Rear Leg Swelling And Lameness

[Kes]

Morning all, hope you don't mind my first post being a health issue, my daughters GP Mr Piffles has a swollen rear leg, it doesn't look like bumble foot to me, and I'm not sure if he's broken it somehow, noticed he wasn't using his leg at all and can't seem to bear any weight on it, then the swelling occurred, there are no obviously cuts and he will let me flex the leg without wheeking, I've tried to make him comfortable in his home by adding extra shavings etc, he is eating normally and moving as fast as ever, with 3 legs, I'm currently bathing him every other day due to a mange,skin problem and hoping the warm water gives him some relief, I was wondering if swimming might help him, getting him to the vets can happen next week earliest Tuesday, but again reluctant as I know my vet practice aren't great with Guineas, any advice would be great,

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Hi & welcome to the forum Can you give your location please in case we can recommended a vet for you? My concern with waiting would be that he may be in pain & also there could be loss of circulation to his leg which may result in him losing it or worse Does it show any discolouration at all? Is he being treated by the vet for mange mites because he needs either an injection or treatment other than bathing for them. Bathing will not kill mange mites

 

[Kes]

Hi and thanks for replying, I'm just outside Glasgow, there's no discolouration and the swelling hasn't gotten any worse, am I massaging the leg, he's currently curled up on my lap in his fleece, I think the warmth and closeness helps him relax, I didn't go to the vets this time with Mr Piff for the skin condition, as they aren't great with GPs , my other long haired suffered the same and they didn't know how to treat him, he died within 2 weeks, so My daughter researched and have been bathing him with nizoral every 2 days, making sure I rinse him properly and this is working, his hair is now growing back and he's less itchy, I don't know if he has maybe dislocated his hip with scratching, I don't like to think he's in pain, and I don't have a lot of funds to take him to the vets

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I know the best vet is Glen at Apex Vets in Denny Falkirk. The treatment you are giving him is for fungal. If he has mange mites he will need proper treatment as they can cause fits & death in piggies, but without seeing a vet you may be treating him for a completely different thing which won't help Can you take some photos & maybe @helen105281 can take a look to see if it is fungal, she has lots of experience in fungal. However he still needs to see a vet about his leg & if you ask about his skin at the same time you will only pay one consultation as far as I am aware. Hopefully some of our Scottish members can advise you of a better vet closer to you, but if you can get to Apex vets he stands a better chance What sort of housing do you have him in? Is there a ramp?

 

[Kes]

Will certainly ask when I take him to the vets, the skin condition I'm not so worried about, I know I said mange, because I used to have horses, the skin condition is getting better. His in a cage with a plastic bottom and has a ramp to come and go, but hasn't been wanting to wonder because of his leg.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

It sounds like he fell off the ramp Personally I would remove the ramp, if it's the type of cage I am thinking about it has a little plastic house that is detachable & a ramp bit where they can climb on top of the house? If it is I would take it out, it will give them more space anyway. It's probably better for him to be slightly restricted so he can rest his leg until then.

 

[Kes]

Thank u Poppy's Mum, have restricted his climbing and jumping options to see if it helps, if no change then yes it's the vets for him, will let you know how he gets on

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Great If there is an increase in swelling, if his foot starts to feel colder than the others or if there is discolouration then please get him seen before Tuesday

 

[helen105281]

Sorry, only just been able to get on here on the computer and my typing on my phone is appalling. I agree he needs to see a vet for pain relief and diagnosis of what is wrong with his leg. Once you have a diagnosis then water therapy would help while he is recovering alongside the pain relief (which would also be an anti-inflammatory).

As for the skin condition, a photo would definitely help. If you are bathing in Nizoral this may help with fungal but not mange mites which need to be treated with an Ivermectin product. My preferred method is as a course of injections at the vets. Any shop bought spot on type products are too weak.

The symptoms of mange mites and fungal can be similar but need completely different treatment.

 

[babydoll]

I use the Avenue Vet Centre in rutherglen Glasgow if that's near you they are good with piggies.

 

[Kes]

He's been to the vets and been given metacalm once a day and bavtril twice per day, it's just typical he hasn't been using the leg at all but at the vets he was trying to put weight on it, their suggestions are it's broken or fractured and anthesia and X-rays will cost £108, then depending on the X-rays it could mean surgery or an amputation, sounds really drastic to me, but either way we can't afford surgery, I'm so torn about what to do, his swelling has disappeared from his toes and is concentrated on the joint where there has been no change.

 

[helen105281]

Glad you have Metacam, did the vet explain the reasoning behind giving Baytril? Do they think it is infected?

What dose of Metacam is he on? It would be a good idea to split it so he has it twice a day.

 

[Kes]

The metacalm is supposed to be in one dose 0.5mls, which I was going to split in two doses, Piff would choke on it being one dose, the bavtril confused me, she said nothing about infection, just broken or fractures and decided the hard skin on his foot looks ulcerated, ( it isn't) , she was quite strong about the X-rays etc,but I said I wanted to they the anti inflammatory first, I know we're all supposed to look up to vets, but I find it so hard to believe they know everything about every animal they see.

 

[helen105281]

Is there another vet you can see, could you get here?

http://www.apexvets.com/
I think a lot of vets prescribe antibiotics in case of infection.

I meant splitting the dose so it is 12 hours apart, as pigs have a fast metabolism. Is it dog or cat Metacam?

 

[Kes]

It's def dog, she did explain about it not being licensed for guineas,
Have used it with our dogs before and a hamster with bumble foot, not looking forward to Mr Piffs wheeking when I administer it though :-)

 

[helen105281]

Dog is ok, was just checking as the cat Metacam is weaker so the dose is higher. That's a good dog Metacam dose.

Does he like it then? Mine love it.

 

[Kes]

I'm arguing with my daughter about when to give the dose, she's 17 and Piffs is her guinea, I can't do right for doing wrong where she is concerned, need to head to work soon and I don't trust her to do it properly, decision made , doing it now :-)

 

[Kes]

Matacalm is a hit, he loves it

 

[helen105281]

I would do it around your work, at least you know you have given it then.

 

[Kes]

Have been giving Piffs his Meds since Wednesday now, I've got a vid of him taking his metacam, he loves it, now I know he's on Meds and tht can mask any discomfort he's feeling, he is now using the leg a lot more, mind you the swelling hasn't gone down and there's no other change, I doubt the vet will allow me to keep giving him metacam , I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him , can't seem to post the vid, think it might be because I'm using a iPad , will try and post pics at work tomorrow

 

[helen105281]

The vet may allow him to be on a low maintenance dose but that is usually more for arthritis type issues. Hopefully this is something that can be healed though.