[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Stone piggy needs help

[Dr Kay Dudman]

Pat

The important thing is that Guinevere can still pee; if it gets to the stage
where she can't, it is a real emergency and needs urgent treatment.  It is
easier to deal with stones in girl piggies rather than boys because the
relative length of the urethra.  It may be possible for the stone to be
manipulated out under anaesthetic rather than removed by surgery, depending
where the stone is located.  Without knowing what the stone is, I would
suggest you keep Guinevere off parsley, spinach and kale, as these are high
in oxalates which can cause stones.  Also, you need to watch the calcium to
phosphorus ratio; too much calcium will predispose towads stones, but too
little will cause the bones to demineralise and become weak.  You might
want to syringe her some extra fluids, and a little extra vitamin C
might help.

I am sure my vet would be happy to discuss with your vet by email (we are in
the UK), but he won't be back until Wednesday (they operate an emergency
service over Christmas... I was down there myself this morning).  I need to
visit my vet again on Wednesday morning, so if you want to give me your
vet's email I can then pass it on to my vet.  (If you reply directly to me
you'll get an auto-reply to say I'm out of the office, but I will check my
email).

Kay

>From: "Jaime" <rzm.2 at juno.com>
>To: Gpdd at gpdd.org
>Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:51:28 GMT
>Subject: [Gpdd] HEALTH- stone piggie needs help
>
>This was a post on the stones digest, but I thought if it was posted
>on this digest, she would get some additional help, since so many of
>us have experience with stone piggies. Her e-mail is included if
>anyone can help her. Thanks...
>This is a forwarded message. Please send all replies to the Stones
>list, or contact the sender directly @ bunzella at yahoo.ca
>
>----- Forwarded message from bunzella at yahoo.ca -----
>     Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:12:54 -0500 (EST)
>     From: pat schuett <bunzella at yahoo.ca>
>Reply-To: pat schuett <bunzella at yahoo.ca>
>  Subject: Need Help - Hoping to Subscribe
>       To: stones-owner at gpigs-database.org
>
>Hi there,
>
>I have a guinea pig who has recently (two days ago)
>been diagnosed with
>bladder stones (by means of an x-ray).  At the moment,
>she also has a bad
>urinary infection which is being treated with
>sulfatrim (bactrim).
>
>Unfortunately, I live in a small city in Western
>Canada; there is NO
>experienced exotics vet here --- until quite recently,
>the idea of taking a
>guinea pig to the vet was simply unheard of around
>here, so there are few
>vets who have any experience at all.
>
>My vet is willing to attempt the surgery to remove the
>stones but wants to
>do as much research as possible ahead of time, which
>is not going to happen
>until after Christmas.  After today she is out of the
>clinic until next
>Wednesday; there are other vets on call but most have
>less experience with
>gps than she does.
>
>I would very much like to get in touch with other
>owners who have dealt with
>this situation, hopefully with a view to locating an
>experienced vet willing
>to consult with mine via e-mail or phone about the
>surgery.  I realize the
>risks of waiting but I don't want her to do it without
>as much knowledge as
>possible.
>
>At the moment, Guinevere is able to pee and more
>comfortable than she was
>before the antibiotics.  She isn't arching her back
>and squeaking when she
>pees or poops anymore.  I am syringe-feeding her,
>about 20mls three times a
>day, and she has continued to eat hay and an
>occasional sprig of cilantro or
>piece of red pepper.  She doesn't appear to be
>drinking very much on her
>own.
>
>I would be very grateful for any help you can offer; I
>will only have easy
>Internet access today and tomorrow, but may be able to
>prevail on friends
>with Internet access to let me check after that...
>
>                                                   Pat
>Schuett
>
>***JAIME***, Molly the new pig in town! & Albert always in my heart.
>http://www.piggiepages1.blinkz.com/
>