New amputee 5 year old amputee

[domas guinea mom]

I have never posted on a thread before, yet I don't know what to do.
My poor guinea girl had her front left leg amputated on Saturday. She is having a really hard time adjusting and getting around her cage on 3 legs. It seems like it's not only wearing her out, but really making her right leg sore from all of the new weight she's been having to put on her front right leg.
I was wondering if anyone had experience with a guinea pig who has had one of their front legs amputated. Did it get easier for them? My poor little girl looks miserable half of the time. The other half of the time. The other half, me and my boyfriend have been just holding and snuggling with her to help her through the trauma of what happened.
I was wondering if anyone had experience with a guinea pig who has had one of their front legs amputated. Did it get easier for them?
I was also wondering if anyone has gotten a q#prosthetic front leg for their amputated guinea pig, or knows where to get a front leg prosthetic for a guinea pig.

 

[Wiebke]

I have never posted on a thread before, yet I don't know what to do.
My poor guinea girl had her front left leg amputated on Saturday. She is having a really hard time adjusting and getting around her cage on 3 legs. It seems like it's not only wearing her out, but really making her right leg sore from all of the new weight she's been having to put on her front right leg.
I was wondering if anyone had experience with a guinea pig who has had one of their front legs amputated. Did it get easier for them? My poor little girl looks miserable half of the time. The other half of the time. The other half, me and my boyfriend have been just holding and snuggling with her to help her through the trauma of what happened.
I was wondering if anyone had experience with a guinea pig who has had one of their front legs amputated. Did it get easier for them?
I was also wondering if anyone has gotten a q#prosthetic front leg for their amputated guinea pig, or knows where to get a front leg prosthetic for a guinea pig.

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry that your girl needed to have her front leg amputated.

It is harder to adjust because the front legs are the weight bearing ones whereas the back legs act as propellants and springs.

Is she on painkillers? And if yes, what is the dose/concentration and your piggy's weight? Have you spoken to the vet about her other front leg being impacted? She may need a higher dosage of metacam, which is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller.

Please also keep on checking the foot sole of her remaining front leg for signs of bumblefoot infection (pododermatitis) due to the increased weight burden as well as her bum end. She should however still be able to clean herself unless she has arthritis badly. Please make sure that she can reach the water bottle comfortably.
Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

Piggies generally adjust to disabilities, like the loss of a leg or eye and are still accepted and supported by their mates. 'Tripod' piggies are generally more common in rescues but after a transition period they usually get around just as well as their mates.

Right now, she is clearly in pain/discomfort and has yet to learn how to get around just as well on three legs as on two. What was the reason for the amputation?

PS: There are no prothetics for guinea pigs and DIY solutions can cause more lasting harm to the muscular system and long term mobility than just keeping her pain-free and allowing her to get on on three legs.
I know of several front-leg amputees over the year in rescues that I follow and they have all had just as fulfilled and happy a normal life in good care as their other permanent resident mates that were not fit for adoption due to chronic medical needs. Once they adapted, they are whizzing around their cage just as much and as quickly as their four-legged comrades.

Give her time to heal - which at 5 years is not quite as quick as in a youngster - but try not to wrap her in cotton. The more you are encouraging you lady to lead a normal life, the more enriched and fulfilled a future she will have. It is however a gradual process. Just give plenty of praise for every achievement. This will spur her on. Key is to keep her as pain-free as possible while she is still healing. Please make sure that you have her remaining leg vet checked.

 

[flowerfairy]

How is she doing?