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Specialist Sprain/limp - No Recovery

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paulalovespiggies

paulalovespiggies

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Hi everyone, first off, I have already been to the vet and fairly confident my piggle is generally ok bar the limp, just wanted some advice on a speedy recovery.

So Pig started limping about a week ago and I brought him in to the vet about 2 days after because I couldn't tell if it was serious or something more sinister than a sore leg.

The vet checked him all over and was happy nothing is broken, thinks it's a strain and sent me off with pain meds.

Since then, there's been no floor time, I try to move him myself as much as possible to limit his movement. Appetite fine, drinking water fine.

The pain meds ran out last night and when I went to move him today he squealed a bit more - presumably just because he's feeling the pain more.

I had him in the cage all along with his roomie, Percy. But I noticed today that Percy was being more energetic than normal and was scooting past Pig and irritating him and possibly hurting him.

So I've separated them and now Pig is in his travel cage, which is small, with food & hay & water & his wee cosies and Percy is in the normal cage.

So a week has passed since I noticed - how long do I give him to recover before I get him back to the vet? How long is too long basically.

Is it better to keep them separated?

The travel cage is small, I'm scared Pig could get depressed and lonely in there. Should I limit how long he's in there? The benefit is that he can't move far in there so I can be certain he's resting. Plus I can monitor properly what he's eating.

Any tips to entertain a sick bored pig?

Do I need to reintroduce them again even if they're only separated for a day or a couple of days?

Thanks guys!
 
First of all it sounds like he needs a longer course of pain relief, would your vet let you have some more Metacam? I do think he needs to be seen again if there is not really any improvement after a week. An xray may be a good idea just to rule out anything more serious. Is he eating and drinking ok? Is there any way you can set up a separate cage alongside his friend so they can still interact?
 
I agree with @helen105281 to have him checked again, if necessary with an x-ray and to ask for more metacam.

Bad sprains can be several weeks in the healing.

Please make sure that your boys can still interact to keep their bond alive. You may need to do a full formal re-introduction on neutral ground (minus buddy bath) if it is longer than 2-3 days. Brace yourself for some dominance behaviour in either case!
 
Hmm see a few posts I'd read said a sprain can take a couple of weeks to heal so I wasn't overly worried. He only fusses when I move him, he's ok otherwise. Appetite is still fine as well and drinking normally. Another reason why I wasn't too worried.

The travel cage is in the same room as the normal cage so they will hear each other I guess - I hadn't planned on keeping him there too long, maybe just overnight to make sure he gets proper rest.

I wasn't worried after seeing the vet and he's no worse - but no better either.

@Wiebke I actually had a return appt booked at the vet but then I cancelled this morning because he seemed ok, but when I moved him tonight the noise he made was pitiful so it made me worry.

Dominant behaviour - oh goody, lol!

@helen105281 thanks for the guidance, think it'll be back to the vets unless there's a drastic improvement in the morning.
 
So this morning I went in (I'm on UK time) and moved him etc and and he's still the same. I'm gonna ring the vet for more pain meds for a few days and see. If he wasn't eating or drinking I would be more worried, so I'll keep a close eye and take it from there. Thank you for your help!
 
The fact that he is eating and drinking well is a very good sign. A major sprain has sometimes taken 3-4 weeks to heal fully with piggies of mine.
 
The metacam is also anti inflammatory and can actually aid in the healing process itself by reducing pressure on damaged areas, helping them to heal/reducing the chance of nerve damage, so it's worth keeping up with that. Good luck, I hope he heals well.
 
Thank you everyone! Despite posting that this morning I kept on thinking about it & freaked out with worry. Decided to get out early to take him to the specialist vet for an xray - happy to say no breakages and vet thinks it is just a bad sprain. Sent me home with anti inflammatories and a very subdued Pig! I'm glad I went though, peace of mind is worth the cost of an xray and knowing my wee Pig is ok :luv:

On another note, my piggies usually run from my humanness and have no interest but they are both much friendlier now since Pig is ill! Must be because they're not bonding as much and I'm the pig substitute... I don't care though, I'm loving it!
 
Hello, just an update. Since getting anti-inflammatories Pig is much happier, definitely not as sore and I'm keeping him away from the main cage to ensure he can get the rest he needs. Percy misses him and he's not quite himself but he's fine otherwise. I set them together for hay time and when I'm cleaning the cage which seems to work ok. I'm hoping it won't be much longer but can't rush these things.
 
