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Whimpering... Limping... advice please

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Howard&Vince

Howard&Vince

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Hi Ladies and Gents,

I was wondering if anyone could diagnose what is wrong with my gorgeous little boy.

On Tuesday I noticed he was limping (back left leg) so I was on GP watch. He did not make any noise when he limped/ hopped and I gave him some extra veg to ensure that he was getting enough vitamin C. I continued this over the next few days. He was eating, drinking, pooing and peeing as normal but his limp remained, although he seemed a little brighter in himself.

However I woke up today to find that his limp is worse and that he is now whimpering. I checked his bum for impaction and rubbed his belly for bloating and I am pretty sure that this is not causing his discomfort (although I am no expert). Would these ailments cause him to limp? When he whimpers he shakes the back part of his body and when he lies down his left leg is twitching. He is still eating, drinking, peeing and pooing and he does not whimper when he poos or pees.

I am unsure what to do... I hate to see my little man like this.

Thanks
Amy
 
Quick answer - go to the vet. Pain relief in the short term for the weekend, possible xray if on exam the vet feels something isn't right or if the problem doesn't resolve with painrelief.

Twitching is s sure sign of a high level of pain, please don't delay.

Suzy x
 
Thank you for your response.

Is there any pain relief we can give piggies that humans take to help him out? I will go to the vets but am sad to see him like this.
 
Another quick answer for that one - No, he needs to see a vet.

Please do not delay.
 
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=97584

The advice is still the same as when you posted earlier this week- if you don;t like seeing him like this, please take him to a vet as a matter of urgency and not look for home remedies.

I can;t give you a diagnosis/cause - only a vet with access to proper dignostic equipment will be able to determine this but the twitching of the leg is not good and could be down to any number of things including a possible stone, damage to the limb, pressure on the nerve from a swelling elswhere in the abdomen, and so on. Impaction or bloat are unlikely to cause this.

I can however give you a prognosis if you do not act today:
His symptoms have worsened and he is now demonstrably in pain/distress that will start to affect the amount he eats and thus his gut function. Eventually this can lead to gut stasis and death.....all for want of a timely vet visit to treat the symptoms even if the original cause of the pain is not yet determined.

Given what you now descibe he needs to see a vet for pain relief and a thorough checkover TODAY please before he gets any worse. If your vet is closed they will have an emergency number you can ring on their answerphone message.

You may also need to consider supplementing his food intake by syringe feeding to keep his guts moving. The fact he is still eating is good - but he may not be eating as much as normal and this will start to cause problems with his gut over the next few days.

Please take him to a vet today. Do NOT attempt to self-medicate with human painkillers - some of these can interact very badly with medications the vet may need to give him.
 
I took him to the emergency vet and they think it is impaction.

I am going to monitor him closely and if anyone has any tips I would appreciate it.

x
 
Thank you for taking him to a vet.

Are they saying that the cause of his pain/twitching/limping is impaction or are they saying this is a current symptom of whatever he had in the first place?

What treatment/actions have they given/suggested in order to
a) relieve/cure the impaction
b) relieve/cure the pain
c) get him eating again and back on the road to recovery
d) find out why he started limping in the first place?

I am slightly concerned that the emergency vet you have seen today has done nothing except make a "convenient" diagnosis, discharge him back into your care wth instructions to "go see somebody else" if he gets worse.

I have nursed many boars through impaction/gut and other problems causing the symptoms your describe - syringe feeding, adequate pain relief and gut motiity drugs will all serve to assist in recovery.

I'm afraid that I am extremely worried about your little man because I know what treatment I could have expected from my cavy savvy vet if i had taken your boy in today presenting with the problems you describe and it seems you have been given none of them in your report back.


so in terms of tips:
a) If he has not been given metacam or tramadol for pain relief - contact another vet and ask for some tomorrow without fail
b) syringe feed softened nuggets - given he is currenty eating i would aim for 10ml every 3-4 hours
c) phone and ask a vet about giving zan-tac - it aids gut motility in the hind gut and can hlep impaction issues - you can get this from the chemist but need to get approval before giving it

These will at least give your piggie a chance....however I would also go back to a recognised and recommended cavy savvy vet on monday for a proper work-up including Xray or ultrasound.

If you tell me where you are i can find a cavy savvy vet for you.

x
 
I thought I would give you an update...

I took Mr Black to another vet this morning as there was no real improvement in the night.

The vet was very kind and caring and gave Mr Black a thorough examination. He checked his teeth, ears, body and rear end. Mr Black had some of poos in his sack. He examined his back legs and made him walk around. He felt no lumps or blockages in his body. He made him walk around the surgery to see how he moved.

This vet said the following that due to his age, muscles mass deterioration on his back leg and difficulty to pass poos (impaction) that he is an old piggie with arthritis in his joints and generally suffering from old age. He gave him an injection of anti-biotic and an injection of pain relief. He gave me some baytril (0.5ml daily) and to make him as comfortable as possible.

I am going to keep a close eye on Mr Black and if no improvement I'll take him to my usual vet in the week.

Thanks for your help.
 
I thought I would give you an update on my piggie...

