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Bladder stone and hernia repair

Josie_lg

Josie_lg

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello everyone, I’ve posted many times on here about the urinary issues my sweet girl poppy has been having on and off for two years. She had a cystotomy in October to remove a big stone and has never really fully recovered from that surgery in regards to her bladder. On and off painful wees and on and off blood in her wee. She has crystals and is on meds, filtered water and we are extremely careful with what we feed her. Even eating pellets sets her off. Breaks my heart her not being able to enjoy her favourite pellets.
Today I took her back in to the vets to be checked again as she has started passing blood in her wee again and very painful when peeing and pooping again. She also has a hernia that was diagnosed two months post surgery. It’s only gotten bigger so I’ve been advised to have that fixed before it causes serious issues.
On ultrasound today the vet saw what they believe to be a big 8mm stone. I am beyond heartbroken. They’ve told me I’ve done everything right. But that’s clearly not enough to prevent her from forming yet another stone😭
She was supposed to have a CT scan today to 100% confirm a stone and take a look at the hernia before the op. But she moved and has to go back tomorrow for it to be done again.
I go on holiday in a few weeks so ideally the op needs to be done sooner rather than later. It’s all very stressful and upsetting. We’ve got antibiotics as her wee is smelling again. However she has been on nutracyst long term but the company have changed the ingredients and it’s no longer safe for piggie use according to my vets. (If you have pigs on this check with your vet first as I don’t know if it’s just my clinic that have the new one, it’s a cream capsule rather than a yellow capsule)
I’m gutted. Truly gutted. I don’t understand how she has another stone. What can affect the PH/crystals etc of the urine. She’s on the right diet, meds etc. I assume it must be genetic.
Sorry for such a long message. Please send us some well wishes. It’s been a hard day❤️
 
Aw I’m so sorry that your girl is going through so much and has another stone, it’s gut wrenching when you’ve tried so hard 😞 Sadly they can be down to genetics 😞

Sorry, I don’t have any advise but I hope that her surgery goes well and I am wishing you both the very best xx
 
I’m so sorry you and Poppy are going through this. Sorry I can offer any advice. Sending you a hug 🤗 and healing vibes to Poppy. ❤️
 
I am so sorry you and Poppy are having such a hard time at the moment, sending bigs hugs. I have no experience if sfones or hernias but I hope someone who has experience may be able to advise you

Sending Poppy lots of healing vibes x
 
Thank you everyone. I am terrified but trying to stay positive❤️
 
Hello everyone poppy had her surgery today to remove the bladder stone and repair the hernia. She is home now, quite groggy, tired and stoned bless her. I’m so thankful to have her home with me❤️ The stone this time was big again, but rather than round in shape it was quite ragged. Poor girl. It’s been sent off for analysis. Her wounds a bit podgy/puffy but her hernia was huge so I assume they had lots to poke back in. I’m terrified and hate seeing her like this but I’m doing all I can for her. Please send some well wishes xx
 
Just a little update when she got home last night she ate a handful of veggies and some hay on her own. But hasn’t taken much food overnight. I’ve been syringe feeding her every few hours but she’s very flat and “stoned” she’s so weak. She can move from the mat to her bed but then is just so floppy. I’m so worried that she isn’t wanting to eat anything. I’ve literally offered everything but it’s like there’s nothing there she’s completely out of it. I’ve called the vets and we are about to leave to take her there to be checked. I don’t know if it’s the buprenorphine/anaesthetic as whenever she’s had bupe she’s been out of it for a while but last time she had this surgery she was at least eating small amounts when handfed. Wound looks okay today but I’m struggling to get her to take her feeds. It’s such a worrying time. Any advice gladly accepted❤️
 
When Bertie had buprenorphine he was not with it for several days even though the vet had said maybe 24-48 hours. I hope the vet visit has been able to reassure you. Hugs to you and Poppy 💕
 
She’s been admitted for fluids😔I am so worried. I’m waiting to hear back from the vets. My poor girl. I agree bupe makes them so zonked out and high but her not taking any food from me at all was a huge concern. When she had this surgery before she would take food when hand fed after a few hours of being home. I know this surgery was bigger I suppose, the stone was sharper and the hernia was big. I hope she starts eating on her own soon❤️
 
She’s in the best place. They know what to look out for and will be taking very good care of her.
 
She is back home after fluids and gut stimulant at the vets. She seemed to be doing better. She seemed perkier and was taking very small amounts of food but this evening is very flat again. I’m so so worried and I don’t know what else to do. I’m doing everything I can.
The vet said there were some adhesions and the surgery was a bit trickier than he expected. So I suppose that explains why she’s more sore this time. But I keep comparing her recovery to last time and I know I shouldn’t do that.
He wondered if it was better to stop the gabapentin and use buprenorphine, I voiced my concerns about how she’s reacted to it in the past but of course he knows best, but we agreed for now continue gabapentin. He’s also increased the metacam dosage and she’s also got emeprid now to have twice daily to help keep her gut moving. If a bed is put in front of her she will walk into it but other than that won’t move and is so out of it still. Any more advice gladly welcomed because I’m a nervous wreck, I need her to get better❤️
 
Sending lots of healing vibes x 💓💓
Get munching and get well soon, Poppy x

Even if she will only take a little food, it might be a good idea to syringe feed her some water - in very small amounts of course. Last week Squeaks got extremely dehydrated when he wasn't eating, and wasn't moving around and using the water bottle.
 