When re-introducing, please do so on neutral territory and brace yourself for some dominance behaviour while the boys re-establish their hierarchy. Ideally you do this in combination with a cage clean.
 
Thanks everyone. Everyday they are with each other while I clean out their cages or feed them and it's pretty much ok. If Percy climbs on Pig I just scoot him away - Percy is generally more dominant in terms of.... Ahem... Humping... Which is why I've been keeping them apart except for a few supervised times when I'm in cleaning & feeding and this is on neutral ground. I'm worried Percy will hurt Pig by being dominant. So should I wait until Pig is totally back to normal before reintroducing properly?

Percy definitely misses him, even though he's the dominant one he's actually much more reserved without him - for floortime he just sits in the wee hidey and then normally when I come in with snacks he races over, now I have to really coax & encourage him. It's funny how they can change in different circumstances!
 
Hi everyone, need some advice. Nearly 2 weeks now and Pig really isn't any better. I think the medication was helping but I've been gradually weening him off it and he's only getting a tiny drop each day now. When I lift him he's started crying and whining again and when I set him on the floor to coax him into his cage and he refused to move at all. No amount of encouragement worked. The vet told me to ring if no better so I will do tomorrow. In the meantime, any ideas? I have both boys separated again, I had them back in for about a day together but Percy was just too boisterous so it didn't last long. Could it have set Pig back a bit by straining his leg further if Percy was bouncing about the place? He's already had an xray and vet said deffo no breakages... Help? Appetite still fine.
 
Hi , aparentaly there is a condition that efects dogs in pareticular long bodied dogs like sausage dogs, (there body's are not unlike a pigs if you think about it )
it is called a Fibrocalaginous embolism, (spine stroke ) as far as I understand it, the wheight of body puts
presure on the vertabrea , and in turn traps nerves going down the spin , som times affecting the rear legs .

The bad news is that a pig is to small to have this verified by M R I ,
The good news is that the treatment is often simple an none invasive.
Aparentaly Good results can be achieved by simple exercise and masarge of
the joints of the legs (not water therapy the shock to the pig being put in a bowl of water ma well do more harm than good )

To find out more , I thing there is an article by a world renowned exotics vet called
Caren Becker ,
Google Caren Becker , and Fibrocalaginous embolism , and perhaps give the link to
your vet to study,

N, B do not attempt
Any treatment without first talking to you vet !
 
Last edited:
Sorry, I meant to add,
I am not surjesting this is what is wrong , just an avenue to persue with your vet !
 
paulalovespiggies said:
Thanks everyone. Everyday they are with each other while I clean out their cages or feed them and it's pretty much ok. If Percy climbs on Pig I just scoot him away - Percy is generally more dominant in terms of.... Ahem... Humping... Which is why I've been keeping them apart except for a few supervised times when I'm in cleaning & feeding and this is on neutral ground. I'm worried Percy will hurt Pig by being dominant. So should I wait until Pig is totally back to normal before reintroducing properly?

Percy definitely misses him, even though he's the dominant one he's actually much more reserved without him - for floortime he just sits in the wee hidey and then normally when I come in with snacks he races over, now I have to really coax & encourage him. It's funny how they can change in different circumstances!
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it has taken up to 3 weeks with a bad sprain in some of my piggies, but as there is no improvement, it is good to see your vet again. Fingers firmly crossed!
 
Hi, ok so Pig is really no better. He's been on antibiotics for a week plus the vet gave critical care formula because although eating veg and hay he hasn't been eating pellets so had lost weight (critical care was both the green powder & the white powder). He was loving the critical care white stuff but it ran out. I went to the vet to get more today and they sent me home with more green stuff (he refuses this). He has been munching fresh veg & hay but not as much as usual plus because he's not eating pellets he's not pooping as much either. He's really not himself. I'm thinking the worst and to be honest the vet (although meant to be a specialist) really isn't great. He didn't tell me anything about keeping my boys separated etc or followed up with after care. I called today & couldn't get him. I just want Pig to be comfortable because I'm losing hope he will get better. I will try to get him the white powder tomorrow because he likes it and seems to give him a wee boost. Does anyone know what it's specifically called so I can make sure I get the right one? Will call the vets tomorrow as well but I have a heavy heart. Pig was giving me loads of kisses tonight - I hope he's not giving up :(
 
