Guinea pig - loss of use of back legs

[Beamur]

Looking for advice.
Took one of my piggies to the vet today as they had seemed wobbly and unstable for a couple of days.
Actually worse (I thought) than it had appeared to me when placed on a flat surface. Not bearing any weight on back legs and not much on front legs. But weirdly quite perky otherwise and scooting around on her tummy. Not off food.
I expected the vet to suggest euthenasia but they didn't and have sent me home with Loxicom and suggested I contact them in a week.
I'm really not sure if this is in her best interest. I think the vet was reluctant to put her down as she is otherwise a bright perky girl. Piggie is aged about 5 and a half years.
Any thoughts? Is it likely she'll perk up?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Poor piggie - most likely an injury ? Bruising to the spinal cord or pinching of the nerves?

Did they check for a reflex? Like pulling her foot away if pinched or pulling her feet back under herself if she's placed down (the back legs will most likely splay behind her )

Loximcam will help with the pain and I would suggest Vit C supplement ( add to water and syringe it directly to the piggies mouth , not in the general water bottle . They don't drink enough that way) . Or some pigs will eat a Vit C supplement .
(Scurvy symptoms include loss of muscle control, and a rolling gait but wouldn't onset as quickly)

Good that she's eating but keep checking her belly , she'll be sitting in her own pee and pooh. Give her loads of absorbant bedding in her spot .


TBH , at 5.6 she's middle aged territory and her quality of life is the most important . Piggies are bloody expert at hiding illness but when she's had enough , the signs will be there . Might be subtle signs but you know your piggie best .

[Beamur]

Vet did try those with little response. She did suggest either an injury or possibly a growth pinching the spine, she did think it was neurological.
They have a fleecy padded thing to sleep in, which has the benefit of staying dry as it wicks away moisture and I shake out pellets every morning.
I have some vit c so will do that, they have a good diet overall though so I would be surprised if she's deficient.
Poor piggy.
Thanks for replying.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Guinea-pig food and the veg has good Vit C but its hard to know how much they are getting .....and she won't be ab;e to eat the first passed droppings easily so she'll miss out on that too.


Trouble is a diagnosis (and prognosis) is hard because any investigations would involve Xrays or scans ( which she'd need sedated for ) then you might have an answer but where to go from there ?

Unless it's bruising which should resolve over time (and will she gain full mobility?) the other possibilities - fracture, nerve entrapment (is she worse on one side? Nerve entrapment tends to affect one side more) growth or tumour - really don't have a good outcome .

Is your other pig the same age ?

I know when our boar was ill in his last 24 hours on earth he sort of 'pulled' himself along and his gait wasn't like a guinea pig , it was more 'bunny hop' . We were cuddling, hand feeding and tucking him up but he still insisted on moving round the run (stubborn little mammal) -we took him to be Euthanised and had to be quite firm that 'No we didn't want infusions and painkilers' he had reached the end of his road ...and he did peacefully .

Good Luck over the next 24-48 hours , you;ll know more by then.

[Beamur]

All of my piggies (3) are the same age. I think if it was bruising, it would have resolved by now.
I suspect it's something more fundamental and this is my least tame one too, so I am mindful that extra handling, car trips, vets etc, are stressful too.
I'll see how she goes for a few days more but I do think it might be kinder to have her euthenased

[Beamur]

It's the same on both sides.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Any update on the piggie? It is a worry when they're ill, they are such complex little rodents .

[Beamur]

Thanks for asking.
Well, legs continue to be wobbly but she's very accommodating with taking her medicine and is eating, drinking and moving around quite effectively.
I think she's going to be with us for a little while yet.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I was opening this with trepidation but it sounds like she's a tough cookie .
Hopefully it's a bruised spine and time,painkillers and some Intensive Cavy Care will do the trick.
But as you know with guineas , she might be on borrowed time .

(At least they're better patients than the cats. Our guinea-pigs just looked judgey and deranged with Critical Care spilling down their chins . Oh the four hourly feeds . Sitting on the stair at 2am feeding an ill pig when I had work the next day . Love them. The cats just protest toothily and claw-ly)

[Beamur]

I am surprised and quite impressed with her tenacity.
I had thought I should insist on her being put to sleep, but I think I've come round to thinking she's doing ok for now. But will keep a close eye for any changes.

[Beamur]

Poor piggy took a turn for the worse today. Have taken her to the vet and had her put to sleep.

[halfsoaked]

Poor piggy, you did the right thing though

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

it is a tough decision but the right one .
She had a few days of reprieve but once they 'go' they go quick. It's picking the right time to say "That's it"

It's a puzzle you won't get an answer to (without Post Mortem) so it's impossible to say what ailed her .

[halfsoaked]

And better a day too soon than a day too late. Op it sounds like you were spot on

[Beamur]

Thank you.
Her companion was looking a bit bereft last night. Gave her a few sunflower seeds.
The vet was surprised she was the age she was (5 and a half) but we still have 2 more at home the same age.
Will bury her in the garden later with full pet honours.

[fiddledefiddle]

Guinea pigs deserve nothing less than full pet honours - it's their birthright

[labazsisgoingmad]

so sorry to hear the loss of your piggy i run a guinea pig rescue and we get pigs in with all sorts of problems run free little piggy you should have lots of friends up there xx