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Unusual Guineapig Movements

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MattSt

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Hello everyone, unfortunately I've had to join this forum bearing bad news. One of my piggys is unusually sick. I've had my piggys for 3 years and I have taken the best care of them I possible could and I'm really worried as this is the first problem I couldn't solve myself and have found nothing when researching.

So, I went out to give my piggys their daily brush tonight at about 10pm, I had already cleaned the cage and he seemed absolutely fine at that time, he was running about and talking to me as usual. When I went out to brush them tonight he was lying in his little house not moving, my other piggy Barney was practically on my lap as I tried to solve this problem so he is fine. He was moving very unusually - it was like he could move everything except his head, he moved his legs and body and made no sound, I checked his breathing and everything else and all seemed fine, but he seemed off - a little limp and down, I went to brush him and he moved in small spaces in his house. They both normally jump into the larger area of the cage when they know it's brushing time but only Barney did that, Nibbles was just... There... I'm so worried.

I hope someone can help,

Matthew.
 
Will he not get up and come to you when you encourage him? If hes collapsed then i would take him to your emergency vet tonight, its difficult for you to know the cause and he would meed veterinary attention. Check his gums- are they normal light pink or do they look pale? Is he able to use all limbs? Can he open his mouth and blink (gently touch corner of eye)- if not he could have had some form of seizure or stroke. If he is collapsed i would say emergency vets.
 
Hello, it is currently 01:36am so I cannot do much at this moment in time but wait until tomorrow morning to take him, he appears to try and move when I encourage him but he doesn't, I couldnt pick him up because he was in an awkward position and it was dark.

EDIT : He is not collapsed, he is breathing normally and he appears to be sleeping now, he is normally awake when I go though.
 
MattSt said:
Hello everyone, unfortunately I've had to join this forum bearing bad news. One of my piggys is unusually sick. I've had my piggys for 3 years and I have taken the best care of them I possible could and I'm really worried as this is the first problem I couldn't solve myself and have found nothing when researching.

So, I went out to give my piggys their daily brush tonight at about 10pm, I had already cleaned the cage and he seemed absolutely fine at that time, he was running about and talking to me as usual. When I went out to brush them tonight he was lying in his little house not moving, my other piggy Barney was practically on my lap as I tried to solve this problem so he is fine. He was moving very unusually - it was like he could move everything except his head, he moved his legs and body and made no sound, I checked his breathing and everything else and all seemed fine, but he seemed off - a little limp and down, I went to brush him and he moved in small spaces in his house. They both normally jump into the larger area of the cage when they know it's brushing time but only Barney did that, Nibbles was just... There... I'm so worried.

I hope someone can help,

Matthew.
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If hes able to move/ walk but just isnt doing it properly, it could be what i mentioned above but could even be something less scary like an ear infection affecting his coordination. As i said,in these kind of situations its really hard to pinpoint an exact cause. If it were me, if see a vet. Hope hes brightened up a little!
 
He cannot walk (it appears) he was lying moving his head side to side and moving his lower body in unusual ways. I'm so worried, I'm taking him tomorrow morning if he hasn't brightened up by then, and if he has I think I'll take him just in case, they've just had their checkups 2 weeks ago. :/
 
MattSt said:
Hello, it is currently 01:36am so I cannot do much at this moment in time but wait until tomorrow morning to take him, he appears to try and move when I encourage him but he doesn't, I couldnt pick him up because he was in an awkward position and it was dark.
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I understand its late but if he is unable to rise and walk when encouraged then , in my opinion, its important he sees a vet sooner rather than later. I understand not all people are near an emergency vets or have the means to go there, its just what id suggest. I'm assuming he isnt eating/ drinking if he wont rise? This alone is dangerous. If you cant get him to a vet i would at least keep him warm and calm, and encourage eating and drinking.
 
When I fed him at 6 pm he came out and ate perfectly fine, and I've managed to teach them to drink after their meals (somehow) so that's no problem. He has a greedy brother so I tend to separate them at feeding times (he eats in the bed and brother eats in the larger area, it just helps to keep them both equal).
 
MattSt said:
He cannot walk (it appears) he was lying moving his head side to side and moving his lower body in unusual ways. I'm so worried, I'm taking him tomorrow morning if he hasn't brightened up by then, and if he has I think I'll take him just in case, they've just had their checkups 2 weeks ago. :/
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Those random movements sound like a distressed guinea pig to me, obviously due to the fact he cannot walk. I understand how worried you must be but in all honesty i think he really needs to see a vet asap. Whereabouts are you? Theres a recommended vets list at top of the page and I'm sure there will be emergency providers in there too.
 
MattSt said:
When I fed him at 6 pm he came out and ate perfectly fine, and I've managed to teach them to drink after their meals (somehow) so that's no problem. He has a greedy brother so I tend to separate them at feeding times (he eats in the bed and brother eats in the larger area, it just helps to keep them both equal).
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Guinea pigs hide any signs of illness until its very advanced as a means of defense in the wild. Sometimes illness also just hits them suddenly with seizures/ strokes etc. they are complex animals that can go downhill rapidly and i would suggest going to the vets asap, early morning if you cant get to an emergency ves.
I dont think this will just go away on its own so i think getting him seen to is important regardless if he seems better in the morning. Keep him as comfortable as you can and encourage eating and drinking if he is able to.
 
