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Worsening back leg paralysis

ConnieDollyRuth

ConnieDollyRuth

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Feb 16, 2019
Messages
8
Reaction score
2
Points
70
Location
Stoke on Trent, UK
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of anything similar to my situation.

My guinea pig, Connie, is about 5 years old and at Christmas stopped eating. She was treated at our vets locally (in stoke on trent) for overgrown molars and had two large ovarian cysts removed. Unfortunately the dental treatment didn’t work/wasn’t done brilliantly and we ended up travelling to Northampton to see Simon and the Cat and Rabbit Clinic. At this time, it had been on-going for about a month with her only eating syringe food during that month.

Simon has successfully treated her dental issues (she had an abscess under her chin and rotten front tooth which is now removed, as well as overgrown top and bottom molars) and she has been eating brilliantly on her own the last week or so, and I’m still supplementing with some critical care. However, for about 3 weeks (since just before we first saw Simon) she has had back leg weakness. She was hopping around and still able to move about and Simon said it may improve as she puts weight on and builds back up. However, the last day or so it seems to have gotten worse and she now doesn’t seem to be able to move herself about and her back legs are completely splayed out at the sides unless we help her tuck them in. She also seems to be in some discomfort if we try and move the legs to a more normal position. In herself, she is really happy... eating, wheeking for food every time I walk past the cage and is the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time in that respect, but I’m really concerned about the legs. I’m waiting to hear back from the vets, as they are about a 6 hour round trip journey from where we live so we can’t just call in.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Or have any advice at all?

Many thanks!
 
ConnieDollyRuth said:
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of anything similar to my situation.

My guinea pig, Connie, is about 5 years old and at Christmas stopped eating. She was treated at our vets locally (in stoke on trent) for overgrown molars and had two large ovarian cysts removed. Unfortunately the dental treatment didn’t work/wasn’t done brilliantly and we ended up travelling to Northampton to see Simon and the Cat and Rabbit Clinic. At this time, it had been on-going for about a month with her only eating syringe food during that month.

Simon has successfully treated her dental issues (she had an abscess under her chin and rotten front tooth which is now removed, as well as overgrown top and bottom molars) and she has been eating brilliantly on her own the last week or so, and I’m still supplementing with some critical care. However, for about 3 weeks (since just before we first saw Simon) she has had back leg weakness. She was hopping around and still able to move about and Simon said it may improve as she puts weight on and builds back up. However, the last day or so it seems to have gotten worse and she now doesn’t seem to be able to move herself about and her back legs are completely splayed out at the sides unless we help her tuck them in. She also seems to be in some discomfort if we try and move the legs to a more normal position. In herself, she is really happy... eating, wheeking for food every time I walk past the cage and is the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time in that respect, but I’m really concerned about the legs. I’m waiting to hear back from the vets, as they are about a 6 hour round trip journey from where we live so we can’t just call in.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Or have any advice at all?

Many thanks!
Click to expand...

HUGS!
Please check whether she still has bladder control and change her bedding 2-3 times daily. Ideally you keep her on vetbed bedding; that is softest. Make sure that you gently wipe her undercarriage with a baby warm damp cloth regularly; including the underside of her paws to minimise urine scald and the risk of foot infection.
Place hay etc. next to her within her reach on a little newspaper to encourage her to feed herself as much as possible and keep those teeth ground down. Offer her water by syringe.

I would not recommend to try massaging if her legs are painful.

Back leg paralysis can have many causes and can be extremely diffcult to diagnose; it is therefore extremely difficult to impossible to treat, too, as I know from my own piggies who've had their various issues.
It can be anything from arthritis, sciatica, blood clots in one of the spinal blood vessels, water build up in the body, an internal tumour pressing on the nerves in the spine, neurological etc. etc. With both legs equally affected, the problem is more likely located in or affecting either the spine or brain. But it is definitely not typical sudden onset temporary calcium deficiency old age overnight paralysis. :(

All the best!
 
Thank you. I’ve just spoken to the vet and he pretty much said the same about diagnosis, and he hopes that with improved nutrition there will be some recovery of movement. We are going back to see him in a couple of weeks anyway so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Thank you for your advice... he’s just told me many of the same things you’ve advised. I’ll hope for the best! She’s such a lovely little pig and she’s fought so hard to get to where we are now that I just hope she can further recover!
 
