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Arthritis In The Spine And Knees - Advice Needed Please

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helen105281 said:
It is but I can't for the life of me remember what group it was. If I remember I will try to do tonight as can't access Facebook at work. It may have been Guinea Pig Fun.
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piggyfan said:
Badger is very lucky to have such a loving mum. A cart sounds really helpful for him.
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Thank you both :D. As always, we were very lucky to meet Badger. He helped us over the loss of our other lovely guinea pig (Shui), and more importantly from the beginning he was just attached to us, following us everywhere (I mentioned before that I have a slightly different set-up for my piggies with open cages). Quite a wonderful little gentleman, I would never regret adopting him, I just regret not having him when he was younger so that I would have had him for a longer time.
 
I have been going through my Facebook but still can't work out what group or page it was. It could even be something a friend shared. Will update if I find it.
 
20140617_160645.webp Just a wee update: After two months of intensive physiotherapy, loxicom, feeding him probiotics (poo and biolapis), building him a cart and more, Badger walks again! It's a bit of a miracle, even Glenn at Apex couldn't quite believe it. We really thought he would be paralysed for the rest of his life. At one point, he even lost control over his bladder and we had to keep him ultra clean. Below is a picture of our cart for him, a little video of him walking and a lovely picture of him lying in one of his favourite spots again. Thanks for all the help, we did give him osteocare towards the end as well, so that might have helped. We are really over the moon, as he probably would have been a "put to sleep" candidate with most other vets, but Apex particularly Glenn have been marvellous.

We have a last appointment in July, after which he may be able to come off the loxicom (as a trial) and he definitely will come off the antibiotics (no nystagmus episode for almost 4 weeks now).

Just thought, this might be a good story to share for anyone else with a paralysed pig. It took a long time, but he recovered his ability to walk. I must admit, we spent a lot of money, because of all his different issues, but it was fully worth it. He absolutely loves his life.

Edit: Couldn't attach the video




20140613_190533.webp
 
piggyfan said:
That is fantastic! Your love and care has got Badger through this.
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Thanks piggyfan, that's much appreciated. I know we were lucky as well, Badger is a fighter, he never stopped eating (well only once) and we were lucky that we found Glenn at Apex.
 
Cyberpig some info if you havent seen the thread on astro and star. Star has just been operated on for a suspected abcess. Turned out it was a blood clot from a burst cyst. This was internal in the neck. We suspect that when inflamed the cyst presses on the spine. Hence metacam works.
 
hi there I know Glenn and have been to him with my own piggies, he is great, arthritis is a horrible condition, my 7year old mica and 4 year old luke both have it, I help them with a little metacam, and hydrotherapy in my bath, and if badger is on sawdust this may not help him, I use fleece bedding and teabag bedding from pet hut in livingston, its soft and comfy for them.

hope this helps

donna xx
 
I have a guinea pig spike, who had pneumonia in april and it left him brain damaged, he still shouts for his veg and he eats plays as normal, only thing is he cannot control his head. might pop in to see glenn with him soon see if there is anything we can do. I agree I love the vets at apex, they listen to you, and they get straight to the root of the problem. I recommend apex, everything i have learned about piggies, I learned from apex.

so glad your little one is doing well, xx
 
karonus said:
Cyberpig some info if you havent seen the thread on astro and star. Star has just been operated on for a suspected abcess. Turned out it was a blood clot from a burst cyst. This was internal in the neck. We suspect that when inflamed the cyst presses on the spine. Hence metacam works.
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Hi Karonus, no I haven't looked recently at your thread about Star. I will have a look. Thank you :). His arthritis was pretty extensive when we looked at the x-rays, but it wouldn't hurt suggesting different causes to Glenn. I have another appointment with Badger next week, so I might mention this.
 
boarding service said:
hi there I know Glenn and have been to him with my own piggies, he is great, arthritis is a horrible condition, my 7year old mica and 4 year old luke both have it, I help them with a little metacam, and hydrotherapy in my bath, and if badger is on sawdust this may not help him, I use fleece bedding and teabag bedding from pet hut in livingston, its soft and comfy for them.

hope this helps

donna xx
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Hi Donna, thank you. I've never heard of teabag bedding, must investigate further. Badger is not bedded on sawdust, we use woolen blankets, fleece and other absorbent materials that can be washed. We also don't have him in a permanent cage, my animals always had the option to leave their cage on their own volition and run around. Their food is in a different room to their sleeping arrangements, this is why I'm a bit upset that he has ended up with arthritis. He was very active, and had loads of exercise all his life. We also don't feed muesli or excessive amounts of pellets. He eats loads of hay (hence the abscess wasn't due to a tooth problem).

boarding service said:
I have a guinea pig spike, who had pneumonia in april and it left him brain damaged, he still shouts for his veg and he eats plays as normal, only thing is he cannot control his head. might pop in to see glenn with him soon see if there is anything we can do. I agree I love the vets at apex, they listen to you, and they get straight to the root of the problem. I recommend apex, everything i have learned about piggies, I learned from apex.

so glad your little one is doing well, xx
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Thank you, and Spike sounds like a wonderful character. I hope something can be done with him, but if he is still eating and playing as normal, then things should be fine. The good thing about brain damage is there is that there is that the brain has amazing recovery (plasticity) powers, and other areas of the brain can take over. I keep my fingers firmly crossed for you.

I'm happy to join in the "We love Apex and Glenn fanclub". I've never met vets like him and Douglas. They are caring, they also take you serious, we are allowed to look at the x-rays and he really cares about the animals and he really wanted Badger to get well, and he really likes guinea pigs.

On another matter, I'm only 1 1/2 miles from your location and I was going to contact you at some point. We cannot go on holiday with our menagerie, and were looking for suitable boarding situations etc. for maybe next year sometime :).
 
thank you cyberpig, and I am very fussy about keeping piggies in their cages myself, good for you, for letting them have the run, I have so many dominate piggies that they have to wait their turn to get out LOL, my boarders live in 6ft hutches inside, and some outdoors, my mica is doing fine, he gets barbered by ruby the alpaca piggie, and his teeth are always overgrown, but he still loves life and is the first one to the veg,spike is doing fine as well, he loves a good play, with the other piggies.

hope badger is doing well, and my mobile number is 07528002422, and my website is http://thesmallfurryholidayhotel.weebly.com and my facebook page is: www/facebook.com/furryfriendsholidayhotel, please note that large groups of pets get discounts.

I also do grooming, and nail clipping for your little one's.

thank you donna wilson
 
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