My Guinea pig Snoopy had a bladder stone surgically removed less than 2 months ago and now he has another stone. This was also removed surgically now and he’s in recovery. After the first surgery the vet did not advise any diet changes but did mention it is likely to be a recurrent issue. I didn’t think it would be so quick though. Vet has advised low nitrogen diet based on a latest research article which came 6 months ago. His diet (as advised by the vet) currently consists of a small piece of tomato (which he hates), carrot, cucumber, cabbage and lots of hay and grass and a teaspoon of pellets (vet specified Burgess brand for some reason). They also said to give seasonal fruits and vegies but I’m afraid to experiment with food again and so just sticking to the exact food they said but he’s losing weight just eating mainly hay. There doesn’t appear to be any medications available for Guinea pigs to help with this issue in Australia and being a male, surgery seems to be the best option as the stone does not pass without intervention. I’m scared for his little body suffering again. Anyone has any words of wisdom for me to give me some confidence about my Snoopy’s situation?
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Bladder Stone
- Thread starter Cindu
- Start date
I'm sorry to hear this.
To get a stone again so quickly it can be due to a genetic predisposition which sadly you can’t do anything about. While diet changes can help if the stones diet related, it sadly do anything if it a genetic issue. Unfortunately repeated stone surgery isnt usually something vets advise. There are no medications that can help unfortunately.
The diet that has been suggested, personally, isn’t one I would feed.
Tomato is acidic and the acidity risks causing cheilitis (a lip infection whereby cracks form around the mouth and bacteria can get in. Advanced cheilitis can be fatal). Carrots are too high in sugar and can cause a gut imbalance due to encouraging growth of the wrong kind of gut bacteria. The sugars are also why we don’t encourage the use of fruit in the diet. Cabbage is a brassica and too much can increase the risk of bloat.
Reducing pellets to a teaspoon is a good idea as too many pellets are known to increase the risk of stone formation. Burgess are fine, but they do contain grain and alfalfa (Lucerne) but their nutrient ratios, if I remember correctly, are on a par with other brands. What is most important when selecting a pellet is actually the quantity you feed - never overfeed pellets. I personally only give my boys pellets 2-3 times a week and they get probably a teaspoon.
The cucumber is fine.
Eating lots of grass and lots of hay would be advisable. It’s the natural diet.
I also would advise you to make sure he is drinking plenty of water.
He will not lose weight by being on a hay/ grass based diet. Hay and grass is their main food intake and is the exactly reason they gain and maintain weight. It makes three quarters of what they eat in a day. The rest is made up with plants hence the veg we feed as the supplementary role to replace the plants.
The only way they lots weight is by not eating enough hay. If they don’t eat enough hay (which is usually because of a medical issue) then you have to step in with support feeding a fibre rich recovery feed as a top up to stop the weight loss.
Also, you have to consider his heft and his previous diet, his pellet intake also. Depending on what it was before eg if you were feeding him a lot of pellets previously (the recommendation is no more than one tablespoon per pig per day), then they are essentially a chocolate bar for piggies - stop eating them and they will lose some weight but is usually purely loss of unhealthy weight. Just like what would happen to us if we stopped eating unhealthy things.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
To get a stone again so quickly it can be due to a genetic predisposition which sadly you can’t do anything about. While diet changes can help if the stones diet related, it sadly do anything if it a genetic issue. Unfortunately repeated stone surgery isnt usually something vets advise. There are no medications that can help unfortunately.
The diet that has been suggested, personally, isn’t one I would feed.
Tomato is acidic and the acidity risks causing cheilitis (a lip infection whereby cracks form around the mouth and bacteria can get in. Advanced cheilitis can be fatal). Carrots are too high in sugar and can cause a gut imbalance due to encouraging growth of the wrong kind of gut bacteria. The sugars are also why we don’t encourage the use of fruit in the diet. Cabbage is a brassica and too much can increase the risk of bloat.
Reducing pellets to a teaspoon is a good idea as too many pellets are known to increase the risk of stone formation. Burgess are fine, but they do contain grain and alfalfa (Lucerne) but their nutrient ratios, if I remember correctly, are on a par with other brands. What is most important when selecting a pellet is actually the quantity you feed - never overfeed pellets. I personally only give my boys pellets 2-3 times a week and they get probably a teaspoon.
