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Stone stuck in ureter

PiggyRupert

PiggyRupert

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My 6 year old boy has a 4mm bladder stone stuck in the ureter (the duct between the kidney & bladder). Unfortunately the stone cannot be surgically removed without high risk to my piggy. I am wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and has managed to dissolve the stone through clever diet. My piggy has just started on potassium citrate & moduretic so I’m interested in hearing about any success with herbs. Thanks.
 
I’m very sorry but I’ve no experience of this. Has he been give significant pain relief?
 
He must have had the stone for a while and has shown no signs of pain. I picked it up last Friday due to bleeding. My exotics vet says the stone is sitting in an area that is not particularly painful. My piggy had surgery on Saturday (2 days ago) to attempt to remove the stone however it appears to be stuck to the wall of the ureter so we decided not to proceed at that point. Urine can flow around the stone so it’s not causing a blockage. He is recovering way better than I expected, is on tramadol pain relief and critical care feeds, although he is eating fine by himself today and running around like usual. The most interesting herb I’ve come across is marshmallow root in Oxbow Natural Science urinary support, this one protects the urinary tract lining from damage from the stone.
 
Unfortunately there's no way to dissolve a guinea pig bladder stone & they always have to be removed with surgery. It's great that it isn't causing a blockage or hurting your pig, though. I think the key here will be monitoring him closely to catch any signs of deterioration (bloody urine, pain when urinating, lack of urination, or in severe cases lethargy & constant pain) & get him to the vet asap if you see any of that. Potassium citrate can prevent the build-up of more sludge & stones but isn't really tested so the effectiveness is unknown. Best to start putting him on a bladder pig diet and filter his water to try and avoid the stone getting any bigger. There's a great guide on diets here on the forum, you can scroll down to the part on bladder piggies.
 
(3.5 month update) piggy is doing well, has put on lots of weight. Doesn’t seem to be in pain due to the stone however does have intermittent bleeding if he runs around too much (he lives in a big room so can run around as much as he likes with his 4 friends). I give him tramadol if he needs it, Plus he’s still on the potassium citrate & moduretic. Has regular vet checks.
 
I am giving him Oxbow Natural Science urinary support, half a tablet per day. 7E33A003-1993-4DA4-9E0B-5A34F5A2039F.webp
 
10 month update: the stone hasn’t changed and hasn’t caused any problems. We stopped the moduretic last year as it was making piggy unwell. Rupert is still on potassium citrate and a very low dose of tramadol so he’s pain free & maintains a healthy weight. In December last year he was diagnosed with age related dental disease which his vets can manage easily with regular dental care. Also 2 days ago he had a stroke which was a shock. He lost his sight & ability to walk but is recovering well & can see again & move around pretty well. With love and patience I’m sure he will recover. He turns 7 in July.
 
Time for an update. Rupert is now 7 years 3 months old & the stone hasn’t changed and hasn’t caused any problems. He is still on potassium citrate and a very low dose of tramadol so he’s pain free & maintains a healthy weight. He recovered from his stroke (took 2 weeks) and is a happy piggy.
 
That's wonderful news 😊 That is a great age for a piggy. It's a testament to your love and care 💕
 
I'm really glad he's done so well with it! That's great news, he's clearly got a dedicated family! :)
 
Lovely to hear that Rupert is still living the best piggie life. :luv:
 
So pleased to hear that Rupert is doing so well. Thanks in no small part to your TLC.
 
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