Any advice welcomed right now. After improving so much over the last couple of days, she was eating on her own walking well. Today out of nowhere after eating a nice handful of fresh veggies she fell to her side eyes rolling and twitching, my family rushed her down to work (I work in a vets) an the vet is wondering if she’s had some kind of vestibular episode like a thrombosis? I’m in pieces my poor poor baby. By the time she got here she could sit up but had nystagmus. The vet gave an injection to calm her down and she’s so sleepy and floppy now, she’s starting to come round from the injection and has had a wash. Has anyone had any experience with strokes/vestibular episodes post op? The vet said this can happen and we’ve done nothing wrong. I feel like my hearts been ripped out of my chest. How can she being doing so so well and now this. I’m heartbroken.
 
Bill & Ted said:
Poor Poppy, sending loads of healing vibes x
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Might it be the drugs. My Ted once had a strange “fit” after a GA anaesthetic. He went floppy, then jerky and his eyes rolled. He had a vet check and he was ok afterwards
 
Bill & Ted said:
Might it be the drugs. My Ted once had a strange “fit” after a GA anaesthetic. He went floppy, then jerky and his eyes rolled. He had a vet check and he was ok afterwards
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Really!? How long after the surgery was this? Xx
 
Josie_lg said:
Really!? How long after the surgery was this? Xx
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Yes, it was the following morning. I rushed him back to the vets, by then he seemed to have come round completely and was fine. The vet said it sounded like a seizure but wasn’t sure what caused it. he was fine after that apart from still not being able to eat after a GA dental
 
That’s interesting to hear. This happened 5 days post op and at a time where she was doing so incredibly well. Finally walking properly, eating so so well too.
Since this morning she won’t take food. Is really hunched and fuzzy. The vet has increased the gabapentin dose, we’ve started emeprid again and she’s been having sub cut fluids. This is honestly horrific and it’s so awful that one second she seems to be doing well and the next not so well. The vet said one of lungs sounds a bit crackly. And that even pneumonia could potentially cause the episode that happened yesterday. I truly didn’t expect all of this to happen.
I know we are doing everything we can be. But it still doesn’t feel like enough. She is such a special piggie to me. My heart is breaking:(
 
Bill & Ted said:
Yes, it was the following morning. I rushed him back to the vets, by then he seemed to have come round completely and was fine. The vet said it sounded like a seizure but wasn’t sure what caused it. he was fine after that apart from still not being able to eat after a GA dental
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I’m so pleased he recovered 💞
 
Josie_lg said:
That’s interesting to hear. This happened 5 days post op and at a time where she was doing so incredibly well. Finally walking properly, eating so so well too.
Since this morning she won’t take food. Is really hunched and fuzzy. The vet has increased the gabapentin dose, we’ve started emeprid again and she’s been having sub cut fluids. This is honestly horrific and it’s so awful that one second she seems to be doing well and the next not so well. The vet said one of lungs sounds a bit crackly. And that even pneumonia could potentially cause the episode that happened yesterday. I truly didn’t expect all of this to happen.
I know we are doing everything we can be. But it still doesn’t feel like enough. She is such a special piggie to me. My heart is breaking:(
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I’m so sorry, it’s such a set back when she was doing so well, sending hugs 🤗

🤞Hope she recovers from whatever has happened x
 
I just want to let everyone know that our sweet poppy passed away early hours this morning. With buttercup by her side and surrounded by me and my family. Heartbroken doesn’t even describe it I am absolutely besides myself.
It’s too painful for me to post any photos of her sweet little face at the moment.
I really don’t know how I will ever carry on. There will never be another Guinea pig like her. She was the softest, loveliest most friendly girl in the world and no piggie will ever give cuddles like she did. I feel sick to my stomach.
 
I’m so sorry Poppy has left for the bridge. She was surrounded by your love. You did absolutely everything you could. Take care ❤️
 
I just feel so guilty. She slightly improved the night before eating tiny amounts but was so so painful in her tummy and not pooping. The next morning she passed a few very very dry horrible sharp poops and was refusing any food but I could get some syringe feed down her. At the vets he said it was her guts that were so painful and the gabapentin wasn’t working to help the pain in her guts so he advised bupe. I was worried as in the past she’s been quite dazed on this drug. For the rest of the day her breathing was up and down, and she was basically not there :( she got worse and worse and would barely swallow. The injection was given at 9 and she passed at midnight. I have this awful guilt that if the bupe hadn’t been given would she still be here with us and potentially would have recovered, or were we going to loose her anyway since she hadn’t been doing so well for a few days. My mum believes her body just couldn’t recover from the stroke. But I was hanging on to every last hope. I just want to get this guilty feeling off me so I can grieve her. I can’t help feeling the what if we left the injection could she have pulled through. But the decision was made because she was in a lot of pain. And the hope was that although she may be a little stoned on it if we can get food and meds in her so that when the bupe wore off she may have made an improvement. But we lost her😭
 
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