Hard ball in poop...

[MissT]

I finally thought I had Abu settled down again until this past few days.

She hadnt had a poop since Thursday so tonight I decided she would stay in the bath until she passed something. Anyway, when she was done, I could see a 'ball?' hovering at the bottom of the bath so of course, I got straight in there and pulled it out. Its small. Probably about 1cm in length and its a dark grey/purpley colour. I was a little confused then my Mother-in-Law said she had also passed something similar on Tuesday. Has anyone ever heard of this?

Here are a few pics I took of it.

I broke it up and it was an almost chalky substance and pretty hard throughout.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

T

 

[vickson420]

Oh my I really dont know thats strange.It was solid throughout? Has she gotten a hold of anything she shouldnt lately? I guess if its white hard and chalky it could be urates but what a strange shape.It almost looks like a chic pea :? She has never been gravid correct?

 

[MissT]

We did suspect she was gravid but that was ruled out after a number of vet visits.
She is never left out to free roam unsupervised and there is nothing in her viv that she could eat so i have ruled out any sort of foreign objects. I was thinking some sort of calcium build up in her urates. It was quite difficult to break it up but was definitely chalky and pretty white on the inside... what I would imagine a hardened ball of calcium to look like.

 

[vickson420]

Well thats what I am thinking its either urates or possibly even calcium shell from an underdeveloped egg.I am thinking more the urates/calcium build up.This would definately be the reason she wouldnt be feeling well.How is she now that they have passed?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I have heard of that happening before. What type of supplements do you give her?


Tracie

 

[vickson420]

You must have read my mind I just PM'd you

 

[haleygirl272]

Wow, that's...odd! :shock: :? :silent:

 

[MissT]

This would definately be the reason she wouldnt be feeling well.How is she now that they have passed?

She hasnt really seemed under the weather at all lately. The only odd thing with her is that she hasnt been sleeping very well for the past couple of weeks - staying up past midnight and refusing to get out of her bed until lunchtime some days! She did go to bed at normal time this evening tho and she has stayed tucked up in her blanket all night which is definitely a good thing with her!

Hello,

I have heard of that happening before. What type of supplements do you give her?


Tracie

For calcium - I just started her back on the miner-all about a month ago - I had been using calypso for about a month or so whilst waiting for more minerall to be shipped to me. Vitamins - I use the nutrabol.

 

[haleygirl272]

Wow, now that I'm through with initial shock, I think it was, like someone else had said, a underformed/calcified egg.

 

[vickson420]

Well I think whatever it was its a very good thing she passed it.Hopefully there wont be more.How often are you giving the calcium and the nutrabol?I think it was upped when you thought she was gravid,yes?

 

[MissT]

She gets calcium 4 times per week and vitamins twice per week. Yes, she had calcium 5x per week when we thought she was gravid.

As worried as I was about the little ball, yet again you have made me feel a lot more calm!! Its definitely better that she has passed it but i will definitely be keeping a very close eye on her poops in case there are any more. I guess thats why she went a few days without a poop - that ball must have been troubling her!!

Thanks

T

 

[vickson420]

Well I am glad we could calm you down.I would dial down the calcium for now its alot for her being as she is now all grown up.Maybe stick to 2-3 days a week instead of 4-5 and just watch to make sure she isnt showing signs of impaction.I would just keep her well hydrated and maybe even add a drop or 2 of olive oil or mineral oil to her diet for the next week or so to make sure anything else that has to pass will do so easily.I am sure Tracie will ave more ot add on this as well but this is my initial thought on this.With everything said I am sure Abu will be fine :wink:

 

[MissT]

Maybe stick to 2-3 days a week instead of 4-5 and just watch to make sure she isnt showing signs of impaction.I would just keep her well hydrated and maybe even add a drop or 2 of olive oil or mineral oil to her diet for the next week or so to make sure anything else that has to pass will do so easily.

Thanks for clearing that up.... I will def cut down the calcium. I dunno why but I thought it was calcium 4x per week until she was 2 years old. I will make sure she is getting her daily baths as well and try to get a little olive oil into her (not easy - she is very stubborn!)

I did think she was just being a brat and refusing to poop in her viv as she does go through little phases of this (I was working a lot of overtime this week and she hasnt had a bath since thursday) but after tonights ordeal, I realise I was wrong and will ensure the usual routine of spoiling her rotten with daily baths and tummy massages is kept up. And if she wants to get into a habit of only pooping in the bath, I will make sure I give her the opportunity, daily!!

Thanks again

T

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am glad that she passed that also. That is most likely why she couldn't sleep very well, it was bothering her.
Usually excess calcium is excreted, but, it can build up over time if it is not all being used. I think that is what has happened. No harm done, but as Vicky suggested, since she is 2, try calcium 3 times per week, & vitamins only once.
So you are using the Minerall & the Nutrabol? Ok, the Nutrabol has vitamins & calcium, so between the two, she was getting overloaded. The supplementation can also dry them out also, which can contribute to impactions. She is no longer growing like she was when she was a little tike, so she doesn't need as much, unless of course, she is gravid, then that is an exception.
I would try to give her some extra oral fluids for the next week or so, & maybe some soft foods to make sure everything has passed through her ok, & if she likes baths, those are fine also.
Poor Abu, that could not have felt good coming out, either. :shock:


Tracie

 

[MissT]

I think that is what has happened. No harm done, but as Vicky suggested, since she is 2, try calcium 3 times per week, & vitamins only once.

Shes not quite 2 yet - according to what we were told when we purchased her, she is only just 18 months old now. We do suspect she is closer to 2 years old due to the fact that she has only grown about half an inch in the past 4 months but we cant be sure. But since this has happened she must be being overloaded. Is it fine to use the nutrabol then or is there another vitamin source I can get in the UK?

I would try to give her some extra oral fluids for the next week or so, & maybe some soft foods to make sure everything has passed through her ok, & if she likes baths, those are fine also.

Unfortunately Abu is impossible with oral fluids but she will happily stay in the bath for 30mins+ most nights. I have the veggie baby food already to go for her so hopefully everything will go smoothly over the next week or so!

Thank you so much for all the help guys!!

T