Hi guys I'm new here, seeking advice as i have just taken on a little girl who is underweight and has lost her back leg use, she is acting like a normal piggy in every other way, she will be taken to the vet once they are open but in the mean time ive been doing some research and come across it could be due to deficiency in vit A and E or something to do with calcium ,where would i get osteocare from ? I'm also struggling to get bell peppers, i should mention i am in Australia
Hi and welcome
Please have her vet checked as soon as you can. There is a whole raft of causes that can cause back leg paralysis; far more than your online research will suggest. Any back leg paralysis should be seen by a vet as to whether it is simply caused by a simple drop in calcium or something more complex and painful like sciatica, a blood clot, arthritis, and internal tumour or swelling, in some cases even a bladder stone or a neurological issue.
You can get preferably vegetarian osteocare from a pharmacy but ideally you ask your vet whether it is appropriate instead of giving it on spec.
Be aware that over 80% of the food intake is hay; so in order to minimise the weight loss, you need to place hay right next to her so she can reach it without moving and also offer her additional syringe feed. In an emergency you can use mushed up pellets as long as you cut off the syringe tip as shown in our guide. You can get needle-free 1 ml syringes in any pharmacy if you haven't got them at home. if your guinea pig is still eating normally but is losing weight, this is often due to a diminished hay intake. Do not force feed her, but offer her additional feed; if necessary from a spoon or a bowl if you can't get hold of a syringe.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide (includes a list of recovery foods etc).
First Aid Kit: Easily available non-medication support products for an emergency
As to veg, try herbs like coriander/cilantro, parsley, mint, dill, basil etc. for vitamins and trace elements. Bell or sweet peppers are called capsicum in Australia.
Multivitamin tablets are problematic as they are not geared towards piggy needs; some vitamins should not be overdosed.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Caring for a guinea pig with mobility issues:
- please spot clean the area your piggy is sitting in at least twice daily and change the bedding/cosy as often in order to prevent your piggy from sitting in their excrement and developing urine scald and foot pad infections (especially also on their weigh bearing front pads as piggies with back leg paralysis cannot take their weight off their front legs; see bumblefoot).
- gently wipe the bum and the underside of the feet with baby warm water at least once daily and dry gently with a soft rag. Be aware that a paralysed piggy cannot clean itself and also struggles to pick up the special poos they need to eat for a second run through the guts to extract more nutrition.
- offer water regularly by syringe. As much as your piggy is willing to drink as getting to and using a bottle can be problematic.
no wonder i couldnt find them lol
