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Phoebes Broken Leg (possibly Arthritis) !

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Kate L

Kate L

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My 4 year old Guinea pig Phoebe was rescued about 10 months ago, her right back leg is unmovable and when she walks it sticks out to the side as that is the way it has fused. That paw does tend to be dragged along the floor behind her but she still does put weight on her heel and on the side of her foot. I have notice that as she has gotten a bit older she is not as active and finds it a bit harder to move around. Her sister Yasi is very active and runs around all the time (i think shes a bit annoyed phoebe doesn't do it as well). My question is should i restrict her to a cage while i give Yasi another entrance to exit and run around the room (as phoebe can't really go up ramps where as Yasi can), From what you can hear does she sound like she might have arthritis?, Should i get her new bedding possibly vet bed? and what should i do about her foot dragging on the floor?
I know that is a lot of questions but i really need help.
I have also just brought some oxbow joint tabs do you think that they will help?
 
Kate L said:
My 4 year old Guinea pig Phoebe was rescued about 10 months ago, her right back leg is unmovable and when she walks it sticks out to the side as that is the way it has fused. That paw does tend to be dragged along the floor behind her but she still does put weight on her heel and on the side of her foot. I have notice that as she has gotten a bit older she is not as active and finds it a bit harder to move around. Her sister Yasi is very active and runs around all the time (i think shes a bit annoyed phoebe doesn't do it as well). My question is should i restrict her to a cage while i give Yasi another entrance to exit and run around the room (as phoebe can't really go up ramps where as Yasi can), From what you can hear does she sound like she might have arthritis?, Should i get her new bedding possibly vet bed? and what should i do about her foot dragging on the floor?
I know that is a lot of questions but i really need help.
I have also just brought some oxbow joint tabs do you think that they will help?
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Hi! Has Phoebe been seen by a vet and had a scan to see what is the matter? It rather sounds like a break and not necessarily like arthritis to me. She will at the least need painkillers in any case.

Please restrict her until she can be sorted!

As we have got members from all over the world, you will be able to get more specific advice and recommendations if you please added your country, state/province or UK county, so we can take the specifics of your location (access to vets, rescues; medical brands, climate etc) into account instead of having to keep it general. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! Has Phoebe been seen by a vet and had a scan to see what is the matter? It rather sounds like a break and not necessarily like arthritis to me. She will at the least need painkillers in any case.

Please restrict her until she can be sorted!

As we have got members from all over the world, you will be able to get more specific advice and recommendations if you please added your country, state/province or UK county, so we can take the specifics of your location (access to vets, rescues; medical brands, climate etc) into account instead of having to keep it general. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.
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She has been to the vet when we first got her. He said there was no point scanning as it felt and looked like a very bad break that had been given no vet care. He said we shouldn't do a scan as it would just look horrendous and there would be nothing he could do about it.
 
Kate L said:
She has been to the vet when we first got her. He said there was no point scanning as it felt and looked like a very bad break that had been given no vet care. He said we shouldn't do a scan as it would just look horrendous and there would be nothing he could do about it.
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I would occasionally check for arthritis, as it can happen in not well healed areas. All you can do is take care of any rubbed areas or areas where the pressure differs from a normal gait.
I am tagging @Dindypig for you who has got experience with caring for a guinea pig with permanent issues of that kind.
 
I think a scan or x-ray is still worthwhile, preferably by a vet that has more compassion for animals. Arthritis is more likely to be treatable than a badly healed break. A more compassionate vet would also advise on treatment and continued care for the pressure areas etc. Here is a link to the forum's vet locator page, just put your postcode in to the search box.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator
 
I know it isn't the same thing but my degu once broke / badly fractured his front leg. The vet didn't x ray as she could tell just by feel that it was either badly fractured or broken.

Due to his size, his leg was left alone but she advised me to put him in a smaller cage and remove everything except for the bare minimum (food, water, hay and a bed) to restrict his movement and prevent him from climbing. The worst case scenario was an ambulation but thankfully he began to improve after just a week. It took 3 months of restricted movement and metacam (pain relief) treatment before his bone fused back together.

Obviously a degu is different to a guinea pig but my point is, please seek a second opinion as your piggy will need pain relief (metacam) at the very least even if it is arthritis.

I am sorry that your vet showed very little compassion :(
 
When my elderly sow (she was seven)broke her leg, my vet pinned her leg and she recovered well, although her leg was a little stiff. Just a thought to bear in mind. It's unusual, but I was told it was the only option in her case.
 
Thank you all for the replys
Her foot as fused in a certain position and this would have happened 1-2 years ago according to the vet. He decided to not x-Ray it because overall there is nothing he could do physically to help a old fuse break but what he did say is that I should check her foot every so often just to make sure she is not developing arthritis from the leg being positioned at the side. But remember this was about 9 months ago and she still behave like normal Piggie and had no signs of pain Now she walks slow and does tend to find it hard to walk around.
I was just wondering how I can help with the parts of her foot that have pressure on them?
 
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