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Blood in the cage...

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skrikopanik

skrikopanik

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When I changed the piggy pen out today I found a few red spots scattered. I'm pretty sure its blood as they haven't been given anything red to eat.

I have no idea which one of my four it came from. I've checked through their bodies for scabs or scraches but not found anything. Their bottoms look clean and not swollen. Kids bottom was a leeeetle bit damp, but with a fur like that I'm not too surprised.

Right now Kid and Martha are in a petstore cage next to Bo and Mette-Marit. I hope to find out whodunnit... What if there's no more blood, can blood be a one off? I'm calling the piggy vet tomorrow (thankfully I'm in Gothenburg where there is one!)

What do you think?

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No advice I'm afraid :( How big are those spots? Just trying to gauge how big they are from the towels, but unsure of what size towels you have mallethead
 
I checked them for knicks and cuts... it's possible and I hope it's something like that but it seems the blood is in the middle of a urine stain unfortunately... I'm thinking UTI too, I would rather have it be that than a stone!

I'm now washing everything they have at 95 degrees to get rid of whatever nasties might be in it. Still no signs of blood...

The biggest spot is about the size of my thumb nail.
 
Aaaargh! Still no sign of blood in either cage! If I can't find out who bled I can't do anything about it! I left them half a cucumber each in hopes of having them wee all night long and supply me with evidence...

Until I know I'm just searching the forum for threads on UTI:s...
 
It can be just a one off - some girls can have a little bit of bleeding which doesn't repeat. We have had that a few times on here.

The other most likely and common explanation is a UTI/cystitis - urinary tract infection. Look out for smelly and frequent urine. The best way to find out who is by sitting each piggy in turn on a white towel. HOWEVER, not all pees are bloody even in a piggy with UTI and it can be a bit frustrating.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html

Much less likely are bladder stones (whould be normally accompanied by very painfully peeing). I would consider this only if a UTI doesn't clear and bleeding continues.

Gut or womb infection; both are fairly rare, but do happen.

PS: If it is any consolation to you, Telyn produced exactly the same spots coming back from the lawn yesterday afternoon. I have put her straight back on septrin and cranberry juice; I had a cystitis/UTI with the same symptoms making the rounds of the tribe in May/June and was hoping to be finally past it! :{
 
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I agree what has already been said. It definitely looks like blood and could be a UTI.

However, when I took my girls to the vets a few months ago for a nail trim, there was blood like that on the fleece when we got home. To this day, I am still unsure if it was blood from one of their nails being cut to short or a one off as the blood was in with a urine stain.

All the best xx
 
I haven't trimmed their nails recently and I can't see any scaps or so on them (but it doesn't mean they can't have them. I've been thinking up all sorts of explanations... like that someone has bit their tounge :))

I know that the likeliest explanation is a UTI, but unless I know who has it I can't move forward! I've booked an appointment at the vet on Tuesday in case I do find out. Otherwise I'm beginning to think (hope!) it was a one off thing. The vet nurse I spoke to said it could even have been a stone that has now passed...
 
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