[Stones] Polycitra vs. Shilintong for a small bladder stone?

[Kelly]

Hi to all. I am new to this and reading a *lot* tonight on bladder stones.

The more I read, the more I am vacillating on the prescribed use of Polycitra for my female GP's bladder stone. This is my piggie's first stone (she is only 9 months old). No other health issues or infection. The stone is small and is not palpable, but is visible on an x-ray we took this afternoon. 

Her symptoms prior to diagnosis were pain with elimination and - until a few days ago -- a white chalky discharge. The discharge stopped a few days ago. She still experiences intermittent pain with defecation/urination, but is otherwise behaving normally. Her urine sample from two days ago was normal, except for +3 calcium carbonate (the only thing of which I am not sure is what normal alkalinity is for a piggie's urine; her urine pH was 8.5). The stone is small and is not palpable, but is visible on an x-ray taken this afternoon. 

The vet gave me a prescription for Polycitra to try for a month, to be followed up by another x-ray. I filled the prescription but have not yet administered it (I was waiting to find out the dilution ratio for Polycitra, which someone here kindly provided earlier this evening).

Now I am wondering if I want to proceed with Polycitra at all... It seems to be more of a preventative measure than a cure for an existing stone. Is that the case? Does it even work on degrading calcium carbonate?

I am reading good things about shilintong... But I am admittedly a little nervous about Chinese herbs with all the recent product recalls. 

Is shilintong preferable to Polycitra in eradicating or helping a piggie pass an existing stone? If so, can someone refer me to a reliable source of shilintong and advise me on dosage for a 2.6 lb. piggie?

Thanks to all the wonderful piggie parents (and love to all the stone piggies),
- Kelly

       
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