Polycitra - where to buy?
Hi again all... I'm trying to track down Polycitra, on the advice of the FAQ, but I'm finding it tough to track down in the UK (and even in the US!).
From what I can tell, it's just Potassium Citrate, and I can actually get food grade powder of this - thing is I have no idea whether it will be safe to feed, and I'm reluctant to guess at dosage.
Has anyone in the UK been able to find this product or anything equivalent?
From what I can tell, it's just Potassium Citrate, and I can actually get food grade powder of this - thing is I have no idea whether it will be safe to feed, and I'm reluctant to guess at dosage.
Has anyone in the UK been able to find this product or anything equivalent?
Ah, I did wonder whether a prescription would be necessary. I'll ask at the vet's next time! Thanks :)
- Webs
- Cavies 'n Cobwebs
Cymalon is potassium citate in the UK and available without prescription. You can get it in sachets that make up a full mug full but I prefer the liquid version (harder to find) that you measure out and can make smaller quantities using a syringe.
The other cystitis treatment is Oasis which is sodium citrate.
Potassium citrate is not recommended for those on ACE inhibitors (pigs or humans) so that means those pigs on Fortekor. I have used it with a heart pig but only sparingly and went over to Oasis instead just in case.
Oasis and Cymalon can be found in some supermarkets or chemists.
The other cystitis treatment is Oasis which is sodium citrate.
Potassium citrate is not recommended for those on ACE inhibitors (pigs or humans) so that means those pigs on Fortekor. I have used it with a heart pig but only sparingly and went over to Oasis instead just in case.
Oasis and Cymalon can be found in some supermarkets or chemists.
anthropolyte -
I recommend having your vet call it into a pharmacy. It is pretty cheap in the US, a $13 bottle lasted months. In 2.5 years, I only needed 3 refills.
The reason I recommend having the vet call it into the pharmacy is my vet and I tried using the potassium citrate from the vitamin store. They compounded the vitamin pills at the vets (ground up the hard pills and put it in a flavored liquid) and we gave it to the pig for a few weeks - it did not work.
Note: The dose size was based on the pig's weight and the believed strength of the compounded liquid.
1) The potassium citrate from the pill never fully dissolved. Each time I would have to shake the bottle for ten minutes.
2) It was a large dose, two times a day. The stuff is nasty - it is VERY salty - so the pig wants to spit it out. The pig didn't want to see me anymore.
3) We took x-rays all along and the pig's stones kept growing.
(We did not to perform another surgery until we had tried to control the growth of the stones.)
The vet then prescribed the stuff given to people. (Think it was called K-Citrate.) It was a pinkish syrup and it was trying to be berry flavored. (It was still very salty.) The dose the vet prescribed (again, based on the pig's weight) given to the pig was much smaller. More x-rays were taken and the stones had stopped growing.
Note: The pig had to have it with food, so I gave it to him before feedings with syringes of water. Then he could chow down on some veggies.
We continued having x-rays taken throughout the pig's life, until the bladder was completely taken over by sludge, and the stones never grew.
I recommend having your vet call it into a pharmacy. It is pretty cheap in the US, a $13 bottle lasted months. In 2.5 years, I only needed 3 refills.
The reason I recommend having the vet call it into the pharmacy is my vet and I tried using the potassium citrate from the vitamin store. They compounded the vitamin pills at the vets (ground up the hard pills and put it in a flavored liquid) and we gave it to the pig for a few weeks - it did not work.
Note: The dose size was based on the pig's weight and the believed strength of the compounded liquid.
1) The potassium citrate from the pill never fully dissolved. Each time I would have to shake the bottle for ten minutes.
2) It was a large dose, two times a day. The stuff is nasty - it is VERY salty - so the pig wants to spit it out. The pig didn't want to see me anymore.
3) We took x-rays all along and the pig's stones kept growing.
(We did not to perform another surgery until we had tried to control the growth of the stones.)
The vet then prescribed the stuff given to people. (Think it was called K-Citrate.) It was a pinkish syrup and it was trying to be berry flavored. (It was still very salty.) The dose the vet prescribed (again, based on the pig's weight) given to the pig was much smaller. More x-rays were taken and the stones had stopped growing.
Note: The pig had to have it with food, so I gave it to him before feedings with syringes of water. Then he could chow down on some veggies.
We continued having x-rays taken throughout the pig's life, until the bladder was completely taken over by sludge, and the stones never grew.
