Whole body spasm

[mdissel]

Two weeks ago, one of my girls had a whole body spasm. I don't really know how to describe it. At first I thought she was headbutting her igloo, but when I looked closer, I saw that her body was jerking. I know it's not popcorning because that looks very different for her. I took her into the vet that night, and everything came back ok. They said to keep an eye on her. Just tonight she did the same thing. She doesn't fall down or lose control of her limbs. It's like her whole body is spasming several times in a row. She's eating, drinking, and pooping ok. Afterwards, she doesn't necessarily seem affected by it. Right now she's just cuddled up on my lap. I'm calling the vet tomorrow because it's the second time it's happened. Any thoughts?

 

[Ellie-May]

Two weeks ago, one of my girls had a whole body spasm. I don't really know how to describe it. At first I thought she was headbutting her igloo, but when I looked closer, I saw that her body was jerking. I know it's not popcorning because that looks very different for her. I took her into the vet that night, and everything came back ok. They said to keep an eye on her. Just tonight she did the same thing. She doesn't fall down or lose control of her limbs. It's like her whole body is spasming several times in a row. She's eating, drinking, and pooping ok. Afterwards, she doesn't necessarily seem affected by it. Right now she's just cuddled up on my lap. I'm calling the vet tomorrow because it's the second time it's happened. Any thoughts?

I have never had this experience, but hopefully everything will be okay!

 

[Nassala]

If it happens again try to video it. My piggie Meg has had seizures before and my vet wanted to know how long for, was she leaning to one side, how was she walking after, was her tongue out...
A long time ago, I also had a piggie who had fits that sound a little like you describe. He had mites under his skin, but none showed up on the surface. It took me three vets before one gave him mite treatment and he never had another one. If your vet can't find any obvious reason, that might be something to consider.

 

[mdissel]

If it happens again try to video it. My piggie Meg has had seizures before and my vet wanted to know how long for, was she leaning to one side, how was she walking after, was her tongue out...
A long time ago, I also had a piggie who had fits that sound a little like you describe. He had mites under his skin, but none showed up on the surface. It took me three vets before one gave him mite treatment and he never had another one. If your vet can't find any obvious reason, that might be something to consider.

My vet had told me to video it, so I tried to this time, but I barely caught any of it. Her fits last 10 seconds, and she doesn't lean or walk weird. Hmm about the mites. What is the treatment?

 

[Nassala]

My vet had told me to video it, so I tried to this time, but I barely caught any of it. Her fits last 10 seconds, and she doesn't lean or walk weird. Hmm about the mites. What is the treatment?

Usually ivermectin, and you would want to treat all the pigs in contact with her too. I don't know if it is the same for sarcoptic mites though (the burrowing ones), you would have to check with the vet.
Bear in mind while it might be worth treating for mites anyway, that may not be the cause of these seizures (if they are seizures), it is just a suggestion. The best thing you can do is keep working with a cavy savvy vet to find out. Good luck and I hope your little one is OK.

 

[Wiebke]

My vet had told me to video it, so I tried to this time, but I barely caught any of it. Her fits last 10 seconds, and she doesn't lean or walk weird. Hmm about the mites. What is the treatment?

Please DO NOT home treat on spec without consultation with the treating vet.
You can make things worse than better.

If it was mites you would see signs of an outbreak by now as seizures are only a symptom of very advanced untreated mange mites when a piggy has large bald areas and deep open wounds where it has bitten itself bloody.

Usually ivermectin, and you would want to treat all the pigs in contact with her too. I don't know if it is the same for sarcoptic mites though (the burrowing ones), you would have to check with the vet.
Bear in mind while it might be worth treating for mites anyway, that may not be the cause of these seizures (if they are seizures), it is just a suggestion. The best thing you can do is keep working with a cavy savvy vet to find out. Good luck and I hope your little one is OK.

I would appreciate it if you please followed our forum ethos to not recommend home treating on spec without a diagnosis.

 

[mdissel]

Please DO NOT home treat on spec without consultation with the treating vet.
You can make things worse than better.

If it was mites you would see signs of an outbreak by now as seizures are only a symptom of very advanced untreated mange mites when a piggy has large bald areas and deep open wounds where it has bitten itself bloody.




I would appreciate it if you please followed our forum ethos to not recommend home treating on spec without a diagnosis.

Oh I would never treat her at home without having gone to the vet. I was simply wondering how intense the treatment was. I'll be taking her to the vet tomorrow.

 

[Wiebke]

Oh I would never treat her at home without having gone to the vet. I was simply wondering how intense the treatment was. I'll be taking her to the vet tomorrow.

All the best!

 

[Nassala]

Please DO NOT home treat on spec without consultation with the treating vet.
You can make things worse than better.

If it was mites you would see signs of an outbreak by now as seizures are only a symptom of very advanced untreated mange mites when a piggy has large bald areas and deep open wounds where it has bitten itself bloody.




I would appreciate it if you please followed our forum ethos to not recommend home treating on spec without a diagnosis.

Sorry I did not make myself clear, I was recommending taking the piggie to the vet to ask for more treatment but should have worded it better.
I mentioned mites as my seizure pig did not have bald patches or obvious signs, which was why it took so long to diagnose.

 

[DMS260820]

This sounds like hiccups to me, I've seen it. A few times. Don't take this as it is, but it could be. The body jerks forwards repeteadly for about a minute. It normally happens to my pigs when they eat too fast.

This is just an idea, this doesn't mean don't seek out vet treatment or opinion.

I've seen this in 3 guinea pigs I have and have had, and rats do it aswell

 

[DMS260820]

This is what I mean by hiccups, altho what you explained sounds like it isn't this. My pigs have done it worse than this video before.

 

[mdissel]

This is what I mean by hiccups, altho what you explained sounds like it isn't this. My pigs have done it worse than this video before.

Oh that does look like my pig. I'll still take her in, but that's good to know.

 

[DMS260820]

Oh that does look like my pig. I'll still take her in, but that's good to know.

Do you mean this looks like what you see happening? Yea still take her in, it s best to be sure, you can get the vet to give her a full m.o.t, alot of people don't take guinea pigs in for yearly health checks because they don't need vaccines and jabs like rabbits do. So vets only tend to see guinea pigs when they are sick. I only take mine in when something is wrong, but I'm going to start doing a yearly check up and when they get to senior age il do every 6 months.

I hope all is OK

 

[mdissel]

Sorry for not replying sooner! Everything looked to be in good health, so they're thinking it's probably just hiccups. If I notice any symptoms, I should take her back in.