[Gpdd] HEALTH: Bladder Sludge

[texg at cavyinfo.com]

Beki,

Guinea pig urine may have some crystals normally; if Daphne is crying
or straining when she pees it's a different matter!

Some piggies are prone to bladder sludge; this is usually comprised
of calcium crystals that can be irritating when a piggie urinates.
Sometimes a piggie will develop a bladderstone; this can happen with
no advance symptoms: one day the piggie is crying, or passing blood,
and an x-ray shows a stone has formed.

We have a website/mailing list dedicated to bladderstones,
urinary/renal problems and "mystery bleeding" (a condition where the
piggie passes blood, yet the vets can find no apparent reason). At
the website you can download a copy of a nutrition chart that shows
the amount calcium and other useful minerals in common fruits and
vegetables. There's also a link to additional information at the
GuineaLynx site. The website address is <www.gpigs-database.org>

Remember that you need to keep a proper calcium/phosphorus balance in
the diet (calcium should always be higher; 1.5 or 2 "units" of
calcium to 1 "unit" of phosphorus) or even worse problems can arise.

I hope all is well with Daphne.

Tex