The cucumber is fine.
Eating lots of grass and lots of hay would be advisable. It’s the natural diet.
I also would advise you to make sure he is drinking plenty of water.
He will not lose weight by being on a hay/ grass based diet. Hay and grass is their main food intake and is the exactly reason they gain and maintain weight. It makes three quarters of what they eat in a day. The rest is made up with plants hence the veg we feed as the supplementary role to replace the plants.
The only way they lots weight is by not eating enough hay. If they don’t eat enough hay (which is usually because of a medical issue) then you have to step in with support feeding a fibre rich recovery feed as a top up to stop the weight loss.
Also, you have to consider his heft and his previous diet, his pellet intake also. Depending on what it was before eg if you were feeding him a lot of pellets previously (the recommendation is no more than one tablespoon per pig per day), then they are essentially a chocolate bar for piggies - stop eating them and they will lose some weight but is usually purely loss of unhealthy weight. Just like what would happen to us if we stopped eating unhealthy things.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
It depends on the water in your area. If you have hard water it is recommended that you filter tap water before giving it to them
Thank you. I’ve decided to try the BRITA tap filter for Snoooy’s water and give him predominantly hay and grass and make sure he maintains his weight. And pellets only twice a week or so. Thank you for your recommendations. I don’t think I have much margin for error. I want him to have a long healthy life.
Bradshaw Piggies
Forum Donator 2023/24
Bladder stones in guinea pigs is such an interesting topic. I remember having a conversation with my vets in Northampton (C&R) about it. They firmly believed that there was a strong link with stone development and domestic guinea pigs not drinking as much water as they would if they were roaming larger areas/running from predators etc. They recommended wetting veggies before feeding to try get the extra fluid in.
Again. this is only speculation. Poor piggies remain under researched
Hope your boy has recovered well from his surgeries
Again. this is only speculation. Poor piggies remain under researched
Hope your boy has recovered well from his surgeries
Poppiespigs
New Born Pup
Hello
Sorry to hear about your fur baby. My boy is exactly the same. Had 1st removed Jan and then reformed by March. We had done the Brita filtered water and low calcium diet, it’s so frustrating that you can’t help them.
I have 2 boars, been together since 10 weeks old and eat exactly the same. One has bladder stones, the his brother has no issues.
I feed them grain free science supreme about 1 tablespoon between them every other day. Otherwise it’s 1 leaf romaine lettuce, pepper and cucumber. Lots of hay and grsss. They are indoors but I go outside with my bucket on days they can’t go out and pick them he grass. They now have Volvic water as lowest could fine. And have bowls as well as bottles. And he gets glucosamine and potassium citrate everyday.
It’s only been a month since his second surgery and just hoping he won’t get another so quickly. I’m just trying to do all I can to help him and not see him in pain.
Sorry to hear about your fur baby. My boy is exactly the same. Had 1st removed Jan and then reformed by March. We had done the Brita filtered water and low calcium diet, it’s so frustrating that you can’t help them.
I have 2 boars, been together since 10 weeks old and eat exactly the same. One has bladder stones, the his brother has no issues.
I feed them grain free science supreme about 1 tablespoon between them every other day. Otherwise it’s 1 leaf romaine lettuce, pepper and cucumber. Lots of hay and grsss. They are indoors but I go outside with my bucket on days they can’t go out and pick them he grass. They now have Volvic water as lowest could fine. And have bowls as well as bottles. And he gets glucosamine and potassium citrate everyday.
It’s only been a month since his second surgery and just hoping he won’t get another so quickly. I’m just trying to do all I can to help him and not see him in pain.
Thanks you for the information. Since the bladder stones my boy has been drinking lots more water like he knows it’s going to help and I always wash his grass and leave them wet for him. It’s good to know we are doing some things right. We are cherishing every day that we have with himBladder stones in guinea pigs is such an interesting topic. I remember having a conversation with my vets in Northampton (C&R) about it. They firmly believed that there was a strong link with stone development and domestic guinea pigs not drinking as much water as they would if they were roaming larger areas/running from predators etc. They recommended wetting veggies before feeding to try get the extra fluid in.
Again. this is only speculation. Poor piggies remain under researched
Hope your boy has recovered well from his surgeries
Didn’t think we could lose him to such a health problem.