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Piggy's Accident

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Xojulialeeox

Xojulialeeox

Junior Guinea Pig
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On April 9th (a little over 3 weeks ago), the weather was nice so i took my two boys, who are about 5-6 months, out to play in the grass. On the way back inside, while i held them both in my arms, the loud squeak of our front door scared one of them (Piggy). Before I could catch him, he pushed off of me with his back legs and leapt off our porch onto the concrete. He made a horrible sound, and his front paw was bleeding. I rushed him inside to stop the bleeding, and when i put him down, i realized he couldn't move his back legs at all. He dragged himself into his hidey and just laid there, limp. I rushed him to the vet, who gave him acupuncture and even tried electrodes. She said she couldn't feel any broken bones, but his spine was off-centered which may be causing the paralysis. She said he will most likely never walk again, and said i should put him down. However, he moved his foot slightly when she squeezed it, so she gave us Prednisone to try for a week. After giving him the steroid orally for a week, he still couldn't walk, but he gained some reflexes back in his feet. Fast forward two more weeks, and it's still the same. He is dragging himself around, seemingly with ease, and he is back to wheeking for veggies, eating his pellets, and drinking his water (the week after his accident, he wouldn't drink or eat his pellets at all). I give him bum baths every few days to avoid urine scald. I've tried making him some sort of wheelchair like a Roxy Roller, but he slips out of it. I feel horribly guilty, and i hate seeing him drag himself around, but i just can't seem to put him down knowing he is still happily eating, drinking, and playing with his toys. But, i don't want to be selfish and keep him here because of false hope. I am hoping with time and exercises, he may gain some movement back. I was thinking of trying hydrotherapy too. Am i making the right decision? I just don't want my boy to be miserable. :(
 
I am really very sorry. Accidents like this are rare but piggies are wriggly and accidents do happen, it could happen to anyone of us. Please try not to beat yourself up, guilt is unreasonable, you didn't mean for anything to happen.

Your situation is a difficult one. Well done for bathing his bum to keep urine scalds away this is vital. Make sure his belly is okay to as this can be affected from urine

Is he still on the steroid? Had there been any more reflex improvement? Is he passing faecal pellets okay?
 
Is he on pain relief also? Has he had an xray?
 
sport_billy said:
I am really very sorry. Accidents like this are rare but piggies are wriggly and accidents do happen, it could happen to anyone of us. Please try not to beat yourself up, guilt is unreasonable, you didn't mean for anything to happen.

Your situation is a difficult one. Well done for bathing his bum to keep urine scalds away this is vital. Make sure his belly is okay to as this can be affected from urine

Is he still on the steroid? Had there been any more reflex improvement? Is he passing faecal pellets okay?
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Thank you, I really appreciate that. He isn't on the steroid anymore, the vet told me to give it to him for just a week. I know he has feeling in his legs because he moves them whenever i touch them. He just isn't using them. That's why I was thinking maybe hydrotherapy could help. He is still passing fecal pellets (and lots of them!)
 
sport_billy said:
Is he on pain relief also? Has he had an xray?
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And no, he isn't on pain relief because he hasn't shown any signs of being in pain. No wheeking when picked up or moved, no wheeking when going to the bathroom, etc
 
I've seen hydrotherapy helped one guinea pig in recovery along with a wheelchair etc. Did you base your roxy roller off the instructions the owner provided on lynx? If you have and find it still doesn't work, is there anyone who can help you fit it better?
 
So sorry to hear of your handsome little man's accident :(

I'm not sure what I would do in your situation, if he's still passing poops 'eating &drinking ok, it sounds like there's hope yet :)

It might be worth trying metacam as a painkiller &its also an anti-inflammatory, so if there's any nerve damage/bruising/swelling it should help to reduce it, which may in turn help his muscles &movement.
I know he may not be showing signs of being in pain &if he's still eating ok its probably that he's not, but they are prey animals-so try to
hide pain as its a sign of weakness ,it could be worth asking the vet & just giving him a light dose.

I think I would try hydrotherapy &massage too if he's not too stressed out with it.

Here's wishing your little man a full &speedy recovery. :wub:Xx
 
GPTV said:
So sorry to hear of your handsome little man's accident :(

I'm not sure what I would do in your situation, if he's still passing poops 'eating &drinking ok, it sounds like there's hope yet :)

It might be worth trying metacam as a painkiller &its also an antiinflammatory, so if there's any nerve damage/bruising/swelling it should help to reduce it, which may in turn help his movement.
I know he may not be showing signs of being in pain &if he's still eating ok its probably that he's not, but they are prey animals so try to
hide pain as its a sign of weakness it could be worth asking the vet & just giving him a light dose

I think I would try hydrotherapy &massage too if he's not too stressed out with it.

Here's wishing your little man a full &speedy recovery. :wub:Xx
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Thank you very much! I think i'm going to try hydrotherapy and ask the vet about metacam.
 
Xojulialeeox said:
Thank you very much! I think i'm going to try hydrotherapy and ask the vet about metacam.
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I would also ask about an x-ray too if he's not had one already. He could have a fracture or something visible
There that you &the vet could work with that could help. Xx
 
It sounds like he has damaged the spinal cord in some way :( Unfortunately unless you are prepared to pay a lot of money for an MRI scan, you might not know for sure, but I would certainly get x rays front/side above views to see if the damage is likely to be permanent.
 
Poor little mite. Sounds like he has the best chance of recovery with you. Sending him lots of healing vibes!
 
Ah poor boy!
Don't beat yourself up about it though, it was an accident!
If he seems happy and has a good appetite and a zest for life (which it sounds like he does if he's wheeking for his veggies!) and is pooping then I see no need for any major decisions yet.
There are still things to try, like the hydrotherapy and Metacam.

Jaycey said:
Jack fell and now drags his back legs - Guinea Lynx Forums

My friend took in a piggy who had a similar fall and he managed to gain use of his legs again. He was called Jack and his story is in the above link on the Guinea Lynx website.

Have a read through, see what she did snd see if it's an option for your piggy.

He seems happy in the photos, does he act okay?
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There's still a chance he could regain the use of his legs, just like Jack! And if not, if he's still happy and not in pain then I think he could adapt! :)
 
Jaycey said:
Jack fell and now drags his back legs - Guinea Lynx Forums

My friend took in a piggy who had a similar fall and he managed to gain use of his legs again. He was called Jack and his story is in the above link on the Guinea Lynx website.

Have a read through, see what she did snd see if it's an option for your piggy.

He seems happy in the photos, does he act okay?
Click to expand...
Thank you for the link! I'm about to read it. Yes, he is acting fine. Eating, drinking, occasionally playing, etc
 
Was prompted to read this by your other thread. Did the vet agree to the Metacam or an xray?
 
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