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Flamestriker

Flamestriker

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hello all

I have not been on the forum lately because I have been ill.

Anyway, putting Lucky back in to the cage after cuddles because it was nugget time, Lucky decided that I wasn't moving fast enough. She slipped out of my hands (short haired piggy) got on my shoulders and FELL Off!

I realised what was going to happen, and lunged for the cage, hoping to catch her in the hay tray, and crouching to reduce the distance, but she fell to the floor!

I managed to pick her up and saw blood on her lips. I checked her teeth, and there doesn't seem to be any damage but she has a small cut on the inside of her lip. I ran my fingers along her nose and jawline and couldn't feel any lumps or bumps.

I cuddled her for a moment to let her calm down, then put her back in the cage. She toddled straight over to the pellet bowl and started eating a few. She is still there now, munching OK. She is breathing fine and seems alert. There is no blood anywhere except her lip, and it's not dripping or anything.

I gave the pigs all some cucumber and Lucky tried to take it but couldn't. I think her lip is sore from the cut.

What shall I do? I will take her to the vet tomorrow for a check up. My OH isn't speaking to me because of it. I feel sick because I have hurt one of my little ones. I know it sounds silly but I'm really upset. How could I do this to one of my piggies?,
 
It really isn't your fault and don't blame yourself! Piggies are wigglers-my boys go crazy when I go to put them in their cage.
The fact she's eating is a good sign but I agree with the vet visit.It is possible her teeth might fall out if they hit the ground so just keep an eye on that. Keep the mouth wound clean until the vet visit tomorrow and supply lots of tasty veg as an apology lol.
 
Don't beat yourself up! It's an accident, these things happen. One of our Sanctuary piggies fell once too and he has a bit of blood on his lips. They were fine for the first day, then his top teeth fell out! He ate fine still as wee cut up his food really small and his teeth grew back really quick. I felt so, so awful! He might need a painkiller perhaps? Good luck :)
 
Flamestriker said:
Hello all

I have not been on the forum lately because I have been ill.

Anyway, putting Lucky back in to the cage after cuddles because it was nugget time, Lucky decided that I wasn't moving fast enough. She slipped out of my hands (short haired piggy) got on my shoulders and FELL Off!

I realised what was going to happen, and lunged for the cage, hoping to catch her in the hay tray, and crouching to reduce the distance, but she fell to the floor!

I managed to pick her up and saw blood on her lips. I checked her teeth, and there doesn't seem to be any damage but she has a small cut on the inside of her lip. I ran my fingers along her nose and jawline and couldn't feel any lumps or bumps.

I cuddled her for a moment to let her calm down, then put her back in the cage. She toddled straight over to the pellet bowl and started eating a few. She is still there now, munching OK. She is breathing fine and seems alert. There is no blood anywhere except her lip, and it's not dripping or anything.

I gave the pigs all some cucumber and Lucky tried to take it but couldn't. I think her lip is sore from the cut.

What shall I do? I will take her to the vet tomorrow for a check up. My OH isn't speaking to me because of it. I feel sick because I have hurt one of my little ones. I know it sounds silly but I'm really upset. How could I do this to one of my piggies?,
Click to expand...

Please take a deep breath! Accidents happen to all of us sooner or later. Piggies are wiggly creatures and have a tendency to blind jump.

If Lucky is not picking up veg, please start offering syringe feed (if you haven't got any recovery food at home, use mushed up pellets and cut the syringe tip off as shown in our guide) and cut the veg into small slices. It is possible she has broken or cracked her front teeth below the gum line and she is not able to use them right now.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

See a vet tomorrow if Lucky is not eating normally again by then. Right now it can be just the pain of the knock.
 
The piggies get their main veg in the morning, hay through the day, and a small amount of nuggets in the evening. They gave hey through the night. I give them all pieces of veg in the night as a treat now and again.

I am happy to syringe feed Lucky, but she is eating pellets.

I have boiled some water and added salt to it so I can bathe her lip when it cools.

I will make up a feed now. It won't hurt. Can I mush some pellets with the poo?
 
Flamestriker said:
The piggies get their main veg in the morning, hay through the day, and a small amount of nuggets in the evening. They gave hey through the night. I give them all pieces of veg in the night as a treat now and again.

I am happy to syringe feed Lucky, but she is eating pellets.

I have boiled some water and added salt to it so I can bathe her lip when it cools.

I will make up a feed now. It won't hurt. Can I mush some pellets with the poo?
Click to expand...

Personally, I would strongly advise against feeding poos with an open wound in the mouth. It is not like she needs any digestive support; she's not ill, has no tummy upset and is not on an antibiotics!

All she needs food that can replace what she is not eating in hay if her mouth is hurting. Hopefully, she doesn't need any extra at all. Please don't go overboard because you feel guilty!
 
Hi, before I adopted my boys one jumped out of volunteers hands and landed on hard floor. Cut his lip,too. Was on metacam for couple of days. His teeth stayed intact.

I can totally see how that's possible. He's so wriggly. I only handle then when sitting on the floor for this reason. He obviously didn't learn his lesson as he still tries to jump when Iam putting him back in their cage.
Don't beat yourself up, you didn't do it on purpose!
Hope you all feel better soon!
 
If got boiled water and pellets in a lovely (!) looking mush cooling down. Lucky is with the other piggies. I'm watching her like a hawk.

I just feel so bad...
 
Accidents happen, it wasn't your fault. My 15 year old son who is very confident at handling the piggies, was putting one of them back in the hutch the other day after cuddle time and he had to be quick cos Velvet wriggled out of his hands and jumped for the hutch. If he hadn't have put his hands just outside the hutch for her to land on she would have landed on the hard brick patio. That wouldn't have been his fault either. She has never done it before in nearly 2 years.
 
Flamestriker said:
If got boiled water and pellets in a lovely (!) looking mush cooling down. Lucky is with the other piggies. I'm watching her like a hawk.

I just feel so bad...
Click to expand...

Don't be too hard on yourself these things do happen xx
 
She didn't want any mashed up pellets, but they are in the cage in a bowl if she changes her mind. She is currently in a hidey, eating her own poos, which is a good sign.
 
Flamestriker said:
She didn't want any mashed up pellets, but they are in the cage in a bowl if she changes her mind. She is currently in a hidey, eating her own poos, which is a good sign.
Click to expand...

Keep an eye on her weight; if goes more than 50g down, you know that she is not eating fully and that there is a pain issue or a problem with the teeth. Right now it she is likely not hungry and will not need the pellets.
 
I am watching her like a hawk. I have a pounding headache and my anxiety is through the roof.

Tomorrow breakfast time is going to be a telling time when I give them their veg
 
Lucky ate the leafy greens at breakfast but struggled with other veg, and refused to eat the ones I had cut up in to tiny pieces. I have seen her eating hay with the others.

The exotic specialist is not in the vet surgery today about five miles from where I live, so I'm going to the vet down the road from where I live. I have an appointment booked for this morning so she can be checked over.
 
Lucky has grazed the inside of her lip and loosened her left incisor. She is on 0.3ml of Loxicom twice a day. Vet wants to see her in a week.

I will weigh her every day to make sure that she is eating and I'm happy to step in with mushed pellets if she's struggling
 
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