Hurt Leg :(

[jessicaspiggies]

My youngest guinea pig seemed to have hurt his front leg. I tried looking at it and it doesn't look swollen or have any scratches, but he keeps holding it when he walks. I'm pretty sure my oldest guinea pig did it to him (they are only a month apart but my youngest is the runt of the group). He is still eating fine, but I'm concerned still. Is there anything I could do to help him? (Also my eldest guinea pig hasn't hurt anyone else and doesn't seem aggressive so it may not have been him.)

 

[Claire W]

Sounds like it could be a sprain. You could pop him along to the vet for a check up and an anti inflammatory / painkiller

 

[sport_billy]

Hello, welcome to the forum.

Please get him checked out by a vet

 

[Wiebke]

My youngest guinea pig seemed to have hurt his front leg. I tried looking at it and it doesn't look swollen or have any scratches, but he keeps holding it when he walks. I'm pretty sure my oldest guinea pig did it to him (they are only a month apart but my youngest is the runt of the group). He is still eating fine, but I'm concerned still. Is there anything I could do to help him? (Also my eldest guinea pig hasn't hurt anyone else and doesn't seem aggressive so it may not have been him.)

Hi! It sounds like a sprain or pulled muscle from a bad landing after a jump; this can happen in any leg and any joint from the shoulder/hip downwards. Nothing to do with your other piggy and not rare at all in lively youngsters.

Please see a vet if your baby is unable to put any weight at all on the leg or if you are worried.

Please also do NOT mistake dominance behaviour that is essential to establishing and maintaining a working hierarchy and group cohesion as 'meanness'; it is anything but! It is very dangerous to apply human behaviour to other species.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[jessicaspiggies]

Hi! It sounds like a sprain or pulled muscle from a bad landing after a jump; this can happen in any leg and any joint from the shoulder/hip downwards. Nothing to do with your other piggy and not rare at all in lively youngsters.

Please see a vet if your baby is unable to put any weight at all on the leg or if you are worried.

Please also do NOT mistake dominance behaviour that is essential to establishing and maintaining a working hierarchy and group cohesion as 'meanness'; it is anything but! It is very dangerous to apply human behaviour to other species.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Thank you so much! He is able to put a little weight on it but still hops and walks funny. And thank you about telling me about the dominance behavior, I thought it might just be that, I was just scared that he could possibly hurt him more in the future.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much! He is able to put a little weight on it but still hops and walks funny. And thank you about telling me about the dominance behavior, I thought it might just be that, I was just scared that he could possibly hurt him more in the future.

A sprain can last from a few days to a few weeks.

If you are worried about the teenage months (4-14 months), then please read this guide here. It contains tips on what you can do to stabilise a boar bond, how to spot problems and what you can do.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?