Advice Needed Please - Long Term Back Leg Paralysis After Fall

[Rachellouise]

hi there. I sent a message to group admin prior to joining this forum as below ....

"Hi there. I have not used this page before but wondering whether it is ok to ask for an opinion / advice please? We have two very much loved piggies (aged 2 & we are first time owners) and sadly one jumped from my hubby's shoulder in the summer and lost use of her back legs. She has some movement in her left now but none in her right. Hubby took her back to the vets today (she was initially on metacam but nothing for the past 2months) as I have noticed some scabbing in her ear. They said can be treated with steroid treatment, but apparently the get advised that due to her lower limb injury it would be wise to consider euthanasia -hubby said vet was lovely and v attentive, but expressed that piggies don't show their pain and it would be something she would advise we consider. I desp don't want to have to do this without checking out some opinions first, as I adore our family pets, she is eating / weeing / pooing / moving herself around etc ..... but I don't want to think she may be in constant discomfort and how would I know?.... thanks in anticipation"

I understand that there may be someone local to me in Leicester who may be able to offer some advice? Any experiences and advise is welcome. We lost our "dog" ( struggle to use that term as our pets are our family!) in may and desp don't want to have to say another goodbye unless it is in her best interests.

Thank you ~ Rachel

 

[Janice C]

Poor you! What a trauma to be going through.
You know your piggy best and if you feel she is coping with her paralysis it should be up to you. You are saying she does get about a little? Has she any signs of damage to her skin underneath or on her legs?
I would have thought she could be kept on some analgesia if she does in fact have any pain.
I’ve seen posts before where animals have managed quite well with back leg problems so hopefully @Wiebke will answer at some point as she has a great deal of piggy knowledge!
I have a dog with spinal injuries due to falling in the river and it’s been suggested to me on numerous occasions that he should have either been put down or had a leg amputated ! He gets about slowly with various straps and tubing attached to pull his leg forward BUT he has always been a happy dog before and after the accident!

 

[sport_billy]

Hi Rachel. I spoke to you on Facebook. Nice to have you on the forum.

As I said I am sorry you are going through this, there is no easy decision here

My first thought would be quality of life, that has to be paramount. The fact she is eating and drinking and toileting is a good sign. I would expect a piggy in vast pain to stop eating, be fluffed up and very unhappy. I understand she is on metacam this is good, if you opted for steroid she wouldn't be able to have the metacam so your vet would need to be willing to give another pain killer opiate based - Tramadol/vetegesic something like that if they beleive she is in pain.

How long has the paralysis lasted? Has it improved in any way?

@Lady Kelly. any recommendations on vets your way?

tagging in our h&i team for any advice @Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) @helen105281 @Freela @Abi_nurse @Elwickcavies @Jaycey

What is your piggies name?

 

[sport_billy]

Vets4pets
Paula Darker
186 Oadby Road
Wigston, Leicester LE183PW
01162813322
Is a vet near you that is on the recomended vet locator for a second opinion. There is an amazing vet in Northampton if that is do-able for you?

 

[Wiebke]

hi there. I sent a message to group admin prior to joining this forum as below ....

"Hi there. I have not used this page before but wondering whether it is ok to ask for an opinion / advice please? We have two very much loved piggies (aged 2 & we are first time owners) and sadly one jumped from my hubby's shoulder in the summer and lost use of her back legs. She has some movement in her left now but none in her right. Hubby took her back to the vets today (she was initially on metacam but nothing for the past 2months) as I have noticed some scabbing in her ear. They said can be treated with steroid treatment, but apparently the get advised that due to her lower limb injury it would be wise to consider euthanasia -hubby said vet was lovely and v attentive, but expressed that piggies don't show their pain and it would be something she would advise we consider. I desp don't want to have to do this without checking out some opinions first, as I adore our family pets, she is eating / weeing / pooing / moving herself around etc ..... but I don't want to think she may be in constant discomfort and how would I know?.... thanks in anticipation"

I understand that there may be someone local to me in Leicester who may be able to offer some advice? Any experiences and advise is welcome. We lost our "dog" ( struggle to use that term as our pets are our family!) in may and desp don't want to have to say another goodbye unless it is in her best interests.

Thank you ~ Rachel

Hi Rachel

If you are able to travel a bit further, please consider seeing Simon and Kim Maddock at the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. They are general vets that only see cats, rabbits and small furries and are some of the most experienced guinea pig vets in the country. They see guinea pigs from as far as Scotland and the West Country. I see them from Coventry, if necessary by train. They have saved or prolonged the life of several of my own, as well as other forum members' piggies' lives on a number of occasions.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

As to steroids, please consider that steroids tend to slow down organs in rodents, unlike in other pet species. For this reason, they are not usually recommended and should be used by any vet only after carefully weighing up risks and benefits.
The Problems With Steroids And Why They Shouldn't Be Used.

