[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Bloodwork for Fireball?

[Anderson, Jocelyn M]

Hello All,

Due to Fireball's mysterious weight loss (he's down to 897 grams) my vet
suggested getting bloodwork done. She didn't feel any lumps for bladder
stones, and white towels placed in the piggy arena didn't show him
peeing any blood. (I did see a spot of red a few days ago on a napkin,
so I placed paper towels down but didn't see any more blood spots. Maybe
it was a piece of apple staining the napkin...?) She said that bloodwork
would be a better start than X-Rays, since piggies are gassy and it's
hard to tell what's going on with just X-Rays. Would this be a good idea
to start with bloodwork? I'd rather not have the poor piggie poked if
X-Rays would be a better start. Is there any chance that if he has a
urinary tract infection that he would pee blood only once every few
days? 

Fireball is eating his Critical Care like a good piggy so I'm hoping
he'll pack on the ounces soon. Does anyone have a scale that they really
like for weighting pigs? I have one, but it's awful so I can never get a
proper number. I've been taking him to the vet to get his weight since
they have a proper scale.

Thanks!
Jocelyn, Fireball the Fat, Little John, and Flashbang Fatbottom