Hopping/stiff When Running

[Dilly's Piggies]

My girl Lottie appears to hop with her back feet like a rabbit when running at speed, she walks and 'jogs' normally but when she runs she hops. My other piggies don't do this so I'm concerned that she might be deficient in vitamin C or some other vitamin/mineral or have some kind of issue causing her to run like this, she also appears stiff sometimes when walking. She is also thinner than my others and we haven't been able to find a reason despite multiple vet visits and pumping as much food as we can into her, the weight just won't stay on.

Another thing I've noticed is sometimes when I pick her up, her right shoulder will click/move like it's being dislocated, but she doesn't react at all to it so I don't think it's painful, but she could be painful on her back/hips. She does respond well to metacam and her weight shoots up when she is on this, suggesting she has pain somewhere. She is 1.5 years old so not an old pig, I'm not sure if arthritis is a possibility? Does anyone have any suggestions or how I can check to see if she has pain/stiffness in her joints? Is there anything I can do for this at such a young age?

 

[Janice C]

My girl Lottie appears to hop with her back feet like a rabbit when running at speed, she walks and 'jogs' normally but when she runs she hops. My other piggies don't do this so I'm concerned that she might be deficient in vitamin C or some other vitamin/mineral or have some kind of issue causing her to run like this, she also appears stiff sometimes when walking. She is also thinner than my others and we haven't been able to find a reason despite multiple vet visits and pumping as much food as we can into her, the weight just won't stay on.

Another thing I've noticed is sometimes when I pick her up, her right shoulder will click/move like it's being dislocated, but she doesn't react at all to it so I don't think it's painful, but she could be painful on her back/hips. She does respond well to metacam and her weight shoots up when she is on this, suggesting she has pain somewhere. She is 1.5 years old so not an old pig, I'm not sure if arthritis is a possibility? Does anyone have any suggestions or how I can check to see if she has pain/stiffness in her joints? Is there anything I can do for this at such a young age?

You’d think the Vet would have checked her joints over for you?
Arthritis can happen to any animal or person at any age so you would be best to get advice from the vet. Certainly has pain somewhere if symptoms relieved when on Metacam. Alleviating the pain also allows the body to make the best use of any nourishment given. So Vet again I’m afraid. Hope they can help you and your poor piggy. X

 

[sport_billy]

@Wiebke @Freela @furryfriends (TEAS) @helen105281 any suggestions?

 

[Wiebke]

My girl Lottie appears to hop with her back feet like a rabbit when running at speed, she walks and 'jogs' normally but when she runs she hops. My other piggies don't do this so I'm concerned that she might be deficient in vitamin C or some other vitamin/mineral or have some kind of issue causing her to run like this, she also appears stiff sometimes when walking. She is also thinner than my others and we haven't been able to find a reason despite multiple vet visits and pumping as much food as we can into her, the weight just won't stay on.

Another thing I've noticed is sometimes when I pick her up, her right shoulder will click/move like it's being dislocated, but she doesn't react at all to it so I don't think it's painful, but she could be painful on her back/hips. She does respond well to metacam and her weight shoots up when she is on this, suggesting she has pain somewhere. She is 1.5 years old so not an old pig, I'm not sure if arthritis is a possibility? Does anyone have any suggestions or how I can check to see if she has pain/stiffness in her joints? Is there anything I can do for this at such a young age?

Guinea pigs use their back legs as springs when galloping; that is nothing to worry about, but they will hop more if their spine or back legs are painful.

However, there seems to be an underlying issue; it could be arthritis and she may need long term metacam, which is thankfully much better tolerated by guinea pigs than other species when it comes to long term use and high dosages. arthritis can affect young piggies and not just the elderly.

How piggy savvy is your vet? Are you offering top up syringe feed? Pain can prevent a guinea pig from eating fully.
It would be really good if you could get her to see Kim and Simon Maddock in Northampton as they are the most likely to find out what is really going on. Without a diagnosis, all you can treat is symptoms at the best and only at a guess.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Guinea pigs use their back legs as springs when galloping; that is nothing to worry about, but they will hop more if their spine or back legs are painful.

However, there seems to be an underlying issue; it could be arthritis and she may need long term metacam, which is thankfully much better tolerated by guinea pigs than other species when it comes to long term use and high dosages. arthritis can affect young piggies and not just the elderly.

