Help! Pink coloured substrate in potty :(

AlfredHam · 06-16-2016, 03:43 AM

I'm rearranging Alfie's cage at the moment and as I've come to his potty I've found some pinkish coloured substrate, it's Fitch. Should it be this colour or do I need to get him to a vet?

Pebbles82 · 06-16-2016, 03:47 AM

That does seem unusual. It's hard to tell from the photo - it looks a bit beige on the left side. It will go a bit brown/beige if pee'd on. Does Alfie seem fine in himself?

AlfredHam · 06-16-2016, 03:50 AM

He's been a bit quiet and scratching himself but I'd put that down to the substrate, I might ring pets at home and see if they have a vet that might know :/

Pebbles82 · 06-16-2016, 03:56 AM

The bit on the right does look a bit pink. Maybe he has made something sore/bleed if he has been scratching and I think it would be darker then. Is there anything under the Fitch that could make it go pink if wee'd on? (eg coloured food). I guess you're suspecting his pee could be pink. I'm not sure what to suggest - either observe it and see if it happens again or maybe try some diastix that detect blood in urine. A chemist might sell them - something like these - detects blood, glucose, protein etc. I think those are for humans though - not sure if there are special pet ones. Could you phone a vet and ask?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parameter-P...o+detect+blood

AlfredHam · 06-16-2016, 04:09 AM

Nope, it's one of those takeaway containers from Poundland some completely clear plastic :/ I've made an appointment at vets for pets for 2:30 so hopefully he'll be ok.
Can I leave him in his carrier that long? He is asleep right now so shouldn't be too stressful

AlfredHam · 06-16-2016, 07:22 AM

The vet has prescribed some metacam just in case, but she said everything looked normal and he was otherwise healthy. She thinks it may be an inflammation of his tubes but if it gets worse to go back straight away or ring the emergency number. He was weighed too, 154g! And he behaved really well, didn't bite the vet and didnt try to escape!

Pebbles82 · 06-16-2016, 07:50 AM

Glad you got to see a vet! Charlie has been in his pet carrier most of the day sometimes (when I've done a cage change eg) and he just sleeps in it, so I think if they're asleep they're fine for a few hours. As long as there is a bit of cucumber in case they need a drink.

Glad he seems healthy and hope the Metacam sorts out any issue. Let me know how you get him to take it! Incidentally what dose were you told to give - it would be interesting to compare because Charlie weighs more.

Posted on the other thread too lol!

AlfredHam · 06-16-2016, 08:01 AM

Haha, so many threads going!
1ml a day, but she premeasured the syringes for me. She did the first dose and just put it by his mouth, he held it and tried to have a nibble then she squirted it in

He has a tiny water bowl that I squash into the corner and he doesn't tend to knock over or spill but if I was leaving him in there longer I would get some cucumber for him