Paralysed back legs - urine scald?

[Piggiepops]

Hi everyone! Happy Sunday

One of my female piggies came down with paralysed back legs around 4-5 months ago. The vet said something about it being an overnight paralysis that can happen to pigs and nobody really knows why? She said to bring her back in if she seems to be in any pain etc. Well, she's still paralysed and can't move her back legs, however she's fine in herself, still eating and drinking (our greediest pig!) and pulls herself round on her front legs when on the grass The only issue now is the urine scalds I have now taken her out of the hutch and put her in an indoor hutch in the shed (not on her own, I switch which pigs joins her everyday lol) and she is on towels that are changed 3 times a day rather than being on sawdust. Is there anything else I can do to prevent these urine scalds in future? I bathe her every day/every other day and have applied sudocrem which have cleared, I just want to make sure they don't return.
ALSO, does anyone have any experience of a piggie with paralysed back legs? I'm not expecting a cure but I don't know what could possibly happen in future? I've heard of osteocare but her diet is perfect so I can't imagine she has a deficiency? Thanks in advance x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Would you consider getting some absorbent vetbed pads, which wick any fluid away from the surface and reduce the risk of urine scald. You can easily finding suppliers by googling. You will still need to change 2-3 times daily and give her a gentle bum bath, but it will hopefully prevent her from sitting in her wee. Wash any vetbed patches with non bio softener free washing powder.

Please also check the underside of all her feet for the same reason and give them a gentle wipe, too. The weight bearing front leg pads are also more prone to bumblefoot infection when a piggy can no longer take the weight off them (it needs the push from the back legs to get up), excrement can get into tiny cracks and in older piggies the blood circulation is no longer all that good. sudocrem can dry out the skin and cause cracking.
@helen105281 @Jaycey any tips for a suitable cream?

Baby warm water is in most cases enough for a gentle bum and foot wipe unless she is very badly soiled.

Make sure that she has plenty of hay ( over 80% of the daily food intake) very close by, as well as water. Because of her paralysis she struggles to pick up the redigested poos for the second run through the guts so needs as much hay fibre as possible to help get the nutrients she needs.

'Overnight' sudden back leg paralysis cased by a sudden drop in calcium is the most common problem especially in older piggies. However, this is generally only temporary and is usually getting at least partways better.
There are however other issues that can cause sudden back leg paralysis like sciatica, a blood clot in artery in the spine or neurological problems. It can be very hard for a vet to work out what is the matter.
My nearly 8 years old Nerys developed a large swelling in her body starting in the adrenal gland which led to temporary loss of mobility. It was touch and got for about a couple of weeks but she pulled through and lived for another few months although she was battling a bit of a rat-tail of complications and conditions caused by limited mobility and failing immune system.






Please

 

[Piggiepops]

Hi! Would you consider getting some absorbent vetbed pads, which wick any fluid away from the surface and reduce the risk of urine scald. You can easily finding suppliers by googling. You will still need to change 2-3 times daily and give her a gentle bum bath, but it will hopefully prevent her from sitting in her wee. Wash any vetbed patches with non bio softener free washing powder.

Please also check the underside of all her feet for the same reason and give them a gentle wipe, too. The weight bearing front leg pads are also more prone to bumblefoot infection when a piggy can no longer take the weight off them (it needs the push from the back legs to get up), excrement can get into tiny cracks and in older piggies the blood circulation is no longer all that good. sudocrem can dry out the skin and cause cracking.
@helen105281 @Jaycey any tips for a suitable cream?

Baby warm water is in most cases enough for a gentle bum and foot wipe unless she is very badly soiled.

Make sure that she has plenty of hay ( over 80% of the daily food intake) very close by, as well as water. Because of her paralysis she struggles to pick up the redigested poos for the second run through the guts so needs as much hay fibre as possible to help get the nutrients she needs.

'Overnight' sudden back leg paralysis cased by a sudden drop in calcium is the most common problem especially in older piggies. However, this is generally only temporary and is usually getting at least partways better.
There are however other issues that can cause sudden back leg paralysis like sciatica, a blood clot in artery in the spine or neurological problems. It can be very hard for a vet to work out what is the matter.
My nearly 8 years old Nerys developed a large swelling in her body starting in the adrenal gland which led to temporary loss of mobility. It was touch and got for about a couple of weeks but she pulled through and lived for another few months although she was battling a bit of a rat-tail of complications and conditions caused by limited mobility and failing immune system.






Please

Thanks very much for your help!
I’m providing hay in a manger in her indoor cage as well as in the bedroom area on top of the towels
I’m tempted to take her to another vet, maybe one who specialises in small animals?
She doesn’t seem to be in pain as she’s acting completely normal other than her back end so I’m not majorly worried, definitely worth another vet trip though

 

[Piggiepops]

(Also she is almost 6! Which I suppose is considered elderly)

 

[Wiebke]

(Also she is almost 6! Which I suppose is considered elderly)

Piggies over 4 years are considered older citizens. The average life span for a healthy piggy is around 5-7 years, so you are not doing badly.

Make sure that she can easily reach the hay rack. I offer hay on a bit of newspaper, which I can easily wrap up and change daily to my oldies with mobility issues like arthritis, but mine live on fleece and have hay trays.

 

[Piggiepops]

Piggies over 4 years are considered older citizens. The average life span for a healthy piggy is around 5-7 years, so you are not doing badly.

Make sure that she can easily reach the hay rack. I offer hay on a bit of newspaper, which I can easily wrap up and change daily to my oldies with mobility issues like arthritis, but mine live on fleece and have hay trays.

Oooo that’s good to know!
She has constant access to lots of hay in the bedroom area and is munching happily on that, also offer ready-grass, Timothy hay as well as normal hay. Hay overload
The only thing I want to prevent is her being in any pain! And from my experience, if theyre eating and drinking then they’re good

 

[Wiebke]

Oooo that’s good to know!
She has constant access to lots of hay in the bedroom area and is munching happily on that, also offer ready-grass, Timothy hay as well as normal hay. Hay overload
The only thing I want to prevent is her being in any pain! And from my experience, if theyre eating and drinking then they’re good

Piggies with back leg paralysis are often not in pain, and if they are happily munching away and wheek for their dinner, they still have obviously quality of life.

You could discuss trialling osteocare with your vet, which is usually given to guinea pigs with calcium drop paralysis.

 

[Deleted member 129777]

Hi, Piggiepops! I haven’t seen you in a while. Make sure you are checking on her a lot. I have to do the same because I think Colt has ringworm. UPDATE: I got another guinea pig! He is a Abyssinian named Cory.

 

[Deleted member 129777]

PS: I took both to the vet and they had blood draws.

 

[Piggiepops]

Hi, Piggiepops! I haven’t seen you in a while. Make sure you are checking on her a lot. I have to do the same because I think Colt has ringworm. UPDATE: I got another guinea pig! He is a Abyssinian named Cory.

Hi! Oh no I hope they are both ok? Keep me posted

 

[DM030819]

@Wiebke @Piggiepops I was always advised by my vet to keep the use of creams to a minimum as it softens the skin and can open the pores to allow in more bacteria.

But, I have used Gorgeous Guineas ointments in the past. I'd probably opt for F&M first and then try Perfect Paws, but I've spoken to Chrissie in the past for advice so she could help out.
Ointments.

 

[Deleted member 129777]

Hi! Oh no I hope they are both ok? Keep me posted

Yes they are okay, right now zooming in their cage