[Stones] (no subject)

[sherry bevins]

Dear friends,

I am new to this group...in fact, this will be the first time that I have 
written in. I signed on back in June to try and get some info. that might 
help my Flick with his bladder stone problem. Since then he has had surgery 
to remove a large stone that was firmly lodged in his urethra. He is on the 
road to recovery, but is traveling along very slowly. His father, Cinnamon, 
also had a stone problem. At one and a half years of age, he had to have 
surgery to remove a huge stone that he never could have passed on his own. 
He recovered so quickly that I was amazed, and with no complications of any 
sort. My dear Flick has not been so fortunate. This may be because he is 
nearly four years old, which I understand is the age at which piggies begin 
to be considered elderly, and the risk of complications is greater. Our vet 
would have preferred to avoid surgery, if possible, but finally had no 
choice...when the stone became lodged in Flick's urethra, it would not move, 
so emergency surgery was the only option. By this time Flick was so thin and 
in so much pain that I was afraid he might not survive. What was interesting 
is that on his first x-ray, which was taken in June, two small stones were 
visible. On the x-ray taken just before his surgery, only one was visible 
and it was the one lodged in his urethra. It was also twice as big as either 
of the two small stones that we saw earlier. Could they have somehow fused 
together? I don't know...it is a mystery to me. I just hope that Flick will 
be stone free for the remainder of his life. He has been through so much and 
is still fighting to get well. Cinnamon, in the three years after his 
surgery, did not have a stone recurrance. It would be nice if Flick could 
enjoy the same.
We are so thankful for the information that we received yesterday in the 
newsletter...it is wonderful that we can share our stories and helpful 
information. Our piggie friends can only benefit from such an exchange. Our 
hearts go out to those piggies who are suffering with a stone problem...we 
know from experience how painful it is for them, and for the people who love 
and care for them.

With warmest wishes, and healing thoughts,
Sherry, Flick, and our other 13 Piggie Pals
www.piggiepals4u.blinkz.com