Have your vets ever done a scan or x-ray to assess the damage from the fall?

As long as your girl is not in constant pain, she can still have enough quality of life. As long as she is begging for food and bright in herself, she has got the will to live.

You will have to take these aspects into account and if necessary discuss the relevant ones with a knowledgeable vet.

- Please keep your girl on soft vetbed bedding (can be found for sale online) to minimise the risk of sores and infection on the foot soles, especially bumble foot on the weight bearing front pads. Limited mobility can also cause other pressure spots on the other feet.
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis

- Change the bedding in her sleeping/sitting area daily or twice daily to prevent urine scald (balding and sore areas around the genitals and belly) and foot infections from sitting in urine. This is a pretty common problem in guinea pigs with limited mobility (back leg paralysis, arthritis or operation recovery).

- Keep water and hay (which should make 80% of the daily food intake) close by and accessible without the need to climb. I used to place hay on newspaper next to Nerys' cosy when she suffered temporary back leg paralysis for a few weeks. Feed pellets and veg in small quantities that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times daily, so they don't hang around.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

- Weigh once weekly to monitor the food intake; if you have concerns, please switch to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle (i.e. before breakfast or dinner).
Step in with offering top up feed if your girl loses more than 50g.
I offered Nerys extra mushed up pellets on a spoon and not via syringe. The moment she would have stopped eating by her own will during the worst of it, I whould have taken her for pts to spare her any further suffering. This was for me the critical measure for quality of life and the reason why I deliberately did not go down the syringe feeding route. It is very easy to get trapped into giving more support than you actually intend if it happens gradually.
It was very much touch and go with Nerys for a week, but somehow she pulled through and lived for another 4 months to celebrate her 8th birthday with me and my closest piggy friends. She never regained full mobility, but enough to get around the cage under her own steam and to enjoy her outings to the lawn.

- Discuss with your new vet the long term impact of the injuries once they have been assessed, so you can then make an informed decision about longer term care and where to draw the line. Discuss the need for pain management and the use of glucosamine if there are fractures in the bone to slow down any potential arthritis problems.

PS:
Nerys (on the right) is showing enough interest in food again. By that time, she is still getting top-up feed and as much water from a syringe as she wants to take several times a day. The hay is on newspaper for easy removal by me as long as Nerys has got only very limited mobility and is not yet able to leave her cosy.



I hope that this helps you?

 

[Katiedid]

I am so sorry you are going through this. Only you know if her quality of life is good enough, trust yourself - as Wiebke says there are signs that the piggy is in pain. I can't add to what Wiebke has said about what to do.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I am in Leicester and use Oasby vets4pets they are really interested in small animals and I have seen 4 vets there all of which are fairly knowledgeable (though two more than the rest). They are also good at knowing when it's outside of their expertise. They now refer on to Hinckley vets4pets which has an exotics specialist. I believe their specialist was the one who diagnosed my later Bea when he was at King Richards on Glenfield Road and if it is then I wouldn't hesitate to visit him. That said I haven't had chance to take a piggy along for a check up to "test him out" yet.

We also have another specialist in the area. Craig at Chine House in Sileby. Whilst he clearly knows his stuff they do charge quite a high amount and I have heard mixed reviews of post op care from there in the past.

If you want to message me at all then please feel free to do so.

 

[Freela]

Was there ever any diagnostic assessments, like x-ray, at the time of the initial injury? I'm just wondering what the underlying pathology is... whether it's a bony issue, a nerve issue, etc. The fact that they are considering steroids suggests that they believe it is a nervous inflammation problem at this point. Unfortunately, guinea pigs tend not to do well with steroids (I did have a hedgehog who was on steroid injections for a nervous system disease with some results- but not being a rodent it was safer for him.) If the underlying issue is well-understood (i.e. there have been x-rays and you know this is a not a mechanical problem that can be repaired or treated surgically), then quality of life is going to be of the utmost importance. However, I would make sure I understood the root of the problem before making that decision. There may be more treatment options for a broken leg or a spinal injury that has healed poorly and I would want to rule out those kinds of issues before making any decisions.

 

[Rachellouise]

Hi Rachel. I spoke to you on Facebook. Nice to have you on the forum.

