Guinea Pig Not Walking Properly

[Guinea pig mum]

Hey i need help, i have a 4 year old male guinea pig that just a few days ago has started to not walk on his back legs properly. He more hops than walks. He has been to the vets twice in the last week about this, he is currently taking anti biotics and painkillers. He is losing weight but still eating and drinking, peeing and pooping normaly. He does not want to run around at floor time or say hello to any other guinea pigs. I picked him up tonight and he just feels like skin and bones. I also felt 2 lumps near the bottom of his back. Really hard not soft at all. He is still courious and alert just unable to move that great at all. His eyes are not glazed over and he is not puffing up his fur in a corner or anything like that. He is not making any noises that he is in pain when u pick him up or when he is trying to get a drink or anything. He has not fallen and his feet look fine. Vet does not know what is wrong with him. But i going back to the vets on thursday to see if he has lost anymore weight. and i will be also telling his about the hard lumps i feel. Please someone help... my guinea piga are my kids and i would do anything for them. I just love them soo soo much. Thanls for readind hope someone can help.

 

[Katy Felix]

Hey i need help, i have a 4 year old male guinea pig that just a few days ago has started to not walk on his back legs properly. He more hops than walks. He has been to the vets twice in the last week about this, he is currently taking anti biotics and painkillers. He is losing weight but still eating and drinking, peeing and pooping normaly. He does not want to run around at floor time or say hello to any other guinea pigs. I picked him up tonight and he just feels like skin and bones. I also felt 2 lumps near the bottom of his back. Really hard not soft at all. He is still courious and alert just unable to move that great at all. His eyes are not glazed over and he is not puffing up his fur in a corner or anything like that. He is not making any noises that he is in pain when you pick him up or when he is trying to get a drink or anything. He has not fallen and his feet look fine. Vet does not know what is wrong with him. But i going back to the vets on thursday to see if he has lost anymore weight. and i will be also telling his about the hard lumps i feel. Please someone help... my guinea piga are my kids and i would do anything for them. I just love them soo soo much. Thanls for readind hope someone can help.

Huh. Do you think maybe he fell and paralyzed himself? As for the bumps, do you think he is impacted? Board can get this thing where they can't poo and a big lump gets stuck. Somewhere there's a sticky thread about that. If he seems like he wants to eat but can't, maybe you'll have to force feed. I think on the health forum there's a sticky thread about pellet "smoothies" or something. I'd weigh him every day. If you don't have a scale, try asking to borrow one. I'm sure people will understand! and make sure he drinks. He could also just be getting old, you know. Maybe he's sore or his muscles hurt. Try feeling all along him to see if he squeals or if anything feels strange. I don't know if I'm much help but
~~katy xx

 

[Gem789]

Hey i need help, i have a 4 year old male guinea pig that just a few days ago has started to not walk on his back legs properly. He more hops than walks. He has been to the vets twice in the last week about this, he is currently taking anti biotics and painkillers. He is losing weight but still eating and drinking, peeing and pooping normaly. He does not want to run around at floor time or say hello to any other guinea pigs. I picked him up tonight and he just feels like skin and bones. I also felt 2 lumps near the bottom of his back. Really hard not soft at all. He is still courious and alert just unable to move that great at all. His eyes are not glazed over and he is not puffing up his fur in a corner or anything like that. He is not making any noises that he is in pain when you pick him up or when he is trying to get a drink or anything. He has not fallen and his feet look fine. Vet does not know what is wrong with him. But i going back to the vets on thursday to see if he has lost anymore weight. and i will be also telling his about the hard lumps i feel. Please someone help... my guinea piga are my kids and i would do anything for them. I just love them soo soo much. Thanls for readind hope someone can help.

If he is loosing weight then you need to step in with syringe feeding.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Where are you based?
I think it would be worth seeing a cavy savvy vet.

 

[sport_billy]

Hello, welcome to the forum. Moving this thread to the health and illness section as it will get more views there.

Tagging in some posters for you @helen105281 @Adelle @Wiebke @Abi_nurse @furryfriends (TEAS) @Elwickcavies

 

[Wiebke]

Hey i need help, i have a 4 year old male guinea pig that just a few days ago has started to not walk on his back legs properly. He more hops than walks. He has been to the vets twice in the last week about this, he is currently taking anti biotics and painkillers. He is losing weight but still eating and drinking, peeing and pooping normaly. He does not want to run around at floor time or say hello to any other guinea pigs. I picked him up tonight and he just feels like skin and bones. I also felt 2 lumps near the bottom of his back. Really hard not soft at all. He is still courious and alert just unable to move that great at all. His eyes are not glazed over and he is not puffing up his fur in a corner or anything like that. He is not making any noises that he is in pain when you pick him up or when he is trying to get a drink or anything. He has not fallen and his feet look fine. Vet does not know what is wrong with him. But i going back to the vets on thursday to see if he has lost anymore weight. and i will be also telling his about the hard lumps i feel. Please someone help... my guinea piga are my kids and i would do anything for them. I just love them soo soo much. Thanls for readind hope someone can help.

Hi and welcome!

