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Crystals in urine

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Piggies2023

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Is having crystals in urine the same as sludge please? I can't find much about having crystals. Has anyone had a piggie with crystals? Nancy has them and I think that maybe why she keeps squeaking in pain.
 
Yes that is likely why she is squeaking - they can be quite jagged and cause pain.

Is she on pain meds?
What has the vet said about the situation?
She may need a bladder flush by an experienced vet.

Her diet needs to be reviewed but changes to it will not remove any current crystals. Ensure calcium is kept low - filtered water, low calcium grain free pellets at one tablespoon per day. And lots of fluid to keep bladder flushing through.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Yes that is likely why she is squeaking - they can be quite jagged and cause pain.

Is she on pain meds?
What has the vet said about the situation?
She may need a bladder flush by an experienced vet.

Her diet needs to be reviewed but changes to it will not remove any current crystals. Ensure calcium is kept low - filtered water, low calcium grain free pellets at one tablespoon per day. And lots of fluid to keep bladder flushing through.
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The vet has given us antibiotics to rule out an infection and had just said to keep in touch. She's been on antibiotics for two nights now. But last night she was squeaking a lot. She's on filtered water and low calcium veg. Pellets, I need to change but I'm currently giving a low amount.
 
Hi! My pigs both develop calcium crystals in their wee if their diet is off. Has your Nancy been thoroughly checked for stones as well?

I have found certain veg that causes outbreaks in my girls. It's been a long process of elimination but we got there in the end. Their diet is mostly cucumber, bell pepper and romaine lettuce. Coriander should be great for bladder pigs but unfortunately not for my girls! I always filter their water and they get no pellets. Just lots and lots of hay.

When they do experience an outbreak, which still happens sometimes, they get put on painkillers so they can be as comfortable as possible as I up their diet with more watery veg. They also enjoy taking plain water through a syringe for some reason, that's a neat trick I discovered!

I hope your little one feels better soon. Sending healing vibes.
 
RosieLily said:
Hi! My pigs both develop calcium crystals in their wee if their diet is off. Has your Nancy been thoroughly checked for stones as well?

I have found certain veg that causes outbreaks in my girls. It's been a long process of elimination but we got there in the end. Their diet is mostly cucumber, bell pepper and romaine lettuce. Coriander should be great for bladder pigs but unfortunately not for my girls! I always filter their water and they get no pellets. Just lots and lots of hay.

When they do experience an outbreak, which still happens sometimes, they get put on painkillers so they can be as comfortable as possible as I up their diet with more watery veg. They also enjoy taking plain water through a syringe for some reason, that's a neat trick I discovered!

I hope your little one feels better soon. Sending healing vibes.
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She had an x-ray two weeks ago to rule out stones. She is sometimes weeing blood you can see, but when you test her wee there is always blood in it.

Do yours squeak from it? It's odd Nancy seems to save her squeaking for overnight. She doesn't do it so much during the day. How long have you found it takes for it to get better? It's been three weeks now.

Nancy won't take water from the syringe because she thinks it may have horrible tasting stuff in it, she's on cystease, metacam and antibiotics. She really doesn't like the cystease.

They don't get to go outside so I'm wary about removing all pellets due to the vitamin D. I thought I might order some piggie parcel ones because they have low calicum but high vitamin D and feed to a minimum.
 
A wet diet to see if they can be flushed out naturally might help but it depends on her situation - if there are a lot of crystals, if they are even going to come out themselves. A bladder flush may be needed but it has to be done very very carefully with an experienced vet.

Glad to see she is on cytease and metacam.
What metacam dosage and is it cat or dog?

Diet changes may go towards preventing new ones but it’s also about finding levels that are correct for her.

Piggie Parcels pellets would be good - the owner is taking a holiday shortly so you’ll want to get an order in soon! (https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/piggie-parcels-natural-forage-foods.163584/page-8)
What pellets is she currently on?
 
Piggies&buns said:
A wet diet to see if they can be flushed out naturally might help but it depends on her situation - if there are a lot of crystals, if they are even going to come out themselves. A bladder flush may be needed but it has to be done very very carefully with an experienced vet.

Glad to see she is on cytease and metacam.
What metacam dosage and is it cat or dog?

Diet changes may go towards preventing new ones but it’s also about finding levels that are correct for her.

Piggie Parcels pellets would be good - the owner is taking a holiday shortly so you’ll want to get an order in soon! (https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/piggie-parcels-natural-forage-foods.163584/page-8)
What pellets is she currently on?
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She's with an experienced vet for guinea pigs. I don't know if she does bladder flushes though because it's not been mentioned. She's on dog metacam so I think she's well dosed. She's on 0.4ml twice a day and she's 1000g approx. Not sure it's doing anything mind, but it's not a really low dose.

They are currently on Harringtons. They've always refused to eat anything else apart from Burgess duel care. We've tried grain free science selective in the past and they aren't a fan. Pumpkin is absolutely fine, but she drinks while Nancy doesn't.
 
