Can Someone Help Me - Unbalanced Walk

[Patricklfc]

OK so my guinea pig has been walking abit strange the past few days. She can still walk but just seems to lose her footing a fall abit. But she is still active and eating away. It started on Monday where I noticed her fall when walking but quickly regained herself. Then Tuesday and Wednesday was walking normal again. But I just noticed she's doing it again and I don't know why because she's eating away and drinking too. And she doesn't have any head tilt or anything it's just puzzling me. I'm very worried phoned the vet earlier about it the receptionist asked to explain so I did. She said she would ask the vet and get back to me on it but she didn't but she said it was busy there hope she will get in touch tomorrow. Sorry this is a massive message anyone's experience welcomed

 

[Wiebke]

OK so my guinea pig has been walking abit strange the past few days. She can still walk but just seems to lose her footing a fall abit. But she is still active and eating away. It started on Monday where I noticed her fall when walking but quickly regained herself. Then Tuesday and Wednesday was walking normal again. But I just noticed she's doing it again and I don't know why because she's eating away and drinking too. And she doesn't have any head tilt or anything it's just puzzling me. I'm very worried phoned the vet earlier about it the receptionist asked to explain so I did. She said she would ask the vet and get back to me on it but she didn't but she said it was busy there hope she will get in touch tomorrow. Sorry this is a massive message anyone's experience welcomed

Hi and welcome

Please have her seen by a vet tomorrow if that is possible. it seems like her balance affected somehow. Only a vet can figure out whether it is an ear infection, build up of wax or whether it is down to a neurological problem or a little stroke.
@Adelle @helen105281

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any advice to what is available, doable and relevant where you are. We have got members from all over he world. Please click on your username on the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes your location appear underneath your username in every post you make. Thank you!

 

[Patricklfc]

Thanks for the quick reply I checked on your forum or another about the nearest cavy savy vet and the nearest one was 60 miles away and I don't drive which isn't good. See I looked up stroked and stuff but wouldn't the damage be ongoing? Where as now she seems to be near normal again just a little bit slower. It's just coming and going which I just don't understand. Going to see if they ring me tomorrow if not I'll ring them and bring her over. She is definitely not her normal self though

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for adding your location. Small animal specialists not yet very common in Northern Ireland.
I have tagged more experienced members into your thread, so maybe they can come up with more avenues for your vet to consider.

 

[Adelle]

Hi!

Have you been weighing your Guinea pig? Is there any weight loss?

Something simple like inflammation of the inner ear could explain her symptoms and why they are coming and going. This could also happen from an infection.

There is a chance it could be something more sinister such as mild seizures (focal seizures can cause them to quickly black out and fall but then recover almost instantly) or stroke symptoms but try not to worry about anything like that until if and when you have to.

Ultimately she needs to see a vet though for diagnosis and treatment x

 

[Patricklfc]

Hi,
I know there isn't much specialist's here which worrys me more. Shame because there probably one of the best animal's I've ever known. The receptionist said they deal with small animals but I've did alot of digging myself on antibiotics they can't have and have it pictured on my phone wrecked. And hi Adelle too thanks for your replys my grammar isn't good like. I hope it's something minor not a seizure or stroke I'm getting depressed from it cause they become like your children. They hide it too but I noticed there her eyes are abit watery but she was just out there for about 20 mins eating hay and drinking walking as normal as can be it's confusing but I'm bringing her tomorrow no matter what

 

[Patricklfc]

Oh and sorry Adelle I don't weigh them don't even know how does human scales work?

 

[Adelle]

Oh and sorry Adelle I don't weigh them don't even know how does human scales work?

Because Guinea pigs hide their illness so well, weight loss is often the first sign that there's a problem. Weighing them helps us pick up
On problems early.

Normal digital kitchen scales are fine, as long as they go over 2kg :-)

 

[Patricklfc]

OK thank you so much will buy some to weigh her. I've lifted her earlier she feels about the same weight as she usually is. But I'm bringing her over to the vet tomorrow so hopefully they are experienced enough to tell me if anythings wrong. I'm thinking she's just getting old maybe not the spring chicken anymore but I'll see anyway. She's been acting normal again in sleeping away after getting veg and hay there and was moving normal. But I'll find out tomorrow :-)

 

[Patricklfc]

I went to the vet about 6, he said she looked normal and healthy checked her eyes, ears, feet and stuff so he said he can't see anything wrong her. But when he was checking her he wasn't gentle and didn't support the rump which was a joke. But he said if it was an infection or a stroke that I mentioned it wouldn't be coming and going. So he said just keep an eye on her and he would get the other vet to ring me who deals with guinea pigs more and pass on to him the information. It's crap though that you don't fully know they are qualified or not