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Advice - Limp

Daisylovepiggies

Daisylovepiggies

Junior Guinea Pig
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wellington, new zealand
My guinea pig has developed a limp over the past few days. She can still run and walk but she will hold her leg up. I know for a fact she is eating and drinking and she let me cut her nails yesterday, but I wonder if I should take her to the vets. The only problem is, the vets are only open for Urgent and Emergency cases ( like is your dog got hit by a car, or your cat was coughing up blood ) because of COVID-19. I was thinking about just calling them and asking if they think she would be okay until they open up for normal visits. Another problem is my local vets has closed ( COVID-19 ) and so the nearest one is out of my neighbourhood, and here in NZ your not support to use facilities out of your neighbourhood. Do you think I can just call them and ask if she will be okay?
 
Daisylovepiggies said:
My guinea pig has developed a limp over the past few days. She can still run and walk but she will hold her leg up. I know for a fact she is eating and drinking and she let me cut her nails yesterday, but I wonder if I should take her to the vets. The only problem is, the vets are only open for Urgent and Emergency cases ( like is your dog got hit by a car, or your cat was coughing up blood ) because of COVID-19. I was thinking about just calling them and asking if they think she would be okay until they open up for normal visits. Another problem is my local vets has closed ( COVID-19 ) and so the nearest one is out of my neighbourhood, and here in NZ your not support to use facilities out of your neighbourhood. Do you think I can just call them and ask if she will be okay?
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Hi!

If she can still run and walk but is only favouring her leg when standing, then it is just a sprain in some joint between the spine and the foot. it should go away on its own within days or a couple of weeks, depending on the severity (which is not very) and whether she aggravates it again when starting to move normally. it is not at all uncommon; it only takes one bad landing after a popcorn or jump to get the equivalent of a twisted ankle or knee. ;)
 
Thank you! That makes me feel less worried! I have already checked her for bumblefoot or cuts and it seems like there is nothing on the outside! I noticed the limp 4 days ago, so it may take a week or so. Do you think she is still okay for floortime? ( she normally sleeps anyway in floortime, so she isn't very active ) I just don't want the others to miss out, and I don't want to leave her behind?
 
Daisylovepiggies said:
Thank you! That makes me feel less worried! I have already checked her for bumblefoot or cuts and it seems like there is nothing on the outside! I noticed the limp 4 days ago, so it may take a week or so. Do you think she is still okay for floortime? ( she normally sleeps anyway in floortime, so she isn't very active ) I just don't want the others to miss out, and I don't want to leave her behind?
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The problem is very often in one of the higher joints (hip/shoulder, knee/elbow, ankle/wrist) and not in the foot itself. As long as your piggy is fit to move around and to put weight on the leg when moving, you need not worry. You can put her out with the others.
 
Hi again! So we just hade floortime and I noticed that Nigella was still limping and also teeth chattering ( the bad kind ) and head butting the other piggies. I don't know if head butting Is normal for piggies or not. Also, it could have been one of the other piggies teeth chattering but I'm pretty sure it was her. I don't know what to do at this point. her limp hasn't gotten any better and I'm still a little worried. Again, Thank you for all the information you have given me!
 
Also, she is doing a lot of lying down, even when I am around. Now I know that Piggies are prey animals and they don't sleep or lie down when humans are around because they have to be alert, so that was quite confusing. My initial thought was that she was just tired because she was yawning a lot. But maybe she is just resting because her leg is sore. Just wanted to add that in case it meant something.
 
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