My guinea pig is 10 years old and he cant walk on his back legs!

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MyGorgeousBoy

MyGorgeousBoy

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I'm so upset Ive had my guinea pig since i was 7 years old and I'm about to turn 18! all of a sudden over night he stopped using his back legs and he doesnt use them at all he lays on his right side and puts both his feet together, ive noticed that his skin is flaky and rough on both his back legs ive given him baths but its still rough. he had a fall about 5 years ago and broke his left leg but thats the one that seems to be better at the moment. I'm giving him 1ml of Osterocare twice a day for 2 days then 1ml one daily for 3 days. found this on a guinea pig site, but only started the treatment today.

if i pick him up and try to get him to sit in the right posistion he squels as if he is in pain but when i massage his back legs he purrs as if its making him better! i really dont want to take him to a vet and have him put down unless i can find something to help him, i guess you have to be cruel to be kind but he has been with me for over half my life now and its going to be so sad to see him go! He is still eating and drinking like normal but i've lowered his water bottle so its at ease for him to reach it, if i put strawberry's in his cage (his favourite treat!) he goes crazy and runs to the front of the cage but then squels in pain, so i really dont know what to do!8...


you wouldnt believe that my guinea is 10 years old if you saw him, he runs around happily and squeals when i walk into the room which he is in cuz he is really happy to see me. i absoultly love my guinea pig to pieces and if i put him on the floor he follows me if i walk somewhere else, also which is strange if i put him on the floor and someone else calls him he wont go to them but if i call him he comes running to me lol, its definately love!x)


But if anyone can help me i would be soooooooo grateful! i cant bear to see him go! Many thanks Rachel x
 
mmm all i could suggest is takign him to a vet! Could be arthritis or something along those lines?
 
The vet can help by giving him pain killers - you don't have to pts before trying other treatments.
 
Wow fantastic age! Most live between 5 & 7 years. You must be doing something right! I'm sure you won't need to have him put to sleep, if he's eating and drinking fine and at least trying to move then I'd say he's well in himself and it's just his age catching up with him, probably arthritis. I'd get him checked out there may be some kind of pain relief he can have. Hope it goes ok x
 
Thanks, the only thing that i dont like about taking him to the vet is his age i mean he turned 10 5 days ago and i bet if i take him there might be another way to save him, but i want to try everything and if nothing works ill say my goodbye's and have him pts, but obvsiously if he gets worse then i shall, x
 
and the other thing i asked the vet how much it would cost to have him put down and they said £120 as they're really busy! i was like you cant put a price on someone's life! just cuz they're busy they shouldnt change the price its normally £30 hth can they put it up that much! i couldnt believe it!

i feel so sorry for him like i cant do anything for him! will see how he is in the morning then ill try the swimming theorpy if he is up to it! :)
 
Just uploaded a picture of my gorgeous boy! munching on his favourite! grass of course god you cant say grass in my house he goes CRAZY! lol x
 
Please dont try swimming thearpy. Thats for strokes and i dont think he has had one! he needs a vet asap
 
MyGorgeousBoy said:
and the other thing i asked the vet how much it would cost to have him put down and they said £120 as they're really busy! i was like you cant put a price on someone's life! just cuz they're busy they shouldnt change the price its normally £30 hth can they put it up that much! i couldnt believe it!

i feel so sorry for him like i cant do anything for him! will see how he is in the morning then ill try the swimming theorpy if he is up to it! :)
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If you called today, the fee is £120 because there's out of hours charges in there too. They have to charge them, as they'd have to call a vet out from home to come and see you. I'd call and make an appointment for first thing tomorrow morning. He needs to see a vet.
 
Amanda1801 said:
If you called today, the fee is £120 because there's out of hours charges in there too. They have to charge them, as they'd have to call a vet out from home to come and see you. I'd call and make an appointment for first thing tomorrow morning. He needs to see a vet.
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i asked for an appointment for tuesday and thats how much they said it will cost so i have no idea!
 
Swimming thearpy is for a pig who has had a stroke. Hence me saying dont do it! I dont understand why you would try it when he clearly hasnt had one.

You said he seems in pain when he moves his legs. The swimming could potentially make this worse!!!
 
Personally I would find another vet.

Also they shouldn't want to put him to sleep if he seems well otherwise and at the end of the day you can say no its not up to the vet. Try find a cavy savy vet.