- Webs
- Cavies 'n Cobwebs
I have also used Cystease capsules (125mg) for urinary issues in two of my pigs. That did come from the vet on prescription.
Both Cymalon and Oasis have cranberry in them so no real problems with taste for pigs. The liquid Cymalon is certainly the easiest to use as it only needs diluting.
Both Cymalon and Oasis have cranberry in them so no real problems with taste for pigs. The liquid Cymalon is certainly the easiest to use as it only needs diluting.
Thanks for the advice, all!
We already use Cystease for Scruffles and for our other pigs as needed - we buy ours online (it's available for cats with no prescription) for £17 per 100 powder capsules, and they've lasted over a year.
Webs - thanks for the advice about Cymalon. We nipped down to Boots today and managed to find the liquid for a very decent price.
One question; how dilute do you make the dose? Same as that for human dosage?
We already use Cystease for Scruffles and for our other pigs as needed - we buy ours online (it's available for cats with no prescription) for £17 per 100 powder capsules, and they've lasted over a year.
Webs - thanks for the advice about Cymalon. We nipped down to Boots today and managed to find the liquid for a very decent price.
One question; how dilute do you make the dose? Same as that for human dosage?
- Webs
- Cavies 'n Cobwebs
Yes I remember, Cystease is available online, mine was prescribed by my vet. :·)
As for the Cymalon, not sure how it compares to the US Polycitra, but human dose is 10ml Cymalon per roughly one mug water (about 250ml).
That is a lot to get down a piggy so I make up smaller amounts and make it up fresh more often.
Equivalent human dose would be 0.1ml Cymalon in 2.5ml water but since my Tiggy has only one kidney and not serious cystitis break outs, I use a more dilute 0.1ml in 5ml water (or 0.2/0.3ml in 10ml water). Give one or two ml of this mixture twice a day after food for about 3 or 4 days. I notice an improvement with Tiggy on day two.
I make up fresh mixture every day or two.
As for the Cymalon, not sure how it compares to the US Polycitra, but human dose is 10ml Cymalon per roughly one mug water (about 250ml).
That is a lot to get down a piggy so I make up smaller amounts and make it up fresh more often.
Equivalent human dose would be 0.1ml Cymalon in 2.5ml water but since my Tiggy has only one kidney and not serious cystitis break outs, I use a more dilute 0.1ml in 5ml water (or 0.2/0.3ml in 10ml water). Give one or two ml of this mixture twice a day after food for about 3 or 4 days. I notice an improvement with Tiggy on day two.
I make up fresh mixture every day or two.
Thanks webs! Anthropolyte is my other half :) I gave Scruffles her first dose this morning and she had no issue with it whatsoever. Bless her, she's so good at taking meds.
- Webs
- Cavies 'n Cobwebs
Ah! Thought the avatar pic looked familiar. :·)
Things I would look out for are drinking more which is good as it helps flush the bladder, and drinking too much which can disrupt the balance and the urinary system cannot keep up and the piggy starts withholding water. That's why I usually only give for 3 days and let things settle down. Maybe another dose 5-7 days later.
According to Tiggy's latest urine test, she had some calcium carbonate crystals showing and the lab did say the only thing to cancel out these crystals is potassium citrate (Cymalon) but said caution should be used with this due to the effects of potassium on the heart. There are also concerns over its use related to kidney function which is why I use it very carefully with Tiggy. The Cymalon leaflet also has warnings related to bladder stones but since most piggy stones are calcium carbonate based, I think if you know of the concerns and use it in an informed way and not overdo the use of the stuff, you should be fine. :·)
Things I would look out for are drinking more which is good as it helps flush the bladder, and drinking too much which can disrupt the balance and the urinary system cannot keep up and the piggy starts withholding water. That's why I usually only give for 3 days and let things settle down. Maybe another dose 5-7 days later.
According to Tiggy's latest urine test, she had some calcium carbonate crystals showing and the lab did say the only thing to cancel out these crystals is potassium citrate (Cymalon) but said caution should be used with this due to the effects of potassium on the heart. There are also concerns over its use related to kidney function which is why I use it very carefully with Tiggy. The Cymalon leaflet also has warnings related to bladder stones but since most piggy stones are calcium carbonate based, I think if you know of the concerns and use it in an informed way and not overdo the use of the stuff, you should be fine. :·)