There is a lot going on here...any advice would be appreciated at this point since I am so confused and tired at this point.
Here are the details:
• 4 year old female pig Lucia. Unspayed.
Lucia eats Oxbow garden select pellets, has fresh hay at all times, and gets a nightly bowl of fresh vegetables, usually consisting of lettuce and bell peppers. Fleece bedding.
• Last Tuesday 11/29, Lucia was eating and drinking normally.
• On Tuesday night, she refused her veggies which she and her sister go crazy for every night.
• She was straining to pee, crying, and had bright blood in the pee
• I then rushed her to an emergency vet which treats exotics. They were not able to get a urine sample since she peed on the doctor.
• They suspected it is a UTI. Lucia was prescribed 0.46 ml of 2% Baytril twice a day for 10 days, along with 0.26 ml of 1.5% Metacam.
• They took an x ray and found no apparent stones.
• Since she was not eating I have been syringe feeding crticial care daily.
• From Tuesday to Friday, the poops were very irregular and infrequent. They were long thing and mishapen.
• On Thursday 12/1 she was still not eating so I took her to yet another vet since her primary doctor (an exotic specialist) was out sick for the week. This vet prescriped Sub Q fluids and Reglan for 3 days.
• I was not comfortable giving fluids myself for 3 days, so I hired another vet to come to my house and help from Friday to Sunday morning. This vet lowered the Baytril dose to 0.21 ml twice a day to help with the GI stasis.
• The fluids and Reglan seemed to have help since she began drinking water again and eating a little bit on her own.
• Saturday and sunday, poops became more normally shaped and regular although they are small. Sometimes the poops are soft and not as nicely shapes. It looks like the GI stasis was getting better.
• Sunday yesterday, Lucia seems to be in more pain when urinating. Though the blood in urine is no longer bright red and is now diluted, she seems to be in more pain any time she is urinating. She also seemed uncomfortable and started biting at her bedding and cage.
• I also noticed an occasional clear sticky discharge along with the straining and urine.
• Sunday night, we took Lucia back to the vet who prescribed the fluids and Reglan and saw a different doctor this time who has more experience with exotics.
• The doctor collected a urine sample last night which the results should be in for later today or tomorrow morning. She was given an injection of Baytril, injection of Reglan, and injection of a pain medication. I am not sure what it was but he did not give the Metacam last night.
• Lucia was scheduled for an ultrasound this morning, where she was advised to fast after midnight. This really freaked me out due to her recent GI stasis and knowing how guinea pigs must not go long without food.
• However I followed the advice and seperated Lucia from her sister last night so I could withhold food and water. I felt terrible for this.
• This morning when taking her to the ultrasound, I realized the carrier had some lingering hay inside which she may have eaten. I called the doctor and he cancelled the ultrasound and rescheduled it for tomorrow since she was not supposed to eat.
• Is this okay? Is it okay to fast Lucia AGAIN from midnight to after the 8:30 AM ultrasound? If not I will try my best to find her yet somewhere else to go.
• I am so desperate at this point and unsure of what to do. It is not even certain yet whether this is a UTI or something else.
• This morning since she was starving, she ate pellets on her own and drank water.
• I will be resuming the syringe feeding today to keep her going. However she is out of Reglan, only 1 more dose left. The doctor said the injection from last night will be fine and to just give her the last oral dose tonight. This didn't sound right to me.
• At this point Lucia has seen 4 doctors. It is getting out of control and I feel like she is not getting the proper treatment. What should I do? Do I take her for the fasting ultrasound tomorrow morning?
• I think the fasting from last night has already negatively affected her because I found a piece poop connected in strings today, along with some normal poop. The stringy poop had stopped 2 days ago once her guts were moving nicely again, and the poop became more normal. Now I am afraid I may have undone her progress by fasting her.
Fasting Ultrasound for Bladder Issues?
Update: I just heard from Lucia's primary vet. I learned she is technically not an exotic specialist, though commonly works with rabbits and guinea pigs. The vet advised me guinea pigs should never be fasted before an ultrasound, so I am cancelling the appointment and really hoping the 6 hours she was without food will not seriously impact things. The vet advised that only an exotic specialist should perform an ultrasound on a gp, so I will need to find one who can help her.
I am still waiting for results on the UTI test.
