Specialist Middle Ear Disease And Dental Implications?

[VickiA]

Violet has been to the vets today with a limp on her front leg. Apart from slowing her down a bit and being hoppity she is otherwise well in herself, eating well etc. as she'd had it for several,days I wanted to get her checked out. The good news is that her X-ray shows no arthritis or bony injury to the leg, elbow or shoulder, so most likely it is a soft tissue injury. So we will carry on with the Metacam to keep her comfortable.

However the vet told me that as an incidental finding on X-ray they can see she has middle ear disease. They said it's often an incidental finding in piggies and can be the precursor to dental problems, but her teeth are fine at present. I've not come across this before with my piggies. Has anyone else had this and if so is there anything I need to watch out for (she doesn't have a head tilt)

 

[Wiebke]

I have upgraded your thread to specialist issue, so our experienced people are hopefully going to have a look at it.

Glad that the limp is just twist or strain.

 

[VickiA]

Thanks @Wiebke

 

[Kerrie74]

I just wanted to sending Violet some hugs

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Anything that causes pain when eating can cause dental issues, so I guess if there is pain from the ear then that could affect the say the guinea pig chews their food. What is the plan re the middle ear disease?

 

[VickiA]

Anything that causes pain when eating can cause dental issues, so I guess if there is pain from the ear then that could affect the say the guinea pig chews their food. What is the plan re the middle ear disease?

Hi Debbie, just Metacam at present and see how we go. I think it's because she's eating fine at present (pellets, hay and all veggies) and is good weight that vet didn't seem concerned. It was mentioned as an incidental finding on the X-ray, but I was surprised as I hadn't seen any signs of problems except for the limp (and no idea how she did that either).

 

[gizzy]

When you say limp , is there any signs of disorientation of loss of balance ?

 

[VickiA]

No signs at all of any disorientation or loss of balance. She just seems reluctant to use her left front leg and has been skipping on 3 legs or gingerly putting that foot down. She was reluctant to let vet examine the leg and shoulder, hence the X-ray. She seems happie now we have her on the metacam,

 

[gizzy]

Mention to your vet a condition called Fibrocalaginous embolism .( Spine stroke )

It is well documented in dogs, I particular those breeds with long tummies , and according to my vet , there is no reason why
other long bellied animals like pigs should not suffer from the same .

The only problem is that with dogs Ect , they can be scaned to identify the condition , but pigs are to small.

The treatment is a carefull, exercise program, but this is only recomended once the condition has been diagnosed ,
Exercising an undiagnosed animal could possibly make thins worse .

The encoreging thing is that it apparently will get no worse , and an untreated dog, can go on to live a happy
and rewarding life, .

 

[VickiA]

Thanks gizzy.