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Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

Help - Guinea Pig dragging back legs

30 replies

Meggymoo777 · 15/11/2021 19:00

Help.... came home today and my lovely 2 year old girl is dragging her back legs behind her. Doesn't seem in pain, is eating and drinking.... Vet open at 8.15am so will bring her straight in but does anyone know what this could be? The thought of losing her is terrifying.

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wineandcheeseplease · 15/11/2021 19:01

You need the emergency vet

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Meggymoo777 · 15/11/2021 19:30

Do you really think so? She's not in any pain

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wineandcheeseplease · 15/11/2021 19:32

Yes. They are prey animals so hide pain very very well.

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dickyduckydido · 15/11/2021 19:33

She Will be masking pain - they are prey animals and don't show pain. Vet now

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TheVanguardSix · 15/11/2021 19:36

Low calcium. This happened to ours years ago and with supplementation, our guinea pig recovered.

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Meggymoo777 · 15/11/2021 20:35

I rang the out of hours vet and he said it sounds like a Vitamin C deficiency so sent me to the pharmacy for Vit C, trying to give it to her with a syringe but she really doesn't want it.

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NellieBertram · 15/11/2021 20:37

What do you feed her on normally?

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Meggymoo777 · 15/11/2021 20:37

Does anybody have experience of this issue or know how long it can take to get a guinea back to full health after Vit C deficiency?

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Meggymoo777 · 15/11/2021 20:41

I feed her Mr Johnsons Advance kibble, hay always available, every day they get cucumber/spinach/kale/peppers and then the occasional treat.

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Treacletoots · 15/11/2021 20:42

I thought it was Vit c deficiency. Get the pig some fruit and veg high in c. Carrot tops, spinach, strawberrries, blueberries and so on.

It usually picks up quite quickly if thats what it is.

G.pigs can't make their own vitamin C so you need to make sure they get it in their diets. Ours used to have a cocktail of fruit and veg every day.

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Meggymoo777 · 15/11/2021 20:44

I always thought their diet was really good but obviously I need to focus on the high Vit C veggies a lot more. I feel so awful and scared, I really do love her so much

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TheVanguardSix · 16/11/2021 13:10

I used the syringe that came with calpol (I didn't give them calpol! But liquid calcium... vitamin C another time). It wasn't perfect but it's sort of shaped like their water bottle teat thing... the metal bit they drink from.

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TheVanguardSix · 16/11/2021 13:11

Red pepper is a good source, by the way. And they love red pepper!

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TheVanguardSix · 16/11/2021 13:12

Oh you already feed them peppers. Sorry to advise you on something you already do.

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Meggymoo777 · 16/11/2021 13:44

Thanks so much for your replies.... Still no improvement this morning after the Vit C,brought her to the office with me today so feeding her lots of spinach, orange and blueberries and trying to get some more liquid Vit C into her - have a veterinary appointment at 5pm so hopefully they'll tell me its nothing too sinister. I love them both so much and this particular pig is my little sweetheart, such a fantastic little personality, I'm devastated looking at her in this condition.

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SheldonesqueTheBstard · 17/11/2021 17:10

Sending positive thoughts. ✨ 🌻

My childhood pigs are mentioned quite a few decades on with love and smiles.

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Meggymoo777 · 17/11/2021 17:58

Thank you - I had her back at vets today for xrays, no obvious sign of a break, fracture,any issues with hips or spine etc. Vet isn't convinced that this is a deficiency but had given me supplements anyway.She thinks this is a nerve issue, has given anti inflammatory for the next 10days in the hope a nerve is being affected by swelling from an injury but if it doesn't improve in 10 days it's likely permanent and will have to make decisions regarding amputation etc... I'm really hoping she bounces back

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Suzi888 · 17/11/2021 18:00

Aww I’m so sorry, hope she recovers OP.

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SheldonesqueTheBstard · 17/11/2021 18:02

I will keep all crossed for you and the pig meggy 🌻

She has an owner that absolutely loves her which is the important thing. We are honoured to care for animals who come in and then leave our lives. 🌻

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Meggymoo777 · 17/11/2021 18:25

Oh god, thank you, I've not been able to stop crying and your lovely comments have me off again. Send some positive vibes for her and fingers crossed she'll make a recovery. Just can't believe my girl took such a quick turn.

My vet has reached out to some exotic specialists to enquire about amputation if it comes to it, I'm devastated at the thought of it but at least there may be some way of keeping her comfortable and happy if it comes to the worst and she doesn't regain the use of her leg. Trying not to think too much about that right now really but if you've ever seen a guinea missing a leg or using wheels please let me know.

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SheldonesqueTheBstard · 17/11/2021 19:32

Heaps of happy vibes from me and wishing you both the best.

Don’t cry - her fur will go frizzy ☺️ ✨ ✨ 🌻

x (I’m a total sap when it comes to animals so forgive the mush - it is from a good place)

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Meggymoo777 · 17/11/2021 21:14

@SheldonesqueTheBstard

Heaps of happy vibes from me and wishing you both the best.

Don’t cry - her fur will go frizzy ☺️ ✨ ✨ 🌻

x (I’m a total sap when it comes to animals so forgive the mush - it is from a good place)

Thanks so much... I'm a sap too, these are my DSs pets 'technically' but I couldn't help falling for them so hard! Their little wheeks and quirks are adorable.

She seems happy at the moment, have her in her own little cage for the next few days and can bring her to the office with me... I'm tempted to continue bringing her to the office for at least the next few days so she's not alone? Is that a good plan?

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Beamur · 17/11/2021 21:23

Sweet thing. But without meaning to upset you, really think about whether amputation is going to be in their best interest. If they can't lift their rear end it will be harder for them to keep clean. Urine on the skin will be an irritant.
Sadly one of my piggies lost use of back legs and then front legs in fairly quick succession, vet thought it was probably a tumour on the spine somewhere. She was 5 years old, so already quite a mature lady so we did have her euthenised.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/11/2021 00:31

I would think nerve damage as it is such a sudden onset .
When our last boar was in his last 24 hours he developed a sort of rollling/bunnyhop gait rather than his usual stride that I suspected could be scurvy ( we had to make the difficult decision to PTS ) He was getting to the stage where it was more traumatic to feed him but we knew we had to hydrate him and try and keep his guts going.
His last night I cuddled him for 8 hours solid thinking he was going to "go" , he couldn't even lift himself to pee .
We were down at the vets pleading for an emergency to euthanise

I thought my DD would be gutted (she was but she accepted ) I was a snotty mess !

I wouldn't even like to think about amputation, they aren't the best designed little mammels ( tubby little things on their tiny paws ) . You'd be forever washing the belly and I would worry at the damage dragging themselves would cause .

Hope for the best , prepare for the worst
Loxicam (painkiller) our pigs would wrestle their granny for it !

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SheldonesqueTheBstard · 22/11/2021 21:56

Hoping your pig is improving @Meggymoo777

Still sending positive thoughts ✨ 🌻

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