• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Guinea pig limping

Gem789

Gem789

Forum Donator 2025/26
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
12,738
Reaction score
15,278
Points
2,125
Location
Daventry, Northamptonshire
My sow cheese is walking very weirdly, it's almost as if her left leg gives way and caves in when she's walking.I only noticed it this evening so will be getting her in the vets tomorrow.Shes acting perfectly normal, still got a great appetite and keeps going up to the hay loft so I don't actually think she's in pain.Could it be possible she's lost some feeling in her leg?
 
It’s a nice cage, looks safe
She definitely couldn’t fall off the ramp/loft area? That’s where I’d be most afraid of
 
Sometimes when I see how they land from popcorn, it can't be good for their leg muscles. Lol, maybe that
 
Sophie B said:
It’s a nice cage, looks safe
She definitely couldn’t fall off the ramp/loft area? That’s where I’d be most afraid of
Click to expand...
No it's safe as far as I know and it's not very high.Its very strange how she doesn't seem to be in pain, hoping my local vets can figure it out.
Here's the girl in question.
IMG_2081.webp
 
Awww... poor thing! I'm in the exact same situation, my pig Hadley is limping for no apparent reason. Hoping it's just a strain, but because she is 5 I'm concerned about arthritis, etc. She also doesn't seem to be in pain if you touch the leg, but is not putting weight on it normally. Hope all goes well at the vet visit, Hadley couldn't get in until Tuesday!
 
It may be a sprain. Despite the boys’ (previous) ramp being shallow, they did used to jump off the side 🤦🏾‍♀️ And one day I did come back to find Toffee had injured his back leg somehow - not weight bearing. That’s the only way I think he could have done it. Luckily it was just a sprain, and he was good to go within a week.
 
Freela said:
Awww... poor thing! I'm in the exact same situation, my pig Hadley is limping for no apparent reason. Hoping it's just a strain, but because she is 5 I'm concerned about arthritis, etc. She also doesn't seem to be in pain if you touch the leg, but is not putting weight on it normally. Hope all goes well at the vet visit, Hadley couldn't get in until Tuesday!
Click to expand...
I'm sorry to hear about Hadley, hope your vets can make her feel better soon x
 
Cheese saw the vet today and she thinks there might be ligament damage, she's been prescribed metacam and has to go for an x-ray Monday.My good friend took her as I'm in London today.The vet also recommended separating her and putting her in a small cage on her own, I said no way to that.
 
Gem789 said:
Cheese saw the vet today and she thinks there might be ligament damage, she's been prescribed metacam and has to go for an x-ray Monday.My good friend took her as I'm in London today.The vet also recommended separating her and putting her in a small cage on her own, I said no way to that.
Click to expand...
Glad it wasn't a fracture or anything like that, hope she heels well 🙂. An yea no way to separate her, is there any other way to make her a bit less active to help her? Maybe ban the ramp for a while to all pigs?

I remember when I done a ligament in my finger, and couldn't use it for around 4 weeks, I forgot to go to my last appointment and now my finger still hurts, a tiny bit when cold, bit that's all
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Glad it wasn't a fracture or anything like that, hope she heels well 🙂. An yea no way to separate her, is there any other way to make her a bit less active to help her? Maybe ban the ramp for a while to all pigs?

I remember when I done a ligament in my finger, and couldn't use it for around 4 weeks, I forgot to go to my last appointment and now my finger still hurts, a tiny bit when cold, bit that's all
Click to expand...
I think I might take the ramp out for now although the pigs will hate me lol.I can't think of other ways to stop her moving so much, she's very determined!
 
Gem789 said:
Cheese saw the vet today and she thinks there might be ligament damage, she's been prescribed metacam and has to go for an x-ray Monday.My good friend took her as I'm in London today.The vet also recommended separating her and putting her in a small cage on her own, I said no way to that.
Click to expand...
Hope she's ok, personally I wouldnt ever separate my piggies either unless it was very short term and essential like for monitoring poop output or for post-op recovery for 24 hours!
 
Thanks all, I've got back today and she's still herself but still trying to walk around a lot.Do you think if I remove their hay loft she might not move around as much?
 
