Drinking A Lot

[MycuteBoys]

Hi, one of my boys is drinking a lot more than normal he seems a bit bloated and doesn't like his tummy touching (he's never normally bothered by this) , he's eating normally and the same happy piggy he normally is but to me I have a niggle he's just not 100% right any ideas what this could be please? He's poo is dark brown/black also is that something to worry about?
I will be taking him to the vet but I needed to ask on here first what this might be if anything because my vet is a very experienced exotic vet she wouldn't think twice about doing test after test and trying this, have that etc resulting in every visit being expensive sometimes very expensive and this puts me off using her but she is the most experienced vet for miles.
I want the best for my Alex but I'm not made of money and this vet wouldn't think twice about handing me a very large vet bill today there is another vets near me can you be registered at two vets? I feeling torn here as I'm going to get my little fella checked by a vet but I don't know if to risk going to another vet (if you can) and then finding out they are not that helpful and I need to see our vet anyway so that would be two costs, Or they may be really helpful and save me a lot of money.
Sorry to waffle on and thanks in advance for any help and support given
Kell x

 

[Adelle]

Hi; I'm sorry your thread was missed.

Did he see a vet? Bloat is serious, and needs veterinary treatment. The increased drinking is more than likely due to abdominal discomfort.

You can be registered with two vets yes, but you would need to have his history faxed to the new vet before he visited them. I wouldn't recommend switching between both repeatedly as this can cause quite a bit of confusion and potentially a Mis diagnosis if they don't have the full picture.

All the best x

 

[MrsSuzy]

Hi Kell,

So sorry Alex is a bit off the weather How is he today! And has he been to vet already? Bloat is very dangerous but he would likely be very withdrawn and puffed up. Is he pooping and eating? Best thing is always to see a vet, a experienced vet should be able to identify something like bloat just through palpation, no expensive exams needed.

 

[MycuteBoys]

Fab advice thank you @Adelle and @MrsSuzy, as a result of your reply I will be sticking to the experienced vet he has already many thanks.
I know and fully understand how serious bloat is (that's not meant to come across in a rude or blunt way at all sorry it's hard to word it) and he would be straight to the vets as emergency if i thought it was bloat I was straight on here reading bloat posts, my boys mean the world to me and I wouldn't knowingly leave them in pain. After posting I went straight outside and brought him inside (where he will remain until spring) and I gave him his heat pad which he loves and that was a help. I monitored him as he was honestly fine apart from the drinking and his tummy (I had seen him poo and wee) after being inside for a few hours he seemed a lot more settled.
I had given him a new veg on Monday (cabbage) I've never given them any before as I know it's linked to bloat but it was only a tiny amount as a change and a treat I'm almost sure this upset his tummy and he wasn't coping with the cold wet weather either. The drinking has reduced to almost normal he's only drank 1/4 of his bottle from when I changed it this morning until about 7ish this evening he had been drinking a whole bottle in that time (so that makes sense about him drinking due to tummy discomfort). His tummy has been soft and today he was happy for me to touch it didn't bother him that I did so that's great news.
I think the issue has passed and he won't be ever having cabbage again.
Which veg would you suggest is best to give him over the next few days to let his tummy settle properly
Thanks for your help and advice. He will be going for an mot to just be sure all us well x

 

[Adelle]

Fab advice thank you @Adelle and @MrsSuzy, as a result of your reply I will be sticking to the experienced vet he has already many thanks.
I know and fully understand how serious bloat is (that's not meant to come across in a rude or blunt way at all sorry it's hard to word it) and he would be straight to the vets as emergency if i thought it was bloat I was straight on here reading bloat posts, my boys mean the world to me and I wouldn't knowingly leave them in pain. After posting I went straight outside and brought him inside (where he will remain until spring) and I gave him his heat pad which he loves and that was a help. I monitored him as he was honestly fine apart from the drinking and his tummy (I had seen him poo and wee) after being inside for a few hours he seemed a lot more settled.
I had given him a new veg on Monday (cabbage) I've never given them any before as I know it's linked to bloat but it was only a tiny amount as a change and a treat I'm almost sure this upset his tummy and he wasn't coping with the cold wet weather either. The drinking has reduced to almost normal he's only drank 1/4 of his bottle from when I changed it this morning until about 7ish this evening he had been drinking a whole bottle in that time (so that makes sense about him drinking due to tummy discomfort). His tummy has been soft and today he was happy for me to touch it didn't bother him that I did so that's great news.
I think the issue has passed and he won't be ever having cabbage again.
Which veg would you suggest is best to give him over the next few days to let his tummy settle properly
Thanks for your help and advice. He will be going for an mot to just be sure all us well x

You could give him a break and stay off veg for another 24 hours to be safe but if u really wanted to give him some , Probably best to stick to a tiny amount of his usual, non gassy veg such as cucumber and pepper x