Hydrochlorothiazide treatment for chronic calcium in bladder
I just wanted to share with you an interesting new treatment my vet has tried for chronic cases of calcium deposits in the bladder.
I have a 5 y/o female, intact, english smooth (Lucy) who has had issues with bladder sludge/stone and UTI for the past 3 1/2 years. She has had several UTIs in that time expected to be caused by a combination of age/decreased grooming (she also has crusty/flaky nipples which seem to indicate decreased grooming) and bladder stones/sludge. She has been on 0.4 ml sodium citrate and 0.3 tramadol twice a day and 0.25ml metacam once a day since diagnosis. However, these medications did not seem sufficient to keep the UTIs at bay and she had several severe episodes of UTIs where she was kept over night at the hospital and things looked very bleak.
Approx 1/2 a year ago my vet team proposed an investigatory treatment on Hydrocholothiazide 0.1 ml twice daily. This treatment has not been trialled in guinea pigs at my vet (Cornell animal hospital), and have been trialled in rabbits only very minimally. We went forward because the dangers were fairly low and Lucy's condition very dangerous.
It's still early but the results of this med have been pretty amazing. No UTIs since she started on it, decreased pain, some weight gain (after losing weight due to UTIs) and much less accumulation around the anus and vagina (which was prominent when she had UTIs). Her last ultrasound showed decreased amounts of calcium in the bladder.
I can post the full vet report if it would be useful. We have to monitor for decreased phosphorous due to the drug which has us coming in every 3-4 months for blood levels. There has been a small decrease but not enough to worry us currently. If it drops further we will alter the medication amount to try to find a sweet spot.
I wonder whether anyone else has heard of this treatment? And I just thought it would be useful to post.
I have a 5 y/o female, intact, english smooth (Lucy) who has had issues with bladder sludge/stone and UTI for the past 3 1/2 years. She has had several UTIs in that time expected to be caused by a combination of age/decreased grooming (she also has crusty/flaky nipples which seem to indicate decreased grooming) and bladder stones/sludge. She has been on 0.4 ml sodium citrate and 0.3 tramadol twice a day and 0.25ml metacam once a day since diagnosis. However, these medications did not seem sufficient to keep the UTIs at bay and she had several severe episodes of UTIs where she was kept over night at the hospital and things looked very bleak.
Approx 1/2 a year ago my vet team proposed an investigatory treatment on Hydrocholothiazide 0.1 ml twice daily. This treatment has not been trialled in guinea pigs at my vet (Cornell animal hospital), and have been trialled in rabbits only very minimally. We went forward because the dangers were fairly low and Lucy's condition very dangerous.
It's still early but the results of this med have been pretty amazing. No UTIs since she started on it, decreased pain, some weight gain (after losing weight due to UTIs) and much less accumulation around the anus and vagina (which was prominent when she had UTIs). Her last ultrasound showed decreased amounts of calcium in the bladder.
I can post the full vet report if it would be useful. We have to monitor for decreased phosphorous due to the drug which has us coming in every 3-4 months for blood levels. There has been a small decrease but not enough to worry us currently. If it drops further we will alter the medication amount to try to find a sweet spot.
I wonder whether anyone else has heard of this treatment? And I just thought it would be useful to post.
- PooksiedAnimals
- Supporting my GL Habit
Yes. Pinniped was on that for months, and it looked like it was working, but she died from other issues before we could see the stones completely disappear. Pinniped's Medical Thread
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I added links to this post and yours too, PooksiedAnimals:
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=239
If her nipples are crusty, ph08fhf, there may be some reproductive issues going on. See www.guinealynx.info/_cysts.html
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=239
If her nipples are crusty, ph08fhf, there may be some reproductive issues going on. See www.guinealynx.info/_cysts.html
Lucy has a presumptive diagnosis of ovarian cysts (palpated). We aren't so worried about those because they are not noticeably increasing in size.
Perhaps that's not wise, and I should be trying to treat/zero in on the ovarian cysts...? Here's my reasoning behind not doing so:
i) Lucy is old enough that I'd prefer not to do too many exploratory tests.
ii) ovarian cysts aren't causing any obvious problems
iii) she is finally on a treatment for the sludge that it working and I'm nervous to 'upset the apple cart'
iv) Lucy has recently been diagnosed with a new, fluid filled, splenic mass which I want to keep an eye on and not disturb if possible (for fear of 'bursting')...
Let me know if you want detailed blood levels following hydrochlorothiazide prescription.
Perhaps that's not wise, and I should be trying to treat/zero in on the ovarian cysts...? Here's my reasoning behind not doing so:
i) Lucy is old enough that I'd prefer not to do too many exploratory tests.
ii) ovarian cysts aren't causing any obvious problems
iii) she is finally on a treatment for the sludge that it working and I'm nervous to 'upset the apple cart'
iv) Lucy has recently been diagnosed with a new, fluid filled, splenic mass which I want to keep an eye on and not disturb if possible (for fear of 'bursting')...
