Squeak struggling to walk

[jaynenguineas]

My poor baby Squeak was very poorly at the weekend, he stopped eating Saturday night and by the time I got him to the vets on Monday he was very very ill. The vets did a fab job of getting him through the day and I took over the syringe feeding at night. I took him back the next day to see if he was healthy enough to have his teeth looked at under anasthetic, the vet thinking this was the problem. Even though his 2 front bottom teeth had broken off everything else was ok. So Ive been nursing him back to health and he's nibbling of his own accord on grated food and grass Ive brought in from the garden, but he cant walk properly, he's holding himself up on the front but more or less drags his behind around. Any suggestions why?

 

[Guinea pig slave]

It could possibly be lack of Vitamin C if he's not eating - it's vital piggies get this as they cannot produce it themselves and can result in weakness of limbs and scurvy :...

http://www.guinealynx.info/scurvy.html

Any idea what the vet gave him ?

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

Could be a number of things -

Lack of Vitamin C
Calcium Deficiency
Arthritis
Stroke
Spinal damage due to a fall or drop

Best advice is to take him back to the vet, he needs checking over and a shot of pain killer at the very least, as he will be in pain.

Also, its worth knowing that if he has front teeth missing this could cause problems with the back teeth. Please keep an eye on them.

Good luck x

 

[jaynenguineas]

It could possibly be lack of Vitamin C if he's not eating - it's vital piggies get this as they cannot produce it themselves and can result in weakness of limbs and scurvy :...

http://www.guinealynx.info/scurvy.html

Any idea what the vet gave him ?

Thanks for your help , I have read about the Vit C issues and I am off to buy Spinach and maybe some supplements if they have some in my pet shop. The vet gave him fluid injections under his skin, antibiotics and syringe fed him recovery food 5ml every hour.

 

[jaynenguineas]

Could be a number of things -

Lack of Vitamin C
Calcium Deficiency
Arthritis
Stroke
Spinal damage due to a fall or drop

Best advice is to take him back to the vet, he needs checking over and a shot of pain killer at the very least, as he will be in pain.

Also, its worth knowing that if he has front teeth missing this could cause problems with the back teeth. Please keep an eye on them.

Good luck x

Thanks for your reply, he definitely hasn't had a fall as there's only been me handling him recently. The vet checked his other teeth and they are fine and the bottom ones will grow back, one of the front teeth actually broke off while he was with the vet and she didnt know how this happend and couldnt pin point why he stopped eating in the first place. I dont think he is in pain as he isnt squealing when he moves his back feet which he does when I pick him up and he now has them underneath him instead of behind. So I'm going to focus on the Vit and Calc issues whilst keeping a very careful eye on him.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Veggies which are high in Vit C: Broccoli, bell peppers, cabbage, orange, sprouts, i would look to get some pepper and broccoli into him, also any sticky weed if you have some in your garden and close by,

Fingers crossed for him xx

 

[Guinea pig slave]

How is Squeak doing, hope he's ok p

 

[sport_billy]

Anynews on Squeak? I would get him back to the vet to get him checked over...

 

[jaynenguineas]

Thank you all for your replies, advice and concern. Squeak is doing much much better, yesterday he was hopping around - so not actually stretching his back legs to walk but he was a lot more mobile. He is eating and drinking very well of his own accord. I now have some Vitmin Drops and have syringe fed him his dose yesterday and when we came downstairs this morning he was scurrying around actually using his back legs sometimes and hopping sometimes so again another improvement. Hes been out in the run for some grass with his brother - which now leads me to my next issue. pow-pow his brother keeps trying to mount him and of course squeak is not happy so I'm playing bodyguard whilst trying to re introduce them slowly..... so any advice on this would be great as I cant watch them 24/7 zzz

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Glad he is so much better! Please keep us updated.

And bump re the humping x