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Urgent: Advice On Sick Piggy With Bladder Sludge. (euthanasia?)

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Molly Isabella

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(I'm from the United Kingdom)
Hi guys.
My piggie Oreo is just about 3 years of age. She's always had some health issues and has just been genuinely unlucky.

A few months ago she had an operation for an abscess on the side of her stomach. That went successfully and she recovered.

For the last month or two she's been suffering with bladder sludge. At first, the vets were positive and just advised to keep her hydrated to flush out any sludge and she was put on septrin 0.5ml 2x a day and metacam 0.4ml 1x a day.

Things didn't improve. Oreo started to continuously leak liquid and urine. She is unable to control her bladder. She's had ultrasounds (which confirmed bladder sludge) and blood tests (confirmed she had some liver issues.)

She's constantly crying in pain and is on the most pain relief that she can possibly be on.

She's lots quite a bit of body tone but is still eating, excited and drinking. I'm VERY confused as to what to do. The vet says she has weeks maybe months to live as the sludge will eventually turn rock hard. I have an appointment this evening to put her to sleep as it's unfair to keep her suffering like this. I just want your opinions and do you think I'm doing the right thing? Vets say she wouldn't survive an operation. I love her dearly and just want the best for her.

Thank you! xx
 
Hi - sorry to hear your piggie is in pain with these bladder issues. What weight is your piggie?
You can have her bladder flushed under anaesthetic, I had a bladder pig live for 3 1/2 years after being diagnosed & she never developed a stone. Whereabouts roughly are you? Can you get to Simon Maddick at the Cat & Rabbit clinic in Nirthampton? What pain meds is she on?
She is on metacam @Poppy'sMum - the OP says the dose in the post
 
You can have her bladder flushed under anaesthetic, I had a bladder pig live for 3 1/2 years after being diagnosed & she never developed a stone. Whereabouts roughly are you? Can you get to Simon Maddick at the Cat & Rabbit clinic in Nirthampton? What pain meds is she on?
I'm in South Wales Hun xx
 
Hello and welcome. I am so sorry about the situation you are in :(

I agree with @Poppy'sMum I once had a piggy have a bladder flush for sludge. Sadly we lost her a few days later but I am glad I at least gave her a chance.

I too had the option of having her pts or going ahead with the flush despite her having lost a lot of weight so not being the best candidate.
 
Hello and welcome. I am so sorry about the situation you are in :(

I agree with @Poppy'sMum I once had a piggy have a bladder flush for sludge. Sadly we lost her a few days later but I am glad I at least gave her a chance.

I too had the option of having her pts or going ahead with the flush despite her having lost a lot of weight so not being the best candidate.

I'm just really not sure what to do xx
 
Is there a reason why your vet feels she wouldn't make to through surgery? 1.2kg is a good weight

I'm not too sure. He basically just said that she's too sick to make it through surgery and that it was very risky. I have an appointment with the exotics vet next week but she's been crying all night and this morning and I'm just so confused as of what do do! Xx
 
Oh yes sorry, re read & saw Metacam :) You can also have her put onto Tramodol as well, less harsh on the kidneys. If you decide to go the bladder flush route you need to get her to a vet experienced in this as it does carry some risk. Mine had hers done by Simon with no problems after & then it was managing her condtion. I'm glad we did it as she was only 20 months old when she developed bladder issues.
 
We have to be really careful not to question what vets have prescribed because they are the ones with the training and have actually seen your piggie.
But just from my own experience your piggie could have more pain killer at that weight and different painkiller eg Tramdaol as @Poppy'sMum has just mentioned too.
Any way you can get to the other vet sooner?
Agree with Claire to that she is good weight to get through a procedure but again we can't see her overall condition etc and the vet is right that ops are risky but you are not being given many options...
 
I would wait personally until you have seen the exotics vet next week. Can you bring that appointment forward?

There's no way I can bring the appointment forward as the exotics vet is only there certain days of the week I'm really considering the bladder flushing route but I can't handle seeing her suffering until next week either so I'm really not sure. I'm so scared I'll make the wrong decision xx
 
I'm not too sure. He basically just said that she's too sick to make it through surgery and that it was very risky. I have an appointment with the exotics vet next week but she's been crying all night and this morning and I'm just so confused as of what do do! Xx

I am so sorry as ultimately you know your guinea pig the best so the final decision must be your own.

I would however at least see what the exotics specialist suggests before making any drastic decisions.

Have you spoken to your vet about the use of tramadol? It is a stronger pain killer than metacam and quite a few forum members have used it for their piggies
 
I am so sorry as ultimately you know your guinea pig the best so the final decision must be your own.

I would however at least see what the exotics specialist suggests before making any drastic decisions.

Have you spoken to your vet about the use of tramadol? It is a stronger pain killer than metacam and quite a few forum members have used it for their piggies

When I take her this evening I'm going to mention tramadol. She's in a very bad way. Thank you all so much for giving me advice means the world to me! ❤️ x
 
I will. I'm a mess. I'm so upset as she's my first piggie. She's completely soaked as she just constantly wee's and cry's xx
 
I feel so sad for you as I have had two piggies now who have had this problem :( Just please try and stay strong (((hugs)))

I'm so sorry Hun
It's awful seeing them go through pain. Everyone's saying I should put her to sleep as it's kinder and will put her out of pain but I'm just so awfully confused and don't know what on earth to do as she has her moments where she looks 'fine' but when she's in pain she'll cry the room down! xx
 
I'm so sorry Hun
It's awful seeing them go through pain. Everyone's saying I should put her to sleep as it's kinder and will put her out of pain but I'm just so awfully confused and don't know what on earth to do as she has her moments where she looks 'fine' but when she's in pain she'll cry the room down! xx

Thank you.

It really is an awful position to be in when you have to consider making the decision to end an animals life but I really do think you should see if tramadol is an option first and see what the exotics specialist suggests..

Please also remember that whatever decision you make, its will be the right one for you and Oreo x
 
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