Should I switch to Timothy-based pellets if I'm seeing white spots in the cage?

[webjetter]

I was wondering something ... I've been seeing white spots in the cage and on the mat my piggies stand on when they're eating hay (this mat gets covered in hay the day after cage cleaning so they're not standing in pee, by the way). It doesn't feel gritty, but recently a couple of those spots are thick, almost gooey. When it dries, it's sort of crispy. My pigaroos are 2 girls approximately 6 months old and I don't know who is leaving this new substance -- I can't catch a pig in action. Attached is a photo of a regular white spot and a goo spot on the ramp, plus a closeup. Sorry if this is gross, but it usually helps to see a visual of what someone is describing.

The sticky thread on the subject of white spots says "If you have a cavy with gritty feeling white spots, then cut down significantly on calcium enriched veggies." This raises 3 questions:

1. What about goo ... does that count as gritty?
2. They have always eaten Alfalfa-based pellets. Does cutting down on veggies with high calcium content mean I should also switch to Timothy-based pellets since Alfalfa pellets have more calcium?
3. Does anyone know how much calcium is in Kleenmama's Alfalfa Complete Pellets? That's what they have been eating for the past 2 months.

Thanks for any insights, you guys.

[envisionary333]

Any alfalfa pellets will be high in calcium, regardless of the brand. Kleenmama's is a great brand, but you should switch over to the timothy-based pellets and timothy hay from now on. Since your girls are six months old, they have already had their biggest growth spurts and should be fine without it. What veggies do you feed them? Definitely watch the calcium content for a bit and observe any changes in the urine. Even if it's not gritty per say, that definitely looks thick and a good reason for concern.

[Ly&Pigs]

The gooey spot could be an expelled mucous plug from one of the girls coming into heat. Calcium spots are not gooey. They will be spots that either feel soft and smooth or a bit gritty.

It's not so much the matter of the fact you are feeding alfalfa pellets but how much of the pellets you are feeding. They each now need to get only about 1/8 cup each per day. If you were to feed timothy based pellets, they could have up to 1/4 cup each per day.

The trick is to not overfeed calcium rich veggies. Feed those in smaller portions. So say if you wanted to give broccoli, give one small floret to each about once per week instead of twice per week. Or if you wanted to give Kale, give about 1/2 leaf to each instead of 1 leaf once or twice per week.

[webjetter]

I forgot to mention that they have always been fed 1/8 cup Alfalfa pellets per pig per day. Although, now that I think about it, one of the girls may be eating more pellets than the other girl. I only watch them for a few minutes after feeding, so possibly one of them goes back and eats more as the day goes on and is therefore getting more calcium. (I put 1/8 cup in their dish in the morning and 1/8 cup at bedtime.)

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

The gooey spot could be an expelled mucous plug from one of the girls coming into heat.

If it is the plug, I'm wondering why it would only have shown up recently ... prior to a couple of weeks ago, I had never seen this in their cage before. I've owned them for over 4 months.

[envisionary333]

I've never seen the "plug" either, and I have ten girl piggies!!! Maybe it isn't always as noticeable? Have you always used the same bedding? I used to have Ultra Carefresh, and you wouldn't be able to tell if it was there.

[webjetter]

The first week I had the pigaroos, I used aspen pine bedding. From then on I've used fleece.

[Ly&Pigs]

The mucous plug normally dissolves I believe but maybe once in a while a part of it doesn't dissolve and just falls out.

As far as the white spots, make sure you feel those to see if they feel gritty. If not, there really isn't anything to worry about as it's just the calcium their bodies don't need expelling through the urine. If at any time they start feeling gritty, then they may be developing bladder sludge.

[PiggieNewbie]

What is bladder sludge?

One of my pigs is just small...about half the size of the other pig. I think the baby still needs the alfafa pellets but I am seeing white spots too, not as thick as these and not gritty.

Also am I o.k. to feed alfafa hay?

Thanks

[Ly&Pigs]

Bladder sludge is a precursory condition to stones. This page explains sludge a bit better. Guinea Lynx :: Bladder Stones

If you are seeing white spots already and are feeding alfalfa based pellets, you don't want to add alfalfa hay.

[Naomi]

The white spots in my piggies cage are always feel like baby powder, is that gritty? or would it feel more like sand if it's gritty?

[MCR_Rox]

Since they are 6 months old, it is time to start switching them over to timothy-based pellets anyway. Mixed alfalfa pellets together with timothy pellets, and gradually decrease the amount of alfalfa pellets you mix in with the timothy pellets until that amount is very small. Then, it is safe to use timothy pellets. I've heard that Oxbow pellets are the best. Oxbow Pet Products | Welcome

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Naomi

The white spots in my piggies cage are always feel like baby powder, is that gritty? or would it feel more like sand if it's gritty?

Smooth is normal. If at any time it feels gritty like it has a bit of sand in it, then it could indicate sludge.

[Naomi]

Thanks Ly you are a wealth of knowledge!!

[webjetter]

The mystery may be solved ... a vet's opinion is that it's just smegma, a normal mucus secretion from the uro-genital area of males and females. That makes sense since I've seen the stuff on the fleece and also on poop. If she happens to be pooping when the smegma is coming out, it would be on the poop. I've recently noticed white goo on/in the opening(s) of both piggies. See the gross photos if you wish.