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Alfie's Leg

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Alfiemyboy

My alfie is 19 weeks old, he broke his leg 4 weeks ago and had a cast on it which was removed today at 5pm,leg healed well, poor thing was biting and kicking his box he is in and he has badly bitten his wee leg, rushed him to vets as he hs done a lot of damage an hour ago, my sister is a receptionist in local vets, and got emergency vet out...got anti inflammatry and anti biotic injection and cream, he also gave us a collar, but he is so stressed and still managing to bite foot and leg..... Vet says he will **** have to have it amputated, it looks like he is rejecting leg....

Got him wrapped in a blanket just to see if he will relax, so worried about him he is our first pet.... has anyone heard of guineas doing this to themselves after an injury to leg... and is there anything else we can do....to make him comfortable.... doing shift work with hubby so he is not biting his leg......all night.....

Alfies mum:(
 
Difficult though it is, try not to get distressed. Alfie has spent almost a quarter of his life with his leg in plaster. He will have got used to the weight of the plaster cast and now his leg will feel so light in weight that it will probably "flop around" for a while. There will have been some muscle wastage so maybe he will not be able to put his weight on it just yet. Without the plaster cast the hairs on his leg will have free movement and that will possibly cause an itch/scratch response.
I think that distraction therapy may help ie the offer of his favourite food if he starts to bite his leg. Of course, there is always the chance he will start to bite knowing he will be fed!
A gentle massage of his leg will help to stimulate muscle regeneration, ie physiotherapy. Maybe use something like Aloe Vera Ointment on the leg, it will help soften the skin. As you say the collar may cause more problems than it is worth.
I would expect that his problems would be of a temporary nature, I hope that amputation was not a serious suggestion.
 
Alfie

he has calmed a wee bit.... his leg is obviously sore! bleeding and when we put his cream on it is nipping.... so worrying, I hope it wont get amputated, he recovered from his break, when they thought it would not fix... wee fighter! he seems happy and I have had wee talk with him that he has to leave his leg alone to get better! then he can join his brother Monty! with hubby sitting getting attention got him in towel so he looks content, still want to stay with him all night to check him.... Like having babies all over again....... praying he recovers... x x x
 
Alfie

Poor wee man has had terrible night, he is still chewing at his leg, he has the vets in an hour. To try and massage would be difficult the leg is so raw. When we put his cream on he squeels, poor boy.... It's breaking my heart he is in so much pain...

Try to coax him to eat, he has had a wee lick of a grape, trying some of his nuggets, Jason (hubby has been with him all night and he is taking his water from him, but he just wants to chew his leg.......

Poor wee soul has been through the mill, just pray he gets better....
 
How did it go at the vets? Poor alfie and poor you and your hubby. sounds like you've had a stressful night :( I hope it went ok and that Alfie is on the road to recovery. I'm sending big hugs to all of you x xoxo
 
alfie

he got another injection, amputation not an option which is good, vet says keep doing what we are doing, he is sitting with me in a towel to distract him from chewing on his leg....

had couple of little purrs.... he has to go back to vet tomorrow, my local vet is brilliant.......
 
Sorry, just catching up with your thread.

I am glad that Alfie's not going to lose his legs. Keep on going!
I am so sorry for all yor upset; it is harrowing!
 
alfie

It is stressfull, but hopefully with a bit of tlc and cuddles I just hope he will make a good recovery... he is having wee fught with me as I type to get to his leg.....
 
alfie

It is stressfull, but hopefully with a bit of tlc and cuddles I just hope he will make a good recovery... he is having wee fight with me as I type to get to his leg.....
 
Alfie

Alfie is relaxed and settled wee bit he is asleep, beside Jason in a wee basket so hopefully medicine is kicking in to ease the pain
 

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Is he on any pain relief? I had a similar problem with a rabbit who broke her back leg chasing the cat in the garage, had to have a pin and plate after the cast was removed, she did so much damage to the leg it got infected and then had to have it amputated after 3 months of antibiotics unfortunately in the end. You are doing a wonderful job with him! Can he use the leg? Is it the back or the front leg?
 
