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12-09-2020, 07:31 PM
I thought I would update this thread with the latest information regarding Journey's bout with UC. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving they did another endoscopy and were able to flush fluid both directions from his bladder through the urethra and from urethra to his bladder and were able to "touch" the endoscope and some other piece of equipment so they were confident there was no more blockage. They also scoped his bladder again and found inflammation but no more stones.
We picked him up the next day (Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day) and brought him home for 2 weeks. They left the cystotomy tube in his bladder attached to his stomach with urine draining out the tube so that his urethra could continue to heal. We gave Meloxicam once a day and an over the counter (human) drug Azo (I believe it is commonly called) that is given for urinary tract pain 3 times a day 6:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. This Azo med must taste horrible (bitter) because he got to the point where he could smell or taste it in EVERY treat we tried to hide it in. I finally just had to open his mouth, push it way back with my fingers, and follow it quickly with a piece of dried mango or honey roasted peanut. He was really quite good about taking it this way and it was easier than having to deal with a tiny pill that starts to dissolve as soon as it gets slightly moist and it stains everything including human fingers/hands.
So we kept him isolated in his own shelter and his 7 buddies kept him company through the gate and he even got to the point where he would start sparring matches through the gate. I didn't really appreciate that and a few welds were broken but the gate and the goats all survived quite well.
Yesterday we took him back to WSU and got him there in time for them to do another planned endoscopy of his bladder and flushing of fluid through the urethra. Everything went great! They found no more stones and fluid flowed through the bladder and urethra. They clamped the cystotomy tube off today and he was urinating out his penis. It was not a stream but dribbled out enough that they still think everything is clear and he just needs some time to re-strengthen his bladder muscles which have atrophied due to lack of use for the past 4 weeks.
They will clamp the cystotomy tube again in the morning and leave it until they go home at night as he builds those muscles back up and starts peeing a good stream. The plan is to bring him home on Saturday (still with the cystotomy tube in place in case of an emergency unexpected blockage). After another 10-14 days we should be able to take him to have the tube removed by a local vet and hopefully this will be the end of it.
We picked him up the next day (Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day) and brought him home for 2 weeks. They left the cystotomy tube in his bladder attached to his stomach with urine draining out the tube so that his urethra could continue to heal. We gave Meloxicam once a day and an over the counter (human) drug Azo (I believe it is commonly called) that is given for urinary tract pain 3 times a day 6:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. This Azo med must taste horrible (bitter) because he got to the point where he could smell or taste it in EVERY treat we tried to hide it in. I finally just had to open his mouth, push it way back with my fingers, and follow it quickly with a piece of dried mango or honey roasted peanut. He was really quite good about taking it this way and it was easier than having to deal with a tiny pill that starts to dissolve as soon as it gets slightly moist and it stains everything including human fingers/hands.
So we kept him isolated in his own shelter and his 7 buddies kept him company through the gate and he even got to the point where he would start sparring matches through the gate. I didn't really appreciate that and a few welds were broken but the gate and the goats all survived quite well.
Yesterday we took him back to WSU and got him there in time for them to do another planned endoscopy of his bladder and flushing of fluid through the urethra. Everything went great! They found no more stones and fluid flowed through the bladder and urethra. They clamped the cystotomy tube off today and he was urinating out his penis. It was not a stream but dribbled out enough that they still think everything is clear and he just needs some time to re-strengthen his bladder muscles which have atrophied due to lack of use for the past 4 weeks.
They will clamp the cystotomy tube again in the morning and leave it until they go home at night as he builds those muscles back up and starts peeing a good stream. The plan is to bring him home on Saturday (still with the cystotomy tube in place in case of an emergency unexpected blockage). After another 10-14 days we should be able to take him to have the tube removed by a local vet and hopefully this will be the end of it.