That’s really good, and yes it’s a good painkiller dose.
All you can do at this point is, as the vet suggests, and keep in touch with them.

What sort of veg does she get?
I'm just wondering if she isn’t a big drinker, then perhaps a thicker slice of cucumber might be a good idea
 
Piggies&buns said:
That’s really good, and yes it’s a good painkiller dose.
All you can do at this point is, as the vet suggests, and keep in touch with them.

What sort of veg does she get?
I'm just wondering if she isn’t a big drinker, then perhaps a thicker slice of cucumber might be a good idea
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She has round lettuce, green pepper and cucumber in the morning.

Evening romaine lettuce, red pepper and cucumber and sometimes chicory. I'm thinking of trying feeding them the same tonight as the morning as she squeaks overnight in pain but not so much during the day.

Before bed she gets more cucumber. But I have realised that mini cucumbers that they much prefer has more calicum in so I need to give them normal cucumber more. Just Nancy wasn't really eating enough of it.
 
Lucy3733 said:
Is having crystals in urine the same as sludge please? I can't find much about having crystals. Has anyone had a piggie with crystals? Nancy has them and I think that maybe why she keeps squeaking in pain.
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Hi

Crystals are tiny shards. They are kind of the pre-stage to stones or sludge; sludge is a bladder packed full of crystals that cannot be washed out at the worst. Not being a great natural drinker is one of several contributing factors to the formation of stones or sludge, together with a genetic disposition, diet or something going wrong in the complex calcium absorption process. Most bladder problem piggies tend to have several of these factors in play unless your diet is very much out of balance with being either too high or too low in calcium and oxalates.

I would certainly recommend have her vet checked to see whether she could have more crystals, sludge or a stone in her bladder; especially if she is showing symptoms of pain when urinating. A palpation of the bladder and an x-ray should bring clarity as to what is going on. In minor cases, a careful bladder flush can wash out any crystals but you will have to review your diet and be aware that any changes take several weeks to percolate through the body.

All the best.
 
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My late Connie had blood and crystals in her urine. She would cry in pain as like Wiebke said, they’re like tiny shards. This was back in 2008 when not much was known and vet treatment and knowledge has come on massively since then. She was on and off antibiotics for several months after X-ray’s and scans came back clear. However, she had another X-ray several months later where lots of sludge was found in her bladder. She had a bladder flush. We sadly lost her a few days later not knowing if it was from a complication to the bladder flush or whether she just gave up after months of bladder problems. I urge you to take her to the vet and look at your diet x
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

Crystals are tiny shards. They are kind of the pre-stage to stones or sludge; sludge is a bladder packed full of crystals that cannot be washed out at the worst. Not being a great natural drinker is one of several contributing factors to the formation of stones or sludge, together with a genetic disposition, diet or something going wrong in the complex calcium absorption process. Most bladder problem piggies tend to have several of these factors in play unless your diet is very much out of balance with being either too high or too low in calcium and oxalates.

I would certainly recommend have her vet checked to see whether she could have more crystals, sludge or a stone in her bladder; especially if she is showing symptoms of pain when urinating. A palpation of the bladder and an x-ray should bring clarity as to what is going on. In minor cases, a careful bladder flush can wash out any crystals but you will have to review your diet and be aware that any changes take several weeks to percolate through the body.

All the best.
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Thank you. She's on a low calcium diet and I'm filtering water. Though she doesn't really drink but I'm washing the veg in the filtered water.

She had an x-ray a couple of weeks ago. I saw the vet only just Tuesday, where she found the crystals. She's been crying for a while which the vet is aware of and blood in wee. She's on some antibiotics to rule out an infection and I'm to keep in touch with the vet
 
Claire W said:
My late Connie had blood and crystals in her urine. She would cry in pain as like Wiebke said, they’re like tiny shards. This was back in 2008 when not much was known and vet treatment and knowledge has come on massively since then. She was on and off antibiotics for several months after X-ray’s and scans came back clear. However, she had another X-ray several months later where lots of sludge was found in her bladder. She had a bladder flush. We sadly lost her a few days later not knowing if it was from a complication to the bladder flush or whether she just gave up after months of bladder problems. I urge you to take her to the vet and look at your diet x
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Poor Connie. Nancy has had an x-ray and she's currently on antibiotics to rule out an infection. I only last saw the vet on Tuesday. And she's on a low calicum diet.
 
Lucy3733 said:
Thank you. She's on a low calcium diet and I'm filtering water. Though she doesn't really drink but I'm washing the veg in the filtered water.

She had an x-ray a couple of weeks ago. I saw the vet only just Tuesday, where she found the crystals. She's been crying for a while which the vet is aware of and blood in wee. She's on some antibiotics to rule out an infection and I'm to keep in touch with the vet
Click to expand...