Hope you get on ok x
 
no he is in pain when he sits on it but he still kicks his legs and he loves it when i move them about and massage them, but he just cant move them himself :(:(
 
MyGorgeousBoy said:
i asked for an appointment for tuesday and thats how much they said it will cost so i have no idea!
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Vets are closed on Sundays apart from emergencies. You can call and get through to a receptionist or a nurse, as there's always someone there, but a vet would have to be called out, and there's a call out fee for this, hence why the price is so much more expensive.

Piggy needs to be seen before Tuesday.

The price you were quoted was probably including the consultation fee, the euthanasia fee, and potentially a cremation fee.

He really needs to be seen ASAP
 
Right ill be taking him tomorrow i dont want to leave him in pain i just hope i dont have to have him pts! will let you know what happens!
 
Good luck, hope they can help him.
x
 
Rachel you have to take him to a vet right away. He is clearly in pain and it is so unfair to leave him suffering. I know you love him to bits but the priority here is for him to get a diagnosis and then to see what steps need to be taken. There may be no reason to put him to sleep.

The vet is terrible to charge more money just because they are busy! You need to go somewhere else. How about Blue Cross or RSPCA hospital? They are very helpful. Just please get him an emergency appointment tomorrow. He sounds like he is really suffering. Guinea pigs hide any pain so he will be worse then he is letting on.
 
MyGorgeousBoy said:
and the other thing i asked the vet how much it would cost to have him put down and they said £120
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Spits wine all over key board! How can a vet possibly charge £120 to pts!? That's ridiculous! It cost me £28 to put my poorly cat to sleep, and I've rarely paid more than that for a piggy cremation.. You need a sympathetic vet, not a gold digger!
Change your vet, ditto with getting him pain killers, but I can't believe a vet would try to milk it.. beggars belief!
 
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i would be cautious of this vets saying pts to be honest. find a cavy savy vet if you can and go there instead. there will be things to try for him first which is worth it if he's still eating and drinking and happy. it could be a few things that could be controlled by some kind of mediaction so don't panic about pts yet until you've seen a vet who knows what they're doing. lots of luck. he's a fantastic age. :)
 
Whee all send loving and healing wheeeeeeeeeks for your piggie XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nobody can tell you to put your pet to sleep! it is your decision love xx>>>xx>>>
 
Glynis said:
Whee all send loving and healing wheeeeeeeeeks for your piggie XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nobody can tell you to put your pet to sleep! it is your decision love xx>>>xx>>>
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Exactly I don't know why this is even being considered? I wouldn't be looking at having him put to sleep at all, I think he needs pain relief and quickly!
 
Hope you managed to get your little fella to the vets and hope he has some pain reflief and a diagnosis.
Big hugs to him x x
 
Hi guys! Got Twix out today and gave him a bath (as he smelled a bit) and to make him more comfortable i had to hold his head up to bathe him as he went limp. got him out the bath and wrapped him up in the towel and brought him downstaires, went to go get him some grass put him on the floor and i put the grass about 3 feet away from him and all of a sudden he literally RAN and i mean RAN to the grass he was using his back legs and everything!


after he finished eating i was calling him (have to call him quit loud as he is a little deaf (10 years old) and he was literally running everywhere! he is still a bit wobbly obvis. as he hasnt got out for the past 3-4 days to walk about as he couldnt, but he literally is hoping about and moving really happily!


i think the Osterocare that i have been giving him has worked! it says on the packet that: 'Osterocare liquid provides a rich source of calcium in a smooth, great tasting liquid, for efficient absorption into the body. This is carefully combined with co-factors including magnesium and vitamin D3 which is essential for effective calcium utilisation'


I'm soooo glad i found that website! but Twix has a check up tomorrow at 10am so hopefully will give him a boost of something! Many thanks to everyone's replies! It helped me a lot! but hopefully he will reach the age of 11....12...and maybe 13! :D:D xx
 
This is wonderful! It is like a miracle! I am so happy. Let us know what the vet says.
 
I'm sorry but he should have been taken today. also by bathing him you are compromising his imune system further....
 
ZaraPiggie6 said:
I'm sorry but he should have been taken today. also by bathing him you are compromising his imune system further....
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I agreed, bathing would be the last thing on my mind, not great at the best of times least of all when they're not well. I'd have been taking him to the vet quick sharp! Which is more important?

However thats great that he has picked up and I hope he continues to do so but he needs to see a vet and see what has caused this...
 
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