UTI/Stones with Heidi

[piggiemumma]

My beautiful little piggie has wee'd blood twice today luckily my pigs are on white vet bed so blood is easily visable. First time it happened, I thought it was from her claw, as i'd just trimmed them. So I check her and her husband over, nothing. Assuming she must have wee'd it, I sit with her on my lap, and waited for her to pee. (she enjoys peeing on me! conveniently wearing pale coloured trousers so i'd be able to see it easily) Sure enough little heidi does a wee, and its bright red. Anyway, long story short, I rule out her diet dying her pee, as I'm over careful about what quantities of certain foods i feed and take her to the emergancy vet. Still wearing my blood stained trousers, as I forget mid panic to change! £84 later, anti inflamitary injection and baytril for the next week later we're home. Vet said she unfortunately thinks she can feel something resembling a stone in her bladder, but its very inflamed so she cant be sure at the moment. Appointment booked for next week. Fingers crossed its a uti and not stones...

Anyway, she isn't behaving out of character except for being slightly quiet, eating drinking pooping fine, doesnt look uncomfortable when she pees and is generally very healthy.

These are my first piggies, and any thoughts/experience/advice is very greatfully recieved..

Love a panicing loving mum.

Oh, heres a picture of my little girl, having a bit of TLC after the trip to the vet.

 

[Jennifer]

Having a lot of recent experience of bladder stones in one of my piggies I would recommend an X-ray, fairly quickly to establish for certain if it's a stone or sludge and then you will know where to go from there.

I took the decision to have my boar operated on as the stone was very large and he came through really well and was back to his old self very quickly.

I don't want to be a doom-monger or worry you unnecessarily as all pigs are different, but unfortunately for me the stone returned shortly afterwards and it didn't work out for us, but many piggies go on after stone surgery to live long and happy lives. I should warn you that the surgery and related drugs and x-ray did cost me a total of £350 though. Christmas is going to be a quiet affair this year! Good luck, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

PS your girl is gorgeous, what a cutie!

 

[flintstones]

Aw bless you did the right thing going to the vet.

The injection will be great for reducing the inflammation but you may wish to ask your vet for metacam - to reduce the pain at home this also takes down the inflammation.

I am presuming your girl has not been squeaking, to be honest if the vet could feel something I'd probably not wait a week to give an Xray, some vet's can Xray without GA. Is the suspected stone in the bladder or urethral tube?

Septrin is normally the preferred Antibiotic for Uti's but I have in the past used both Septrin and Baytril. I would however not expect a 7 day course of Baytril to work previously I have had UTI's which can take up to 3 weeks to disappear.

I would normally say to flush the bladder for a UTI but as you are unsure if it is a UTI or Stone I would avoid given additional fluids in case I flushed the stone into the tube.

Girls are much different from boys as there tubes are bigger so the stone can sometimes be manipulated out depending on the size and position, please do not think the worse until you know what your dealing with. My boy has urinated blood for the last 6 months, he does not have stones/UTI or sludge and he is still with me.

x

 

[piggiemumma]

Thank you both for your speedy replies, I am so worried for her.

Jennifer, Thank you, I have been reading threads on here about piggies that have been through ops and stones have returned.. if they have stones, are they then prone to them? Heidi is only about 2..

Flintstones, No she hasn't been squeeking, she's being completely normal. She said she could feel something in the bladder, but wasn't going to say it was a stone, as it was very inflamed in there. As for flushing, the vet did say give lots of fluids to flush the infection out, if it is an infection.. now I'm worried about flushing a stone..:S

 

[flintstones]

Thank you both for your speedy replies, I am so worried for her.

Jennifer, Thank you, I have been reading threads on here about piggies that have been through ops and stones have returned.. if they have stones, are they then prone to them? Heidi is only about 2..

Flintstones, No she hasn't been squeeking, she's being completely normal. She said she could feel something in the bladder, but wasn't going to say it was a stone, as it was very inflamed in there. As for flushing, the vet did say give lots of fluids to flush the infection out, if it is an infection.. now I'm worried about flushing a stone..:S

To be fair I would take her again to the vet's on Monday and ask them to Xray - your as well knowing what your dealing with.

Did the vet do a urine sample?

If it is a stone it's not guaranteed that it will return, easier sad than done but at the moment try not to worry to much.

 

[piggiemumma]

no she didn't do a sample... I will go back in tomorrow.

Thank you, x

 

[Poppy'sMum]

As Flintstones says, sometimes with girls it is easier for them to pass a stone. I've had two girls that passed stones, one I actually removed myself as I could see it! rolleyes I am not recommending anyone tries it though, just in case anyone thinks I am. Mine were very small considering I have seen huge ones at the CCT.