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Possible scurvy in 6 month guinea pig?

wheeking_charlie

wheeking_charlie

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Hello, I have recently got two male piggies from the pet store as I wanted to improve their lives. One named Fifi, suddenly stopped using his back legs and is barely moving around. I have noticed he still has feeling in his back legs and can move them slightly but for the most part they are very weak. He has been struggling to eat and drink by himself since he cannot move on his own. I took him to the vet and she gave him a vitamin c shot as well as did an xray on him. She said that his back and spine looked good to her and that there was nothing wrong as far as his bones. He has no sign of bumblefoot and she confirmed this as well. I feed my boys unlimited Timothy hay, oxbow garden select pellets, and daily vegetables including bell pepper, carrots, lettuce. She said that his diet seemed okay so if it was scurvy it must have started when he was in the pet store and is just now showing signs. Could this be what it is? I have been feeding him critical care by syringe and sometimes he eats it off my finger. If anyone knows possible problems this may be or ways to help him recover please let me know. I have only had him for a month and it makes me sad to see him like this.
 
gowthefloe said:
Hello, I have recently got two male piggies from the pet store as I wanted to improve their lives. One named Fifi, suddenly stopped using his back legs and is barely moving around. I have noticed he still has feeling in his back legs and can move them slightly but for the most part they are very weak. He has been struggling to eat and drink by himself since he cannot move on his own. I took him to the vet and she gave him a vitamin c shot as well as did an xray on him. She said that his back and spine looked good to her and that there was nothing wrong as far as his bones. He has no sign of bumblefoot and she confirmed this as well. I feed my boys unlimited Timothy hay, oxbow garden select pellets, and daily vegetables including bell pepper, carrots, lettuce. She said that his diet seemed okay so if it was scurvy it must have started when he was in the pet store and is just now showing signs. Could this be what it is? I have been feeding him critical care by syringe and sometimes he eats it off my finger. If anyone knows possible problems this may be or ways to help him recover please let me know. I have only had him for a month and it makes me sad to see him like this.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

Those symptoms are very vague. I would strongly recommend to please check your gas alarm since we simply don't usually see scurvy in well cared for piggies.
We really only seen less than 10 proper scurvy cases - and most of them were caused by over-supplementing vitamin C - in coming up to 20 years for collective forum existence.

However, scurvy is often brought into play as a default 'diagnosis' by especially North American vets when they don't have an idea of what they are up against.
You can however treat with a 2 weeks booster course if you wish to. This is enough time to work but too short for the body to accustom to the higher levels and learn to ignore them; causing scurvy symptoms whenever the level drops for some reason even though the real vitamin C level is still above normal.
Wiebke

Thread 'Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe'

1 Overview of recovery formula foods
- Recommended brands
- Emergency alternatives
2 Probiotics
- Standard brands
- Enhanced probiotics
- Live gut microbiome transfer (poo soup)
3 Vitamin C
- Recommended brand
- Alternatives
- Booster vs. long term supplementation


These chapters have been copied from the complete...
  • Like


However, carbon monoxide will affect piggies with their very small and narrow respiratory tract well before you and causes these kind of indistinct symptoms of being unwell. It can and sadly does kill piggies every winter; especially in rented accommodation. Please check your alarm or levels asap and do not rule it out on principle. :(
Wiebke

Thread 'First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products'

1 Important Proviso
2 First Aid Kit
- General Items
- Comfort
- Useful to have in stock
3 Illness and Recovery First Aid Tips
- Missed a dose of medication?
- Accessing vet care and when it is too late for help
- Loss of appetite and weight (Feeding support, Recovery foods, digestive aids and rehydration)
- Accident, bites and injury (Wound disinfection and bleeding)
- Eyes and ears
- Breathing
- Acute heart...
  • Like

Step in with feeding support and weighing daily to ensure that your piggies are still eating enough. Over three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day is hay, which you simply cannot control by eye.
Wiebke

Thread 'How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency'

1 Feed
- Important crisis management resources
- When is improvising necessary?
- Which food group am I replacing with my feeding support?
- How much and how often should I feed and water?
- What can I use that I have already got at home?
- Other possible easily available foods with their pros and cons
- How do I prep a syringe for rougher pellet fibre?
- What can I do without a syringe?
- The role of lukewarm water
2 Probiotics
- Probiotic products...
  • Like
  • Love

Fingers firmly crossed!
 
