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Urgent help please!

  • Thread starter Thread starter littleemmie14
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littleemmie14

Hi everyone,

I had a problem with my guinea pig a few months ago and got some fantastic advice from you all here so I wondered if you would be able to help me again please?!

This evening Barney seems to be in a bit of pain with his right legs (possibly just his back right) and can't seem to walk on it. I put him and Jim down on the floor as usual and instead of going over to eat his parsley he straight away went over to his hide away. After a while I checked on him as he is normally fighting Jim for the treats and he was sat holding his front right leg up. We picked him up (again strange as normally he has us running round after him trying to catch him!) and I put him on my lap. He immediately rested his head on me (doesn't usually like cuddles) and that is where he has stayed since.

We have tried to check him over and can't see anything wrong, apart from his back right leg is sticking out a bit further than his other one and he will, unusually, let us touch it without flinching, albeit he is squeaking everytime we do. At first he was shaking when we touched it but now seems to have calmed down.

So, after this essay, can anybody please help me/has anyone else's piggies experienced this? I have some Baytril in the cupboard, would it be worth giving him some? Do I ring the emergency vet?

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

Emma x:(
 
Sorry to hear Barney's not well, Hope he is better soon! I'm sure someone on here has good advice for you! Get well soon Barney!
 
Please take your piggy to the vet. With the greatest respect to everyone using the forum if your guinea pig is in obvious discomfort he needs to see a vet asap.
 
I agree, it sounds quite serious if he's off his feet, and you can't diagnose something without seeing the animal...

Sorry he's poorly, let us know how he gets on

Sophie
x
 
Hi, the baytril is just an antiboitic and won't help him in this situation. Is his leg swollen at all? My boar Archie hurt his leg jumping in and out of his cage last week. He didn't want me to touch it at first, was ok after ten mins though. If you are at all worried get him checked out by the vet. If you have some metacam that is a painkiller that can be used on guinea pigs. Has your vet ever given you some.
 
Thank you for all your replies. I don't think he has fallen or anything like that, but then again he may have knocked himself last night whilst on the floor and not felt pain until today.

I took your advice and have just got back from the emergency vet (I wasn't sure whether to wait until the morning) She said that he has a lump in his abdomen, maybe a stone, and so he will need an xray. Rather than keep him in overnight I've brought him home so that he doesn't get too distressed at being away from Jim, and will take him back to the vet in the morning to arrange an xray. The vet moved his legs into funny positions to see if he reacts in the 'normal' way - needless to say he didn't so she thought something (maybe the lump) is stopping his nerves in his legs doing what they should. She gave him vetergesic and metacam to hopefully stop the pain.

Has anyone had experience of an xray? What does it involve? I would like to prepare myself for what happens as I find this quite traumatic and hate not knowing what is going to happen!:red

Thank you all for your help and kind wishes

Emma x
 
Try not to worry too much about him, he'll be more comfortable now with his pain relief.

Let us know how he gets on tomorrow. I'm so pleased you got him to a vet. It's never worth playing guessing games when they obviously need a little extra help.

Try to get some sleep tonight - best wishes :)
 
Get well Barney.
Hope all goes well for him tomorrow at the vets.
Sending lots of love to both piggies
x
 
Wishing you and Barney lots of luck for his xray. Let us know the results when you can. xx
 
Well, after random checks on him in the night (!) we took Barney back to the vet this morning. He seemed to be a lot better but still not 100% - he was walking around but stopped every few minutes as if he needed to rest before doing anymore! The vet this morning checked him over and said that he doesn't need an xray yet as it seems like just a sore part of his abdomen which should get better will some pain relief and some medicine to help get his guts working better (although we hadn't noticed a change in his pooing habits)! Poor little boy is feeling very sorry for himself and is being very cuddly still. I'll have to keep an eye on both pigs though as Jim seemed to be very jealous of Barney's extra attention and was storming around the cage this morning and wouldn't leave Barney alone! Since I gave Jim a long cuddle this afternoon though (he is a very affectionate pig!) they have curled up next to each other and fallen asleep!

It was horrible seeing him unable to walk last night and I'm so relieved that he can at least move now and the problem is hopefully something relatively simple which will get better very soon. Thank you all again for your help and wishes.

Emma x
 
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