Back legs splay

[timmypiggy]

Hi there I adopted a new guinea pig called Lou as a side-by-side companion for my sister’s guinea pig. He seems to struggle a bit with hardwood floors when it comes to his back legs. They kind of splay out briefly before he gets his footing. He went to the vets for a checkup last week and they told me he was overweight and that might be causing his balance difficulties but idk I don’t want him to lose weight he looks like a normal weight to me Picture attached of how his back legs splay. In pic he is just resting but thats what both of his back legs do on hardwood before he starts to walk normally occassionally slipping a bit. Arthritis?

 

[CTWC]

Hi there what a fab photo.
What does he weigh?
I wonder if this is only happening on wooden flooring if he just can't grip mine slide sometimes if they get onto the correct at cleaning time but I'm no expert at all I'm merely suggesting an idea

 

[Piggies&buns]

The only way to know if a piggy is a good size for themselves is by checking their heft.
The number on the scales does not tell you whether they are under or overweight; it only tells you whether they are eating enough hay for stable weight.

You check the heft by placing your fingers around their ribs.
If you cannot feel the ribs then they are overweight.
If you feel the rib with no fat layer then they are under weight
If you can just feel the ribs but still a nice fat layer then they are a good size for themselves

I also wonder whether it is just a case of it being difficult to grip on the floor.
Does he walk like that in his cage?

We couldn’t comment on whether he has arthritis - it only tends to happen in older piggies (you haven’t said his age)

Weight-monitoring-and-management

 

[piggieminder]

Mine don't walk well on our wooden floor. I have some carpet off cuts and large fleece cage liner I put down if they have floor time so they can walk.

 

[timmypiggy]

The only way to know if a piggy is a good size for themselves is by checking their heft.
The number on the scales does not tell you whether they are under or overweight; it only tells you whether they are eating enough hay for stable weight.

You check the heft by placing your fingers around their ribs.
If you cannot feel the ribs then they are overweight.
If you feel the rib with no fat layer then they are under weight
If you can just feel the ribs but still a nice fat layer then they are a good size for themselves

I also wonder whether it is just a case of it being difficult to grip on the floor.
Does he walk like that in his cage?

We couldn’t comment on whether he has arthritis - it only tends to happen in older piggies (you haven’t said his age)

Weight-monitoring-and-managemen

The only way to know if a piggy is a good size for themselves is by checking their heft.
The number on the scales does not tell you whether they are under or overweight; it only tells you whether they are eating enough hay for stable weight.

You check the heft by placing your fingers around their ribs.
If you cannot feel the ribs then they are overweight.
If you feel the rib with no fat layer then they are under weight
If you can just feel the ribs but still a nice fat layer then they are a good size for themselves

I also wonder whether it is just a case of it being difficult to grip on the floor.
Does he walk like that in his cage?

We couldn’t comment on whether he has arthritis - it only tends to happen in older piggies (you haven’t said his age)

Weight-monitoring-and-management

Hello — He weighs 1100 grams. He feels lighter to me than he did 3 weeks ago but it may be my own mind I just feel generally worried for him afraid I’ll miss something. I examined for heft and felt ribs, and what I think is a thin fat layer. The ribs were not sharp but I did feel them.

He is active and so friendly and such a curious sweet pig, very calm I can already see his positive effect on his potential cagemate when I see their interaction through the bars. If he gets spooked he hides and then comes out straight away to check out the scene. I’m prepping the neutral bonding area tomorrow and I just want him to be in optimal health.

 

[timmypiggy]

And he is 2 years old.