UTI/ Bladder Stone?

[Brittany]

Last night I noticed Jamie making an odd thrusting motion. He proceeded to clean his penis, which I rarely observe him doing, so I just chalked it up to his normal grooming ritual. This morning I noticed that he was continuing to do it, so I gave him a fur ring check, and found nothing. This evening he's continuing the behavior 4-6 times an hour. Additionally his entire bottom is coated with urine. I've also observed that every time he thrusts a small dribble of urine comes out.

After doing some reading I'm thinking these symptoms are indicative of either a uti or some type of stone? I've left a message for the vet, and will be trying to get him in first thing in the morning. My question is can stones be detected via xray, or does it require some other test like an ultrasound? What kind of procedure can I expect to test for a uti? How do they usually collect a urine sample if he doesn't pee while we're there? Anything else that might be causing these symptoms that I should bring up while we're there?

 

[ticklechin]

Stones are diagnosed by x-ray, UTIs can be diagnosed a couple of ways but the most conservative way (radical is a bladder stick) is to look at some urine under a microscope and look for WBCs and blood. The vet will be able to feel if the bladder is full and if no urine is able to be looked at may RX a antibiotic just due to the symptoms, which are indicative of a urinary issue. Chloramphenicol, which is effective against many anaerobes and also concentrates well in the urinary tract is a first pick in URIs IMO but I am not a vet and the vet when actually seeing the chin may chose otherwise.

 

[Brittany]

On my phone sorry for any typos. They found a urethral stone. Vet is not optimistic about using a catheter to flush it back into the bladder. Vet is consulting a specialist in Columbus about performing surgery on the urethra vet isn't sure if such a surgery is possible. Anyone experienced this type of situation ?

 

[ticklechin]

This video is of a surgery of a urethal stone on a chinchilla, its graphic but a good view of what you and your vet are up against.

http://www.surgerytheater.com/video/13829/-Chinchilla-Urolithiasis

 

[Stackie]

If he doesn't get anything from the vet in Columbus, have him try Dr. Lennox at Avian & Exotic Animal Clinic in Northwest Indy. I'm not sure if she has done those types of surgeries but I know she has done many exotics surgeries (including chins) so she may have some insight to offer.

Sorry to hear about Jameson Keep us updated

 

[Brittany]

Surgery has been scheduled for the morning. I brought Jameson's travel cage and accessories to the vets, and he is staying there over night. He's on metacam and they're giving him sub-q fluids. He is able to pee around the stone but it is very painful.

I'm going to try to remember to have him send me the xrays. The stone is large and oddly shaped, my vet describes it as a triangle, to me it looks more like a lima bean. It's so high in the urethra that they will have to cut into his abdomen. If I understood correctly the plan is to cut into his abdomen, and once the doctor is able to find the stone, through palpation, he will cut directly above the stone and remove it. Per the specialists recommendation a catheter is going to be inserted so that scar tissue does not form and close off the urethra as it heals. After several days the catheter will be removed. There is still a chance of scar tissue forming after the catheter is removed, but both vets feel that this is his best option for possibly making a full recovery.

There was another option that I don't understand completely, but it would involve redirecting the urethra so that he would permanently pee from a man made opening on his penis. However both doctors felt that this was not the best option.

 

[Brittany]

Surgery has been postponed until tomorrow. After more research, and consultation, my vet is going to try a technique to move the stone into the bladder before performing surgery. Obviously this would be more ideal than cutting the urethra, so I am anxiously praying that they are successful tomorrow.

 

[AZChins]

I hope it works to get that stone in a better place, Brittany. We'll keep the little guy in our thoughts tomorrow.

 

[javachin]

Let us know how it goes. I hope your little man pulls through.

 

[Brittany]

The vet ran into several complications, the stone was flat which made it nearly impossible to find. He had to send catheters through both the urethra and the bladder to pinpoint its location. Additionally the stone was fused to the wall of the urethra. It took a long time but he was able to remove the entire stone. The surgery was extremely invasive, and now it depends on how he pulls through, and if the urethra heals open. The vet told me we should know in about 5 days if it's going to heal properly or not. I was able to see him in the incubator post-op. As an owner it was hard seeing him in such rough shape, but the vet assured me that everything was normal for coming out of surgery. We're just going to take it one day at a time, but I'm going to leave him at the hospital atleast through the weekend. I live over an hour away, so I want him there should he need immediate attention. They can also administer all of his medications and fluids subcutaneously so that will be easier on his stomach.

