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Pink shavings

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vexedben

New Born Pup
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Evening all, bit of a worried piggie dad. We noticed last night when we cleaned out the cage that there were some what looked like pink wee stains in the shavings. Our two boars, sprite and pippin, had had some beetroot flavoured treats so I put it down to that.

I checked the new bedding this morning and there were no pink stains however coming home from work I've noticed 3 pink patches in the cage. I've added some pics to the post to try show it as best I could.

I've got both piggies booked in to the vets tomorrow but was wondering if someone could help reassure me they are ok and it's nothing to worry about or what I can do in the meantime before I get them to the vets.

Ben
IMG_20201103_174914.jpgIMG_20201102_165417.jpgIMG_20201102_165408.jpg
 
Have they had any red fruit or veggies? This happened to us after some strawberries! Always best to get it checked though!
 
I think beetroot can do that so hopefully it’s just that. Good on you booking them in just to be sure ☺️
 
Nope not today, just some greens and cucumber today for brekkie and dinner. I hope it's nothing serious.
 
Fingers crossed it’s the beetroot. I weed red wee once after eating a beetroot salad. Hopefully it will be ok . If it is anything else be positive you’ve caught it early due to your vigilance .
 
You sound like the vigilant type! I've had some shocks in the past when the kids have given mine beet stems without mentioning it. It's probably hard to say if it's just one or both piggies peeing red - but if it's both then my money's on beetroot. I mean it's not impossible but it would have to be quite a coincidence if they suddenly both went down with a bladder infection at the same time.

Try lifting your boys and feeling underneath to see if the tummy is wet. When George had bladder trouble he was wet round the bits as he leaked urine a lot. This was different to his usual warm dampness (he has a fat tummy, and he pees where he lays!) George never squeaked or whimpered when he peed, and he didn't assume a hunched posture as if peeing hurt, but we took no chances and when the vet prescribed his antibiotic we also made sure he had painkiller (metacam). If it hurts to pee they can try and hang onto it but with bladder trouble I was told it's usually helpful to blast everything out!

Good luck for your vet trip :tu:
 
vexedben said:
Evening all, bit of a worried piggie dad. We noticed last night when we cleaned out the cage that there were some what looked like pink wee stains in the shavings. Our two boars, sprite and pippin, had had some beetroot flavoured treats so I put it down to that.

I checked the new bedding this morning and there were no pink stains however coming home from work I've noticed 3 pink patches in the cage. I've added some pics to the post to try show it as best I could.

I've got both piggies booked in to the vets tomorrow but was wondering if someone could help reassure me they are ok and it's nothing to worry about or what I can do in the meantime before I get them to the vets.

Ben
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Good that you have them checked, as it is not a one off. It could be from the beetroot but porphyrine-red pees are also typical for the onset of a urinary tract infection or either a bacterial or sterile cystitis (bladder infection) or at the worst a bladder stone or sludge.

In the latter case, the red pees will soon be accompanied by increasing squeaking when peeing or pooing.That is when you should book a vet appointment. If the pees were really due to beetroot (it causes distinctly pink pees and purple poos), then the show should be over after today.
 
Thanks everyone for getting back to me. I really appreciate it. I'll let you know how we get on at the vets tomorrow. I've had them both on a white towel for a while with me and no obvious wees so I'm hoping it is just the beetroot treat passing through which ever one is causing it.
 
Hope all goes well at the vet tomorrow.
Your piggies are lucky to have such a caring and watchful slave.
Hope it’s just the beetroot and nothing else.
 
So I took both Sprite and Pippin in this afternoon. Sprite is fine, continues to be a trooper. Pippin however had left some handy stains on a white towel I put in their vet box which gave the vet a good idea. She wasn't sure if it was an UTI or an infection caused by his poo sack being a bit unclean, he's now on a course of Baytril and antiinflammatory for 7 days, with a check up in a week's time to make sure he's over it. Quite a relief to get him sorted to be honest.
 
George's UTI was triggered by pooping trouble. He was stressed when his cage-mate got ill, then got impacted and in a bit of a mess, and it was after that. He's only 31/2 and I was unbunging him every day for about a week and then monitoring his rear for a month before I convinced myself he's now pooping well by himself. I did reduce his veg intake though, and go out and get some Burgess Timothy hay - the really stalky kind - which he devours!

It's good that you spotted this and got in there before lockdown - we hope it clears up quickly 💕
 
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