Need more options

I wanted to place this here so you ladies can help me decide what further testing I should ask for because my little guy is still hissing after 10 days of: Baytril, Barium/Albon/toxiban Suspension and Famotadine.

First, a little backstory:
Feb 18th post-
I have a little boy who is hissing while peeing so I took him in for a urinalysis....and it was normal. I now have him scheduled for an X-ray to check for stones. Is there anything else that may cause hissing while peeing other than a UTI? (He is not yet neutered....waiting for his testes to drop and him to get a little bigger.....he is 3 months OOP)

Feb 21st post-
So we got a 2nd urinalysis done (that I didn't get charged for) and the X-ray (which he greatly reduced the normal $85 fee for me). He showed the X-ray and explained everything. 1 lung looked clear and 1 was a tiny bit congested. The pH of the urine is a little off and Dr. Murray drew me a diagram of the process of a bladder issue explaining the ion exchange and any inflammation and such. He also did a anal glad check at my request and a full exam and palpation. He is going back in tomorrow because Dr. Murray wants to recheck his bladder as he said if it is inflamed at all that is very serious. He also ran another fecal (which he didn't charge for). I know I am probably missing something else he said to me but he put my little guy on this:
1. Baytril for 10 days
2. Barium/Albon/Toxiban Suspension (A charcoal/antibiotic/contrast mix)
-he explained this will do a few things including checking the digestive system for blockage
3. Famotadine

Feb 22nd post-
So I went for the recheck so Dr. Murray can make sure there is no swelling in the bladder and he did another fecal and gave my little guy an anti-diarrhea shot. All clear on the bladder. I picked up some yogurt and am continuing the 10 day, every 12 hour regime and hopefully everything will clear up.
(He only charged me $10 for my visit since I was just there yesterday and it was a recheck to make sure there was no bladder swelling)

Now:

I don't understand...he is active, sweet, and gaining weight although he is only 64grams and almost 4 months OOP. He eats most of his food. The hissing continues and I have a vet checkup Sunday. I need to know what I need to ask him check or where we should go from here.

There are many here who are much more experienced than I am so I will let them answer. I just wanted to give you a big ol' hug. I mean a huge one. Probably a bear hug.

Tish, Did the x-rays give much detail on the kidneys other than no stones? There could be a problem with the kidney function rather than a blockage in the ureters or bladder.

Have you had any blood work done? That might identify any kidney function issues. The kidneys are so tiny that an x-ray might not show physical changes of the kidney itself very well.

I am so sorry your baby is going through such a mystery illness. Even if we cannot fix something it helps to know what you are dealing with so you can find ways to make him feel better. Some foods can be irritating to malfunctioning kidneys (high phosphate ones if I recall correctly and probably others).

I'm thinking along the same lines as Candy...

My next step would definately be blood work to check kidney function...Once you have that hopefully "we" will have more insight into what is actually going on with this lil guy...

If that proves to show normal levels "we" might then have to do a sort of Intake/Output journal and see if "we" can come up with anything from there


Hang in there Tish!! Keep us updated!! What we find out here might just help another glider owner down the road!

Thanks guys, I'll ask about the blood work. Only thing that worries me is he is only 64 grams, what can I do to increase his blood volume? I know a sweet drink after will help with putting glucose back in his body for energy and blood reproduction if they work like we do on that cellular level.

I don't remember a huge amount of detail on the x-ray.....I'll try to get a copy of it since it was on the computer after they did it.

Has he always done the hissing or did it come on suddenly?

Nancy brings up a good point. Some gliders just hiss or huff when going potty. Is it possible that this is just his way? Or is this a new thing?

I noticed it in February....I got him in January

I do have a girl who hisses when pooping and she has been checked out several times and we figure it's just something she does because she has had negative tests and she is gaining weight steadily. I hope he doesn't have something like this when peeing....I hope whatever is causing it I can fix.

Yea, I have a fwew that hiss when they eliminate, all tests negative as well. Many times gliders imitate other gliders. I am not saying that is the case with your glider just sharing my experience. Gliders are always keeping us and the vets guessing plus they are too darn smart for their own good! :)

Went today and Dr. Murray did another x-ray, fecal, and exam (all normal).

We discussed the options and I did suggest the blood work as well as a Urinary C&S. He thinks the blood work is where we are going from here considering my gliders normal activity and food consumption plus the tests we have run so far. He did want to call and consult with the university first before we do the blood work.

He only charged me for the office visit because he said he doesn't think he should keep charging me for repeat tests to figure this out. That really made me feel like he was more concerned about the health of my glider than anything else.

That's always a good sign with a vet! Good luck!

Good luck Tish.