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Back Legs - I Probably Don’t Want The Answer To This But

Katiedid

Katiedid

Adult Guinea Pig
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Binky - runt of the litter. Small cute very very gentle and people orientated. Looked like a mouse not a Guinea Pig when we got her. 2 weeks ago was bowled over by Ziggy and has been limping since (seen vet twice).

But ever since we got her she has done this weird tummy thing. She lets her back legs out behind her as she walks then pulls her body along for above or 2 before pulling her legs back under and continuing on.

This isn’t normal is it?
 
I really don't think I'm experienced enough to answer this. How long have you had piggies for in total?
 
Jet - and his brother 4 years Binky 2 months - she is only a baby (we got the babies to keep jet company when Dozy died).

There may be no answer it’s like when a dog stretches out. None of the others do it. The nearest is jet who stretches his back legs one by one.
 
Katiedid said:
Jet - and his brother 4 years Binky 2 months - she is only a baby (we got the babies to keep jet company when Dozy died).

There may be no answer it’s like when a dog stretches out. None of the others do it. The nearest is jet who stretches his back legs one by one.
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Fair enough. I was thinking that you might have enough experience to know whether it is normal but its not like you've been through huge amounts of piggies. I can't say I've noticed anything like this but then I wonder if I haven't noticed because its not happening or whether its because its not overly noticeable
 
Betsy said:
What does your vet think?
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the vet thinks her injury is a hip injury (she went flying when Zig ran into her rolling right over) and to give it a little more time - to be honest with all the other issues we have had I had ignored the stretch as just Binky but I’m now wondering whether it’s part of the reason she was so easily injured.
 
Lady Kelly said:
Fair enough. I was thinking that you might have enough experience to know whether it is normal but its not like you've been through huge amounts of piggies. I can't say I've noticed anything like this but then I wonder if I haven't noticed because its not happening or whether its because its not overly noticeable
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yep I’m wondering whether I just haven’t noticed but her leg injury has made it more noticeable.
 
How often does it happen? Is it like a few steps and then back to normal? Most my pigs don't do it but Bella is a serial stretcher, she often stretches her back legs out for a few steps before carrying on about her business. Is it something like that?
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
How often does it happen? Is it like a few steps and then back to normal? Most my pigs don't do it but Bella is a serial stretcher, she often stretches her back legs out for a few steps before carrying on about her business. Is it something like that?
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that is it but with her belly on the floor. She just came up to me got a stroke and was flat out - she seemed to he comfortable and stretched her legs out. She has probably done it 3 times while out on the floor in the last hour and a half but in the cage it’s not that often.
 
Ok - she was on the rug and I went over to catch her and stroked down her back- she did the submissive flat pig then stretched out. I wonder as she is bottom of the pack if it’s extreme submission. It was purposeful. She is now in the cage running around popcorning.
 
Katiedid said:
I wonder as she is bottom of the pack if it’s extreme submission. It was purposeful.
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Could be I suppose. Meg is the bottom of the pack here but I have never observed that behaviour just heard the worlds loudest submissive wheaks like she's being murdered!
 
I guess unless she's in pain it may just be behavioural? If in doubt you could always carefully check her hip movement and see if it hurts? I'm sure she's fine though! Probably just a quirk :D
 
She doesn’t seem in pain. I’m not that keen on trying her hips given my current streak of luck! If Ziggy ends up going in then Binky can keep her company and I’ll get them to do an X-ray. I do wonder if being the runt she is a erm how do I put this - little backwards.
 
Katiedid said:
She doesn’t seem in pain. I’m not that keen on trying her hips given my current streak of luck! If Ziggy ends up going in then Binky can keep her company and I’ll get them to do an X-ray. I do wonder if being the runt she is a erm how do I put this - little backwards.
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Bella is the runt haha maybe it's a runt thing :)) My Tonks is a bit odd with her quirks too, I think all my lot are a bit nuts XD
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
Bella is the runt haha maybe it's a runt thing :)) My Tonks is a bit odd with her quirks too, I think all my lot are a bit nuts XD
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Biscuit is the only one I would class as normal. When Biscuit has been ill (so unable to keep the others in line) I have been known to say to hubby what the f are the idiot tribe doing now?
 
Rosie does something like what you've described. He's walking normally, and suddenly he just starts moving only his front legs, stretches his body to a maximum and then is completely flat on the floor, from the tip of his nose to his toes. This is usually accompanied by happy purring, and then he gets up and popcorns away. He has arthritis, but his body language definitely suggests he's happy and comfortable while doing it, so I'm not concerned.
 
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