaving it for now but with him being so small I'd be terrified about him having an anaesthetic too!
He's not off his food and been drinking really well. I'm going to pick him up in an hour.

Thanks for any advice, sorry long post! :)
 
I know it's worrying when bladder stones recur, but you have got this one early and it sounds like the vet is waiting to see if it will pass by itself before operating, which it may well do. If he's drinking plenty anyway, I wouldn't stress about getting even more into him. The antibiotic will help with any infection and the metacam will keep him comfortable. With any luck he'll get rid of it himself. You are doing all the right things.
 
Thanks so much, that's very reassuring!
Yes I'm really hoping he'll pass it, was a bit life or death with the previous stone being stuck and him unable to wee so think I'm terrifying myself it'll happen again!
Hopefully all will go well.

Can't wait to get him and my girly back, it's so unbelievably quiet in my flat without them around!

Thanks loads for your advice :)
 
Sorry, back again for a bit more advice as v confused at the moment and struggling with what to do!

I dropped a urine sample to the vets this morning at my vets request. She called earlier and said there's still blood in it.
When I said he obviously hadn't passed the stone then, she said she didn't think he would as too big!?
(When I was told last week it was smaller than the last stone.) and wasn't keen to operate on him quickly because of his age.

I've been told to carry on with sulfatrim and metacam for another week and then take in another pee sample in a week.

I'm not sure how this will help, surely if he has a stone in the bladder he's going to continue to have blood in his wee?!
I'm happy to continue the meds to keep him comfy but very worried I'm going to end up in the position I did last time and it becoming trapped when he's urinating.
I don't want him suffering and he's had the stone at least a week already.

I think I'm going to have to get him in at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic for an op instead of my local vets, were really good last time round but think not the best option.

I'm just really worried because of his age (5 this Oct) and don't want to put him through loads more stress if will likely be a bad outcome anyway. He's only weighing 850g at the moment as well.

Sorry rambled on, thanks for reading x
 
Just wondering if others that have been in my situation would still go through with surgery?
Ive realised bladder stones in piggies are very complex!

Feeling incredibly guilty and need some other opinions as dont really have any apart from my cats and the gran who thinks I should put him down! How could I spend £400 (well, still owe a little!) on a g pig! In just 6months! x
 
Well way more than £400 but that's what I tell her!
She's the type that used to let her children's pet rabbits out the cage when they were at school,then tell them foxes were around! Not a pet keeping kinda lady!
 
@alpacasqueak I think most of us can safely say we've spent at least £400 on a pig or two , I know I have. But I think that it's my responsibility to care for them and sometimes it costs a lot!

I had a boar go through 2 bladder stone surgeries and we think he was at least 5 years old for both. And he did okay, he took a couple of days to get back to his usual self but we didn't have any complications or issues.

I might feel differently if I had girl pigs but if any of my boars get a stone I would immediately opt for surgery. Not because stones are really painful but I'm afraid of the stone getting stuck. If it blocks urine output it can kill. I stress a bit too much sometimes and I could imagine it happening when I was at work, or not able to get to the vet.

I much prefer knowing what is going on, and taking any necessary time of work to help them recover.
 
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@Jaycey thanks so much, definitely put my mind at ease about putting him through another surgery.

I'm worrying constantly about the stone getting stuck and finding him very unwell or worse, he's such a lovely lad and deserves to get the nasty thing out!

Have just booked him an appt at Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic so will be taking him and his cagemate and hopefully get him sorted!
Also my chins for my girly's booked dental so will look a bit mad with my two carriers on the train!

Thanks again.
 
@alpacasqueak You're giving him the best chance taking him to the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic. Simon has done a few op's on my piggies in the past and he's fantastic.

He's so cute. He looks a bit like one of my passed foster boys, Spencer. He had tons of attitude.

Good luck!
 
@Jaycey Simon's great, just wish I lived closer so not such a nightmare to get there with me not able to drive! But worth the travel to get such a clued up vet!

I think he's gorgeous bless him, call him my 'angel piggy' as he's such a big softie!
Gets bossed around by his wifepig a fair bit but he tells her off when he has to! Brilliant with meds, syringe feeds and nail clipping but she's quite the opposite!

Thanks a lot x
 
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