Help! My Guinea Pig Had A Stroke!

[macelouis]

My guinea pig Daryl, is 2 years and is a long haired type of guinea pig. Over the past few weeks, he has lost a bit of weight, and this morning was laying on his side not moving. My first response was that he was dead, but his cage mate, Snickers, walked over him and he started to move. Relieved, I began to fill up their water supply. I then noticed that Daryl's right side is nonrepsonive and when he walks he tilts to the right and has trouble walking to get around or to his food. I took him out and put him in his own cage so that he would have his own food supply. But I later noticed that his right eye is cloudy and I soon found out that he was blind. His left eye is not responsive and I am afraid that his other eye is partially blind. I have had many guinea pigs, but this has never happened before. Please help!

 

[Galaxy&nibbles]

Have you spoken to a vet? I think this would be my first call. I'm afraid I don't have any experience with this so can't help, there are plenty of people here who can help so someone will be able to help more soon

 

[Wiebke]

My guinea pig Daryl, is 2 years and is a long haired type of guinea pig. Over the past few weeks, he has lost a bit of weight, and this morning was laying on his side not moving. My first response was that he was dead, but his cage mate, Snickers, walked over him and he started to move. Relieved, I began to fill up their water supply. I then noticed that Daryl's right side is nonrepsonive and when he walks he tilts to the right and has trouble walking to get around or to his food. I took him out and put him in his own cage so that he would have his own food supply. But I later noticed that his right eye is cloudy and I soon found out that he was blind. His left eye is not responsive and I am afraid that his other eye is partially blind. I have had many guinea pigs, but this has never happened before. Please help!

Hi and welcome!

Please contact a vet asap; it sounds rather like a stroke, but your vet may also check for an ear infection or a neurlogical issue. Keep Daryl comfortable and quiet, as much as possible in the meantime.

It would help us a lot of you please added your country, state or UK county, as we have members from all over the world, so we can tailor any advice to what is available and possible where you are straight away.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed!

 

[Zar-Zar]

Hi, I've had a guinea pig who had a stroke at 2 years old as well - and it sounds exactly the same as your guinea pig. Her name was Zara, and it was a very traumatizing experience for us both. When I went to the vet they gave her some pain medication for her eye and a cone (like the ones the give dogs to stop scratching). She hated the cone and always had one paw stuck on the neck! It helped her eye from being scratched up more though. They also gave us critical care and we fed her through a syringe three times a day (make sure to monitor their poops closely, if they aren't coming out like normal you should feed them more). Her eye was clouded over, we were scared she was blind too, but don't worry this is a natural response when guinea pigs eyes are injured. The vet told us she had been rubbing it against the ground since she'd been lying on her side and this had caused a small lesion [I forget what the technical term is] to form. The vet also gave us an eye cream which we put on with a cleaned finger, it had antibacterial and inflammatory properties.

I know that it is terrifying - but do not lose hope! There isn't much one can do for strokes, but this doesn't mean this is the end. Over a week or two my guinea pig began to regain control of the half of her body which had been unresponsive. To encourage exercise we led her across the floor with a grape, and sure enough she began to get stronger. It also put my mind at ease since at least she wasn't in any pain (other than her eye but the eye medication solved that). Her eye even began to clear up.

It takes a while but I'm sure your guinea pig is strong. Make sure to see a vet ASAP so you can get all the materials you need.

I wish you the best of luck and if you ever need to talk to anyone who has been through this, I'm here.

P.S. The vet also checked for an ear infection because sometimes that makes guinea pigs lose all sense of balance. It's possible your guinea pig could have this, which I believe is easier to treat with a course of antibiotics. Not too sure though!

 

[helen105281]

A friend's pig had a stroke a while back and recovered really well. She used water therapy as a big part of his treatment (along with vet treatment of course). He has sadly since passed away due to an unrelated illness (end stage heart failure) but I just wanted to give you hope that they can in some cases make a good recovery as long as prompt vet treatment is given.

