Reoccurring bladder infections

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:26 pm


Maybe an ultrasound would help. Or perhaps bloodwork would show up an infection? If the sutures are being rejected, I would imagine there would be one?

I'd continue with the Metacam for the pain. I'm assuming it gave him some relief before.

I'm sorry you aren't finding the cause.

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Kallie

Post   » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:32 pm


Thanks Lynx, when I call about the suture type tomorrow morning I will also book an appointment for Friday morning before the office closes and get the ultrasound and blood work done if possible. Dr Munn is very good at fitting us in on short notice. I just worry because her office is closing very early morning for a week. I don't have another Vet that I would trust enough to take care of him properly.

pinta

Post   » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:36 pm


Ooh, time for Josephine to hop in since she actually knows what the heck the sutures do once they're in there. Possibly over time they would gradually dissolve and be expelled from the body but I don't know if any fragments would be left and if there is a reaction if that reaction will subside in time.

One of my pigs(amputation) just thrust all the sutures up on her own(think Alien) but another one(spay) required emergency surgery through a healed incision site to get all the sutures removed. The rejection had caused a massive infection requiring 2 ABs concurrently and a huge clean up. She made it but it was very touch and go.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:36 pm


It sounds as if the initial infection from October never cleared up? That is difficult. Perhaps ask if your DVM can post on VIN re: antibiotic choices. Do you know the actual microbes that have been cultured? It sounds as if you're saying he's never had a clear culture. That's not great. The method of collection (free catch vs. cystocentesis) can have a lot to do with what is cultured, but since the signs are there--he's definitely got something.

I would ask about abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasonographer/radiologist can get a cysto that way and see how reactive the bladder is. Potentially, biopsy could be another diagnostic. I'm not sure if they can get a good sample via ultrasound, but it would be worth asking. If there was any suture reaction (not too common, but possible), you should be able to see something on ultrasound. It really depends on the suture material used (too many to comment), but most absorbables they'd use on such a surgery take a couple of months to completely dissolve. Stainless steel is the least reactive suture, but never dissolves and can be less comfortable in the long-run. Usually, it's a non-issue.

If you don't have a very experienced radiologist nearby, you can also ask if one would be willing to do your pig (and a healthy, comparison pig's bladder) as a professional interest case for a reduced fee (or no-charge). It just depends on who's available and if you're willing to accomodate their schedule.

Long-term, if this is simply chronic UTIs, I would definitely make it mandatory to dose the pig with daily cranberry/blueberry extract (the apple doesn't help with the bacteria) and consider giving NSAIDS +/- Shi Lin Tong (and you may want to consult with someone who does TCM before dosing). If there is a decent antibiotic that he doesn't react to and the bacteria seem sensitive to, then you can also consider long-term pulse therapy (off/on dosing indefinitely).

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Kallie

Post   » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:10 am


Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I have printed off and faxed it to Chestnut's Vet. I will phone her once I get into work to see what she says. I'll let you know.

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Kallie

Post   » Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:04 pm


Just wanted to give an update on Chestnut. This is his 12th straight day of Nitrofurantoin and Metacam and everything seems to be going well. There’s been no blood at all for the last 4 days. He has at least 1 more week to go before we can think of stopping the medications. He goes in to the Vets for another urine test next week to make sure the infection is gone first. It will depend on those results if the medication can be stopped yet or not. The ultra sound showed nothing out of the ordinary.

I finally got him to eat fresh blueberries and now he gets 5-6 per meal, twice daily. So now onto trying to convince him about the cranberry juice. We still have him on towels that are changed twice daily, still eating a lot of veggies, hay and some fruit and drinking lots of water and diluted apple juice. Activity levels, peeing and pooping are all still normal. We just might beat this yet!

If I can figure out how to post photos, I would love to introduce Chestnut and Stinker to you all.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:41 pm


There's a sticky in the Feedback forum with tips (also in the FAQ linked to at the top of each page).

Thanks for the update.

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Kallie

Post   » Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:29 pm


Here are some photos of our babies:

Chestnut, the king of the house

Image

Stinker, our newest addition and soon to be Queen of the house

Image

And Stevie, whose sadly died on Dec 29th, 05 and is greatly missed

Image

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Kallie

Post   » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:09 am


Another update on Chestnut. He is now on pulse AB therapy long term – first 5 days of every month he will get Nitrofurantoin. He is also on a long term daily dose of Metacam to help reduce any pain and swelling since he still cries all the time when he pees or poops. We’ve still had no luck seeing anything on the x-rays that could be causing the problem. His next x-ray is scheduled for Feb 11th.