Let me know if you want detailed blood levels following hydrochlorothiazide prescription.
I'm very worried about the splenic mass. Trying not to think too much about it. They plan to monitor it via ultra sound again next time we are in. I'm really unsure whether to do anything more aggressive (i.e. drawing the fluid etc).
I will post full vet reports soon for Lucy to document the treatment for posterity, and in case anyone else would like to discuss the option with their vet.
I will post full vet reports soon for Lucy to document the treatment for posterity, and in case anyone else would like to discuss the option with their vet.
- Jaycey
- Supporter in 2014
Sorry that I never commented. I'm dreadful with medicine names so had no idea that it was a similar thing!
He's been on it since January 2015 and at the moment I'd say that it's not a miracle cure as he still has calcium spots on his bedding and needs to be cleaned, but on the other hand *touches wood* he doesn't have any signs of new stones forming.
We've not taken any new xrays since October 2014 so we only have outward signs to base any opinions off at the moment.
I'm happy to let you have my vets details if you want to email them and ask their opinions of the tablets Anselmo has.
He's been on it since January 2015 and at the moment I'd say that it's not a miracle cure as he still has calcium spots on his bedding and needs to be cleaned, but on the other hand *touches wood* he doesn't have any signs of new stones forming.
We've not taken any new xrays since October 2014 so we only have outward signs to base any opinions off at the moment.
I'm happy to let you have my vets details if you want to email them and ask their opinions of the tablets Anselmo has.
I am beside myself with Lucy's condition. I am hoping you all can help me to find a little bit of clarity.
Lucy has multiple tumours and advanced arthritis in her hips. She also has bumble foot.
On tuesday night (the 7th) she was gassy and I rushed her into the ER. They kept her in overnight, gave her fluids, fed her etc. She was discharged the following day.
Lat night (the 8th) her breathing became elevated and she was moving a lot less.
Since last night she mostly sits in the one position breathing hard. She eats a little on her own, and will wolf down critical care when it's offered to her on a spoon. But she isn;t moving around, and when I have her in my lap I can see that she is shivering intermittently.
I feel she doesn't have long left I'm very worried that she's in pain. She is taking 0.6ml of metacam once a day, 0.45ml of tramadol twice a day and 0.1 ml of gabapentine 3 times a day. She is at the max for pain meds.
On top of that, I go out of town on monday for work and I'll be a way for three weeks (my partner will be caring for her).
I am wondering whether it is time to let her go. But every time I think about it i feel guilty and sick. On the one hand she may be in pain and it may make a difference for me to be there. On the other hand, do I know that she is in a lot of pain? And given how she wolfs down critical care, can I be sure that her quality of life is so low.
I am in a complete state about this. And I really feel like i am running out of time to make the decision.
Any guidance or thoughts would be so welcome. I know this is my decision that I must make myself, but I feel do lost right now.
Lucy has multiple tumours and advanced arthritis in her hips. She also has bumble foot.
On tuesday night (the 7th) she was gassy and I rushed her into the ER. They kept her in overnight, gave her fluids, fed her etc. She was discharged the following day.
Lat night (the 8th) her breathing became elevated and she was moving a lot less.
Since last night she mostly sits in the one position breathing hard. She eats a little on her own, and will wolf down critical care when it's offered to her on a spoon. But she isn;t moving around, and when I have her in my lap I can see that she is shivering intermittently.
I feel she doesn't have long left I'm very worried that she's in pain. She is taking 0.6ml of metacam once a day, 0.45ml of tramadol twice a day and 0.1 ml of gabapentine 3 times a day. She is at the max for pain meds.
On top of that, I go out of town on monday for work and I'll be a way for three weeks (my partner will be caring for her).
I am wondering whether it is time to let her go. But every time I think about it i feel guilty and sick. On the one hand she may be in pain and it may make a difference for me to be there. On the other hand, do I know that she is in a lot of pain? And given how she wolfs down critical care, can I be sure that her quality of life is so low.
I am in a complete state about this. And I really feel like i am running out of time to make the decision.
Any guidance or thoughts would be so welcome. I know this is my decision that I must make myself, but I feel do lost right now.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I am so sorry she is so ill. Have you talked to your partner about the decision? Are the tumors interfering with her ability to breath? Have you recently talked to your vet about her prognosis?
That you feel she is in pain says a lot to me. From your description the prognosis is very poor.
This is such a personal decision. I wish I could offer better advice.
That you feel she is in pain says a lot to me. From your description the prognosis is very poor.
This is such a personal decision. I wish I could offer better advice.