• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Injured guinea pig

B

brownietreacle

New Born Pup
Joined
Oct 28, 2024
Messages
1
Reaction score
1
Points
40
Location
Lowestoft
Hi I'm looking for some help and advice, my daughters friend dropped her guinea pig since this happened she hasn't been able to use her back legs properly and is struggling to walk and dragging them slightly ,been to vets and been advised it's likely she has hairline fractures and nerve damage 💔 we can't afford xrays or operation as you can imagine my daughter is heartbroken.
We have been told do put her on cage rest separated from her guinea pig sister. If she doesn't recover in 4 weeks they would suggest to put her down,is there anything at all we can do to make sure she survives this as I couldn't bare the thought of her dying and my daughter just wouldn't cope we love our guniea pigs and need her to pull through.
Thankyou in advance.
Rachael
 
Morning. Is there anyone you can ask for some money I am sorry for the situation you have found yourself in but just imagine if it was your daughter walking around on 'possible' fractured legs the pain she would be in. Have you at least got her some pain relief from the vet? 😪
 
Could you take her to the PDSA (UK)? You need to limit movement as much as possible, keeping her in a large box or storage bin. You may need to supplement her food with Critical Care fed from a small bowl. If there is no open wound, put hay in the box so that she is comfortable but not entangled in it. You might have to find a way of rigging up her water bottle so that it is easily accessible. Feed her watery veg like cucumber. Your vet should be able to advise. Six weeks might be a possible target, although I would consult your vet about this. Keep the container in a quiet place so that she can rest. I hope it works out and she gets better ♥️
 
I'm so sorry to hear this.

I would agree about seeing if you have someone who can help with the cost of the x ray or going to pdsa if you qualify. It would be helpful for you to know exactly what you are dealing with.

Is she on pain relief?

In terms of care now, please ensure you are weighing her every morning so you can monitor her hay intake. Make sure hay is everywhere and particularly right beside her is she is struggling to move so she can eat freely. You may also need to syringe feed recovery feed to her to keep her weight up.
Make sure you are changing her bedding so she is kept clean and dry.

I personally would not advise you separate her from her sister provided they are still ok together and the sister isn’t running her around. Separating puts a lot of stress on them and they do much better staying with their friends whenever possible. Companions often look after their injured friends.
Separation can ruin bonds so if she recovers and gets through this and you then try to put the back together afterwards, you may find they refuse to and then they’ve got to live separately permanently.

I’ve added some care guides below to help you with care tips, syringe feeding and weight management

I’ve got my fingers crossed for her.

Wiebke

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...
  • Like
  • Love
Wiebke

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips (incl. missed a dose)
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between...
  • Like
  • Love
Wiebke

Thread 'Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility'

Introduction
1 Why can guinea pigs stop moving around?
- Animal attacks, severe illness or pain
- Back leg paralysis with list of potential causes
- Post-op, sudden illness or acute pining after bereavement
2 Adapting the living space
- Bedding and cosies
- Everything within reach
- Warmth and stable conditions
3 Weight monitoring and feeding support
- Weighing...
  • Like
Wiebke

Thread 'How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency'

1 Feed
- Important crisis management resources
- When is improvising necessary?
- Which food group am I replacing with my feeding support?
- How much and how often should I feed and water?
- What can I use that I have already got at home?
- Other possible easily available foods with their pros and cons
- How do I prep a syringe for rougher pellet fibre?
- What can I do without a syringe?
- The role of lukewarm water
2 Probiotics
- Probiotic products...
  • Like
  • Love
 
Yes, if possible keep her with her friend so that she can see, hear and smell her or she might become restless trying to get back to her herd. Using fleece or vet bed to keep her dry is important. You may need to change this twice a day. You can buy fleece blankets on eBay and cut them up to put as an underneath layer to absorb the pee. I'm not sure how much a vet can really do and whether any kind of op is possible for a guinea pig fracture. What does your vet say? He will know what is best for her. Immobilising her as much as possible might give her a chance to heal.
 
brownietreacle said:
Hi I'm looking for some help and advice, my daughters friend dropped her guinea pig since this happened she hasn't been able to use her back legs properly and is struggling to walk and dragging them slightly ,been to vets and been advised it's likely she has hairline fractures and nerve damage 💔 we can't afford xrays or operation as you can imagine my daughter is heartbroken.
We have been told do put her on cage rest separated from her guinea pig sister. If she doesn't recover in 4 weeks they would suggest to put her down,is there anything at all we can do to make sure she survives this as I couldn't bare the thought of her dying and my daughter just wouldn't cope we love our guniea pigs and need her to pull through.
Thankyou in advance.
Rachael
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry. What a bad shock for you!

Here are our practical tips for looking after piggies with mobility issues; including how to adapt the cage, including hay and watering access and watering.
Please ensure that your girls can still interact through the divider. Companionship is vital.

Wiebke

Thread 'Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility'

Introduction
1 Why can guinea pigs stop moving around?
- Animal attacks, severe illness or pain
- Back leg paralysis with list of potential causes
- Post-op, sudden illness or acute pining after bereavement
2 Adapting the living space
- Bedding and cosies
- Everything within reach
- Warmth and stable conditions
3 Weight monitoring and feeding support
- Weighing...
  • Like
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top