• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Suspected bladder issues - Should I cut lettuce out of my piggies diet completely?

Popcorns & Wheeks

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
820
Reaction score
391
Points
475
Location
North East England
Hi all. Since the beginning of December my Ruby has been in a little pain when urinating/pooping and has been on cystease and a course of rheumacam since. It is not everytime she goes to the toilet, it seems to be maybe 1-2 times a day (that I notice) and when she is ducking down to eat her poops.

I was prescribed rheumacam for around 2 weeks but have been giving her it for a while longer as had some left from my 🌈 piggie Dexter who I lost just after Christmas.

When we initially went to the vets, the vet felt for stones and said she didn't think any were present (I know stones can't always be felt) and thought she could be suffering from cystitis. Anyways, I recently read online that lettuce should not be given to piggies with suspected bladder problems, I wasn't aware of this and my vet did not inform me of this and knew her diet.

Both my piggies get a leaf of lettuce every morning, sometimes two and my question is, is this high in calcium and should I cut it out of their diet altogether or wean it down? Trouble is it is both of my piggies favourite treat but if I need to stop feeding it then I will. Also, can rheumacam be given long term and do you need to wean them off this before completely stopping? Thanks.
 
Also, Ruby ended up with her cystease all over her nose earlier and I wondered if this could cause any problems? May be a silly question but I need to ask. Thanks.
 
Lettuce is not high in calcium. It is mostly water and therefore good for helping keep the bladder flushing through. However for some piggies with bladder problems such as sterile cystitis, lettuce can be a trigger (for some piggies it might be something else). If a person can find what the trigger is for their piggy, then removing that veg might help.

Sterile cystitis can only be managed and not cured. It’s diagnosed through a process of elimination ie bladder stones are not present and antibiotics have not helped cure any signs of UTI, potential issues with the reproductive tract have not been shown etc

Rheumocam is metacam. Although I think it might be stronger and more like dog metacam than cat.
You don’t need to wean them off. Once the prescribed amount has gone, you just stop giving it.
It can be given long term. Some owners with piggies is cystitis are able to lower/stop the dose during periods without a flare and then have the flexibility to give it to them again during a flare.

The cytease going on her nose is not going to cause any problems.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
 
Back
Top