Last edited:
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

Those symptoms are very vague. I would strongly recommend to please check your gas alarm since we simply don't usually see scurvy in well cared for piggies (We really only seen less than 10 proper scurvy cases - and most of them were caused by over-supplementing vitamin C - in coming up to 20 years for collective forum existence).

However, scurvy is often brought into play as a default 'diagnosis' by especially North American vets when they don't have an idea of what they are up against.
You can however treat with a 2 weeks booster course if you wish to. This is enough time to work but too short for the body to accustom to the higher levels and ignore them.
Wiebke

Thread 'Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe'

1 Overview of recovery formula foods
- Recommended brands
- Emergency alternatives
2 Probiotics
- Standard brands
- Enhanced probiotics
- Live gut microbiome transfer (poo soup)
3 Vitamin C
- Recommended brand
- Alternatives
- Booster vs. long term supplementation


These chapters have been copied from the complete...
  • Like


However, carbon monoxide will affect piggies before you and causes this kind of indistinct symptoms of being unwell. It can and sadly does kill piggies every winter; especially in rented accommodation. Please check your alarm or levels asap and do not rule it out on principle. :(
Wiebke

Thread 'First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products'

1 Important Proviso
2 First Aid Kit
- General Items
- Comfort
- Useful to have in stock
3 Illness and Recovery First Aid Tips
- Missed a dose of medication?
- Accessing vet care and when it is too late for help
- Loss of appetite and weight (Feeding support, Recovery foods, digestive aids and rehydration)
- Accident, bites and injury (Wound disinfection and bleeding)
- Eyes and ears
- Breathing
- Acute heart...
  • Like

Step in with feeding support and weighing daily.
Wiebke

Thread 'How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency'

1 Feed
- Important crisis management resources
- When is improvising necessary?
- Which food group am I replacing with my feeding support?
- How much and how often should I feed and water?
- What can I use that I have already got at home?
- Other possible easily available foods with their pros and cons
- How do I prep a syringe for rougher pellet fibre?
- What can I do without a syringe?
- The role of lukewarm water
2 Probiotics
- Probiotic products...
  • Like
  • Love

Fingers firmly crossed!
Click to expand...
Hello, thank you so much for the information. I will be sure to check that. I do have one question though, if it were that then wouldn’t the other guinea pig be experiencing problems as well? He has been perfectly fine and active.
 
Has your vet considered an inner ear infection? Mine lost use of his back legs until he was on the right antibiotics with one. It should show on the X-ray.
 
Ramia said:
Has your vet considered an inner ear infection? Mine lost use of his back legs until he was on the right antibiotics with one. It should show on the X-ray.
Click to expand...
My vet did take X-rays and didn’t say anything about a possible ear infection. This is what it looked like.
 

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He started walking less, whimpering when moving and eventually lost mobility in his back legs.

I had to wipe him off twice a day because he would soil himself.

He started walking again after a week on baytril and doxycycline.

But he has been diagnosed with calcified bulla syndrome and has had one ear infection again. Head tilt was the symptom.
 
Welcome to the forum, I'm sorry it's in these circumstances. Well done for taking him to the vet.
I'm afraid I can only offer healing rumbles from my boys ❤️
 
gowthefloe said:
Hello, I have recently got two male piggies from the pet store as I wanted to improve their lives. One named Fifi, suddenly stopped using his back legs and is barely moving around. I have noticed he still has feeling in his back legs and can move them slightly but for the most part they are very weak. He has been struggling to eat and drink by himself since he cannot move on his own. I took him to the vet and she gave him a vitamin c shot as well as did an xray on him. She said that his back and spine looked good to her and that there was nothing wrong as far as his bones. He has no sign of bumblefoot and she confirmed this as well. I feed my boys unlimited Timothy hay, oxbow garden select pellets, and daily vegetables including bell pepper, carrots, lettuce. She said that his diet seemed okay so if it was scurvy it must have started when he was in the pet store and is just now showing signs. Could this be what it is? I have been feeding him critical care by syringe and sometimes he eats it off my finger. If anyone knows possible problems this may be or ways to help him recover please let me know. I have only had him for a month and it makes me sad to see him like this.
Click to expand...
To anyone that sees this I ended up finding out that he either had an upper respiratory infection or pneumonia. His condition worsened quickly and he passed. Thank you for everyone that was supportive and/or gave advice and information. 🕊️
 
gowthefloe said:
To anyone that sees this I ended up finding out that he either had an upper respiratory infection or pneumonia. His condition worsened quickly and he passed. Thank you for everyone that was supportive and/or gave advice and information. 🕊️
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry that you have lost your boy.
 
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