Micro pig urine

Question
My pig is 5 months old nutered male I recently fed fresh cherries and plums from the fruit truck. Now his urine is on and off reddish. Can his fruit change the color of urine or does he possibly have a bladder infection?
Thank you for help!!!

Answer
I am not a veterinarian and can not make a medical diagnosis over the internet. There's a list of vets that see pot-bellied pigs at www.farec.org

Stone fruits like cherries, plums, peaches and apricots have stony pits or seeds at their center. These pits are not edible, and contain small amounts of arsenic. The fruit itself is perfectly Ok for pigs to eat. The problems start when whole stone fruits are given to the pig, and the pig crunches and swallows the pits.

The amount of arsenic in a single pit is pretty small. But, I am not a veterinarian or a poison control expert. I don't know how big your pig is or how much he ate, or how much arsenic was in each pit. Typically the lethal dose is 1 to 12 mg of arsenic per pound of body weight.

Arsenic damages the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys, so eating stone fruits would affect the color of urine. The danger signs are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, staggering, and weakness. If any of these symptoms occur, consult a vet at once.

If the pig ate the pits a day or so ago, and the only symptom is off color urine, then chances are most of the poison has already passed through his system. Help him flush it out by encouraging him to drink extra water.

Another danger in stone fruit pigs is intestinal blockage and punctures. Sharp pieces of pit can puncture anywhere along the digestive tract from throat to anus. Bits of pit can collect in the intestine and cause a blockage, sometimes requiring surgery to correct.

As long as your pig continues to poop without straining, he's probably ok. But if he shows signs of constipation, consult a vet because the pits may cause a blockage. If he shows symptoms of internal pain, anywhere from throat to belly to rear, or if you see blood, consult a vet.

Symptoms of urinary infection include pus, frequent urination, or straining to urinate.