Watching for osteodystrophy

[Eviolus-]

I have taken in a satin boar because he stole my heart and all my sows love him but... He is approximately 1 year old.

I love him so much already that the mere thought of him being in pain kills me so I've been hyper aware of any weird movements he does. Sometimes he'll adjust his position by pulling both back feet forward and it makes me think of a bunny hop, he's only done it twice but I'm still scared.

It's hard because he loves awkward positions, sometimes he naps with both back feet in the air, or with his butt a mile higher than his head, I don't want to mistake his weird movements for a serious issue but I also want to make sure that if an issue does arise that I catch it sooner rather than later.

May be random, but he also let out a small high pitched squeak randomly while popcorning yesterday? I'm probably over thinking things but I thought it would be best to check and get a second opinion just in case...

 

[Eviolus-]

Just sharing a picture because he's gorgeous

 

[Eriathwen]

It might be a good idea to have him xrayed to put your mind at ease. My satin carriers soldiered on until 2.5 and 3.5 years of age before showing OD symptoms and I wish I had known sooner. Especially since poor Shellys left leg is all but fused, I can't help but think if I knew sooner I could have prevented that somehow.

But Thankyou for taking him in! It always worries me they will go to a home that doesn't know about this issue. I messaged the rspca about a satin boar they had up for rehoming with no mention of any possible health issues the new owners may face but they never responded or updated his bio if he wasn't the other end of the country I might have tried adopting him.
Fingers crossed your boy is one of the lucky ones that swerves the disease!

 

[Eviolus-]

I

It might be a good idea to have him xrayed to put your mind at ease. My satin carriers soldiered on until 2.5 and 3.5 years of age before showing OD symptoms and I wish I had known sooner. Especially since poor Shellys left leg is all but fused, I can't help but think if I knew sooner I could have prevented that somehow.

But Thankyou for taking him in! It always worries me they will go to a home that doesn't know about this issue. I messaged the rspca about a satin boar they had up for rehoming with no mention of any possible health issues the new owners may face but they never responded or updated his bio if he wasn't the other end of the country I might have tried adopting him.
Fingers crossed your boy is one of the lucky ones that swerves the disease!

I'll look into getting an x-ray, I hope that pig went to an understanding home... What were the first symptoms you noticed?

 

[Eriathwen]

I
I'll look into getting an x-ray, I hope that pig went to an understanding home... What were the first symptoms you noticed?

Bunny hopping was the first sign for Shelly, Leonard's had no real symptoms until he developed pain while urinating and was xrayed to check for a bladder stone or arthritis. It came as a bit of a shock at the time because I had forgotten they were satin carriers completely as I had no interest in breeding from them. The muscles in their back legs had also atrophied significantly by the time they were diagnosed so worth giving them a feel from time to time.
From what I've read since, walking flat footed is another early sign rather than up on their toes which Leonard did, looking back.

 

[Eviolus-]

Bunny hopping was the first sign for Shelly, Leonard's had no real symptoms until he developed pain while urinating and was xrayed to check for a bladder stone or arthritis. It came as a bit of a shock at the time because I had forgotten they were satin carriers completely as I had no interest in breeding from them. The muscles in their back legs had also atrophied significantly by the time they were diagnosed so worth giving them a feel from time to time.
From what I've read since, walking flat footed is another early sign rather than up on their toes which Leonard did, looking back.

Bru (the pig) walks both flat footed and on his toes, but so do all the other pigs... I'll keep an eye out just in case

 

[Eriathwen]

Yeah it's worth keeping an eye out, I can only describe it as looking more like a duck waddling than normal walking..just a bit more subtle.

 

[Eviolus-]

Yeah it's worth keeping an eye out, I can only describe it as looking more like a duck waddling than normal walking..just a bit more subtle.

So like a tiny rumblestrut? Just trying to picture it

 

[Eriathwen]

A little bit. I might have a video of Leonard doing it last year somewhere, I'll have a look later when I get back home.
Oh another sign I just remembered, when they're stood still they will raise their toes right off the floor, kind of rocked back on their heels. I have a study that has really good pictures on my PC I'll see if I can find that too later.

 

[Eviolus-]

A little bit. I might have a video of Leonard doing it last year somewhere, I'll have a look later when I get back home.
Oh another sign I just remembered, when they're stood still they will raise their toes right off the floor, kind of rocked back on their heels. I have a study that has really good pictures on my PC I'll see if I can find that too later.

Okay, thanks so much, it's really helpful

 

[Eriathwen]

I can't find the video of Leonard, but I did find the study with the pictures, theres also a chart that describes the stages and what symptoms to expect in each as it progresses, if it does. Luckily Leonard and Shelly have stayed somewhere between stage 1 and 2. The pictures are on page 20 I think, or not far off.

I can't get the link to work, but heres some screenshots, the study is called Satin Syndrome in Guinea Pigs. Nephropathy, hyperparathyroidism and bone disease of satin cavies by Eva Stoffels-Adamowicz. In case you wanted to look for it/I can't figure out how to link it.

https://lib.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/002/165/467/RUG01-002165467_2014_0001_AC.pdf