Guinea pig, loss of mobility, uti, needs soft bedding, dilemma

[Bimbop5]

Hi everyone,

I've posted before about my guinea pig who suddenly lost use of her back legs a few months ago. She is still eating, alert and now living back with her guinea pig friend. She is now able to sit up with her back legs propped under her but she cannot use them to walk. She drags herself with her front feet.

My situation with her is that she is getting filthy with her feces and urine. I feel so sad for her. Yesterday I bathed her and noticed her skin is starting to break down. Then when she peed I saw on the towel blood. So I called her regular Vet but he is gone for 2 weeks. Today I wil.be finding a Vet to take a look at her.

My biggest issue is that I'm highly allergic to guinea pigs so they live outside during spring/summer. In winter they move into my shed. It does have insulation plus I have an oil radiator I use in the winter. They also have plugged in pet heaters. But what am I going to do when she is dirty and needs a bath?

I brought her inside to properly bathe her and my allergies went crazy. I'm already taking a high dose of antihistamine plus nose spray. Also, when she is clean she will still be a bit damp and I'm worried she'll get chilled going back into the shed. It is not as warm as my house. I'm so scared this will just make her sick.

And I don't know what kind of bedding to use. I tried aspen but it wasn't absorbant enough and she ended up filthy. She is on fleece bedding right now. I thought carefresh might be the best?

I'm so worried about her health. Especially if her skin breaks down. It already looks like it is cracking. I don't think she is going to improve anymore than she is right now as it has been months. Poor girl. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Poor little soul This was the piggy that you had worries about flystrike with?

If she was mine , hand on heart , I'd have her PTS now.
Her poor skin !
She's peeing blood (cystitus/kidney stone/bladder stone? )

I know (from work) what pee/pooh can do to a humans skin, I'd imagine with fur to trap it, it would be worse, and there's a limit to how often you can bathe her.

Make the right choice for your piggie.

Hi, thank you so very much for responding. I also spoke to some nurses at work about her. I had her put to sleep today. I just thought it was cruel to keep her alive like that. I miss her already but I hope and believe I made the right decision. Thank you for spending the time to write me this email.

I mean post, sorry not email, I'm in a bit of shock right now.

Very news and a tough choice to make , but you just know in your guts when it's 'time'.

It is one of the hardest bits of keeping guineas- bad enough when they shrug off this mortal coil but worse it feels when you need to prod them on their way!

I found it really difficult having one of my guineas, Oreo, PTS in January , but after a couple of days I thought "I made the right move"

Very sad news. I, like, 70IsALimit would have had her PTS - I think it was the right thing to do. Even if you didn't have allergies, even if her skin wasn't breaking down, it sounds like she wasn't enjoying life anymore, so you've done the right thing by her.

RIP little one.