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Guinea With Suspected Dislocated Or Broken Leg Help!

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Natjg

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I noticed my guinea was limping the other day, took it straight to the vets who said could be broken or dislocated but wasn't sure without a x Ray but pointed out that they would be nothing he could do if it was either of the above as cannot put a cast on etc. at this point my guinea was still getting about and eating (this was Saturday) and he prescribed metacon and said would take 4-6 weeks to heal. Today is tues and she seems to be suffering big time. I've moved her to smaller cage but she hasn't really moved all day and not eaten much or drank much either. It's awful to watch her suffering but my vet gave me hope she would get better. If she makes it through the night I will be taking her to the vet again tomorrow. I was just wondering if guineas can die from such an injury? Should I be considering getting her put down? So sad but I hate seeing her suffer. She's only 14 weeks old :(
 
I can't offer much advice re the leg in afraid as I don't have any experience - it's good that you've got the painkiller.

One thing I'll say though is that if she isn't eating or drinking much then you need to be helping her out with hand feeding - do you have any syringes or critical care to hand?
 
Thank you for your reply. Yes I have some syringes. I do keep offering her food but she turns her head away, Same with water, I shall use the syringe to get water in her though now. Thank you
 
Where abouts are you? it could be a sprain if she has jumped about and landed funny. Metacam is good, are you giving it once or twice a day? A friend has a pig with a dislocated leg and he has done really well on water therapy. I hope the vet can help in the morning, I think an xray is needed to properly diagnose what has happened.

Here is our syringe feeding guide, it is crucial that she keeps eating so her gut doesn't shut down.

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-syringe-feeding-guide.115359/
 
I'm in Kent. The vet said once a day for the metacam. Thank you so much
 
I know it can be difficult to syringe feed, especially with an uncooperative piggy!

The guide that Helen has linked you is great advice.

Will she take anything fresh from you? To combine with the syringe feeding.
 
She hasn't done today at all. I heard her in the night so I came down and found her munching away then.
 
I'm sorry to say so, but I don't think much of your vets. Where are you based - was it an exotic (ie piggie) specialist. They should have done an x ray. I'm not an expert but talking from experience, if it's broken, she needs either treatment to fix her leg or , unfortunately for kindness sake to be put to sleep so that significant needless pain can be avoided, There is treatment available - my seven and a half year old lady broke her leg and it was pinned and externally fixated. With an excellent surgeon (who was not, actually an exotics specialist - but I would recommend one if you can get to see one) and lots and lots of my time and care over a couple of months, even my old lady had a slightly stiff but effective and pain free leg and was a very happy piggie. It was expensive, but not has bad as an ongoing condition and I asked for and got a payment plan. Please get an x ray and a good vet.

There are some really knowledgeable people on this forum, so hopefully they can give you more informed advice.

Hopefully it's just a sprain, but whatever, it sounds as if she needs to go back for an x ray, as her pain is clearly not being managed by the metacam.
 
Sorry, I hadn't read all of the thread before I posted. Helen is one of the experts I mentioned! Hopefully my story will help you if you find the worst, and it's broken.
 
I would recommend seeing a different vet I'm afraid. If your piggie is placing the foot it's less likely to be broken but not impossible. There are most definitely plenty of things that can be done if it happens to be broken though, fixing, casting and amputation are all an option but without an X-ray to determine if it's fracture and if so what type of fracture then the vet cannot say there is nothing they can do,

Please find an exotics vets and seek a second opinion.

x
 
I'm not is much help and don't know much about this kind of stuff but I just want to wish you good luck with whatever happens from me and my pigs.
 
My Luna was a very miserable generally unhappy pig when I got her. I had her at the vets constantly trying to figure out what was wrong with her, until I got her an xray which showed she had been living with a fractured pelvis which had healed displaced. She is now on long term pain relief and is now a happy popcorning girl.

Please get your pig xrayed for a diagnosis so you can give appropriate treatment and keep giving metacam.
Even broken or fractured bones aren't a death scentence.

Don't give up on her if you can get food and water into her. There's a good chance this will end well with the right treatment.

X
 
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