3856. Final Video production. HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 2. Prevention.

 Draft script. Not final script yet.  

1.  Balanced Diet --- different types of hay and pellet for young and older guinea pig. 80% hay to 20% pellets. 

1.l   YOUNGER diet different --- Less than 6 months old. More alfalfa.

1.2  2-4 months old   higher protein mix more alfalfa hay with other types of hay.

2. OLDER --- More than 6 months old.
No more alfalfa hay or very little.

Do not leave care to the domestic worker. Urine monitoring by the owner.  

2.  Monitor urine colour, 

3.  water intake

4. Pee area

5. Supplement. Vitamin C.

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Below is PART 1. 

22 APR 2021. Veterinary Stories by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 1. Diagnosis and treatment.

JULY 5, 2016.

"For the past 7 days, Whisky squeaked several times a day and night," Mr Ho, a divorced senior citizen said solemnly. "I thought he sought attention---like pre-schoolers throw tantrums to get parental attention. 

"But he drinks about 50% less water. His stools are normal but there are smaller stool sizes now.

"I took leave from my gardening job to bring my guinea pig to you for a check-up! I pray he is not in serious bad health,"

Mr Ho worked for a landscaping company as a gardener, trimming and caring for plants and flowers of big shopping malls. He was not your usual old man as he is fashionable. 

He wears a face mask to protect himself from inhaling fine dust and soil as Covid-19 virus was not present in 2016.

A broad brim hat to shield his sun-tanned face from the harsh sunlight. He was not the stereotypical frail and vulnerable  old people. 

"The guinea pig does not cry for attention many times a day," I palpated the 17-month-old male. Whisky shivered and moved away when I palpated the back half of his abdomen. This is where his bladder was located. I X-rayed his abdomen.

"Whisky was crying for help, actually," I told Mr Ho. "The pain was intense and that was why he sought you out for help!

"Whisky has a urinary tract infection as evident by the presence of reddish-brown urine seen when he was warded overnight. X-rays show a bladder stone floating inside his bladder." 

"I was too busy at work," Mr Ho shook his head. "Hence I delayed for 7 days. Can he be operated to get the stone removed?"  

"Not now," I advised. "Whisky has urinary tract infection and weight loss. He has to regain his health before a surgery to remove his bladder stone is to be done. He is not fit for anesthesia. He will die if he is operated today. 

Feed him antibiotics, painkillers and Critical Care by hand. Also around 500 ml of water a day 6 times a day. Whisky will be reviewed 7 days later." 

JULY 13, 2016.

However on the 8th day, Whisky could not walk. He could not pee too. He had not been eating by himself for the past 8 days. Mr Ho had to hand feed him.

X-ray showed the stone had lodged inside the urethra, obstructing any flow of urine. Hence he could not pee. I palpated his bladder which was a hard golf ball in size. 

Whisky would soon die of a ruptured bladder or kidney failure due to the backflow obstruction of urine.

An emergency surgery was needed but the anaesthetic risk was so much higher now.

"Most likely, Whisky would die on the operating table. "You have to make the decision," I informed Mr Ho of the complications and a high probability of death on the operating table. He signed the anaesthetic and surgery consent form for the operation.

The cystotomy surgery was a success. I incised the bladder wall and extracted a small stone of 4-5mm in diameter lodged tightly inside the urethra.

However, Whisky passed away the next day. Mr Ho was very sad. Whisky was cremated. He kept the ashes in the urn.

I sent the urinary stone to the Minnestoa University Veterinary School to be analysed. It was a calcium carbonate stone.

Stones are usually formed as a result of feeding an unbalanced high calcium and protein diet. Obesity, drinking less water or withholding urine for long periods of time before peeing may be contributing factors.

END OF PART 1. MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/04/2016-guinea-pig-has-urinary-stone-in.html


Another video will discuss: HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 2. Prevention.
MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG: