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Pepe's back legs aren't working :(

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Marty

Marty

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Has anyone ever experienced a guinea pig apparently losing control of his back legs for no apparent reason. Pepe was fine last night, but this morning he doesn't seem to be able to walk :( He's just lying in the corner of his cage looking thoroughly miserable, but he tucked in to his wet food when we gave it to him, so his appetite is ok. Julie read on Peter Gurney's site that he had experiences of such occurences where guinea pigs are temporarily paralysed in the back legs which were solved by giving the guinea pig osteocare. We'll have to take him to the vet's tomorrow but I just wondered if anyone had ever had a similar experience?

Marty
 
I've not experienced anything like this. But I hope * find a solution and your piggy gets better x
 
If the vet check him over and there is nothing obvious, a course of steriods might be an option.
This happened to Pipkin after she jumped from my hands while being put into the run. She was given a course of steriod injections and was fine, she is still going strong 3 years later on.
The vet had another piggy in with the same symptoms, the owner thinks it had jumped off its ramp, same treatment and it was fine.
Although lots of people are against steroids, they do reduce inflammation and a short course has never harmed any of mine- any species.

If he does not improve an x-ray would be the next step to check if anything was seriously damaged.
 
I'm sure one of the more experienced members will be along soon to give you some advice hun.

This happened to one of my past piggies and unfortunatley I didn't know better and took my then vet's advice and had the wee man PTS my vet suspected he'd seriously injured his back. Please don't take this as a doom warning it's not meant to be hun.

Now I know a calcium deficiancy can cause this and rectification via meds can get full function back.
 
Thanks for the replies. He did a little squeal in my arms when I picked him up earlier before we noticed anything was wrong (I had taken him out his little bed first thing this morning, so had not seen him walking at all at that point). We will continue to monitor him closely tonight and see how he is in the morning.
 
My daughter let Peggy jump out of her hands just a matter of 4" of the vetbed and she fell awkwardly on her front shoulder, this was before christmas, she was not using her back legs, dragging them behind like a duck swimming. She fortunately had trapped a nerve and recovered in a week with anti-inflammatories and massage stimulation.
Hope your little piggy is going to be ok :)
 
It is unnerving and somewhat baffling when something that seems so severe happens overnight, with no warning and no sign as to how and why it happened!

Nothing is coming to mind at the moment but I'll keep track of Pepe's progress, I hope he's back on his feet very soon. xx
 
I have experience of pigs that have had this problem.
One recovered in a few hours with no treatment, I suspect he had slept awkwardly and with exercise everything started to work as it should.
Other pigs responded to painkillers, such as Calpol, I suspect that the problem was a pulled muscle, as you say, they do like to jump the last few inches back into their box!
A pig that suddenly loses control of both back legs lacks is more of a concern. (This always seems to happen overnight, rather than during the day)
At worst, you must always suspect damage to the spinal column until proved otherwise. This is extremely unlikely to occur in a pig that has not been involved in an accident.
I have had success in treating these cases with Osteocare and Vitamin D. I have often seen an improvement within 12 hours of starting treatment.
All pigs had recovered within a few days.
It is interesting to speculate on the cause of the condition. If Osteocare and Vit. D cure the problem, it is reasonable to assume the pigs were deficient in that area of their diet. I know my pigs get a more than adequate diet, so I would question the deficiency theory. Also, why does the condition have such a rapid onset?
Malnutrion/deficiency would surely show itself by a gradual onset?
Anyway, try the Ostoecare and Vit. D supplement and keep us informed as to progress.
 
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Hopefully we can get him in to see the vet tomorrow and then we can take it from there. The smoke detector went off this morning (we forgot to shut the door whilst cooking some bacon) and I heard a lot of the piggies upstairs scrambling around so I wonder if he got scared and then banged in to something. Upon closer inspection I think he is moving his left back leg, I think it's the right one that's giving him trouble. Hopefully he's just pulled a muscle.
 
That seems to be a good explanation. Don't let him be "overdiagnosed".
 
Marty we've had a few of the piggies on here experience levels of paralysis etc.. if you have a look thru you'll see them's piggy Ralfie had problems but she was able to pull him thru!
WIshing Pepe and you both loads of loves, wheeeeeeeeeeks and huggles xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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I did write a reply for someone who's friends guinea pig had this problem with info from the Peter Gurney "Piggie Potions" book I have.

I don't have time to write it up this morning but if you want the info, just PM me and I'll do it when I get home.
 
He's moving a bit easier this morning. When I tried to pick him up he tried to "run" away although it turned in to a hobble, but he's definitely got use of his legs so it's not a paralysis which is good news :)
 
that is good news sending good vibes for your vet visit xx
 
Marty said:
He's moving a bit easier this morning. When I tried to pick him up he tried to "run" away although it turned in to a hobble, but he's definitely got use of his legs so it's not a paralysis which is good news :)
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That's good news! Sheila lost the use of her back legs a couple of weeks ago, and I gave extra banana and also liquid osteocare and she was much better in no time at all. Not sure which helped, if any, or if she was just improving anyway.
 
We're going to hold off taking him to the vets to see if he improves further today, seems a bit silly taking him at this point if he's getting better by himself (especially as our guinea-savvy vet is on maternity leave at the moment). I don't want to put him through more than he needs to. I shall get some osteocare from the pharmacist today hopefully :)
 
Glad to hear Pepe seems a little better today Martin, will keep everything crossed that it is nothing more than a "blip". It does sound as though he perhaps crashed into something in his C&C when the smoke alarm went off - no more bacon cooking for you guys!

Fingers crossed he keeps improving. xx
 
Good News :) Pepe seems a lot better this morning, he's eating and drinking normally and running about his cage trying to avoid me picking him up (albeit with a very slight limp) so I'm pretty sure he just injured himself and needed a day or two for recovery whilst he was feeling sorry for himself!
 
Marty said:
Good News :) Pepe seems a lot better this morning, he's eating and drinking normally and running about his cage trying to avoid me picking him up (albeit with a very slight limp) so I'm pretty sure he just injured himself and needed a day or two for recovery whilst he was feeling sorry for himself!
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total relief for you all xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
awwww sweet Pepe take care of yourself little man xoxoxoxoxoxo
 
He's definitely back to his old self, he's giving me the runaround if I try and pick him up, albeit with a slight limp still! And he's retaliating back to Leo if Leo tries to hump him now :)) :)) :))
 
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