Guinea Pig Limping

[Zar-Zar]

I noticed this morning when I went down to feed my guineas that one was limping. She hopped around, almost like popcorning, in order to not use one forepaw so much. The injured paw was tucked up against her chest most of the time. I don't know how this happened since she was fine last night after I put her back in her cage. She seems to be in discomfort, especially when I was checking out her injured leg. She's 6 years old (oh and her name is Kiwi )

What is the difference between a guinea pigs actions when they have just a sprained/bruised forepaw and a broken one?

Also, I've attached a picture below of their hay feeder (from online, but its the same one as in their cage). Could this be dangerous for guinea pigs? I was thinking about how you aren't supposed to have wire floor cages and I was was wondering if this was similar to that. Maybe she could have gotten her paw stuck in it?

 

[helen105281]

I would change the hay feeder if possible as there have been cases where pigs have been injured by similar ones, they can get legs. heads stuck etc. You can get fleecy hay bags which keep the hay off the floor and allow them to pull the hay through the holes at the front but I also like to give mine a big pile to burrow in, so they have the best of both worlds - nice fleecy areas and then a big pile of hay to jump in.

As for her leg, it really needs a diagnosis by a vet and she is likely to need pain relief. Do you have access to a vet that will see a guinea pig?

 

[Zar-Zar]

@helen105281 Thanks for the quick response. I'll remove the hay feeder now and make sure they have a much more fun and comfortable way at accessing hay. I bet they'd love both the soft fleece and giant hay mound!

Yes, I'll book an appointment right away. Sadly, I've had guinea pig health issues before, but at least it has allowed me to discover a reliable and knowledgeable vet.

 

[helen105281]

That's great you have a good vet, I know some members in the US have struggled to find a vet that will treat pigs.

Enjoy the walking hay piles

 

[Zar-Zar]

It was quite difficult to find one at first - which I find very upsetting. I know a lot of people who have guinea pigs as pets, but access to vets is very limited.

Those hay piles will be quite a joy to clean up after I know they've cheekily peed on them xD Sometimes I swear they do it just to spite me!

Is there any way I can make my injured guinea more comfortable until the appointment? I've left her in her cage instead of having floortime with her friend but her cage is rather big (which is a good thing normally). I'm scared she'll move around too much and injure herself more. I'm probably going to put in something comfortable which hopefully she'll snuggle down into but I don't know what else I can do at the moment.

 

[gizzy]

Many many years ago , one of my pigs stepped on a sleepy wasp and was stung ,
it is that long ago that I do nor fully remember what my vet did ? I think he examined it with a lage magnifin glass whilst gently scraping the pad

I think he told me to soak in bicarbonate of soader ,


But you must go to your vet as biferent bees and wasps are armrped with different
types of sting , some with barbs that may need removing by an expert .
My pig was lucky , no barb was found .

 

[MooMoo&Nibbles]

I'm live in the us and have to drive 40mins out to our vet

 

[helen105281]

It was quite difficult to find one at first - which I find very upsetting. I know a lot of people who have guinea pigs as pets, but access to vets is very limited.

Those hay piles will be quite a joy to clean up after I know they've cheekily peed on them xD Sometimes I swear they do it just to spite me!

Is there any way I can make my injured guinea more comfortable until the appointment? I've left her in her cage instead of having floortime with her friend but her cage is rather big (which is a good thing normally). I'm scared she'll move around too much and injure herself more. I'm probably going to put in something comfortable which hopefully she'll snuggle down into but I don't know what else I can do at the moment.

Is there a vet you can speak to over the phone? they may be able to recommend some pain relief until you can get her there?

 

[Zar-Zar]

@gizzy That sounds very painful for your poor guinea pig, I'm glad to hear everything worked out alright. Kiwi hasn't been outside recently (I let them out on the floor inside) but bees and other insects have flown in through the window before.

@MooMoo&Nibbles It takes that long for me as well. It's ridiculous. For some people its even longer. If the one about 40 min away from me hadn't been any good then I'd have to drive about 1 1/2 - 2 hours for the next one that treated guinea pigs.

@helen105281 I'll do that, I have some left over pain medication so I'll read off the prescription to the vet and ask if it's alright to use. I just checked on Kiwi again and she seems worse. She's lying down now and resting on her chin/chest so that neither of her front paws have to take any weight. I'm a little scared that both of her front paws are injured. She's eating but is all fluffed out and looks in a lot of pain. She also has begun squeaking in pain whenever she moves. This is horrible to watch and just wait for the appointment time.

 

[helen105281]

Hopefully the vet will agree to you giving that. Do you know when your appointment is likely to be?

 

[gizzy]

Hi just looked in my med cabe , box still there

vet gAve me a special veterinary syptic paste to rub on the pad just in case
it was one of the wasp stings that come out but leave an iritating toxin
pig was fine In a few days

Vet visit most important. As if not treated it could get a lot worse

 

[Zar-Zar]

@helen105281 The earliest appointment is tomorrow morning. I checked and it turns out I did use all of the pain medication, I have some eye cream left but that obviously won't be any help in this situation. They said that they can give me pain medication tomorrow during the appointment. Kiwi seems like she is in so much pain... If I try to touch her leg now she nips me, which I think is her way of telling me 'back off, that hurts!'. Is there any way that arthritis could be causing this? It seems to be hurting where her paw connects with her leg.

@gizzy Thanks, I've booked an appointment, I'm just scared of waiting overnight! I checked the pad of her foot and it didn't seem to be inflamed or red but maybe that will happen during the night.

 

[helen105281]

It is possible, but that would not have come on so suddenly. Is there any emergency vet you could use tonight?

 

[Zar-Zar]

@helen105281 I don't know one, but I'll look it up. I hope so.

I attached some pictures of Kiwi below, not that you can tell anything from them, but she is adorable. It's hard to tell in the photos but she's not putting weight on both her fore paws (even though I think only one is injured).

 

[helen105281]

She's beautiful. I hope you can get some help tonight.

 

[Huey Ling Tan]

poor thing! Sending healing vibes!

 

[gizzy]

She is buzzy munching hay , my order of yorkshire igns hay just arived , hopefully that will help keep her poos regular

 

[gizzy]

Is you pigs foot OK ?

 

[Zar-Zar]

Sorry for the long silence! I found some pain medication for my guinea pig and gave her some. Although she still sat resting her foot I could tell the difference very quickly, she started squeaking in response to food (like normal) and her eyes seemed brighter. The next morning I took her to the vet and they said that she had sprained her forepaw which is what I suspected. They prescribed her pain meds and said to restrict her movement and that improvement should show quickly. Already she is feeling a lot better and moving around more.

Thanks for everyone's help and healing vibes!

 

[lisahson]

hope her foot gets better soon

 

[Flutterby]

Sending healing vibes!