Definitely worth a go! Thank you, ringing the vet tomorrow so will see how I get on :)
 
paulalovespiggies said:
Definitely worth a go! Thank you, ringing the vet tomorrow so will see how I get on :)
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Could you try and mix the green recovery food (which I would guess is Oxbow Critical Care?) with some mushed up pellets in order to cover the taste?
This is a white powder recovery food product. Could it be Vetark Critical Care formula?
My piggies generally like it better than the Oxbow Critical Care.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for your little boy!

Has he got painkillers?

@Abi_nurse @furryfriends (TEAS) @Elwickcavies @MintyAndGarry (TEAS)
 
He has a wee bit of loxicom left, should I give him that? I figured you shouldn't mix it with the antibiotics but now I'm thinking about it I have no idea why not... Should I go ahead and give him some?

He has no appetite for pellets or the green critical care... I was worried force feeding him would just add more stress to his day :( he absolutely loved the white stuff though, perked him up right away! He has been taking water this evening and I got him some parsley which is his favourite... Plus he does graze on hay - again not the way he used to but better than nothing.
 
I will ask the vet in the morning about the white stuff, he sent it home in a different container from the vets, not the official one. I never thought to ask as it just said critical care on it so presumed it was like a product on its own.

Thanks for all the advice and support, it means a lot - family and friends generally don't understand why anyone would spend time, effort and money to get their small furry better - several have mentioned just "buying another one"... Some people just don't get it!
 
paulalovespiggies said:
He has a wee bit of loxicom left, should I give him that? I figured you shouldn't mix it with the antibiotics but now I'm thinking about it I have no idea why not... Should I go ahead and give him some?

He has no appetite for pellets or the green critical care... I was worried force feeding him would just add more stress to his day :( he absolutely loved the white stuff though, perked him up right away! He has been taking water this evening and I got him some parsley which is his favourite... Plus he does graze on hay - again not the way he used to but better than nothing.
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Yes, please give him that and ask for more if necessary. You can give painkiller and antibiotic together.

Please weigh him daily and and to him up with syringe feed if and whenever necessary. You have to be tough in this situation, as he completely relies on you to get enough food in to fight another day. Your supportive care is as vital as any medication, as he won't make it if you don't get enough food into him.
 
I don't think he's as sore as he was. The vet thinks he has an abscess on his spine - the antibiotics were to treat it.

Now the vet has no evidence of an abscess but was the only thing they could really think of.

Since Being on antibiotics and having complete rest he is able to walk a bit better and is more willing to do so. He literally would not budge before, no amount of coaxing or bribery would encourage him. Now he will hobble over very short distances.

But he still cries a bit when lifted... I feel so sorry for the poor thing!

I just gave him 3mls of the green critical care, he didn't like it one bit! I only had about 1.5mls of loxicom left so he has taken that too. While I had him sitting eating the critical care he did a few poops as well. They are a bit more normal looking which is great!

I will call vets first thing.
 
Also, if anyone can recommend a guinea pig vet in northern Ireland, I would appreciate it.
 
Just an update. After a few pretty awful force feeding sessions Pig has his appetite back, syringe feeding no problem and nibbles the syringe like mad to get the food out. Between the green critical care and the white powder critical care he is getting the recommended dose of food. Drinking water ok, nibbling hay and an odd nugget here or there. I stopped the antibiotics because I think they were what made him lose his appetite and he had dropped a lot of weight so I was more worried about that. He also then wasn't pooping as much, but that has righted itself with him eating more now. Pain wise he doesn't seem any worse off, I have loxicom at the ready for him. Still not walking about, he'll shuffle himself around within his cage and when he does walk, it doesn't seem to hurt him. So I think it could just be his little legs aren't used to moving about as much anymore. well, that's really what I'm hoping for. Will continue syringing in the meantime. I have had to totally separate the two because Percy is too playful and rough. Percy is definitely lonely and I feel bad for him but it's hopefully only a temporary thing. I've been spending as much time with Percy as possible but it's also hard when Pig is so demanding with constant feeding etc.