Just washed veg won't add much water since it has usually run off by the time she eats it. if she's not a drinker, rather feed her some extra cucumber or lettuce for a bigger pee. Dandelion is also good - it is diuretic, so in combination with fresh growing grass or other watery veg, it will encourage stronger pees to help flush the bladder.

Please be aware that a diet too low in calcium can also result in crystals if you are aren't in the sweet spot.
 
Wiebke said:
Just washed veg won't add much water since it has usually run off by the time she eats it. if she's not a drinker, rather feed her some extra cucumber or lettuce for a bigger pee. Dandelion is also good - it is diuretic, so in combination with fresh growing grass or other watery veg, it will encourage stronger pees to help flush the bladder.

Please be aware that a diet too low in calcium can also result in crystals if you are aren't in the sweet spot.
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I didn't realise that too little cal ium can make crystals too. It seems really complicated. Not sure how I would know.

I had been avoiding dandelion because of the calicum content. Does it need to be fresh dandelions rather than dried leaves or dandelion root? They love dandelion root.

Thank you for your advice
 
Claire W said:
Mine have both fresh dandelion and dry dandelion. Mine like the dandelion salad they sell in B&M it’s just dried flowers and leaves. They get more fresh in the summer as that’s when it grows more
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Thank you. I don't have a garden and while I see dandelion elsewhere I don't know if it's been treated. My sister may have some. Maybe I should get grass seed to grow grass. They used to have wheatgrass as a treat but I think maybe it needs to be normal grass.
 
Lucy3733 said:
Thank you. I don't have a garden and while I see dandelion elsewhere I don't know if it's been treated. My sister may have some. Maybe I should get grass seed to grow grass. They used to have wheatgrass as a treat but I think maybe it needs to be normal grass.
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I’m lucky in that my neighbours front garden is full of dandelions and he’s told me to help myself. I just rinse them under the tap just in case. Quite a few members on here who don’t have a garden grow grass. Normal grass is recommended
 
Lucy3733 said:
I didn't realise that too little cal ium can make crystals too. It seems really complicated. Not sure how I would know.

I had been avoiding dandelion because of the calicum content. Does it need to be fresh dandelions rather than dried leaves or dandelion root? They love dandelion root.

Thank you for your advice
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Fresh dandelion if you can pick some easily (make sure that it is free of dog pee as fresh dog pee can kill) - please always wash any foraged foods.
As long as you feed dandelion together with fresh growing normal grass or other green watery veg, its diuretic qualities outweigh any calcium concerns because the stronger pees help flushing out the bladder naturally. Als make sure that your piggies have access to clean and cool water at all times.

There is a soft spot in the diet where ca : ph balance is ideal. The problem is that it is not the same for everybody depending on where they live so there is no exact one ideal diet that fits anywhere in the world.
You cannot just fixate on low calcium; some calcium is needed for long term health and then you also need to take high oxalate veg into your concern as well since that also contributes to the formation of stones or sludge. It's a pretty complex issue.

However, if the squeaking when peeing continues, then you need to see a vet.
 
Does anyone know if you can give catease at the same time as co-trimoxazole please? I want to up her catease as it's only half a capsule a day currently and it's not working. My vet is away for another week. She's been on half a capsule of catease for three weeks now. Last few days the squeaking has got worse rather than better. It's really upsetting.
 
Cystease is a supplement so is fine to give alongside the co Trimoxazole. However, if her squeaking has got worse, I would mention it to your vet before increasing the cystease. I’m sorry that they’re currently away
 
Claire W said:
Cystease is a supplement so is fine to give alongside the co Trimoxazole. However, if her squeaking has got worse, I would mention it to your vet before increasing the cystease. I’m sorry that they’re currently away
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Thank you. I'm really worried. In tears. It's horrible to hear her in pain. I've booked an online consultation with the guinea pig vet for some advice. I'm thinking maybe scans need to be repeated. I thought IC should have improved but maybe she's not on a high enough dose. Vet had previously said she normally leaves piggies on half a capsule but I could try if I wanted. But I didn't up it because it wasn't what she normally did.
 
Lucy3733 said:
Thank you. I'm really worried. In tears. It's horrible to hear her in pain. I've booked an online consultation with the guinea pig vet for some advice. I'm thinking maybe scans need to be repeated. I thought IC should have improved but maybe she's not on a high enough dose. Vet had previously said she normally leaves piggies on half a capsule but I could try if I wanted. But I didn't up it because it wasn't what she normally did.
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Try not to worry. She could be having a flare but it may be an idea to have the scans repeated just to make sure. See what online vet says but both my IC piggies has a full capsule of cystease
 
Claire W said:
Try not to worry. She could be having a flare but it may be an idea to have the scans repeated just to make sure. See what online vet says but both my IC piggies has a full capsule of cystease
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Thank you. I'm really worried. I think the fact my vet is away is making me panic even more.
 
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