Leg Issue

[avafaghani]

Hi guys! So my 5 year old piggie Maple recently has been having some sort of leg/foot issue. Her right leg/foot is facing kind of outwards rather than being under her and she trudges it along rather than walking normally. Her only known condition as of right now from my last vet visit is that she has persistent bloat that I just take care of with massages/simethicone. What does a broken leg look like on a piggie? Do you have any idea of what this could be? How urgent is it? I have a vet appointment scheduled for Friday, June 4th which is in 7 days. She doesn't seem to be in much pain and is moving around a good amount and eating normally. Please let me know if you have any advice or ideas! thank you

 

[Siikibam]

I’m afraid we can’t tell you what it is. Is there any way to bring the appointment forward? And how long has she been like that?

 

[avafaghani]

I’m afraid we can’t tell you what it is. Is there any way to bring the appointment forward? And how long has she been like that?

I only noticed this one day ago! I'm pretty observant so I think if it was happening earlier than that someone in my family would have noticed hopefully. Unfortunately I can't move the appointment forward, I do have the option to go in as emergency but it's much more expensive and I'm already anticipating an x-ray plus many other things, and the bad side to that is that I don't have control over which vet, and in the past one of the ones on emergency has given me horrible answers. I'm super nervous about this but she seems to not be in too much pain although I know these piggies hide it so well. Just now she just scratched her ear with her bad hind leg so I think that's a good sign and she's walking around fast, just a little bit different. Do you think it's worth it to go for the emergency? I'm gonna be keeping eyes on her for sure constantly. Thank you for your answer

 

[Siikibam]

Could you try getting an appointment with another vet? She may not be showing pain but the worry is they can hide it well. Perhaps speak to them and ask them to let you know if there are any cancellations. Keep a close eye on her.

 

[avafaghani]

Could you try getting an appointment with another vet? She may not be showing pain but the worry is they can hide it well. Perhaps speak to them and ask them to let you know if there are any cancellations. Keep a close eye on her.

Unfortunately there aren't any other vets in my area, I'm gonna keep calling about cancellations for sure because I know too well how piggies hide their pain and illness. Does the forums have any threads on leg/hip injuries? It's currently 2 am my time and I've been looking all night on some veterinary websites but can't find much about hip/leg issues. Thank you so much for your help I really appreciate it

 

[Siikibam]

Not particularly. I think given it’s facing out it will just need seeing b

 

[VickiA]

I’m afraid that really does need to be seen by a vet to check for fracture/dislocation/nerve injury.

 

[Free Ranger]

Hi - I'm just looking at this thread because I was reading the other one about bloat and a leg issue where you referred to this. I think with the other poster the suspicion is now that the leg issue might have stopped piggy moving and that triggered the bloat - although nothing will be known for sure until she tries her vitamin supplements etc. The first vet did think that things were the other way round - that the bloat had somehow caused pressure which prevented piggy's leg from moving normally. But this latest piggy-savvy vet is suspecting that leg issue is the primary one and the bloat is secondary because of not moving. No definite answers for a while on that thread, I'm afraid.

You do really need to see your vet but it might not be a crisis - maybe just a bit of arthritis in an old girl if she's still scratching with it..? Hope it works out x

 

[avafaghani]

Hi - I'm just looking at this thread because I was reading the other one about bloat and a leg issue where you referred to this. I think with the other poster the suspicion is now that the leg issue might have stopped piggy moving and that triggered the bloat - although nothing will be known for sure until she tries her vitamin supplements etc. The first vet did think that things were the other way round - that the bloat had somehow caused pressure which prevented piggy's leg from moving normally. But this latest piggy-savvy vet is suspecting that leg issue is the primary one and the bloat is secondary because of not moving. No definite answers for a while on that thread, I'm afraid.

You do really need to see your vet but it might not be a crisis - maybe just a bit of arthritis in an old girl if she's still scratching with it..? Hope it works out x

Thank you so much for clarifying! I’m going to the vet in two days and thankfully so far she hasn’t gotten worst and is still eating, pooping, squeaking and walking her normal amount. Thank you so much I really appreciate and i’ll let you know what happens!

 

[avafaghani]

Hi - I'm just looking at this thread because I was reading the other one about bloat and a leg issue where you referred to this. I think with the other poster the suspicion is now that the leg issue might have stopped piggy moving and that triggered the bloat - although nothing will be known for sure until she tries her vitamin supplements etc. The first vet did think that things were the other way round - that the bloat had somehow caused pressure which prevented piggy's leg from moving normally. But this latest piggy-savvy vet is suspecting that leg issue is the primary one and the bloat is secondary because of not moving. No definite answers for a while on that thread, I'm afraid.