How piggy savvy is your vet? Are you offering top up syringe feed? Pain can prevent a guinea pig from eating fully.
It would be really good if you could get her to see Kim and Simon Maddock in Northampton as they are the most likely to find out what is really going on. Without a diagnosis, all you can treat is symptoms at the best and only at a guess.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Our vet thought it was her teeth and suggested an xray under sedation but due to the risks we decided not to do it. However with these arthritis symptoms I feel maybe we should go through with it now, they can xray her joints and her teeth to see if she does have arthritis or teeth problems.

I really do feel like she has arthritis or at least muscle pain in her lower spine, I was feeling and lightly pressing her all over to find a painful spot and I believe I found one right infront of her hips/bottom of the spine, she gets very twitchy with the lightest touch in this area. She has barely any muscle over her topline, her spine is very bony and her weight seems to drop down, this is probably typical as she is painful there so not using her muscles.

I have noticed she is sleeping much more, especially now that winter is here, I know the cold can affect people and animals with arthritis. Her bottom is wet a lot as she is staying in the same spot. Since the colder weather she is resisting being picked up, she is a fabulous little piggy and loves people, normally she stands still and lets me pick her up but recently she has been running away maybe also due to back pain.

Do you think an xray is necessary in this situation? She will be going back to the vet soon and I want to know what I should be asking for, for her.

 

[Wiebke]

Our vet thought it was her teeth and suggested an xray under sedation but due to the risks we decided not to do it. However with these arthritis symptoms I feel maybe we should go through with it now, they can xray her joints and her teeth to see if she does have arthritis or teeth problems.

I really do feel like she has arthritis or at least muscle pain in her lower spine, I was feeling and lightly pressing her all over to find a painful spot and I believe I found one right infront of her hips/bottom of the spine, she gets very twitchy with the lightest touch in this area. She has barely any muscle over her topline, her spine is very bony and her weight seems to drop down, this is probably typical as she is painful there so not using her muscles.

I have noticed she is sleeping much more, especially now that winter is here, I know the cold can affect people and animals with arthritis. Her bottom is wet a lot as she is staying in the same spot. Since the colder weather she is resisting being picked up, she is a fabulous little piggy and loves people, normally she stands still and lets me pick her up but recently she has been running away maybe also due to back pain.

Do you think an xray is necessary in this situation? She will be going back to the vet soon and I want to know what I should be asking for, for her.

In her case, it would be certainly worth it.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Our vet thought it was her teeth and suggested an xray under sedation but due to the risks we decided not to do it. However with these arthritis symptoms I feel maybe we should go through with it now, they can xray her joints and her teeth to see if she does have arthritis or teeth problems.

I really do feel like she has arthritis or at least muscle pain in her lower spine, I was feeling and lightly pressing her all over to find a painful spot and I believe I found one right infront of her hips/bottom of the spine, she gets very twitchy with the lightest touch in this area. She has barely any muscle over her topline, her spine is very bony and her weight seems to drop down, this is probably typical as she is painful there so not using her muscles.

I have noticed she is sleeping much more, especially now that winter is here, I know the cold can affect people and animals with arthritis. Her bottom is wet a lot as she is staying in the same spot. Since the colder weather she is resisting being picked up, she is a fabulous little piggy and loves people, normally she stands still and lets me pick her up but recently she has been running away maybe also due to back pain.

Do you think an xray is necessary in this situation? She will be going back to the vet soon and I want to know what I should be asking for, for her.

And yes she has been syringe fed 15ml of critical care every day for the last 5 months, she is also fed lots of higher calorie foods like oats, sugary vegetables and we are even feeding her a muesli mix with her pellets just to get some extra calories in. It is helping her maintain her weight but she is much lower than she should be. She is keeping around 950g right now with a lot of hard work, she should be around 1100g at least, she is a big built pig, if we stopped supplementing her she would continually drop, she can't maintain on her own

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

In her case, it would be certainly worth it.

Okay I will try and sort some xrays out for her, it's just scary as she's the love of my life, but if this is what she needs to get diagnosed and properly treated I should stop being selfish and do it for her.

As well as long term metacam, do joint supplements work for guinea pigs at all? I'm not sure if that is worth a go also with her being young

 

[Wiebke]

Okay I will try and sort some xrays out for her, it's just scary as she's the love of my life, but if this is what she needs to get diagnosed and properly treated I should stop being selfish and do it for her.

As well as long term metacam, do joint supplements work for guinea pigs at all? I'm not sure if that is worth a go also with her being young

Yes, you can discuss joint supplements with your vet if there is arthritis. Ideally you look for a supplement that is vegan/vegetarian.