 

[mercynursie]

Thoughts and prayers here from all of us. I know it's really tough to post updates sometimes, but I benefit from every tidbit of any else's experiences. I have all boys so I am definitely following your progress.

 

[Brittany]

Update: Came out of surgery very well, eating on his own, pooping, bright eyed and bushy tailed according to the vet. Unfortunately he had not urinated. The vet had a difficult time but was able to get a catheter in, urine is clear so the vet doesn't think there are any blood clots. His best guess is that the urethra had started stricturing. It's all up to Jameson now, he has to leave the catheter alone and allow the urethra to heal around it. The vet is hoping that he will cooperate and we can leave the catheter in for a solid week.

The vet is going to call me again later tonight with an update. I'm praying that Jameson behaves himself and lets this thing heal properly. He's come so far, we're going to keep fighting for him as long as he's doing well.

Question for people who have dealt with bladder stones, what are some low calcium pellet alternatives that you've tried? I currently feed Tradition (no treats), and I'm starting to research better options for him.

Also, does anyone have the nutritional analysis for Beaphar Chinchilla Care +? It's not on the bag, and I can't find it on the website. I'm going to email the company, but just thought I'd check.

Thanks!

 

[Sycamore Chins]

You may want to have the stone analyzed. This could be related to calcium or not, other things cause stones. Not drinking enough and UTIs among other things. Changing the diet could be a complete waste of time and may not prevent this from happening again - just FYI.

Hope he heals well for you and behaves himself.

 

[Brittany]

You may want to have the stone analyzed. This could be related to calcium or not, other things cause stones. Not drinking enough and UTIs among other things. Changing the diet could be a complete waste of time and may not prevent this from happening again - just FYI.

Hope he heals well for you and behaves himself.

Thank you for the information. Yes, we are having the stone analyzed, and I won't make any dietary changes before having all the information. I just feel so helpless right now, and researching gives me something to do. According to my vet many stones are calcium based, so its a good place to start. Thank you again for the information, all thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Stackie]

Sending good vibes to you and Jameson, Britt! I know timothy based pellets are lower in calcium than alfalfa based ones, but I don't have much experience with it. You may talk to your vet and see if Jamie would benefit from a timmy based pellet or if it would lack too much in nutrition.

 

[Brittany]

Update: Jameson is doing well! So far he's leaving everything alone, peeing, pooping, and eating on his own (with the catheter in place). They're taking him off the buprenex (spelling?) and switching him to metacam along with his antibiotic. He'll stay on sub-q fluids through the weekend, and they'll start to ween him off this week.

We're still taking it day by day, but tomorrow I'm going to bring a bunch of toss toys over to keep his mind busy.

Thank you everyone who's offered advice and support. I'll update again when there's new news. I'll try remember to get a copy of the xrays tomorrow, and hopefully we'll get the analysis of the stone, I'm not sure how long that will take.

 

[AZChins]

I'm glad he's doing better now.

I have used rabbit pellets or the Mazuri timothy hay pellets for chins needing less protein and calcium, sometimes changing diet helps and sometimes it doesn't.

 

[mercynursie]

Good news! Will keep ya'll in prayers. I use the Blue Seal Rabbit Show Hutch Deluxe and Oxbow mixed in. The Show Hutch is an extruded feed and is easier to chew/comparible to the texture of the Beaphar but not sure how it matches up nutritionally. I know the Show Hutch is more available than the Beaphar was here in the US in the past.

 

[Brittany]

I got to hold Jameson yesterday! Best feeling ever after the week we've had! I just got a call from the vet, Jamie is continuing to make progress. So far he's leaving the catheter alone, and his urine is clear. The game plan is to leave the catheter in as long as he'll let us (7-10 days max) and his stitches will come out after 14 days. There's still a chance that the urethra may close after the catheter is removed, but the vet says that the longer the urethra has to heal open, the better our chances are. Every good day is one step closer to bringing him home!

It sounds silly that I should be thinking about this after all he's been through, but now I can't wait until it's safe to give him a bath, his fur is a hot mess! :facepalm:

 

[mercynursie]

Best news for tday!!