Limping / not using front leg

[Honeyandhazel]

Last week the day before new year I noticed one of my guinea pigs wasn’t putting weight on her right front leg, she will use it to clean herself and walk with but you can tell she isn’t putting weight on it

Before this she jumped into her cage so I don’t know if this has caused it or if she was limping before and I didn’t notice

After new year we thought her leg had gotten better its self and assumed it must’ve been a sprain from jumping in however today I’ve noticed that she is still not using this leg

She is eating her veggies and drinking from what I can see she is also jumping to a higher part of the cage for nuggets and getting back down okay

She is letting me pick her up and hold her without any hassle, she also let me touch her leg move it a bit without being in pain, however when I touched one of her toes she squealed a bit so a few hours later I touched her toe again and she was fine with it, this foot does appear darker than the other but I’m sure this has always been the case pictures of her in the past show a darker foot, I really don’t know what this can be does anyone have any idea?

I have checked vets around me and none of them look at small animals they are only dealing with cats and dogs and I also don’t know how this works with being registered and such, I would have to travel quite far which I don’t know if this would stress her or not but I am willing to do this if there’s nothing I can do

I’m very doubtful that this is a foot infection her cage mate is completely fine and it is only one foot that is affected so this can’t be a vitamin problem. I’m using megazorb as bedding, picking out poops twice a day and cleaning out twice a week.

Thanks for any help, I have attached some pictures on how she is using her leg and the difference in colour between her feet x

 

[Honeyandhazel]

Another one of her foot the darker one is the one she is struggling with

 

[Bill & Ted]

I would definitely get her foot checked out by a vet, sooner rather than later x

Will try and get a more experienced member to help @Wiebke

 

[sport_billy]

@Adelle @helen105281 @Jaycey @furryfriends (TEAS)

I second a vets check, could be a light sprain maybe?

 

[Merab]

I agree a vet check is a good idea.

Have you looked on the vet locator to see if there is a recommended vet within travelling distance?
There are other members in Scotland who may know vets that aren’t on the list yet

Hope your beautiful girl is ok

 

[Honeyandhazel]

I agree a vet check is a good idea.

Have you looked on the vet locator to see if there is a recommended vet within travelling distance?
There are other members in Scotland who may know vets that aren’t on the list yet

Hope your beautiful girl is ok

I’ve never had to go to a vet before so I’m not sure how to do this I work night shift Tuesday - Wednesday so I’m going to look into it tomorrow I think she is better today but I can tell she’s still not using it as much as the other one

 

[DM030819]

I'd guess that it was a sprain as it has happened to one of my boys before. We think He twanged his foot on the front of the cage somehow.

Sometimes it gets better by itself but as it's been a little while now she may need an antiflamatory medication like Metacam/Loxicom. It's standard medicine so most vets will be able to prescribe it, even those not really experienced in pigs.