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Stopping bladder sludge coming back

  • Thread starter Thread starter DMS260820
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Hi. The most difficult thing about stopping feeding nuggets is getting ourselves out of the mind set that they need them. I feed them once a week during the summer months and twice a week during winter, approx 20g per pig each feed. I regard them as junk food for piggies with the benefit of added vitamins and minerals, I think of them as a treat not a dietary staple.
I feed the rosewood naturals you mention. They are very different to most other pellets, bigger and harder and you may find your piggies are not keen at first, some of mine ignored them to begin with but all enjoy them now. I like them because they are both grain and soya free.
vitamin D is found in hay, it is absorbed from th sun while drying. This does not happen in other kiln died products such as rreadigrass. It does deteriorate with time tho so new season hay will contain more than hay that has been stored longer. In the UK hay is cut annually usually in June..
Calcium absorption and metabolism is very complex. Unlike us, guinea pigs absorb all the calcium in their diets and excrete any excess, where as we just take up what we need. The calcium phosphorus ratio plays a part as does vitamin D. Also oxalate is an important factor as it is a bladder irritant and in excess will cause bladder issues. Personally I avoid feeding high oxalate veg such as spinach but don't worry about high calcium veg such as brocolli and feed it daily. Calcium binds with oxalate and removes it safely from the body so the danger is that a low calcium high oxalate diet can lead to more problems than a high calcium diet. Soya is also very high in oxalate but in a form that is not absorbed by humans, however I don't know if this applies to piggies too but is worth baring in mind.
Fresh grass is the most beneficial food guinea pigs can eat because it is their natural diet, balanced for their nutritional needs and what they spent millennia evolving to eat. I believe the more grass based a diet can be the better it is for every aspect of guinea pig health.
All that said, Dot may be pre disposed to bladder problems so all you can do is your best, which is what you are doing. I have had pigs with bladder stones before which never returned once I stopped feeding nuggets (and grain such as oats) which is now why I severely limit them in the first place.
 
Thanks for the info, I'm going to switch to those rosewoods, I've looked at a few videos of people reviewing them that have rabbits and guineas, and they say they are cold pressed, unlike some other pellets, which apparently is healthier. Theres people saying they don't like the fact they they have yucca in them. But I don't know why that is. I'm not really worried because it's a very low amount apparently.I like that they have loads of decent forage in them and no alfalfa.

I'm feeding Bell peppers, coriander, mix leaf lettuce, daily. So no worries about vit c atall.

I think il feed pellets in the same amount you are and the same once a week or twice
 
What do you guys and gals think about cystease and guinea pigs? Simon said to me we don't know if it does anything to help but no harm in trying it. IVe been giving it for about a year, doesn't seem to do anything to help. Might be helping dots bladder wall but who knows. After all it is for cats.

Sometimes I look at it and think I'm just syringing gunk here
 
It was suggested by the vet when Velvet (RIP) passed a stone and had bladder sludge. All I know is that it was a battle to get it in as she hated it.
 
Betsy said:
It was suggested by the vet when Velvet (RIP) passed a stone and had bladder sludge. All I know is that it was a battle to get it in as she hated it.
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Its sort of 50 50 with dot, she isn't keen but doesn't hate it. She's hates sulfatrim with a passion though. Sorry about Velvet 🙏
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Its sort of 50 50 with dot, she isn't keen but doesn't hate it. She's hates sulfatrim with a passion though. Sorry about Velvet 🙏
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It's OK I had to have Velvet PTS just before we moved so she is in a pot in the garden and moved with us. I still miss seeing her lovely pretty face.
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I've noticed very slight squeaking in dot when she peed again and a slight bit of peachy coulored gunk around her privates after. But what can I do to be fair? She's still on her 2 week course of sulfatrim and still on loxicom aswell until next Tuesday I believe. I can see this sludge is going to keep coming back, there's no diet change I can do to stop this now. I'm doing everything I can.

It could be her intertestisl cystitis playing up a bit, but it's impossible to know. She does have a micro stone in the bladder still which the vet couldn't get out on the flush out. I hope it passes
 
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