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Guinea pig is biting his feet and dragging his back legs

Rosiemarshall13

Rosiemarshall13

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone, I’ve recently got a guinea pig and he is about 4 weeks old. I’m quite worried because one morning he started dragging his back legs and has been doing so ever since. Also he’s biting his feet, I took him to the vets and they checked him out and gave him a steroid type injection. He’s eating fine, pooing fine and drink little water but isn’t moving round much and is biting his feet so bad that they’re bleeding. It looks as if his nails have been pulled out by himself. I spoke to a vet and they said that if his legs are paralysed he might be doing that because he can’t feel his legs... I’m just worried and would like some advice please
 
Rosiemarshall13 said:
Hi everyone, I’ve recently got a guinea pig and he is about 4 weeks old. I’m quite worried because one morning he started dragging his back legs and has been doing so ever since. Also he’s biting his feet, I took him to the vets and they checked him out and gave him a steroid type injection. He’s eating fine, pooing fine and drink little water but isn’t moving round much and is biting his feet so bad that they’re bleeding. It looks as if his nails have been pulled out by himself. I spoke to a vet and they said that if his legs are paralysed he might be doing that because he can’t feel his legs... I’m just worried and would like some advice please
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Please gently bandage the feet so your piggy can't bite them and if possible see a vet with more experience with guinea pigs.
Biting is generally a sign of pain/discomfort, especially when the bood supply is affected; which could be another explanation.
Has the vet checked for any injury to the spine?

Be aware that guinea pigs, like all rodents, should not be given steroids. The Problems With Steroids And Why They Shouldn't Be Used.

Make sure that your baby is eating and drinking, and if necessary please supplement feed. Be aware that over 80% of the needs to be hay, so he has to have that next to him. Monitor his weight daily.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Because of his young and still extremely vulnerable age, I am linking in the baby feeding guide as inexperienced syringe feeding can cause pneumonia for tips on what to use when support feeding with recovery formula or - in case of an emergency - with mushed pellets if you boy is showing signs of weight loss in the coming days. Please be aware that at his young age, his immune system is not yet fully developed and he also doesn't yet have the body mass to withstand illness well.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...pport-feeding-orphans-and-tiny-babies.159468/
More information in support feeding care in this guide here; just do not syringe into his mouth, please!
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Care and what to look out for via this link here: Emergency and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Keep the area he is in clean and change the bedding twice daily. Gently wipe his bum and genitals with a soft rag dipped in baby warm water as he can no longer clean himself.

Is your just weaned baby a single or does he have company of his own kind?
 
Hi thanks so much for the advice, I’m going to take him to the vet tomorrow. Also, he was with a bigger guinea pig and they got along well, but since he’s injured himself, we’ve had to separate them just in case he accidentally sits on him or something. So at the moment, he’s just with me, and my sister is looking after the bigger one. I’ve been searching online and his foot is looking similar to bumblefoot, I’ve been giving him baths to keep him clean in warm water and speacial shampoo for guinea pigs as he couldn’t wash himself properly. I’ll attach a photo of his foot. I’ve just bathed him so he’s still a bit wet at the minute.hes been biting his toe as I was typing this message, any chance he gets heel be biting his foot.
 

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Rosiemarshall13 said:
Hi thanks so much for the advice, I’m going to take him to the vet tomorrow. Also, he was with a bigger guinea pig and they got along well, but since he’s injured himself, we’ve had to separate them just in case he accidentally sits on him or something. So at the moment, he’s just with me, and my sister is looking after the bigger one. I’ve been searching online and his foot is looking similar to bumblefoot, I’ve been giving him baths to keep him clean in warm water and speacial shampoo for guinea pigs as he couldn’t wash himself properly. I’ll attach a photo of his foot. I’ve just bathed him so he’s still a bit wet at the minute.hes been biting his toe as I was typing this message, any chance he gets heel be biting his foot.
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Poor boy! That looks very sore!