Has your vet checked for arthritis on the spine or any internal tumours? Perhaps a scan could help?
Please have the lumps checked; it may be harmless fatty ones, but you want to make sure. If the lumps are symmetrical, it is likely bones you can feel.

Please start topping up your boy with syringe feed if he is losing weight and weigh him daily at the same time to monitor his weight/food intake. Hay makes up to 80% of the daily food intake, which you cannot control; veg and pellets are only making up to 20%. Hay is often the first food that is dropped when a piggy is in pain or discomfort. You can feed mushed up pellets, recovery formula (whatever brand) or a mix of the two - basically what goes down best. Also up his vitamin C intake; about 1/4 of human vitamin C tablet per day; if necessary syringed dissolved in a little water. Don't put it in his bottle.
Has your vet checked for scurvy?
You can find information on recovery foods, probiotics (to help with the antibiotics) and vitamin C in our syringe feeding guide, as well as lots of tips on how/how often/how much in what situation to feed.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Adelle]

The hard lumps you are feeling are probably his hip bones, which would suggest a loss of muscle mass around that area probably from an ongoing issued as it takes some time for this to happen.

I would request an xray of his hips, pelvis and base of the spine, my guess would be arthritis. This can be managed with metacam long term if this is the case. Metacam is an anti inflammatory as oppposed to just a pain blocker.

I agreee you should step in with syringe feeding and weigh him daily to make sure you are feeding enough.

Id also suggest probiotics given 1-2 hours after each antibiotic dose. Examples include pro-c, avipro plus, fibreplex or biolapis for rabbits. What type of antibiotics is he on and what exactly are they for?

Failing any answers it may be worth seeking a second opinion from a more cavvy savvy vet.

I am based in scotland and know of a few great piggy vets if you want to let me know where abouts in the country you are, either post here or pm me if you'd prefer.

Hope you have some answers soon x

 

[helen105281]

I would also get him checked for bladder stones while he is being xrayed as that can also cause bunny hopping.

 

[Guinea pig mum]

Thank you everyone for for responding. He is now walking a wee bit better. And i defo will be asking for an xray tomorrow. Am am in west lothian adelle if u could let me know if any good cavy vets near by, as i would rather take him there and know this information for the future. I am curretly giving him threw a siringe 0.8ml of baytril and 0.2 of loxicom. He is still not talking alot and defo not as active still. I will be reading your thoughts what it might be before i see the vet. So i can get the vet to do what you all have suggested. I will let u all know how he is doing and what has happened at the vets and soon as i can.

 

[Guinea pig mum]

He has not fallen that i know of he does have a wooden ladder in his cage but has no problems with this before. He is not inpacted, i have checked for this coz that has been the problem before.

 

[Freela]

I would guess that if the hard lumps are on his top side as opposed to his belly, you are feeling his hip bones. This can occur with loss of weight and muscle mass, as well as with age. I would be concerned about arthritis if you do not suspect an injury. Some x-ray imaging might help to pinpoint a diagnosis. That said, my elderly girl, Sundae, had a hard time walking near the end of the summer, but spontaneously improved and got back to normal within a few days. Although I have no clue how she could have injured herself, I believe now that she probably did in some way. It's good that you are seeing improvement. Best of luck with the vet visit tomorrow.

 

[Elwickcavies]

I would agree that an x-ray would help with diagnosis. Bunny hopping is usually associated with bladder stones or arthritis and the weight loss is a worry. Let us know what the vet says.

 

[Guinea pig mum]

Wee guinea pig back to normal vet putting it down he hurt himself somehow thank god. hes acting like nothing ever happened

 

[Guinea pig mum]

Hey does anyone know a specialist vet? i live in the west lothian area. wee guinea pig back to not waking properly but now he is just lying in his cage not wanting to move around. i fear a normal vet will just put him to sleep. he is a wee fighter and i think he can come back from this. just need to see someone that knows how to really help these tiny lovely animals.

 

[Adelle]

Hey does anyone know a specialist vet? i live in the west lothian area. wee guinea pig back to not waking properly but now he is just lying in his cage not wanting to move around. i fear a normal vet will just put him to sleep. he is a wee fighter and i think he can come back from this. just need to see someone that knows how to really help these tiny lovely animals.

Have replied to your pm, I really hope you get a vet that can help you soon xx

 

[Guinea pig mum]

Hey my wee baby boy passed away today. thank you everyone for your help. hes away to a better place now. i spent last night by his side telling him its going to be ok and we all love him. Nothing more the vet could of done. Said it might of been a tumour or something in his brain because towards the end his right side gave way and his right eye as she described it was flickering. thanks again for everyones support and help xx

 

[helen105281]

I'm so sorry.

 

[pig in the city]

So very sorry x

 

[Adelle]

Hey my wee baby boy passed away today. thank you everyone for your help. hes away to a better place now. i spent last night by his side telling him its going to be ok and we all love him. Nothing more the vet could of done. Said it might of been a tumour or something in his brain because towards the end his right side gave way and his right eye as she described it was flickering. thanks again for everyones support and help xx

I'm so sorry for your loss :-( you done all you could and more for him. Sometimes there is just nothing that can be done sadly. I'm certain he took comfort from the fact he was home and had you with him.

Sleep tight little one xx