Pale poops

[HeatherW]

I took Jynx to the vet last week as she's lost weight over the last 2-3 months and hasn't been herself. (Some more details here from 5 Dec: Meet Jynx!)

After blood tests and an x-ray, the vet couldn't find anything conclusive except she has some sediment in her bladder and her white blood cell count was high, the latter implying an infection. I did then see her squeaking while peeing once we got home and her wee had a reddish tint, so I think we now know where the issue is likely to be.

She's finished 7 days of Cerenia to flush her bladder, and is nearing the end of her course of antibiotics (Karidox) and Metacam. She's looking better for sure, and has still been eating hay, drinking water and scoffing veg, but still not quite right.

Last night, I noticed her poops were looking small, pale and a little stringy. Could someone advise what this may tell me about the state of her health now? Earlier they were a mixture of solid and mushy, and there was a lot of mucus in one sample at one point, but this seems to have improved and I put it down to an effect of the antibiotics. I've included a photo of the poops below with a regular one for comparison!



Thank you! Also a cute pic for attention.

 

[HeatherW]

Well, I thought the red tint was fainter, but I saw these this morning. The first one I think is just concentrated so it looks much more like blood, but the second one is definitely congealed.

 

[VickiA]

Oh dear so sorry - I think you need to try to speak to the vet again if possible.

 

[HeatherW]

They've been back to regular poops again this morning! I'm definitely booking her in again on Monday; I think she must have a stone.

 

[HeatherW]

Vet update:

Her bladder seems fine, but she may have a UTI or the sediment is irritating it still as she's still peeing red, so continue the antibiotics and Cerenia for another week, and the Metacam for another 2-3 weeks.

She's looking much better and was the loudest piglet at breakfast today. She's just been a bit up and down in her recovery, it seems.

 

[VickiA]

Well that is good news for you and for Jynx xx

 

[HeatherW]

Jynx has been feeling more herself, but she's definitely still not right. The cystitis appears to have gone and she's eating and drinking normally; she's even the loudest piglet at breakfast time! However, she's got awful diarrhoea which has been the case for several days now. It's very loose mushy stools which are very easily smeared everywhere to the point she's needed bathing. I initially thought it could be the antibiotics, but I'm not so sure now.

She appears to struggle a little to poop, but I think it's because they're so loose instead of being constipated and/or that she's in pain (but not bloated). To be honest, her rear smells very strongly of acidic wee, like she has less control of her bowels than she used to. I'm aware these symptoms are pretty grave, but I don't think she's too critical yet as she's

I'm going to take her to the vet again tomorrow, but does anyone have any idea what could be causing her issues? I've spent about £700 on two consultations, an x-ray, blood tests and two consultations to find nothing conclusive! The vet says the next step would be an ultrasound.

(She's very hunched in this photo and you can see a stool sample, but she's not this uncomfortable-looking all the time.)

 

[HeatherW]

The good thing at least is that she IS constantly pooping! She's devoured an entire lettuce leaf after shrieking her loudest, but very quickly goes back to hunched potato mode.

 

[Posyrose]

Poor little thing. Those are nasty poos, but she is still pooing and eating and more like herself which are good signs. I hope this sorts itself out too.

 

[HeatherW]

Update: The vet appointment is tomorrow and Jynx seems to have improved since yesterday. She's been snuggling up next to Sam (who's been very happy to oblige) and sniffing his bum quite a lot. I have wondered whether she's been trying to eat some of his poop to balance her gut!

She's been devouring the Critical Care and every blueberry and strawberry I've given her, as well as eating the peaflakes I've offered through the bars (which is a bit unusual as she normally turns her nose up at them). Aside from the discomfort she's experiencing, she's very much a happy piggy!

Cute snuggle photo for attention

 

[HeatherW]