Following on from the vets on Sunday, we decided not to give him the baytril as instructed as we are convinced that he is suffering from some sort of nerve/ old age rather than a stomach problem. We closely monitored him as his weight dropped to 2lbs 7oz. He is also being very quiet, sullen and not himself at all, although he is still eating a reasonable amount.

By Monday he had not changed and now was not interested in drinking unless you held him and held the water bottle for him. It was like a little baby and a milk bottle! It was good to see him drink but sad he can not do it instinctively. Also his sack was getting blocked with pellets so emptied that for him too on a regular basis.

On Tuesday he actually appeared a little more like himself and at 4pm I heard a noise and was so pleased he tried to have a drink for himself. We weighed him and he had put on 6oz (2lbs 13oz) since Sunday so was so pleased with the little man.

Today he has come on again eating and trying to drink for himself. He even squeaked when we called him today so that is a vast improvement!

After reading many articles and blogs I think my poor little fella may have had a stroke as he is still limping and seems confused, almost forgetful. He has totally stopped eating cucumber (which was his fav) but will eat broccoli and grapes. He is still not drinking enough on his own and needs his pellets removed so he is still unwell but hopefully on the road to recovery. I read this article on the forum... http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=62724
and it sounds quite similar so gonna get my little fella osteocare and hope this will aid his recovery further.

Thanks for everyone's help and support x
 
Poor little guy! How old did you say he was? I though in your earlier post he was under 4 years... it seems young to decide it's 'old age' (although arthritis-type pain doesn't only occur in the old, of course.) I hope that you find the solution and he makes a full recovery.
 
Update 19/10/2012

Evening all,

Thought I would give you another update on my little man. Since Tuesday he is making a steady improvement as each day passes. He is eating more and more and has now started to drink for himself. I started to give him Osteocare (0.1ml twice a day, to be reduced to once a day from Sunday, then every other day from Wednesday) and I believe this is helping the little fella out. His weight has not increased (still 2lbs 13 oz) but this is a vast improvement from Sunday weighing only 2lbs 7oz. He is also pooping better but still needs his sack emptied twice a day. As I have previously mentioned I think he may have had a stroke so am closely monitoring him, but all signs are pointing in the right direction.

Here is a piccie I took of him for you all to enjoy x

F2A1DDA7-2E90-4980-9F22-CD1521AC1509-5031-0000024B488D28D9.jpg


76D25E1A-4E8A-4002-8835-8C9F6C0C1A68-5031-0000024B433903BE.jpg
 
Update 20/10/12

More news...

Today he is responding to my voice and he has remembered he likes cucumber... good signs to show he is on the right road to recovery. His limp is also getting better and he even did a lap of excitement when he had floor time today rather than sitting by his cage wanting to go in. Maybe the osteocare is kicking in. Sadly he still has not put any weight, actually he has lost an ounce (2lbs 12oz) but all the other signs are good so stay positive everyone!
 
Update 25/10/12

Thought I would give an update on Mr Black.

Well he is still not is usual self but I've come to terms that his stroke may have changed him. He is similar in someways but not in others. The good news is that e has started wheeking again when he hears the fridge open and eating veg and hay almost like before. He is reluctant to eat his dry food but he does have nibble every now and then. He is slowly drinking for himself again but we still give him a drink so make sure he is hydrated. His weight has not improved (2lbs 11oz) but he does not seem in as much pain as he did.

Still gonna give the little man extra love and cuddles.

X
 
Update 27/10/12

On Thursday my little fella went up to 12lbs 12oz but when I weighed him again today he has gone back down to 2lbs 10.5oz. He is still eating hay and veg, but very slow on the drink front. I still have to hold him to get him to drink.

I think another trip to the vets.
 
Howard&Vince said:
Update 27/10/12

On Thursday my little fella went up to 12lbs 12oz but when I weighed him again today he has gone back down to 2lbs 10.5oz. He is still eating hay and veg, but very slow on the drink front. I still have to hold him to get him to drink.

I think another trip to the vets.
Click to expand...

Must be difficult for you to see him like this, keep your chin up and do the best for you both. Lots of love, let us know how he gets on.
 
weight fluctuations make you feel sick don't they.

Keep it up! We know he can make it! :(|)

x
 
Update 29/10/12

Well, we started my little fella on Baytril on Saturday and he seems more perky today. When I came home he ran to the door wheeking and demanding veg. He has not done that for a fortnight! I cleared his poo sack, gave him a drink (as I'm still unsure at how much he drinking on his own)and weighed him. He has gone up 0.5 oz so now 2lbs 11oz so that's in the right direction.

Stay positive everyone! Xx
 
If he has had a stroke he could still recover to a degree. I will tell you the story of a pig I had some years ago who had a stroke. The vet told me I was to take him home and make him comfortable as he wouldn't last the month out. Fortunately piggy wasn't listening as he lived for another 15 months by which time he was a very old pig indeed.
Fingers crossed your pig does well.
 
Sue and Smartie said:
If he has had a stroke he could still recover to a degree. I will tell you the story of a pig I had some years ago who had a stroke. The vet told me I was to take him home and make him comfortable as he wouldn't last the month out. Fortunately piggy wasn't listening as he lived for another 15 months by which time he was a very old pig indeed.
Fingers crossed your pig does well.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for this positive message. Let's hope he lives for a long time to come !
 
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