Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

RE: Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

CatherineThomas — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 09:36:20 GMT

I often use higher doses of metacam, i.e. 0.5mg/kg which is the dose in carpenters exotics formulary. I don't think there's any scientific studies in guinea pigs to back up these doses only anecdote but they appear to tolerate these doses well and can sometimes make an appreciable difference.

If it needs to lose weight tell them to cut back the pellets to only a tablespoon once per day and encourage plenty of hay, (just make sure it's not alfalfa hay which is high in calcium).

RE: Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

Elisabeth Knappett — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 21:39:06 GMT

Thanks for all the info - drinking-wise, already has access to several drinkers and bowls of water, is offered fresh water several times daily. Fresh food has not been cut out completely, just the high calcium containing leaves like kale etc, though I will have peek at the list for other alternatives and the urinary supplement looks hopeful. G'pig is already on the supreme food!

Meloxicam dose is 0.2mg/kg daily, I started this at the recheck, unfortunately hadn't already been on it. I haven't had much of a chance to do work up as yet, but I feel that she is on the heavy side but is a very active pig with no signs of discomfort generally. Am working a slightly softly softly approach with regards to the weight as the owner has never been told before that she is heavy and is very particular about her pets, so gently does it at the moment!

Many thanks for all the help!

RE: Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

Anthony Todd — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 16:05:56 GMT

Dr Google says watercress is high in Ca. Dunno if GPs eat that but sounds possible?

RE: Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

CatherineThomas — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 10:34:37 GMT

According to the literature they are pretty much always calcium based. I've sent guinea pig stones to Hills before and they've always been calcium carbonate.

RE: Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

Anthony Todd — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 08:24:44 GMT

[quote user="Silvia Maldonado"]Diet is deffo the key.[/quote]

I know nothing about guinea pigs but would have thought the first step at control would be to look at the chemical composition of the "sludge" [sounds a bit like GPUS to me]

RE: Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

Silvia Maldonado — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 00:55:39 GMT

Diet is deffo the key. Owners need commitment and compromising with keeping him on a strict diet low in calcium. Otherwise, problem will recur and you two will feel frustrated.

RE: Guinea pig bladder 'sludge' recurrence

CatherineThomas — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:32:05 GMT

There is the supreme diet which is designed to help with urinary problems:

http://www.supremepetfoods.com/supreme-products/supreme-veterinary-exclusive-range/

and oxbow make a urinary supplement for them:

http://www.viovet.co.uk/Oxbow_Natural_Science_Urinary_Support_for_Small_Animals/c17364/?quick_find=145427&gclid=CLz3yeWSncgCFYRZ2wodPlwKZw

Have you ruled out any underlying problems, for example arthritis leading to reduced activity or obesity? Is the guinea pig active enough, is she drinking enough? Sometimes offering a bowl as well as a bottle can encourage them to drink more and flush bladder through better, and making sure water is refreshed frequently enough. In some cases I'll get the owner to give a really watery syringe feed with supreme recovery or similar daily to increase water intake. What dose of meloxicam are you giving?

I wouldn't cut out fresh veg completely just opt for things which are lower in calcium. There's a list here for some ideas:

http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_order-cal.html