On the plus side I have definitely bonded much better with the both of them. Piggy kisses are a daily occurrence and they never happened before! I have also syringe fed Percy a few times just with water. Even though he is fine I figured if I syringe feed him now if means in the future if he is poorly and I have to syringe feed him, it won't be such an alien experience for him.

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support especially @Wiebke, who inspired me to force feed my poor wee critter when I thought he had given up. It feels like he's turned a corner now and I don't think he would have made it if it hadn't been for the force feeding session. Thank you so much!
 
paulalovespiggies said:
Just an update. After a few pretty awful force feeding sessions Pig has his appetite back, syringe feeding no problem and nibbles the syringe like mad to get the food out. Between the green critical care and the white powder critical care he is getting the recommended dose of food. Drinking water ok, nibbling hay and an odd nugget here or there. I stopped the antibiotics because I think they were what made him lose his appetite and he had dropped a lot of weight so I was more worried about that. He also then wasn't pooping as much, but that has righted itself with him eating more now. Pain wise he doesn't seem any worse off, I have loxicom at the ready for him. Still not walking about, he'll shuffle himself around within his cage and when he does walk, it doesn't seem to hurt him. So I think it could just be his little legs aren't used to moving about as much anymore. well, that's really what I'm hoping for. Will continue syringing in the meantime. I have had to totally separate the two because Percy is too playful and rough. Percy is definitely lonely and I feel bad for him but it's hopefully only a temporary thing. I've been spending as much time with Percy as possible but it's also hard when Pig is so demanding with constant feeding etc.

On the plus side I have definitely bonded much better with the both of them. Piggy kisses are a daily occurrence and they never happened before! I have also syringe fed Percy a few times just with water. Even though he is fine I figured if I syringe feed him now if means in the future if he is poorly and I have to syringe feed him, it won't be such an alien experience for him.

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support especially @Wiebke, who inspired me to force feed my poor wee critter when I thought he had given up. It feels like he's turned a corner now and I don't think he would have made it if it hadn't been for the force feeding session. Thank you so much!
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That is wonderful news! Yes, it is easier when your piggies are used to a syringe.

The first sessions of syringe feeding when a piggy is really feeling unwell and in pain are often the most difficult, but once they realise that the extra feed is making them feel a lot better in themselves, they become a lot more accepting and cooperative. However, you are not the only first time syringe feeder who is finding it hard to be that tough for the sake of your ailing piggy. Your home care can really make all the difference and is in its own way as important as the medical care you get from your vet. ;)
 
Ok, update. So I've been syringe feeding him for a couple of weeks. All going well in that area. He is munching nuggets again and veggies. He had been on antibiotics for about 10 days so I stopped them because he was skin and bones and I was more worried he would die of starvation than anything else. His weight is stabilising/gaining slowly.

I read a post on here saying about giving your pig Osteocare which is a calcium vitamin thing, lots of people have used it for piggies not walking and seems to bring them around after a few days. So, we're on day 2 of that. Just waiting to see with fingers crossed.

He hasn't been on anything at all the last week or so, hasn't been whining but still not moving. But then yesterday he started whining again when lifted, not sure if that's just a coincidence with using the osteocare? So I've started him back on Loxicom to help with the pain.

He will stand up but will not walk. He will do a short spurt with a lot of coaxing.

He has also started squeaking when pooping, I've checked and definitely not impacted. I'm thinking a uti? I really can't take anymore time off work to bring him to the vet, which isn't local and closes at 5PM and not on a Saturday! Which is super convenient :doh:

Does anyone have any ideas as I don't know what else to do! I have zero confidence in the vets, they sent me home with a sick pig, medicine & no guidance on how it would affect his appetite, separating him from his roomie or general care. I either worked it out myself or looked it up.

I'm finding the balance of work and a sick baby hard, I'm coming home and straight up the stairs for feeding and cleaning, then feed myself then back up to make sure Percy is ok and sort him out and spend time with him too as the poor wee creature is lonely on his own. Then I go to bed! I just want to do right by them but feel like nothing is getting better.

The only thing is that he is eating better now but that's really the only improvement. And he only lost his appetite because of the antibiotics!:help:

Also, his wee bum is a bit matted from pee, I've never bathed him before and don't want to stress him, should I give him a wash or would it be ok to leave it?
 
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