Please discuss bandaging with your vet so your boy can't do any more permanent damage to his feet.
Take a deep breath; it is NOT bumblefoot but your boy nibbling off the quick of his toes and causing some infection/swelling in the toes, or nibbling on the toes because of the discomfort that has also caused the swelling.

You may also want to discuss how much the digestion/gut movement is impacted by the loss of mobility, as that can be crucial for the longer term and his quality of life.

All the best!
 
Ohh dear, okay I will dedicately mention that! He is eating fine and drinking fine, it’s just the dragging his legs and biting his feet which are a very worrying.. what else could this be? Could he be like this forever? I’m worried in case he might pass away, he’s just a baby! :(
 
Rosiemarshall13 said:
Ohh dear, okay I will dedicately mention that! He is eating fine and drinking fine, it’s just the dragging his legs and biting his feet which are a very worrying.. what else could this be? Could he be like this forever? I’m worried in case he might pass away, he’s just a baby! :(
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I’m also worried that they’ll put him to sleep, I don’t want him to suffer though :(
 
Could you get to Northampton to see Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic? They both having amazing guinea pig knowledge and if anyone can get to the bottom of what's going on, they can. People travel from all over the UK to see them, with their piggies

www.catandrabbit.co.uk
 
Definitely look into bandaging the legs. I imagine dragging them around in urine and bedding would make them quite sore, which might be why he's biting them. You would need a guinea pig specialist at least for an issue like this, as it's hardly a common problem. I hope you can find help with your boy x
 
Poor liitle chap :{ I hope you can get him to a gp vet. Me and my piggies are sending him healing vibes x
 
Wow... he looks to be doing some damage there. I agree with trying to get the vet to bandage them so it's harder for him to get at them. I agree to see a vet who specializes in guinea pigs... I would wonder about a spinal injury or something of that nature. Have any x-rays been done?
 
Owch poor boy that looks sore! :(

Is he dragging both legs or just the one that's damaged?
Hopefully if it's just that one it's being dragged because of the pain, if it's both legs being dragged then as the others have suggested it could be a spinal/nerve problem.
This would be more of a serious issue in that case, but Betsy above has successfully treated her Christian for an unexplained, sudden onset paralysis.
Christian was at emergency vet appointment this morning!

Please keep him on a soft clean bedding until it's healed up, preferably vetbed or if not fleece on top puppy pads.

Also if you keep him confined in a small'ish area so he can't do more damage to himself. If it is spinal/nerve related.

Looks like he'll need painkillers & quite a high dose of them.
Loxicom is the usual one prescribed. There's dog & cat versions (the dog one is 3x stronger) make sure you question the vet that they've given you the higher or maximum dose for the version they've prescribed.

As he's a newbie youngster, was he kept on wire or meshed flooring where you got him from & possibly caught his toes in that, or in a cage that he's tried to climb up & caught it in that?

Please see a Guinea savvy vet, there's the recommended vet locater on here in the menu/on toolbar which will help you find the best one in your area.

Please go very careful if you have to bandage his feet, as they mustn't be done too tight or this will create a new set of issues & the wound looks like it will need to breath, although it must be kept clean & free of infection too.
He may be prescribed an antibiotic such as Baytril to fight any infection.
although this could cause a lack of appetite & gut mobility problems, but pre/probiotics 1.5-2hrs after the antibiotics will help keep his good gut bacteria at a healthy level & reduce the risk of digestive problems too.
Have a look at the links Wiebke has provided ref syringe feeding & young Guineas if u do need to assist him in feeding safely they're very useful & informative guides. :)

Try & feed items such as red bell peppers to keep his vitamin c levels up & cucumber to keep him hydrated if you can.

Also if you ask the vet to check for lice & mites too, to make sure he's not just been scratching because of them and caught his feet/toenails that way?

There's nothing to suggest your baby should be PTS & there are options to explore before you even have to consider it.
If a vet suggests it as an early option, then please find another vet quickly!

Keep us updated & hope you can get him sorted. It may be a long process though.
Keep up your good work & TLC :tu:

Healing vibes being sent your way for a full & speedy recovery. :hug:
Love the girls & I xx
 
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