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Limping boy

Siikibam

Siikibam

Senior Guinea Pig
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Saturday I went out with the kids around 1pm and my husband later left for work. When we got back in the evening (after 8pm), I spent a few minutes topping up the boys hay and saying hello to them. I then noticed that Toffee was limping. The issue seems to be with his right back foot. He doesn’t squeak or anything when I touch it (and the area around) or move it, and neither when he walks. But he couldn’t scratch himself properly the other day. I haven’t seen him scratch himself with that foot again.

He seems better in terms of less limping but it’s still there. They do have a habit of getting 2/3 of the way down the ramp then jumping off the side so I wonder if he injured himself doing that. Otherwise I can’t think what else may have happened. He was fine when we left, and my husband also said he was fine when he left for work.

I’ll try and make a Thursday or Friday appointment, it’s difficult on other days because of work :( He’s eating as usual and still ruling his cage mate (and us) as usual :))

Any ideas would be welcome.
 
Definitely needs a vet visit could be a sprain/arthritis possibly. A check up needed and some pain relief/anti inflammatory.

Good news he is getting around and eating shows pain wont be too bad
 
Can they get arthritis so young? He’s coming up to a year this week. Hopefully it’s just a sprain.
 
Siikibam said:
Can they get arthritis so young? He’s coming up to a year this week. Hopefully it’s just a sprain.
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Arthritis is more common in older piggies.I suspect it’s a sprain.One of my past pigs sprained her leg after catching her foot on something id put in one of their fleecy tunnels to stop it collapsing.I felt terrible and removed it straight away.She did well on metacam x
 
Thank you. Will update once we’ve been to the doc. Should I take his cage mate with him when we go?
 
Siikibam said:
Thank you. Will update once we’ve been to the doc. Should I take his cage mate with him when we go?
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Best to take the one that needs the help. Cage mate can cause issues. So go solo on vet trips unless u have a big travel box for them. Just make him as comfortable as possible. U never know maybe his cage mate had dominance issue and inflicted injury. Wait a day it might go away if not get to the vet.
 
Ok. Last time I had to take them out (show & tell at school) they were getting antsy in the carrier and going for each other then circling to find a comfy position :no: I worry Fudge would get lonely but I guess it may be best he’s left behind. It’s quite a way to the vet (30min drive) and I don’t want to risk an accident because they’re arguing!
 
Thank you, I will do. I’ve got an appointment for Thursday. I’ll be Tired but best I get him seen as soon as
 
An update and question. I observed Toffee this morning and he is walking fine, no limp. Do you think I should still take him to the vet tomorrow?
 
Why don’t you keep the appointment for now and keep a close eye on him today to make sure he is really ok?
It would be frustrating if you cancelled the appointment and then noticed he still had an issue.
If your in any doubt, I would take him for a check up.
 
Guineautopia said:
Why don’t you keep the appointment for now and keep a close eye on him today to make sure he is really ok?
It would be frustrating if you cancelled the appointment and then noticed he still had an issue.
If your in any doubt, I would take him for a check up.
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Very true. I’ll keep it then.
 
I had this with Flash, only had him three months and bought him a chew toy that hung from his cage. He loves to climb everything in sight and I suspect he was climbing the chew toy and fell off as when I got home from work he was limping with his back left foot. Still using it to walk with a bad limo but lifting it to run.

I booked a vets but nearest I could get with work was over a week. I think about four/five days in the limo was gone and he was back to full speed using his leg to dart all over so I cancelled it and it hasn't been a problem since. He's still climbing though so hasn't learnt his lesson though his chew toy has been put on the floor now to avoid that.

If your not sure, I'd go to the vets still but from that experience they are quite hardy creatures that recover quickly.
 
:lol: The fun of climbing overrides the memory of falling and injuring himself! I’ll see how he is later then decide. Though it will be too late in the day to cancel it really. I’ll just have him checked over.
 
We’re back from the vet. She didn’t find anything but gave me meloxicam. He’s able to scratch himself with the leg, though not with as much vigour as normal. And he kind of points it outwards when sitting. Otherwise there’s no signs he injured himself.
 
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