The last day of fluids was last night. Should we be continuing this? Reglan was injected last night and will be given orally later on today.
I will continue with the Baytril and Metacam. Lucia weighs 0.84 kg and is on 0.21 ml of 2% Baytril. Do you think this lower dose is contributing to the worsening of urinary symptoms? The vet injected her last night with the original 0.42 dose, so I am not sure why he advised me to continue with the 0.21 orally.
I am still waiting for results on the UTI test.
The last day of fluids was last night. Should we be continuing this? Reglan was injected last night and will be given orally later on today.
I will continue with the Baytril and Metacam. Lucia weighs 0.84 kg and is on 0.21 ml of 2% Baytril. Do you think this lower dose is contributing to the worsening of urinary symptoms? The vet injected her last night with the original 0.42 dose, so I am not sure why he advised me to continue with the 0.21 orally.
If you want to observe Lucia's condition and progress on youtube, I started some recordings here from today:
https://youtu.be/nuuHz37cYDI
https://youtu.be/nuuHz37cYDI
I'm so sorry you and Lucia are going through these issues - it's so confusing with different opinions and levels of exotics experience amongst different vets.
I've had two pigs that have had ultrasounds and there was no fasting requirement beforehand.
We've had lot of bouts of stasis the past year and for us, it seemed like the droppings could be quite variable while their systems came back online properly. During one bout of stasis that went on for like 10 days it seemed, I was feeding every four hours and was exhausted. The vet said it was fine to go six hours at night so I could get some rest. I know all situations are different, but since Lucia was eating on her after the six hours, it doesn't sound like the break was detrimental to her.
I don't have insight on the meds etc. I'm sending good thoughts to you both.
I've had two pigs that have had ultrasounds and there was no fasting requirement beforehand.
We've had lot of bouts of stasis the past year and for us, it seemed like the droppings could be quite variable while their systems came back online properly. During one bout of stasis that went on for like 10 days it seemed, I was feeding every four hours and was exhausted. The vet said it was fine to go six hours at night so I could get some rest. I know all situations are different, but since Lucia was eating on her after the six hours, it doesn't sound like the break was detrimental to her.
I don't have insight on the meds etc. I'm sending good thoughts to you both.
-
Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
p.s.What kind of lettuce is she eating?
Did you see the xrays? Do you have a copy? Was there anything that might look like sludge?
So glad you got advised NOT to fast! That was a crazy suggestion.
So sorry I got pulled away on something and could not finish reading.
You wrote, "I am still waiting for results on the UTI test." The vet should have been able to tell if there was bacteria in the urine asap. Is this instead a test to identify the bacteria? Bactrim works better.
Read about interstitial cystitis here:
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=21
Did you see the xrays? Do you have a copy? Was there anything that might look like sludge?
So glad you got advised NOT to fast! That was a crazy suggestion.
So sorry I got pulled away on something and could not finish reading.
You wrote, "I am still waiting for results on the UTI test." The vet should have been able to tell if there was bacteria in the urine asap. Is this instead a test to identify the bacteria? Bactrim works better.
Read about interstitial cystitis here:
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=21
Thank you all for looking at this and responding. Lucia has been eating and drinking on her own now, not quite normally but much better. Her poop is looking better too. The blood in urine is no longer bright red, if anything it is lightly tinged pink, but most of the time seems yellow. I am still syringe feeding a couple times a day to help her out. Any time she pees she strains and cries, which prompted me to take her into her primary vet this morning since I thought she was blocked.
There was no bacteria in the UTI test, but a very high presence of crystals. They did another x ray, and saw that she has bladder stones after all. I saw 2 stones. I am not sure they are small enough to pass. Let me know if I should post copies of the x ray here.
Her metacam dose was increased to 0.26 ml twice a day, it's dog metacam 1.5mg/ml. I was told to finish the Baytril until the last dose on Friday night.
I was given a small list of exotic specialists to call since the primary vet gave her only a 50% chance of surviving surgery if done in-house, so I am going to try and set her up for an operation ASAP. These places are all really far from me but I will do what it takes. My zip code is 07438 in New Jersey. I was referred to Red Bank Vet, AMC in NYC, Mountain Laurel, and Northstar, so I will be making calls today. If there are any other experienced exotic vets that you know of please let me know, I believe there is a topic on this here so I will refer to it.