You do really need to see your vet but it might not be a crisis - maybe just a bit of arthritis in an old girl if she's still scratching with it..? Hope it works out x

Could you try getting an appointment with another vet? She may not be showing pain but the worry is they can hide it well. Perhaps speak to them and ask them to let you know if there are any cancellations. Keep a close eye on her.

Just got back from the vet and turns out we have some severe arthritis with Maples leg. Luckily the vet said she’s adapting to having a calcified leg really well and is showing good behavior! I’m honestly relieved in a way although this is sad, the vet at first was suspicious of bone tumors before the x-ray so it’s great news in that regard. If anyone has any advice on having an older guinea with arthritis please let me know and thank you for your help everyone!

 

[avafaghani]

Currently comfortable again after pain meds and taking a nap on the car ride home after a long day at the vet

 

[Free Ranger]

We've not had severe arthritis - only more mild. My girl didn't show difficulty moving on the flat but didn't like slopes, steps or lumpy ground... she just didn't do them. It took me a while to figure out why as we had her as a retirement piggy so I got her when she was 5! Have you been prescribed a daily painkiller? I know some pigs have metacam/loxicom on a daily basis for arthritis. We all just have to adapt to old age I'm afraid - I'm getting there myself! I'm glad it wasn't anything more scary

 

[Siikibam]

There are several piggies on here who are on metacam long term for arthritis. There is Meg who belongs to @Betsy
Peanut who belongs to @piggieminder

Was she prescribed metacam for long term use?

 

[Betsy]

Yes my little Meggypops has spinal arthritis and was prescribed 0.3ml (dog) Metacam twice a day she had been on that dose for just over a year.

 

[avafaghani]

We've not had severe arthritis - only more mild. My girl didn't show difficulty moving on the flat but didn't like slopes, steps or lumpy ground... she just didn't do them. It took me a while to figure out why as we had her as a retirement piggy so I got her when she was 5! Have you been prescribed a daily painkiller? I know some pigs have metacam/loxicom on a daily basis for arthritis. We all just have to adapt to old age I'm afraid - I'm getting there myself! I'm glad it wasn't anything more scary

Yes my little Meggypops has spinal arthritis and was prescribed 0.3ml (dog) Metacam twice a day she had been on that dose for just over a year.

Thank you so much for responding! I appreciate everything I was prescribed .07 of the meloxicam and an addition anti inflammatory powder to sprinkle over Maples pellets. She’s seemed less mobile and more tired since we came home from the vet so I’m a little worried the vet overworked her poor joints. Thank you again for all the help everyone

 

[Free Ranger]

Yes - when Daisy was checked over they had to move her stiff limbs around to see how bad she was and even though she didn't need an x-ray it wasn't very comfortable for her. Hopefully your girl will have a good rest and be back to her usual self. She'll be happy to be back at home in familiar surroundings with her friend x

 

[Siikibam]

Is that metacam dose once or twice daily?

 

[avafaghani]

Is that metacam dose once or twice daily?

Just once, it seems kind of low in my opinion but I'm not sure

 

[Siikibam]

I’m not sure about dosage. I would speak to the vet again and ask for a change to twice daily. They metabolise it quickly and so a once daily won’t cover her the whole day.

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Hi, I had a piggy with severe arthritis, Muffin. He passed away last September aged 7.5 years and he was on Metacam for two years (approx.). At first I gave the Metacam once a day, but then I switched to twice daily. He responded better to this.
In Austria piggies are prescribed Metacam for cats. Metacam for dogs has a higher concentration of Meloxicam as far as I know. The cat Metacam is 0.5 mg/ml and my vet said that 1 ml per kg per day was the highest dailey amount, I was allowed to give. I always tried to ajust the amount given to his condition. Some times it was a bit better, sometimes worse. When I have to give painkillers over a long period of time, I always try to give as much as necessary and as little as possible.

I also gave Rodicare arthrin, but I don't know if you can get this. It's a herbal remedy. I was under the impression that it helped a bit. My vet also recommended Vet CBD, but Muffin really hated taking it and I don't think it made much difference.

 

[avafaghani]

Hi, I had a piggy with severe arthritis, Muffin. He passed away last September aged 7.5 years and he was on Metacam for two years (approx.). At first I gave the Metacam once a day, but then I switched to twice daily. He responded better to this.
In Austria piggies are prescribed Metacam for cats. Metacam for dogs has a higher concentration of Meloxicam as far as I know. The cat Metacam is 0.5 mg/ml and my vet said that 1 ml per kg per day was the highest dailey amount, I was allowed to give. I always tried to ajust the amount given to his condition. Some times it was a bit better, sometimes worse. When I have to give painkillers over a long period of time, I always try to give as much as necessary and as little as possible.

I also gave Rodicare arthrin, but I don't know if you can get this. It's a herbal remedy. I was under the impression that it helped a bit. My vet also recommended Vet CBD, but Muffin really hated taking it and I don't think it made much difference.

Thank you so much!