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Ellie - Dragging Back Legs

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helen105281 said:
Have you ever heard of DVT in pigs?
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I haven't, but doesn't mean it's not possible. We've had a few that are older which have had hind leg issues and they've had spinal lesions or spinal spondylosis which I don't think is that uncommon. Has she had a recent X-ray? Or it could be a flare up of arthritis as its winter and been chilly recently. Calcium crash would be unusual.

x
 
No she hasn't but I wil get one done if there is no improvement in the next few days. She doesn't seem to be in pain though and it came on all of a sudden. She doesn't have arthiritis as far as we are aware but it could be she has never had symptoms before. I think xray will be next step. Thank you.
 
i was going to say back/spine issues aswell. vet told me it's usually the main cause the majority of the time when the back end and legs go weak/they start lifting a foot/dragging legs etc.

hopefully an xray will shed more light. my rabbit bisc has spondylosis and is on high metacam for it twice a day. heat really helps soothe him and the vet taught me how to massage him correctly and that helps also. x
 
helen105281 said:
How were the lesions or spondylosis treated?
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Basically it's very similar to arthritis but of the spine, so not curable, we use pain relief to treat palitively. Occasionally you can get lesions of the spine which is usually because of cancer but can also be degenerative and also only really kept at bay with pain killers. Sometimes metacam isn't strong enough so tramadol or gabapentin is used. (In both cases).

Hope it's just a sprain or a bit of arthritic change with you lady though.

x
 
We have had her sat on the massage pad tonight with only the heat function on as I was worried that the massage would make the DVT move if that did turn out to be the cause. I am keeping her on pain relief for the weekend and will assess on Monday about if we need to book a scan (for the DVT possibility) or an xray. We are also giving her electrolytes as it is possibly linked to an imbalance from her heart meds. So covering all bases really. She is bright in herself and eating well, she can also put weight on it when she sits, it is literally just walking that is an issue. Ross thinks there is a bit more movement there today when he moved the leg and there was also a slight reaction on the pinch test. I have had some help from an old friend today too which I really appreciated.

Here she is anyway, sat on the warm massage pad.

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Keeping Ellie in our thoughts Helen and sending you and Ross lots of hugs and love. I think an xray as you have said may help shed some more ideas on it.
x x
 
When this happened to my piggy, the vet was specialised in small animals and this is what she did. She checked the legs for fractures and in the stomach she found a lump. It was nothing too nasty, it was a hernia that came out due to a rip in the muscle wall which was probably caused from injury to the spine which was what caused her legs to stop working. She examined her back foot and I think she gently stuck her nail between the toes to which my Guinea pig responded showing that she could still feel her foot although it was cold. Meta am and meloxidyl can cause diarrhoea so if this happens, stop veggies and make sure she is hydrated, syringe feeding water if necessary. As long as she has no fractures, gently massaging the leg should help her recover and try not to let her drag it as this will only cause more damage. Maybe try gently pushing your nail between her toes to see if she flinches or tries to pull away. This will see if she has any feeling in her foot. Btw this will not hurt them if you do it gently. Crossing my fingers for you and Ellie
 
Everything crossed for Ellie. Love the pic of her on the heat pad.
 
Charlotte01 said:
When this happened to my piggy, the vet was specialised in small animals and this is what she did. She checked the legs for fractures and in the stomach she found a lump. It was nothing too nasty, it was a hernia that came out due to a rip in the muscle wall which was probably caused from injury to the spine which was what caused her legs to stop working. She examined her back foot and I think she gently stuck her nail between the toes to which my Guinea pig responded showing that she could still feel her foot although it was cold. Meta am and meloxidyl can cause diarrhoea so if this happens, stop veggies and make sure she is hydrated, syringe feeding water if necessary. As long as she has no fractures, gently massaging the leg should help her recover and try not to let her drag it as this will only cause more damage. Maybe try gently pushing your nail between her toes to see if she flinches or tries to pull away. This will see if she has any feeling in her foot. Btw this will not hurt them if you do it gently. Crossing my fingers for you and Ellie
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It's almost impossible to stop her dragging it though as she wants to be active, she is her usual self, eating well etc it is literally just that her leg doesn't work. The right one does seem a lot better. Her foot is normal temperature too and there is a slight reaction on a pinch test. We don't think she is in pain. Her poos are normal aswell. Going to give her her water therapy in a bit and then put her on the heat pad and massage her legs. Calling the vet Monday morning to arrange xray etc. Keeping up with the Dioralyte too as one of the suspected issues is Hyperkalemia which is a potassium imbalance usually due to heart meds.
 
Not really but she is not any worse either. The right leg is definitely better than the left. She is having an x-ray tomorrow. She is still eating well etc.
 
The vets have advised pts as she is beginning to get urine scald from sitting the way she does, even on vet bed. Going there at 11.30 to be with her. Nothing could be found on the x-ray but they are not happy for her to continue as she is.
 
if she is happy within herself and would tolerate daily handling, then sometimes urine scald can be avoided by shaving the fur down, and applying a barrier cream to the skin which is then washed off daily and re-applied again. it might be worth considering maybe short term to see how she does? usually it's something like e45 cream that is used. i've no experience of it myself but have heard of it being used by other people. x
 
I did consider that as we have used Bepanthen before but she has been pts. Someone very rightly pointed out that if she can't do all things piggy then it is time to say goodbye. I was just struggling with her being so well in herself but it would have been delaying the inevitable.
 
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