Alfie

It is his back leg, he is not putting too much weight on it cant really put him down at the moment as soon as yo do that he keeps nibbling his leg

he has had an anti biotic jag an anti imflammatry and a pain releif he also has cream.... he just wont leave the leg alone, its so difficult cause we are holding him to try and avoid him geting at his leg, there is that musch damage you can nearlly seeing the bone.....

swelling has gone down wee bit... back to vets in the morning
 
Alfie

not really using leg when he is walking its up in the air so to speak.... then he just starts biting it
 
Oh i'm so sorry, i've just caught up with little Alfie's thread :(
Firstly loads of hugs and loves to you both, you must be at your wits end!
and special little healing loves and wheeeeeeeeks for Alfie xoxoxoxoxoxo
Keep positive if your vets are as good as you say it sounds like they have positive vibes too :)
You might like to chat to CCC4 (aka Laura) she does reiki, she might be able to suggest some things to you, i'm sure she wont mind you sending her a pm :)
Good luck and whee all be thinking of the little guy Alfie xxxxxxxxxx

COME ON LITTLE MAN xxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Thanks for the reference Glynis - funnily enough I have also been in a very similar situation medically!

One of my past boars, Charlie, attacked his hind foot after a minor operation on his eye. He went for two of his nails and chewed some of his toes up, I lost count of the emergency vet visits we made. Our ordeal lasted around 2 months, although I do believe Charlie's problem was caused by a localised nerve problem. We also tried the collar, which really did not go at all well! In the end it was bandaging the leg (refreshing the bandage daily) and mild physiotherapy that worked for us, even though the bandaging was against veterinary advice. (And the physiotherapy was never suggested!) Charlie was on Metacam daily for a good three months in all, his dose (as an adult pig) was 0.1ml twice daily.

Best of luck with little Alfie, do keep us updated.
 
Alfie

Thanks for the info, he is still trying to nibble his leg.... been sitting with him all day to try and deter him from biting it... think his injectons are wearing off now and he is getting morre stressed to get at his leg.... Its such a shame.... he definatelt could do with a bandage...... Getting stressed myself now, as you can see the stress on him..... he has started eating some food..... my sister mention sour spray but dont really want to use that with such an open wound...

what a day.... please tomorrow be a better day for alfie x x x
 
Alfie

Bacl at vets todaay with alfie anothe injection, still biting at leg but he seems contented with his brother monty at moment so he is happy they are talking to each other... he is eating his foof better today.... back to vets tomorrow....
 
I hope that things will get better slowly, but surely!

Thanks for the update. You must be so frustrated at times!
 
Alfie

Slowly is the word! The little man will not leave his leg alone....
Going to be difficult day, as he will be on his own whilst we are at work....

Hopefully it will get better, but it is frustrating..... put loads of toys in box that he is in might deter him from his leg. ( wishfull thinking). loads of brocolli which is his fav!
 
awwwwwwww little Alfie whee do hope that you forget about your leg (please oh please) and start to be interested in food and playing with your mate Monty x)x)
Good idea putting the broccoli in with him :)
more loves and healing wheeeeeks for that leg of his xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
Alfie

Not to say I have been ill at work whole day.... came home Alfie was in his cardboard tube.... Automatically thought the worst......

But no he was hiding he is quite lively and running in and out of his tube so hopefully he is over the worst, leg still swollen and he has vets later but chomping away on his brocolli in and out his tube and he is making happy noise i think.....

Just thought he would of chewed his leg really bad when we had left him but no....

Relief x x x
 
AWWWW - you must have been minus the weight of the whole Alps when you came home and saw Alfie out and about and cheerful like that!

Get better yourself as well!
 
Alfie

I was ill at work work with worry, I had a cat and dog when I was little but as a mum this is our first pets boys are 8 9 11 so thought they are old enough they has been asking for years, its like having another three kids alfie monty and phoebe the rabbit.... you worry about them just as much as kids.....

But so releived Alfie is hopefully on the mend he is still at vets just now so hopefully will have more news in a while....

A lady at my husbands work, is giving us some T tree ointment tomorrow and says to bathe his foot in salty water... will give it a go if it speeds up his recovery...

Can I just thank everyone on here for all their friendly advice and words of encouragement... I am so glad I joined this forum....
 
I am keeping my fingers crossed that Alfie has turned the corner now!

I am so grateful for the people on here as well; they were such a great support when Llewelyn was waiting for a possible bladder op over Easter (I was worried sick, as I had lost another piggy to that particular ailment) and again when Dizzy was dying in July.
 
Alfie

Alfie's leg has got better, still has scab on it but he is now using it a bit better and is running about thanks for all the support it was such a worry, aw we thought he was going to lose his leg:)
 
I am SOOO relieved to hear that he is making it! I can only guess at how many mountain ranges have fallen from your heart!

He should get better the more he uses his legs.
 
So glad he is on the mend and clever enough to leave his leg alone to heal! Hope this little man does not put you through the worry mill again anytime soon!
 
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