First Angel...now it's Elsie..crying when peeing.!

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 9:27 am


It sounds like, from what Becky has explained, the polycitra does not change the acidity or alkalinity of the urine so much as bind with calcium (do I have this right?).

I hope she is able to manage okay and you are able to get this under control.

GP Lover
My home, ruled by pigs!

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:04 am


I was told the Polycitra-K would make her urine more alkaline. They said her Urine ph is too high and the goal is to bring it down by making her urine more acidic.

I work with chemical engineers and one of them has given me some suggestions which I will try. I'm also going to buy urine Ph strips and monitor that. I also have one piggie (Sophie) who never cries when she urinates. It will be interesting to see what her urine pH is.

I forgot to add I am trying the Bactrim again. If it works then we know she needs to stay on it.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 1:26 pm


I understand what you were told. All guinea pig urine is alkaline. As Becky explained, (perhaps on another thread), polycitra has other benefits. Hopefully she will check in and comment (and I will be on the right track as far as her personal experiences go).

GP Lover
My home, ruled by pigs!

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:25 pm


Well, it hasn't done anything positive for her so in the interest of avoiding doing anything that may be having a negative affect I think I'll pass on using it.

At this point I'll try things that are inexpensive and will not cause her any harm or unnecessary stress (like the subcues).

pinta

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 9:52 pm


Was the subcue fluid warm? I find my pigs jerk around if the fluid is too cool or too warm. Massaging while subcuing helps a lot too. Sometimes the tip of the needle is hitting a sensitive area. A gentle adjustment can help. I do 4 subcues a day. Sometimes the needle goes in great, other times the pig is wiggling and I'm cursing.

GP Lover
My home, ruled by pigs!

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 9:54 pm


I have no idea if it was too cool or warm. Neither the vet or the technician offered an explanation. I found it too upsetting to see her body jerking like that so I asked that we stop it.

HollyT
Get on your bike.

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:03 pm


Still no talk about Elmiron?

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Becky

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:08 pm


Ditto on the temp of the subcues. The only time this happened with both Cookie and Chippy was when it was too cold. You might consider whether or not she'd be less stressed out if you were doing them at home in a more familiar situation. Trying to syringe that much fluid is near impossible if you want to have a life.

Lynx, yes, the purpose of the polycitra in herbivores is not to make the urine more alkaline, but to give the excess calcium something with which to bind so that it's passed instead of forming stones or sitting around as sludge.

Carol, I really, really don't know why you would want her urine to be more acidic. That just doesn't make any sense to me. The only time that would make sense would be for struvite crystals or stones.

Also, if she's doing OK aside from the crying when she pees and poops, have you considered just letting it be? When they have chronic bladder inflammation, aside from the metacam and keeping the sludge moving, it just may be something you control rather than cure.

pinta

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:27 pm


If the vet tech took the subcue fluid into a syringe and heated it under running hot water, it would have been warm. If it came from an IV bag hanging in the air, it would have been cool.

Our vet clinic always warms the subcue fluid for pigs. For cats and dogs, I just see it hanging from a stand.

GP Lover
My home, ruled by pigs!

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:31 pm


"Also, if she's doing OK aside from the crying when she pees and poops, have you considered just letting it be?"

Yup...after 18mths of trying different things I'm close to doing that. I'm now trying the diet changes per your suggestion ( I just bought Kale and Leaf lettuces tonight) along with the higher dose of Metacam and a trial run of Bactrim (2-3 wks).

My co-worker suggested bring the pH down a little by increasing the acid in her urine, not necessarily making it too acidic. The technician also said her urine pH should be lower. That was the first time anybody said that to me.

GP Lover
My home, ruled by pigs!

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:32 pm


"Our vet clinic always warms the subcue fluid for pigs. For cats and dogs, I just see it hanging from a stand."

It was from an IV bag hanging from a stand.

pinta

Post   » Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:07 pm


idiots

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