You are welcome. Hopefully you can get some help with him sooner rather than later.
 
Are these sort of things a risk to my little guys life? I'd hate to think how Barney would cope alone.
 
MattSt said:
Are these sort of things a risk to my little guys life? I'd hate to think how Barney would cope alone.
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I cant say for sure but i will say that this type of thing would be classed as an emergency and should go to the vet as soon as possible as he is obviously distressed with the fact hes moving his head side to side but cant actually get up, i cant really say anymore as i cant see him and I'm not a vet.. Its unclear wether he is in pain either. As i said, i cant say whats wrong with him and I'm not trying to scare you but if he where mine, this would warrant a trip to the out of hours emergency vet. Are u in the uk?
 
If money is an issue, any emergency veterinary service have a duty to provide first aid to a pet in need of emergency treatment, regardless if further treatmeant is able to be given due to cost.
 
Yes, I'm in the UK - Scotland, I am not aware of any nearby emergency vets and the nearest is 8 miles away which I can drive to tomorrow.
 
Are you in glasgow? Or another city? I've advised that he attend the emergency vet tonight and thats all i can say really, but it is your call. I'll be thinking of him.
 
MattSt said:
I'm in Fife, near Edinburgh.
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Theres Inglis Vets in KY11 that serves fife and theres Eden Vets in KY15. I have never used these vets and am only mentioning them as they are in your area and provide out of hours treatment.
 
I have found a nearby emergency vet that has just opened, it's in the next town, they are 24 hour support but the actual clinic doesn't open until 6am.
 
Give them a call- if they are an emergency vets they will have someone there to answer the phones at least.
 
Thoughts! The only thing that springs to mind is a spine stroke , fibro calagons embaliam ,

It is often fixable , by a vet that is prepared to think outsid the box

But as Adelle said vet asap,

Keep quiet and comfortable
 
Good luck at the vets, I am thinking it could be a stroke as they can strike out of the blue like that and affect their ability to move about. If so the first 48 hours after a stroke are the most crucial.
 
MattSt said:
Hello, it is currently 01:36am so I cannot do much at this moment in time but wait until tomorrow morning to take him, he appears to try and move when I encourage him but he doesn't, I couldnt pick him up because he was in an awkward position and it was dark.

EDIT : He is not collapsed, he is breathing normally and he appears to be sleeping now, he is normally awake when I go though.
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Please have him vet checked today and keep him as comfy as possible until then.
Make sure that you can step in with syringe feeding if he is not eating or drinking much, but don't do so if he is very lethargic.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Hi folks, thanks for all the support. Good news and bad news. Good news is he's weak but recovering, bad news is the vet couldn't figure out what was wrong, he hadn't had a stroke, or seizure. We think it is a bowel problem or lower intestinal problem, we're still investigating. When I picked him out of his cage in the vet office he slumped on his stomach and couldn't use his legs, he was given 2 shots - 1 pain relief and one to flush out any badness.

Unfortunately, we were told the chance of him surviving (if he is the same when we take him up tomorrow morning) are very slim, he's unusually weak and his movements are unusual. Our choices are to take him to an advanced surgery/clinic (can't remember exactly) for extensive care or have him put down. Let's pray he's good by the morning.

He drank the paste from the tube and seemed to love it, I can already see him trying to walk and is starting to regain control and strength. I'll keep you all updated.
 
MattSt said:
Hi folks, thanks for all the support. Good news and bad news. Good news is he's weak but recovering, bad news is the vet couldn't figure out what was wrong, he hadn't had a stroke, or seizure. We think it is a bowel problem or lower intestinal problem, we're still investigating. When I picked him out of his cage in the vet office he slumped on his stomach and couldn't use his legs, he was given 2 shots - 1 pain relief and one to flush out any badness.

Unfortunately, we were told the chance of him surviving (if he is the same when we take him up tomorrow morning) are very slim, he's unusually weak and his movements are unusual. Our choices are to take him to an advanced surgery/clinic (can't remember exactly) for extensive care or have him put down. Let's pray he's good by the morning.

He drank the paste from the tube and seemed to love it, I can already see him trying to walk and is starting to regain control and strength. I'll keep you all updated.
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Please try to syringe feed him little but often to keep the guts going.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed!
 
Wiebke said:
Please try to syringe feed him little but often to keep the guts going.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed!
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We were advised 5-6ml of fluid per hour, I've got the alarms set and will be up all night.
 
MattSt said:
We were advised 5-6ml of fluid per hour, I've got the alarms set and will be up all night.
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That is a good aim, but don't despair if it is only half of that if he is well. Give him time to swallow in between.

It is great to know that your vet has got a reasonable idea about the amounts that a piggy off its food needs in order to stay alive. ;)
 
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