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Leg Injury - Advice Please?

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LB14

LB14

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Hi all. Yesterday with the ground a lot drier, I put all the piggies outside in the runs and when I went back half an hour later Gus (it's always Gus!) was sitting hunched in a corner rather than his usual jumping jack self.

Picked him up for a check and his back left leg was swollen to twice the size of the other. So called the vet and rushed down within the space of 10 mins. Vet gave him a good check over and said although he's in obvious pain she couldn't find any obvious break or dislocation. So he was given two injections - pain relief, and anti inflammatory. Go back in a week but if he's still having trouble today or isn't picking up to go straight back.

So he was on his own last night and doped up from what he was given. Checked him through the night a few times and he was still curled in the little fleece blanket I'd put in with him. This morning went to check on him and he done a runner and hid under the platform in his cage.
Take him out and he's sodden all over his rear end. He'd basically peed and pood where he was sleeping and was lying in it. So I gave him a gentle wet wipe over and brought him in to lie on couch with some towels to keep an eye on him. I figured he might have done that through the night due to being exhausted? Very unlike him I must add.

For now he's eaten a little pellet food which is good, and nothing else. Wont drink from bottle but if I get the water on my fingers he's licking it off so clearly thirsty. I've been doing that to keep him hydrated.

Just now though, he is sitting still quite hunched chattering his teeth like mad. If I go near him he's acting normal (ish) and licking my hand and chin which he always has done. But he wont walk or run towards me like he normally does. Put him on the floor to check he was ok to walk, and he just sat there for ages.

Put him on a rug, and he walked around a bit but then just sat still. Wasn't his normal run-walk, was slow.

So I know I probably already know the answer myself but could do with advice! Should I take him back to the vet this morning or should I just give him time. The swelling has gone right down but I'm just concerned about his ability to bear weight maybe
 
I do think you need to take him back for an xray and more pain relief. Also ask them for pain relief that you can bring home as no injection lasts long enough. I am seeing a lot of vets do this at the moment, wish they would realise that pain relief actually wears off quite quickly.

If he is not eating you may need to step in with syringe feeding. Here's the guide if you need it

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/

Water therapy may help too.
 
They sent me home with pain relief to give him 0.5ml once a day. The vet actually just called and asked me how he was so I expressed my concerns and she asked that I bring him back down this afternoon so they can see him now that the swelling has gone down. I just feel rotten for him as he's obviously in discomfort. I also mentioned to the vet how he's sodden underneath and how I had to clean him up. And after she got off the phone I went to check on him and he was dripping wet underneath again so it's like he can't be bothered to move to pee :(

Managed to get him to eat some fresh grass that I brought in from the garden so at least I know he's eaten SOMETHING x
Thank you for taking the time to reply helen. Hopefully they xray and don't find any breakages :(
 
Glad you have pain relief, is it Metacam and if so is it dog or cat? I would speak to the vet about splitting the dose in 2 as they have such a fast metabolism.
 
It's called Loxicom - says its for cats on the pack. I'll mention that thank you. The vet on the phone told me I'd be seeing a different vet at the surgery today so I'll take that as a good thing - hopefully second opinion and all that.
 
That is the same as Metacam just a different brand I think. The cat dose does tend to be higher if I remember correctly.

Good luck at the vets.
 
Thank you, I'll let you know how it goes
 
Wishing you and Gus all the best for your vet appointment this afternoon, will keep fingers and toes crossed for you.
 
A few weeks ago my 6mth old Amos was limping badly hardly putting any pressure on his front paw which was twice the size of his other front paw. I took him to the vet who advised me he couldn't see any puncture marks so it could be a tumour. He was given an immediate injection of metacam and then I gave him syringe doses daily for a week before taking him back. By that time he was using his paw again although it was still swollen but not as bad. The vet said it could be a fracture but the only way to find out as an xray and even if it was confirmed there was no treatment so I decided not to have an xray but monitor him closely. Yesterday he was running round his outside run and tunnels with no problem. But his paw his still slightly swollen but he is back to his normal cheeky self. I hope Gus gets better soon.
 
Xrays done, no fractures and the vet done a whole body xray since he was sitting still and his whole body is showing up fully correct and functional. So that is the good news!

Bad new is he is in a lot of pain, so he was given another injection, and has to go back tomorrow for another if still off. He's lost weight since yesterday - that doesn't surprise me, as I all but had to force feed him today.
So more pain relief and I've to update them first thing tomorrow morning. Vet said they could tell he was in alot of pain due to the rumbling and teeth chattering he was giving them,and he's not normally like that.

So fingers crossed he's back on his feet (literally!) asap
 
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