[Stones] possible Struvite bladderstone

[admin]

Hi Silvia,

There are no easy answers to your questions; but they do raise some more
questions: how does the vet know they are struvite stones? Although
struvite stones may be irregularly-shaped and calcium oxalate and calcium
carbonate stones rounded, it usually requires chemical analysis to be
certain. 

UTIs are often treated with sulphamezathine (known by many names: SMZ-TMP,
trimeothropin; commonly called "The Pink Stuff"), which is gentle and is
supposed to help with irritation in the bladder. However, if Mimi's stones
*are* struvite, that is indicative of a persistent infection, and the vet
may have chosen baytril for its effectiveness. Sometimes a urine culture
(obtained by getting the piggie to pee on a clean surface, not a needle
aspiration) can isolate the pathogen and the most effective antibiotic can
be chosen. 

Surgery depends on a number of factors - including in no small part the
skill of the surgeon. Depending on how large the stone is, the position,
and Mimi's overall health, you may have a little time to decide. Some
members of this list have had good results using herbs: shilintong
sometimes helps a piggie pass a stone, and cleavers and yarrow (two herbs
combined) have also been reported to help a stone piggie. It's a very
difficult decision to make. 

Keeping a piggie stone-free depends on a lot of factors - including diet.
If Mimi has struvite stones, the causes are most likely not dietary: you
need to find out what is causing the recurring UTI. Sometimes it is
diabetes (a urine glucose "dipstick" test can be less stressful, but a
blood gluose test is more accurate). Sometimes it is a deep-seated
infection that needs time and the proper antibiotics to clear - but male
piggies may be more of a profile for the deep-seated infections  due to
their "plumbing".  

When the ultrasound was done, did the vet check her ovaries? Ovarian and
uterine problems can sometimes lead to UTIs as well (we currently have a
little girl with ovarian cysts that now and again gets a UTI; it usually
clears up after a few days on antibiotics). 

Hope some of that helps, 

Tex