Hiya. I’m so sorry to hear about your poorly piggy 😞
We’re going through a similar thing with our dental piggy too. About 2 weeks ago his back legs
 
Seemed weak and it has progressed further so that his front legs are also weak now and he’s really struggling to get around. He saw Kim today at the Cat and a rabbit clinic. She thinks it’s probably neurological. We’re giving him lots of cuddles and feeding him lots (his appetite is great) and he’s very bright eyed and lovely vocal. Really hoping he will improve but Kim said she’s very concerned about him and the prognosis for him is not great 😭

Not sure what I’ll do if we lose our little love. Fingers crossed for our piggy babies 🤞
 
Jozza1972 said:
Seemed weak and it has progressed further so that his front legs are also weak now and he’s really struggling to get around. He saw Kim today at the Cat and a rabbit clinic. She thinks it’s probably neurological. We’re giving him lots of cuddles and feeding him lots (his appetite is great) and he’s very bright eyed and lovely vocal. Really hoping he will improve but Kim said she’s very concerned about him and the prognosis for him is not great 😭

Not sure what I’ll do if we lose our little love. Fingers crossed for our piggy babies 🤞
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Oh no 😢 I’m sorry to hear about your piggy too. It sounds a very similar situation as I noticed last night she’s only really putting weight on one of her front paws now (although that one is looking a bit red underneath so I’m hoping it’s just a little sore). It’s so horrible to see them like this. Fingers crossed for your piggy too.
 
Jozza1972 said:
Seemed weak and it has progressed further so that his front legs are also weak now and he’s really struggling to get around. He saw Kim today at the Cat and a rabbit clinic. She thinks it’s probably neurological. We’re giving him lots of cuddles and feeding him lots (his appetite is great) and he’s very bright eyed and lovely vocal. Really hoping he will improve but Kim said she’s very concerned about him and the prognosis for him is not great 😭

Not sure what I’ll do if we lose our little love. Fingers crossed for our piggy babies 🤞
Click to expand...
Have you tried Panacur?
 
Jozza1972 said:
Hiya. I’m so sorry to hear about your poorly piggy 😞
We’re going through a similar thing with our dental piggy too. About 2 weeks ago his back legs
Click to expand...
Oh, @Jozza1972 so sorry to hear that your boy is poorly too, sending you hugs and my fingers are all crossed for him to make a good recovery x
 
Thanks you everyone for your advice and kind words. Sadly, my lovely piggy passed away this afternoon. She seemed well the night before, eating and squeaking, so I think she had just had enough. We’re devastated but at least we know we did what we could for her.
 
ConnieDollyRuth said:
Thanks you everyone for your advice and kind words. Sadly, my lovely piggy passed away this afternoon. She seemed well the night before, eating and squeaking, so I think she had just had enough. We’re devastated but at least we know we did what we could for her.
Click to expand...
Aw, I am so sorry you have lost your piggie x Sending hugs to you x Sleep tight little one x
 
Jozza1972 said:
Seemed weak and it has progressed further so that his front legs are also weak now and he’s really struggling to get around. He saw Kim today at the Cat and a rabbit clinic. She thinks it’s probably neurological. We’re giving him lots of cuddles and feeding him lots (his appetite is great) and he’s very bright eyed and lovely vocal. Really hoping he will improve but Kim said she’s very concerned about him and the prognosis for him is not great 😭

Not sure what I’ll do if we lose our little love. Fingers crossed for our piggy babies 🤞
Click to expand...

HUGS!

I am very that it is news that you do not want to hear.

When you have never dealt with the loss of a beloved pet before, then it can it be very frightening. Your grieving process starts the moment you become aware that you only have limited time left. Apart from the moment of death, this is the worst hit.
However, there is one great boon in all the misery: you have the very precious gift to do and to say anything that needs doing and saying. While none of us can choose when or what from our piggies die, we have control over how we spend the remaining time. You can fill a mere moment with a lifetime of love! Please make whatever time you have count. It is a bitter-sweet experience, but it is up to you just how bitter or sweet it is going to be.
Have the courage to let your beloved one go when they lose the ability to live a normal life and do their normal things. It is the most heart-breaking, but also the most loving gift we can make the one we love from the bottom of our heart: the freedom from pain and suffering. Because you love, it is actually in some respect easier - wouldn't we all rather take on the pain to save those we love any unnecessary pain and unpleasantness? Be strong for your boy and do what he needs most when he needs it. that is what true love is about. And because you will find that courage and strength born out of your love in your heart, you won't fail your boy in any way. ;)
 
So sorry to hear this.
When you have done everything possible it is hard to lose your beloved pet.
Be gentle with yourself and give yourself time to grieve
 
ConnieDollyRuth said:
Thanks you everyone for your advice and kind words. Sadly, my lovely piggy passed away this afternoon. She seemed well the night before, eating and squeaking, so I think she had just had enough. We’re devastated but at least we know we did what we could for her.
Click to expand...
I’m so so sorry to hear this. You did everything you could for her. Sending love and hugs xx
 
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