 

[gizzy]

Yep I had one that lay on his side for hours , then all of a sudden he got back on his feet and waddled around
for a few hours like he was in a dazz , before making a full recovery
it was really scary .

Then there was another one who laI'd on her side , and when I picked her up she opened her mouth wide and died in my arms,
though she was an old old girl and may it was just her time

But you must always give them several hours! Just to be on the safe side

 

[macelouis]

Hi, I've had a guinea pig who had a stroke at 2 years old as well - and it sounds exactly the same as your guinea pig. Her name was Zara, and it was a very traumatizing experience for us both. When I went to the vet they gave her some pain medication for her eye and a cone (like the ones the give dogs to stop scratching). She hated the cone and always had one paw stuck on the neck! It helped her eye from being scratched up more though. They also gave us critical care and we fed her through a syringe three times a day (make sure to monitor their poops closely, if they aren't coming out like normal you should feed them more). Her eye was clouded over, we were scared she was blind too, but don't worry this is a natural response when guinea pigs eyes are injured. The vet told us she had been rubbing it against the ground since she'd been lying on her side and this had caused a small lesion [I forget what the technical term is] to form. The vet also gave us an eye cream which we put on with a cleaned finger, it had antibacterial and inflammatory properties.

I know that it is terrifying - but do not lose hope! There isn't much one can do for strokes, but this doesn't mean this is the end. Over a week or two my guinea pig began to regain control of the half of her body which had been unresponsive. To encourage exercise we led her across the floor with a grape, and sure enough she began to get stronger. It also put my mind at ease since at least she wasn't in any pain (other than her eye but the eye medication solved that). Her eye even began to clear up.

It takes a while but I'm sure your guinea pig is strong. Make sure to see a vet ASAP so you can get all the materials you need.

I wish you the best of luck and if you ever need to talk to anyone who has been through this, I'm here.

P.S. The vet also checked for an ear infection because sometimes that makes guinea pigs lose all sense of balance. It's possible your guinea pig could have this, which I believe is easier to treat with a course of antibiotics. Not too sure though!

My guinea pig Daryl, is 2 years and is a long haired type of guinea pig. Over the past few weeks, he has lost a bit of weight, and this morning was laying on his side not moving. My first response was that he was dead, but his cage mate, Snickers, walked over him and he started to move. Relieved, I began to fill up their water supply. I then noticed that Daryl's right side is nonrepsonive and when he walks he tilts to the right and has trouble walking to get around or to his food. I took him out and put him in his own cage so that he would have his own food supply. But I later noticed that his right eye is cloudy and I soon found out that he was blind. His left eye is not responsive and I am afraid that his other eye is partially blind. I have had many guinea pigs, but this has never happened before. Please help!

My guinea pig Daryl, is 2 years and is a long haired type of guinea pig. Over the past few weeks, he has lost a bit of weight, and this morning was laying on his side not moving. My first response was that he was dead, but his cage mate, Snickers, walked over him and he started to move. Relieved, I began to fill up their water supply. I then noticed that Daryl's right side is nonrepsonive and when he walks he tilts to the right and has trouble walking to get around or to his food. I took him out and put him in his own cage so that he would have his own food supply. But I later noticed that his right eye is cloudy and I soon found out that he was blind. His left eye is not responsive and I am afraid that his other eye is partially blind. I have had many guinea pigs, but this has never happened before. Please help!

Daryl is doing better, but he is still in a dazzed state. His right eye is still cloudy, but he is stronger but still has trouble walking. Thank you for all your tips and they helped a lot!

 

[Sue and Smartie]

I had a pig some years ago who had a stroke. The vet gave me some critical care & advised me not to hold out too much hope.
It took about six weeks of syringe feeding before he began eating on his own again, but he did make a good recovery, and lived for another 15 months. It's important to keep your pig warm and quiet, so he doesn't have to deal with any stress.