He still won’t touch cranberry juice or the berries. Syringe feeding the juice just results in a huge mess, choking, and a very angry pig. He gets his twice daily dose of fresh blueberries though. We’ve also removed all spinach, parsley, celery and strawberries from his diet. His bleeding seems to still happen, but nowhere near as often now. Maybe once or twice every 5+ days. Not great, but far better then what it was. Everything else with him still seems perfectly normal – weight, eating/drinking, energy, attitude, bodily functions.

Below is a list I made up for Dr. Munn so she could see everything Chestnut eats. Maybe someone can tell me what else to remove from his diet or something that should be added (besides cranberries) that would help him?

Base for breakfast and dinner daily

Cilantro – approx 10 sprigs
Romaine lettuce – 1 leaf
Dandelions – 2 leaves
Baby carrot – 1
Red pepper – 1 whole ring
Blueberries – 5
Tomato slice – 1
Daily cereal from list below – 1 (breakfast only. The type of cereal depends on what my kids are eating that day)

Random food or treats

English cucumber with peel – 3-4 times weekly
Peeled cantaloupe – 2-3 times monthly
Apple skin – all from 1 small apple – 1 weekly
Orange slice – 2 – 2-3 times weekly
Rice Krispies – small handful – daily
Corn Flakes – small handful – daily
Cheerio’s – small handful – daily
Banana – half of a small banana (no peel) – 1 weekly
Green beans – 3 times weekly
Cauliflower – 2 times weekly
Pear slices- 2-3 times monthly
Seedless grapes – peeled – 3 or 4 - 3-4 times weekly (My youngest son loves to peel them for him)

Basically Chestnut eats anything we do. Once we figure out all his food restrictions, I will be putting Stinker on the same diet in hopes of preventing problems down the road. He also gets an unlimited supply of Timothy hay, Timothy based pellets, diluted apple juice and fresh water daily and is bedded on towels changed twice daily

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:37 am


I don't understand the cereal. I think these simpler carbs could promote the wrong kind of bacterial growth. When I give banana, it is a 1/4" slice infrequently. Canteloupe, they love the rind. I don't understand peeling grapes either. Where is the hay? Where are the timothy pellets?

If you get an accurate gram scale, you can enter these items in the stones diet calculator and find out how your ratios are working.

Read over www.guinealynx.info/fave.html

Read over www.guinealynx.info/diarrhea.html for a discussion on food and intestinal bacteria. Definitely go light on the fruits.

Hey, and feed fresh grass! It's good for them!

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Kallie

Post   » Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:59 pm


The cereal is because Chestnut is extremely spoiled and goes nuts every time he sees the box. (the pigs have their breakfast in the dining room with us, not in their cages). He gets 4-5 small pieces in a handful, just enough to make him happy. The Vet doesn’t see a problem with him having it since it is such a small amount. He won’t eat the rind of cantaloupe, he just eats around it and leaves the rind.

As for the peeled grapes, that's another case of a very spoiled pig. From day one, my son has always peeled them for him. The hay and pellets were listed in the last paragraph of the list “unlimited supply of Timothy hay, Timothy based pellets”.

For the fresh grass, it’s winter here, so that’s not possible right now. Is there a type of grass seed I can grow indoors that he would like? He’s never been a big grass eater in the summer when we have him outside with us (he doesn’t live out there, just comes outside to play for an hour or so – under tight supervision of course)

Now off to read the links you suggested.

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Becky

Post   » Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:11 pm


I strongly disagree with your vet. NO processed carbs!

I know lots of children that go crazy when they pass McDonalds, but knowing parents tell them sorry, but no. You are the responsible adult. Cut out the cereals.

Also, I'm guessing your diet has way too much phosphorus. Almost all fruits (except oranges) have an inverse ca:ph ratio.

Substitute endive, escarole and green leaf lettuces for the romaine. Up the greens and lower the fruits and veggies. Just the smallest piece of fruit and veggie once a day. Throw a handful of blueberries in before bed so they can snack.

Also, it took a long time before my pigs would eat fresh cranberries. Fortunately, they can stay in the cage for a couple of days without going bad. You might try leaving the cranberries in for a while until a brave pig gives it a try.

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