Guinea pig urine sludge, squeaking, and bloody spots months after getting bladder stone removal surgery

[Kellycuth22]

My almost 4 year old male guinea pig Lemmy had a bladder stone removal surgery at the end of August 2021, and he was very happy and healthy after the surgery until very recently. I started to notice a random squeak here and there, and then noticed some urine sludge on his bedding. I've been feeding him a low calcium veggie diet, no pellets, orchard hay, and have been giving him bottled water. Just last night I noticed a few bloody spots on his bedding. I'm not sure what the next step is considering he just had surgery not too long ago. I had some leftover metacam from his surgery to give him in the meantime and he was squeak free all day and night until it was time for his next dose. Hes still eating and drinking water as normal. Is there anything that I can be doing to stop the excess calcium? Are there any medications I should be asking his vet about? I also saw the oxbow urinary support tablets and I'm wondering if anyone has seen an improvement with those. I'm very sad that his health and happiness only lasted for such a short time after surgery, any suggestions would help. I'll be calling his vet also to see what to do next but I thought I'd see if anyone had any new suggestions for me to try. Thank you!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Good that you've been able to jump in and give Metacam quickly, as that will definitely help keep him more confortable. How much veg do you give him? My vet was saying that most people feed a relatively dry diet to their guinea pigs and that if they up the amount of veg and grass that they feed, it can really help with urinary issues. Obviously any change in diet should be done slowly, to avoid tummy upsets.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

We have had very few urinary issues with our piggies here at TEAS. I made a thread about how I feed the guinea pigs, that you can see here. Feeding the guinea pigs at TEAS

 

[Kellycuth22]

Good that you've been able to jump in and give Metacam quickly, as that will definitely help keep him more confortable. How much veg do you give him? My vet was saying that most people feed a relatively dry diet to their guinea pigs and that if they up the amount of veg and grass that they feed, it can really help with urinary issues. Obviously any change in diet should be done slowly, to

Lemmy has been getting a few full leaf pieces of Green leaf lettuce, which I've been wetting before giving him to try to get some extra water in him, he gets a big slice of green bell pepper and a few chunks of carrots. I'll add in cherry tomatoes or cucumber too here and there. He used to get parsley daily too but with the calcium issue I was worried about giving him that after the surgery. I also gave him a little extra water in a syringe today and yesterday. Should I be giving him more veggies or could I be doing anything differently?

 

[Bluebell]

So pleased to hear that a respected vet is saying this, I am really concerned that the current fashion for feeding so much dry food is aggravating what is likely a genetic predisposition to these bladder issues. Like you furryfriends, I have, to date, never had any of these issues, despite several decades of keeping guinea pigs, and I feed a great deal more fresh forage and vegetables than recommended by internet rules!

I was concerned, and still am, with the idea that keeping them totally indoors was also a factor, as this winter is the first time mine have ever all been indoors permanently. I will probably continue to worry about that until Spring!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

If they lived in the wild, they would eat a much wetter diet than we traditionally feed. I feed a lot of the mixed salad leaves, cucumber, peppers, coriander, parsley, kale, pretty much on a daily basis! I also feed a lot of grass and during the warmer weather, I get the piggies out into the runs, where they can eat grass all day! I break all the internet rules, with regard to what I feed and how much of it I feed! Stress can play a big part in bladder issues too and keeping piggies in busy areas of the home, can be stressful for piggies!

If you read the thread that I gave you the link to, on how I feed the piggies at TEAS, you will see the sort of foods that I feed.

 

[Wiebke]

My almost 4 year old male guinea pig Lemmy had a bladder stone removal surgery at the end of August 2021, and he was very happy and healthy after the surgery until very recently. I started to notice a random squeak here and there, and then noticed some urine sludge on his bedding. I've been feeding him a low calcium veggie diet, no pellets, orchard hay, and have been giving him bottled water. Just last night I noticed a few bloody spots on his bedding. I'm not sure what the next step is considering he just had surgery not too long ago. I had some leftover metacam from his surgery to give him in the meantime and he was squeak free all day and night until it was time for his next dose. Hes still eating and drinking water as normal. Is there anything that I can be doing to stop the excess calcium? Are there any medications I should be asking his vet about? I also saw the oxbow urinary support tablets and I'm wondering if anyone has seen an improvement with those. I'm very sad that his health and happiness only lasted for such a short time after surgery, any suggestions would help. I'll be calling his vet also to see what to do next but I thought I'd see if anyone had any new suggestions for me to try. Thank you!

Hi!

It depends very much on what has been causing your stones. The calcium absorption process is complex and takes actually quite a while to work its way through the body.

Diet is just the best way to address it but it is NOT a quick fix. The most dangerous period for a reoccurance of stones are the weeks just after an operation because any dietary changes (filtered or bottled water, reduction and change in pellets and changes in the diet to a green and more watery diet but not one that cuts out all calcium because the imbalance in the other direction can also contribute to the formation of stones) take weeks to slowly work their way through the body and any calcium still in the pipeline can continue to cause problems.
Here are our forum dietary recommendations, which you may also find helpful: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Please be careful when feeding more fresh food but make sure that you still provide a wide range of trace elements; it can cause diarrhea or bloating, especially in smore sensitive piggies. You have to make that transition gradually and stop if a piggy develops a sensitive tummy as a result (as some especially older piggies can do). It is mostly a process of working out what works for you wherever you are.

All the best with your vet trip!