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Spine feels like its going to break through skin

G

Gameofguineapigs

New Born Pup
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Hi, (UK)
I have a disabled guinea pig who has always been really small and dinky, we've seen the exotic vets regularly who all agree that her current weight is great as she has put on lots but is still small. However, I just picked her up and it felt like her spine was trying to push through her skin near her bottom, I can even see it sticking out a bit and it honestly feels like it could poke through. I am going to get her in the vets ASAP of course (currently in the phone queue) but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this? She hasn't lost any weight recently but this bit of bone feels really sharp all of a sudden.
 
Sounds as though she hasn’t enough covering over her spine. Due to weight loss or muscle atrophy (muscle wastage - particularly if she is disabled).
how old is she? Do you weigh her daily?

I’m sure our most experienced members will be along to help, but I would 100% get her a vet check up.
 
She is only a year old and has already been through so much in her little life, i believe she was inbred to a point where she was born extremely poorly and neurologically challenged- she has only recently learnt how to wheek and chatter. I do weigh her regularly, but not daily which I think I will definitley be doing from now on. However, no matter how much I weigh her she is always underweight compared to a normal one year old, but the vets I have spoken to said as she is maintaining her weight and has put on weight in recent months its nothing to be concerned about.
 
Yes definitely start weighing daily and try to monitor her food intake (I know it's difficult). In what way is she disabled?

If she is eating and not gaining weight, it is also important for the vet to rule out any dental issues.
 
The end of her spine above her bottom, she will have a little tail bone that naturally sticks out, I assume it’s not that then, just wanted to clarify for the Health team
 
Bill & Ted said:
The end of her spine above her bottom, she will have a little tail bone that naturally sticks out, I assume it’s not that then, just wanted to clarify for the Health team
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Oh I didnt know this as I can't feel it on any of my others! Perhaps it is just that but as she is really small it's more prominent?
 
Gameofguineapigs said:
Oh I didnt know this as I can't feel it on any of my others! Perhaps it is just that but as she is really small it's more prominent?
Click to expand...
It may be that then. Some of my piggies tail bones have been more prominent than others, if you are unsure you could always ask the vet to check she’s ok x
 
I'm thinking you are feeling knobby aspects of her pelvis in the absence of the 'padding' of muscle mass/fat. If it's new, it may be an indication of weight loss... keep very regular weights on her. I would consult a vet, particularly if this is something new. I have had older pigs feel bony in the pelvis spine as they lost muscle mass due to age, but as she's quite young it's definitely worth an exam, particularly considering she has had a rough start with inbreeding and could have some comorbid conditions because of that.
 
Just to add- when you're weighing, it doesn't really matter how she measures up to your more normal-sized pig, it only matters how she compares to her previous weigh-ins. She may never be the same size as the other pigs, what you're looking for is her maintaining her weight over time and not losing dramatically.
 
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