As I said I am sorry you are going through this, there is no easy decision here

My first thought would be quality of life, that has to be paramount. The fact she is eating and drinking and toileting is a good sign. I would expect a piggy in vast pain to stop eating, be fluffed up and very unhappy. I understand she is on metacam this is good, if you opted for steroid she wouldn't be able to have the metacam so your vet would need to be willing to give another pain killer opiate based - Tramadol/vetegesic something like that if they beleive she is in pain.

How long has the paralysis lasted? Has it improved in any way?

@Lady Kelly. any recommendations on vets your way?

tagging in our h&i team for any advice @Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) @helen105281 @Freela @Abi_nurse @Elwickcavies @Jaycey

What is your piggies name?

Hi there And thank you again so much for your support and help today. Our gorgeous girl is called muffin! The accident happened in

Hi Rachel. I spoke to you on Facebook. Nice to have you on the forum.

As I said I am sorry you are going through this, there is no easy decision here

My first thought would be quality of life, that has to be paramount. The fact she is eating and drinking and toileting is a good sign. I would expect a piggy in vast pain to stop eating, be fluffed up and very unhappy. I understand she is on metacam this is good, if you opted for steroid she wouldn't be able to have the metacam so your vet would need to be willing to give another pain killer opiate based - Tramadol/vetegesic something like that if they beleive she is in pain.

How long has the paralysis lasted? Has it improved in any way?

@Lady Kelly. any recommendations on vets your way?

tagging in our h&i team for any advice @Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) @helen105281 @Freela @Abi_nurse @Elwickcavies @Jaycey

What is your piggies name?

hey there. I am so sorry for the delay in my reply, I haven't had the opportunity before now. Thank you so much again for your support - muffin is her name by the way! I will ask again about ongoing pain relief as rich didn't say this was offered. Her accident was in august, and initially she dragged both legs behind but she has some function in her left leg now and moves that when walking. Not full function but better than it was. There is some thinning of the fur on the top of her feet due to dragging but fur all intact on her tummy....

Will read all the other replies now and take advice, thank you so much again!

Hi Rachel

If you are able to travel a bit further, please consider seeing Simon and Kim Maddock at the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. They are general vets that only see cats, rabbits and small furries and are some of the most experienced guinea pig vets in the country. They see guinea pigs from as far as Scotland and the West Country. I see them from Coventry, if necessary by train. They have saved or prolonged the life of several of my own, as well as other forum members' piggies' lives on a number of occasions.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

As to steroids, please consider that steroids tend to slow down organs in rodents, unlike in other pet species. For this reason, they are not usually recommended and should be used by any vet only after carefully weighing up risks and benefits.
The Problems With Steroids And Why They Shouldn't Be Used.

Have your vets ever done a scan or x-ray to assess the damage from the fall?

As long as your girl is not in constant pain, she can still have enough quality of life. As long as she is begging for food and bright in herself, she has got the will to live.

You will have to take these aspects into account and if necessary discuss the relevant ones with a knowledgeable vet.

- Please keep your girl on soft vetbed bedding (can be found for sale online) to minimise the risk of sores and infection on the foot soles, especially bumble foot on the weight bearing front pads. Limited mobility can also cause other pressure spots on the other feet.
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis

- Change the bedding in her sleeping/sitting area daily or twice daily to prevent urine scald (balding and sore areas around the genitals and belly) and foot infections from sitting in urine. This is a pretty common problem in guinea pigs with limited mobility (back leg paralysis, arthritis or operation recovery).

- Keep water and hay (which should make 80% of the daily food intake) close by and accessible without the need to climb. I used to place hay on newspaper next to Nerys' cosy when she suffered temporary back leg paralysis for a few weeks. Feed pellets and veg in small quantities that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times daily, so they don't hang around.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

- Weigh once weekly to monitor the food intake; if you have concerns, please switch to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle (i.e. before breakfast or dinner).
Step in with offering top up feed if your girl loses more than 50g.
I offered Nerys extra mushed up pellets on a spoon and not via syringe. The moment she would have stopped eating by her own will during the worst of it, I whould have taken her for pts to spare her any further suffering. This was for me the critical measure for quality of life and the reason why I deliberately did not go down the syringe feeding route. It is very easy to get trapped into giving more support than you actually intend if it happens gradually.
It was very much touch and go with Nerys for a week, but somehow she pulled through and lived for another 4 months to celebrate her 8th birthday with me and my closest piggy friends. She never regained full mobility, but enough to get around the cage under her own steam and to enjoy her outings to the lawn.

- Discuss with your new vet the long term impact of the injuries once they have been assessed, so you can then make an informed decision about longer term care and where to draw the line. Discuss the need for pain management and the use of glucosamine if there are fractures in the bone to slow down any potential arthritis problems.

