[Stones] Stones:change in urine smell

[mtjaffe at verizon.net]

Regarding Joel's query.  I can comment specifically on the eating of paper.  When my boar Lucky had a stone this Spring he started tearing the paper up from the bottom of his cage (which he never did); ate my wallpaper when free-ranging (which he never did),etc. He was chewing on everything (but his food and his hay)!  Once he had surgery for the stone and was finally feeling better the behavior stopped -- other than his usual nibble at a paper towel roll. I finally concluded that it was his response to the pain he was in.  I could find no other explanation and it was definitely connected to the period when the stone was detected up till he had surgery.  Also, I'm not an expert but I was reading everything I could about stones -- there seems to be a fair bit written for rabbits .  All the rabbit literature describes the wet bottom as a stone symptom.  I didn't experience it myself but maybe it is because he is a boar.  And he was crying with both pees and poops (your wife is right).  My understanding is that females have some chance of passing a stone but it is very, very painful. I went to an experienced vet @1 and a half hours from my house. The decision to do surgery was very stressful, but I am grateful I did. Lucky is a new man --it was an oxalate stone. I remain vigilent about his diet and keep my fingers crossed -- 

Lucky's slave