Think Betsy has bladder sludge

[Betsy]

When doing health checks this morning, Betsy had some chalky powder around her bits. I gently wiped it away with a damp cloth. I have syringed in as much Pro-C and water (as she will take as she won't take plain water) in an attempt to flush her bladder out myself. I thinking "Oh no not again" as this is how Velvet was at the start of her decline. A few months ago, Betsy had an X ray for something else and she had no bladder sludge whatsoever. Before Velvet went to be DA BOSS of Rainbow Bridge, I have put all the piggies on a low calcium diet. I have changed their pellets from Harringtons to SS Grain Free as there is less calcium in them. They no longer get spinach or kale (not that they had much of this anyway). I'll keep syringing Betsy twice a day with Pro-C and water for a couple of weeks and see if that makes a difference. I haven't noticed it on Meg. They all get the same diet. Maybe I should ask the vet for a bladder flush?

 

[Alisa3114]

Fingers crossed its just a one off and not the start of bladder problems for Betsy.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Fingers all crossed for Betsy x
do you live in a hard water area?

 

[DMS260820]

When doing health checks this morning, Betsy had some chalky powder around her bits. I gently wiped it away with a damp cloth. I have syringed in as much Pro-C and water (as she will take as she won't take plain water) in an attempt to flush her bladder out myself. I thinking "Oh no not again" as this is how Velvet was at the start of her decline. A few months ago, Betsy had an X ray for something else and she had no bladder sludge whatsoever. Before Velvet went to be DA BOSS of Rainbow Bridge, I have put all the piggies on a low calcium diet. I have changed their pellets from Harringtons to SS Grain Free as there is less calcium in them. They no longer get spinach or kale (not that they had much of this anyway). I'll keep syringing Betsy twice a day with Pro-C and water for a couple of weeks and see if that makes a difference. I haven't noticed it on Meg. They all get the same diet. Maybe I should ask the vet for a bladder flush?

If it makes you feel any better, I don't know, but Dot has chalky powder around her bits from time to time, and I make sure I always feed a little cucumber whenever I see her laying about resting, or before I go to bed at night, I know how much to give her without giving her the runs. I guess all pigs are different, I also stopped kale and spinach is the devil, I won't buy it for pigs. I also use grain free ss, I filter water and wet all veg fed, and feed grass whenever it's nice enough out to pick it

 

[Piggies&buns]

I hope Betsy is ok

 

[Wiebke]

When doing health checks this morning, Betsy had some chalky powder around her bits. I gently wiped it away with a damp cloth. I have syringed in as much Pro-C and water (as she will take as she won't take plain water) in an attempt to flush her bladder out myself. I thinking "Oh no not again" as this is how Velvet was at the start of her decline. A few months ago, Betsy had an X ray for something else and she had no bladder sludge whatsoever. Before Velvet went to be DA BOSS of Rainbow Bridge, I have put all the piggies on a low calcium diet. I have changed their pellets from Harringtons to SS Grain Free as there is less calcium in them. They no longer get spinach or kale (not that they had much of this anyway). I'll keep syringing Betsy twice a day with Pro-C and water for a couple of weeks and see if that makes a difference. I haven't noticed it on Meg. They all get the same diet. Maybe I should ask the vet for a bladder flush?

Please ask your vet for urine test for crystals and a scan if necessary first, so you can make sure that you are actually dealing with sludge!
Please also don't overhydrate; that is also not good for a piggy.

It is always more difficult when you are faced with similar symptoms after a bad experience and you are much more likely to jump instinctively to deja vu conclusions and overreact (we all do that).

Just one normal powdery calcium pee (which is the normal way for the body to excrete excess calcium) does by no means spell sludge so please don't overreact. Are you filtering your water or give low calcium bottled water as that is often where most calcium in a diet comes from and less from a small amount of pellets (1 tablespoon) or a small amount of veg?

 

[Flutterby]

 

[Betsy]

Fingers all crossed for Betsy x
do you live in a hard water area?

Yes but I filter all their water through a Brita water filter.

 

[DMS260820]

Yes but I filter all their water through a Brita water filter.

Some people double filter. Maybe o. T. T? Don't know

 

[Betsy]

Just one normal powdery calcium pee (which is the normal way for the body to excrete excess calcium) does by no means spell sludge so please don't overreact. Are you filtering your water or give low calcium bottled water as that is often where most calcium in a diet comes from and less from a small amount of pellets (1 tablespoon) or a small amount of veg?

They are strictly 1 tablespoon per piggie per day of ss grain free pellets. They have a 5" diameter x 2" deep bowl of veggies per 2 pigs every night it is not full.

 

[Wiebke]

They are strictly 1 tablespoon per piggie per day of ss grain free pellets. They have a 5" diameter x 2" deep bowl of veggies per 2 pigs every night it is not full.

Yes but I filter all their water through a Brita water filter.

Just keep in mind that a single calcium pee does NOT make a bladder stone. But if you are really worried, double filter.

Calcium pees can be simply a one off; they can also be the very first sign of a cystitis or they can be a sign that something may be going wrong with the calcium absorption process.

From your diet, I would sincerely doubt that you are dealing with stones or sludge.

 

[Betsy]

From your diet, I would sincerely doubt that you are dealing with stones or sludge.

I have only adjusted it slightly since Velvet passed a stone. I am now worried that Betsy may have the same problem that Velvet had.

 

[DMS260820]

I have only adjusted it slightly since Velvet passed a stone. I am now worried that Betsy may have the same problem that Velvet had.

Are they related?

 

[DMS260820]

I had a boar that passed powder all the time and never had a bladder issue, just keep an eye on it. How many have u spotted so far?

 

[Wiebke]

I have only adjusted it slightly since Velvet passed a stone. I am now worried that Betsy may have the same problem that Velvet had.

I would double filter the water as you live in a rather hard water area.

if you are really worried, then please opt for an x-ray; that should answer your question.

 

[Swissgreys]

Firstly I am sorry you are going through this, but to be honest it sounds like you are doing everything right.

We almost lost Ruby to bladder sludge when it formed a complete blockage in less than 6 hours, and it was a flush (and antibiotics and round the clock care) that eventually saved her.
BUT since then I have been meticulous with their diet and doing everything that you already do, and she hasn't had any further problems. So if Betsy does have a problem with sludge then it isn't becasue of anything you are doing wrong.

 

[Merab]

Hope that the beautiful Betsy is ok and this is simply a temporary blip.

 

[Betsy]

Are they related?

No they aren't related.

I had a boar that passed powder all the time and never had a bladder issue, just keep an eye on it. How many have u spotted so far?

Just once but I only spotted it once with Velvet too. Thinking back, Velvet's was very sludgy and Betsy's was like a very thin layer of chalk this morning.

 

[Sophie B]

Oh dear...