Gem789 said:
Thanks all, I've got back today and she's still herself but still trying to walk around a lot.Do you think if I remove their hay loft she might not move around as much?
Click to expand...
Might be an idea to take the lift out, in case she stumbles on the ramp and lands awkwardly and makes things worse... could you just give her a cardboard box full of hay for now? If mine get a cardboard box they sit in it for hours and hardly move at all! (Like they did during today's playpen time, exercise mostly consisted of seeing how many pigs could eat hay and nap in an Amazon delivery box at the same time :) )
 
PigglePuggle said:
Might be an idea to take the lift out, in case she stumbles on the ramp and lands awkwardly and makes things worse... could you just give her a cardboard box full of hay for now? If mine get a cardboard box they sit in it for hours and hardly move at all! (Like they did during today's playpen time, exercise mostly consisted of seeing how many pigs could eat hay and nap in an Amazon delivery box at the same time :) )
Click to expand...
I think I might try that, I'm sure I've got some baskets or boxes I could use.
 
Cheesy is still limping around the cage, don't know how long these things take to heal.On top of that I noticed she's squinting her eye today so she's off to the vets again today.I'm at work, so lucky my friends available to take her.Ive also gotta ring the vets to find out the results of blackies biopsie.
 
Gem789 said:
Cheesy is still limping around the cage, don't know how long these things take to heal.On top of that I noticed she's squinting her eye today so she's off to the vets again today.I'm at work, so lucky my friends available to take her.Ive also gotta ring the vets to find out the results of blackies biopsie.
Click to expand...
Poor Cheesy, she Is having a rough time at the moment. Hope Blackies results come Back fine x
 
Cheese has got an ulcer, and blackies results were inconclusive.The vet said about sending off another sample if it will be cheaper than last time.
 
Gem789 said:
Cheese has got an ulcer, and blackies results were inconclusive.The vet said about sending off another sample if it will be cheaper than last time.
Click to expand...
Is Cheese’s ulcer on her foot or eye? Hope the vet can sort to soon x More tests poor Blackie x
 
Bill & Ted said:
Is Cheese’s ulcer on her foot or eye? Hope the vet can sort to soon x More tests poor Blackie x
Click to expand...
It's on her eye.My friend said apparently the vet is concerned about cheese as she's got some swelling underneath her but to a vet who isn't the most cavy savvy I wonder if they would mistake ovarian cysts for swelling cos shes had them for a while.
The vet also said her muscles are starting to waste away on her leg as she's not using it.I said to my friend that she's obviously not using it as it's painful so I don't know why they didn't up her metacam.I'm wondering if I'd be better taking her to the cat and rabbit clinic?
 
Gem789 said:
It's on her eye.My friend said apparently the vet is concerned about cheese as she's got some swelling underneath her but to a vet who isn't the most cavy savvy I wonder if they would mistake ovarian cysts for swelling cos shes had them for a while.
The vet also said her muscles are starting to waste away on her leg as she's not using it.I said to my friend that she's obviously not using it as it's painful so I don't know why they didn't up her metacam.I'm wondering if I'd be better taking her to the cat and rabbit clinic?
Click to expand...
Oh no! Did they give you anything for her eye? Doesn’t sound like the best of vet appointments, you would have thought they may have upped her Metacam! She won’t walk on it if she’s in pain. perhaps you would be better going to the Cat and Rabbit, less hassle in the long run x Good luck, aren’t they a worry!
 
Bill & Ted said:
Oh no! Did they give you anything for her eye? Doesn’t sound like the best of vet appointments, you would have thought they may have upped her Metacam! She won’t walk on it if she’s in pain. perhaps you would be better going to the Cat and Rabbit, less hassle in the long run x Good luck, aren’t they a worry!
Click to expand...
They really are.They gave me eye drops.I'e got a little metacam which was 0.6ml once a day but I've been giving 0.3ml twice a day.I think I will call the cat and rabbit clinic, at least then I'll know exactly what I'm dealing with x
 
Cheese has got an appointment on Tuesday at the cat and rabbit clinic, I've gotta leave work an hour early to make it in time.Cheese is still not using her leg and has lost a bit of weight.She was 862 grams but today was 847 grams.Should she be trying to use her leg by now? it will be 2 weeks on Thursday when I saw she was limping.Dont know if I should be seeing improvement by now?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top