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Baby Guinea Pig Foot Problem

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Darren1uk

New Born Pup
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Hi Everyone, need abit of guidance so hoping I'd be able to get some on here.

I bought some Guinea pigs a few weeks back, unfortunately I had to get one put down due to a birth defect.

We chose to get another Guinea pig so that the other one won't be alone and we ended up buying the new one around 4-5 weeks old. The problem is that I have noticed that one of his front legs seems broke, bent, crooked etc.

He doesn't seem to show any pain what so ever, I have picked him up and felt his arm, which does feel bent and he clenches his hand constantly, he doesn't make noises or try to get me to stop. When he's on the floor he walks, runs etc but holds his arm up. He's eating and drinking and talking to the other Guinea.

I am just confused as to why his leg is bent, if it was broken, would he let me touch it and would he run etc. Just hoping it's nothing serious as I unfortunately had to spend £200 on the other Guinea pig to get put down only 2 weeks after buying it.

Any ideas, advice or guidance would be great.
 
I am very sorry, please have the leg seen by a very. If you are lucky, it is just a bad sprain, but it needs to be checked by a vet. Did he already come with the issue? Then you should be able to reclaim any vet cost from the shop.
 
We're not too sure if he came with it as he has seemed fine, he runs around etc. It's not really noticeable when he's stood, but I can see it when he comes out of the cage and runs around, he runs abit strange. We have only had this one for a week so I'm not having much luck with Guinea pigs.
 
Darren1uk said:
We're not too sure if he came with it as he has seemed fine, he runs around etc. It's not really noticeable when he's stood, but I can see it when he comes out of the cage and runs around, he runs abit strange. We have only had this one for a week so I'm not having much luck with Guinea pigs.
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It is certainly not a new break, as your boy would not be able to move around, but likely just a sprain somewhere on the leg, which can happen with lively piggies, especially when they are busy bonding.

One week is still in ther period where you can complain to a shop and should have any vet cost reimbursed. Shops and backyard breeders are generally not the best place to get guaranteed healthy piggies from. :(

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can help you better and don;t have to keep the advice as general as possible to fit for anybody around the globe. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!
 
That's what I thought, would a sprain still cause the leg to look bent? We bought him from a family selling some baby Guinea pigs which I don't think I would do again, we bought the other boy from pets at home which I had to get put down.

He does seem fine in himself and bursting off when you walk near him etc. Just I look online and it says they hide illnesses etc, I'm from Manchester in the Uk
 
I've just held him again to check, one arm is straight and the other is Bent, you can feel it bent, so it looks like it's broke but like already stated he doesn't squeal or bite me, so it doesn't seem to hurt him. I've read that deformations can happen during birth that can straighten up over time.
 
Darren1uk said:
That's what I thought, would a sprain still cause the leg to look bent? We bought him from a family selling some baby Guinea pigs which I don't think I would do again, we bought the other boy from pets at home which I had to get put down.

He does seem fine in himself and bursting off when you walk near him etc. Just I look online and it says they hide illnesses etc, I'm from Manchester in the Uk
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Could you post a picture? I can't make any judgement just from what you say.

Thanks for adding your location.
 
Hi, I've uploaded some photos, the arm is facing in front on the photos, kinda looks like the arm is going out to his side but it's not, his arm is quite floppy

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It just shows that he is not putting his weight on fully, but the leg is not at an awkward angle or so when he is walking; it is more of a matter of limping a bit?
 
When he walks, he doesn't seem to be limping, he seems to walk fine but obviously his arm doesn't look fine. This is what's so confusing.
 
You mean the wrist? It looks like it is at a bit of an angle.

I would have it checked out by a vet; if it is broken, then it looks like the break has healed and is pre-existing. It may be a birth defect, but only an x-ray can show that.
 
Yee is it his wrist? I wasn't sure as he is so small, yee well like I've said he jumped around, runs everywhere and it doesn't seem to bother him, which makes me think that it's something he's used to since birth. Think the person we bought him off didn't act on it. Poor thing
 
Poor little dude...

You have a great vet in Manchester, very knowledgable on pigs

Ashleigh Veterinary Centre
Aidan Raftery
221 Upper Chorlton Road
Manchester
, Lancashire M16 0DE
0161 881 6868

Welcome to the forum.
 
Thanks for the recommendation, I have already been there, had to get the other Guinea pig put down there. Took a rabbit there aswell, great vets
 
Sorry you have had a tough start to piggy keeping, anything we can do please ask...
 
We've still got one from the original two we bought, he's fine and loves the new guy, kinda adopted him as he is so small ahaha, so upsetting with the one we had put down, he was born with something wrong with his brain, causing him to have seizures and not walk etc. Happened so fast aswell, within 24 hours of first noticing symptoms we had him put down. Spent over £200 due to having to go out of hours vets
 
Darren1uk said:
We've still got one from the original two we bought, he's fine and loves the new guy, kinda adopted him as he is so small ahaha, so upsetting with the one we had put down, he was born with something wrong with his brain, causing him to have seizures and not walk etc. Happened so fast aswell, within 24 hours of first noticing symptoms we had him put down. Spent over £200 due to having to go out of hours vets
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It is always so upsetting to have them PTS, it never gets any easier. You did what was right for him and that is the final act of love we can show for any of our pets when they need us the most.

Please let us know how the foot vet visit goes.
 
So sorry about your little guy you lost :( It might not be much help now but if you got him from PAH I would approach the shop & see their manager to get them to reimburse the vet fees for you; it certainly is not good practice for them to sell poorly pets :( Hopefully your new little one's leg is nothing to worry about but I would get a vet to check him just in case.
 
It was a struggle watching him, there is an investigation at the moment for them to reimburse what we paid which is good.

Been the vets regarding the other guy, he had a broken arm. The vet reckons it had been broken since birth more than likely and it has re healed but clearly not in the correct position as it still looks broken.

Taking him to ashlieghs vets tomorrow as they are abit more specialised in exotic animals, hopefully something can be done.

Does anyone know if they are perfectly fine with a deformed/broken leg or would it be best to undergo surgery when he's older to try and straighten it and get it back looking normal.

Thankyou for everyone's help
 
Darren1uk said:
It was a struggle watching him, there is an investigation at the moment for them to reimburse what we paid which is good.

Been the vets regarding the other guy, he had a broken arm. The vet reckons it had been broken since birth more than likely and it has re healed but clearly not in the correct position as it still looks broken.

Taking him to ashlieghs vets tomorrow as they are abit more specialised in exotic animals, hopefully something can be done.

Does anyone know if they are perfectly fine with a deformed/broken leg or would it be best to undergo surgery when he's older to try and straighten it and get it back looking normal.

Thankyou for everyone's help
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Good stuff on vets tomorrow. They are a great vets so will certainly be able to advise on the best for your little dude going forward.
 
I suppose there could be lots of factors to consider, particularly the severity and location of any injury, however my boar had a historic break to his back leg when we got him. You can't really tell to look, but it feels very odd. It doesn't affect him at all as far as I can see. The rescue told us we weren't to have a ramp for him as part of the conditions of adoption in case he was a bit more vulnerable in terms of balance and likelihood to further hurt himself but he gets along fine.
 
I would just also say if the decision is made to amputate his leg I have seen guinea pigs managing quite well on 3 legs & as it's his front one it doesn't take too much of his weight & he's young, so he would adjust quickly :) Hope all goes well at the vets.
 
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