Bladder Stones In Guinea Pigs
Bladder stones are hard stone like objects that form in the urinary tract causing severe discomfort to your guinea pig.
Signs and symptoms
There are two main signs that your pig may display if they are suffering from bladder stones, these include:
Blood in their urine
Discomfort and squeaking when toileting
Some guinea pigs may lose their appetite and become less mobile because of the pain, others due to their prey animal instincts are very good at hiding it. I know when Ruby had stones she found it extremely hard to toilet and would hunch herself over and strain.
Treatment
It is now time to call your vet who will be able to X-ray your pig to confirm any abnormalities. It is very rare for a guinea pig to pass a stone by themselves as they usually get stuck in their urethra whilst trying to exit the urinary tract.
Your vet should prescribe your pig some anti-inflammatory to help with the pain until an operation to remove the stones can be booked. Sadly if your guinea pig cannot pass the stones on their own and your vet for some reason doesn’t think your guinea pig will pull through the operation then it may be kind to consider euthanasia, this should be a last resort though.
Prevention
There really is no prevention from bladder stone. The stones are usually made up from a build-up of calcium so it is always wise to limit your guinea pigs intake of leafy greens that contain the mineral for example: spinach and kale.
[Picture from: http://www.petcarevb.com/]