Should she be okay to wait a few days for this surgery? I am not sure when they will be able to take her in. Should I ask about having a bladder flush done instead?
Lynx, she has been eating a lot of spring mix, now I realize it contains way too much calcium due to the spinach. I have been also rotating between feeding her just romaine or green lettuce. With stones, should I stop feeding her lettuce?
Thanks for your help. I am going to check out some of the other threads on bladder stones to learn more about this.
There was no bacteria in the UTI test, but a very high presence of crystals. They did another x ray, and saw that she has bladder stones after all. I saw 2 stones. I am not sure they are small enough to pass. Let me know if I should post copies of the x ray here.
Her metacam dose was increased to 0.26 ml twice a day, it's dog metacam 1.5mg/ml. I was told to finish the Baytril until the last dose on Friday night.
I was given a small list of exotic specialists to call since the primary vet gave her only a 50% chance of surviving surgery if done in-house, so I am going to try and set her up for an operation ASAP. These places are all really far from me but I will do what it takes. My zip code is 07438 in New Jersey. I was referred to Red Bank Vet, AMC in NYC, Mountain Laurel, and Northstar, so I will be making calls today. If there are any other experienced exotic vets that you know of please let me know, I believe there is a topic on this here so I will refer to it.
Should she be okay to wait a few days for this surgery? I am not sure when they will be able to take her in. Should I ask about having a bladder flush done instead?
Lynx, she has been eating a lot of spring mix, now I realize it contains way too much calcium due to the spinach. I have been also rotating between feeding her just romaine or green lettuce. With stones, should I stop feeding her lettuce?
Thanks for your help. I am going to check out some of the other threads on bladder stones to learn more about this.
Also before going to the vet this morning her poops looked normal. Even at the vet on the table she was pooping normally. Now we just got back home and her poops are huge and mushy. I have never seen poops like this. I am not sure what happened, could the x ray have irritated her stomach, or could this be from fear?
Sorry for all of the posts... I want to make sure the latest info is here. I have a consultation scheduled for Monday with a vet almost 2 hours away, Northstar in Robbinsville NJ. Dr. Winkle. https://www.northstarvets.com/avian-and-exotics
I was referred by my primary, and also saw this vet on the list here of exotic vet suggestions. I called and was told they are very experienced with bladder stones. We are going to see if Lucia requires surgery or if anything else could be done. At least I feel more hopeful knowing she will be in the hands of more experienced vets.
Any tips on how to make the almost 2 hr ride more comfortable for her? I am worried she will go a long time without eating, at least 4 hrs since she will likely be nervous. I just do not know where else to go at this point. There is another exotic vet an hour closer, Kyra Knutson, though she only started working in 2022 so I'm not sure I will trust her. I'm confused and just want to provide the best care for my baby since I am very scared of losing her to this surgery. I want her to have the best shot possible, and want to help her not to suffer anymore.
I was referred by my primary, and also saw this vet on the list here of exotic vet suggestions. I called and was told they are very experienced with bladder stones. We are going to see if Lucia requires surgery or if anything else could be done. At least I feel more hopeful knowing she will be in the hands of more experienced vets.
Any tips on how to make the almost 2 hr ride more comfortable for her? I am worried she will go a long time without eating, at least 4 hrs since she will likely be nervous. I just do not know where else to go at this point. There is another exotic vet an hour closer, Kyra Knutson, though she only started working in 2022 so I'm not sure I will trust her. I'm confused and just want to provide the best care for my baby since I am very scared of losing her to this surgery. I want her to have the best shot possible, and want to help her not to suffer anymore.
-
Sef
- I dissent.
Those are odd-looking stones and a little jagged-looking. I imagine they would be quite painful. Based on the location and the way they are situated, I wonder if they are in one of her ureters. It's a little hard to tell. Did they do any other views or just that one?
A 2-hour ride shouldn't be a problem. Just have some nice, soft bedding in the carrier with a little water bottle attached to the door and some soft hay that she can nibble on. She should be fine.
I will be interested to hear what this new vet has to say.
A 2-hour ride shouldn't be a problem. Just have some nice, soft bedding in the carrier with a little water bottle attached to the door and some soft hay that she can nibble on. She should be fine.
I will be interested to hear what this new vet has to say.
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