PS:
Nerys (on the right) is showing enough interest in food again. By that time, she is still getting top-up feed and as much water from a syringe as she wants to take several times a day. The hay is on newspaper for easy removal by me as long as Nerys has got only very limited mobility and is not yet able to leave her cosy.
View attachment 74145


I hope that this helps you?

Hi there. I can't say thank you enough for all the information and guidance above. It is so very helpful and much appreciated thank you. Hearing your story and gaining awareness of potential issues, how to prevent and manage these is great, and Nerys is beautiful x x . I could look at going to Northampton - our only issue right now is finances as my hubby isn't working due to ill health and although he loves the girls, I anticipate he wouldn't justify the travelling and expense for it. I would go to the end of the world and back but have to be realistic. He took her to the pdsa this time which was financially more viable than our vets - our vets did offer an X-ray for £150 which he wouldn't justify. She is begging for food, moving around, not fluffed up and seems to be her usual self mostly so I want to support her to have the quality of life I think she has now for as long as I can x x

 

[Rachellouise]

Was there ever any diagnostic assessments, like x-ray, at the time of the initial injury? I'm just wondering what the underlying pathology is... whether it's a bony issue, a nerve issue, etc. The fact that they are considering steroids suggests that they believe it is a nervous inflammation problem at this point. Unfortunately, guinea pigs tend not to do well with steroids (I did have a hedgehog who was on steroid injections for a nervous system disease with some results- but not being a rodent it was safer for him.) If the underlying issue is well-understood (i.e. there have been x-rays and you know this is a not a mechanical problem that can be repaired or treated surgically), then quality of life is going to be of the utmost importance. However, I would make sure I understood the root of the problem before making that decision. There may be more treatment options for a broken leg or a spinal injury that has healed poorly and I would want to rule out those kinds of issues before making any decisions.

Many thanks for your reply ..... my hubby took her initially after the accident in august and vet offered an x ray for £150 which he couldn't justify spending at that time as finances are tight for us sadly due to ongoing ill health and only myself at work. The steroids were suggested this week in response to Crustiness in her ears which vet said could be mites? Not related to any treatment for her semi paralysis as far as I understood from what my hubby said ... x

 

[Freela]

Many thanks for your reply ..... my hubby took her initially after the accident in august and vet offered an x ray for £150 which he couldn't justify spending at that time as finances are tight for us sadly due to ongoing ill health and only myself at work. The steroids were suggested this week in response to Crustiness in her ears which vet said could be mites? Not related to any treatment for her semi paralysis as far as I understood from what my hubby said ... x

As steroids are very hard on guinea pigs and shouldn't do anything for mites anyhow (there are safe insecticides for mites in guinea pigs, though), I definitely would not give steroids for that problem!

 

[Lady Kelly]

I think if finances are tight I would go to one of the vets4pets I mentioned.i've not used the Hinckley one but Oasby are very reasonably priced. I wouldn't go to chine house as you will pay a premium for it. I have also visited the cat and rabbit clinic in Northampton twice and found their costs to be reasonable too

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there And thank you again so much for your support and help today. Our gorgeous girl is called muffin! The accident happened in

hey there. I am so sorry for the delay in my reply, I haven't had the opportunity before now. Thank you so much again for your support - muffin is her name by the way! I will ask again about ongoing pain relief as rich didn't say this was offered. Her accident was in august, and initially she dragged both legs behind but she has some function in her left leg now and moves that when walking. Not full function but better than it was. There is some thinning of the fur on the top of her feet due to dragging but fur all intact on her tummy....

Will read all the other replies now and take advice, thank you so much again!



Hi there. I can't say thank you enough for all the information and guidance above. It is so very helpful and much appreciated thank you. Hearing your story and gaining awareness of potential issues, how to prevent and manage these is great, and Nerys is beautiful x x . I could look at going to Northampton - our only issue right now is finances as my hubby isn't working due to ill health and although he loves the girls, I anticipate he wouldn't justify the travelling and expense for it. I would go to the end of the world and back but have to be realistic. He took her to the pdsa this time which was financially more viable than our vets - our vets did offer an X-ray for £150 which he wouldn't justify. She is begging for food, moving around, not fluffed up and seems to be her usual self mostly so I want to support her to have the quality of life I think she has now for as long as I can x x

View attachment 74169

Muffin is scrumptious!

You can ask any vet clinic for their prices before you make an appointment.

Good vet care is unfortunately not cheap as - unlike the NHS - you have to pay fully for expensive equipment and medication, location rent and staff salaries. Because the NHS is free, we are usually not quite aware just how much health care actually costs. Even the PDSA can only provide basic care at low prices, but not any further investigations and treatments.