Arthritis Symptoms and Medication

[Roger & Roland the Pigs]

Hello, a couple of weeks ago I weighed my male Guinea pig Roger (2 yrs old) and he had dropped from 1.2Kg to around 950g
This was a concern so I tried feeding him crushed oats to try and help him gain weight. After feeding him oats occasionally for a few days he seemed to become a little less himself, not coming out of the house as much and not being so vocal. I stopped feeding him oats as I thought they probably didn't agree with him and after a day he seemed back to himself. He was Okay for a few days until he went downhill again, I took him to the vet and the vet had a good look at his teeth and felt all around his organs and said there was nothing out of place. So I brought him home and kept a close eye on him for about a week and I started to notice a limp in his back leg and that he had a preference not to move as much. After looking into in I think this is probably Arthritis but I would like some other opinions. It would make sense as when he was feeling better after the oats I put him in his outside hutch, but I think it may have gotten a bit cold and so could have worsened the potential Arthritis. The only thing not fitting is when he wheeks he seems to get halfway through the wheek and then sort of stop and gasp, which doesn't seem to be bothering him.

He is still eating and drinking and comes out occasionally to say hello but less than usual. I noticed him preferring one back leg to walk on than the other and I saw him try to stretch the bad leg out and it didn't stretch as far as normal. I'm taking him to the vet in the next few days to hear their opinion but just wondered about starting to look into medication.

Any advice, symptoms of Arthritis in other piggles and possible medication to relieve pain and discomfort would be appreciated!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Are you weighing him daily?
Is he still losing weight?
Has he regained any weight?

In a piggy who has lost weight (and such a significant amount), you need to syringe feed a fibre rich recovery feed such as Oxbow Critical Care to stop the weight loss. A piggy is losing weight because they are not eating hay and replacing that hay intake with the syringe feed is essential. Feeding oats is not enough.

If he is still losing weight then it is essential you start to syringe feed him to stop any more weight loss.

He seems a little young for it to be arthritis but its not impossible. Do have him checked by a vet to find the cause of his discomfort.
If he is in pain, then the vet would prescribe a prescription painkiller, appropriate dosing for which is done by his weight.

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, a couple of weeks ago I weighed my male Guinea pig Roger (2 yrs old) and he had dropped from 1.2Kg to around 950g
This was a concern so I tried feeding him crushed oats to try and help him gain weight. After feeding him oats occasionally for a few days he seemed to become a little less himself, not coming out of the house as much and not being so vocal. I stopped feeding him oats as I thought they probably didn't agree with him and after a day he seemed back to himself. He was Okay for a few days until he went downhill again, I took him to the vet and the vet had a good look at his teeth and felt all around his organs and said there was nothing out of place. So I brought him home and kept a close eye on him for about a week and I started to notice a limp in his back leg and that he had a preference not to move as much. After looking into in I think this is probably Arthritis but I would like some other opinions. It would make sense as when he was feeling better after the oats I put him in his outside hutch, but I think it may have gotten a bit cold and so could have worsened the potential Arthritis. The only thing not fitting is when he wheeks he seems to get halfway through the wheek and then sort of stop and gasp, which doesn't seem to be bothering him.

He is still eating and drinking and comes out occasionally to say hello but less than usual. I noticed him preferring one back leg to walk on than the other and I saw him try to stretch the bad leg out and it didn't stretch as far as normal. I'm taking him to the vet in the next few days to hear their opinion but just wondered about starting to look into medication.

Any advice, symptoms of Arthritis in other piggles and possible medication to relieve pain and discomfort would be appreciated!

Hi

It is unlikely that the limp is caused by arthritis in a 2 years old since that is pretty rare. In 15 years of existence we have come across less than a handful of cases. But it looks like some discomfort in the leg.
All the best for his vet check! I hope that the vet can get to the bottom of it all. Pleas emake sure that he is kept warm through the coming very cold nights and colder days.

 

[Roger & Roland the Pigs]

Welcome to the forum

Are you weighing him daily?
Is he still losing weight?
Has he regained any weight?

In a piggy who has lost weight (and such a significant amount), you need to syringe feed a fibre rich recovery feed such as Oxbow Critical Care to stop the weight loss. A piggy is losing weight because they are not eating hay and replacing that hay intake with the syringe feed is essential. Feeding oats is not enough.

If he is still losing weight then it is essential you start to syringe feed him to stop any more weight loss.

He seems a little young for it to be arthritis but its not impossible. Do have him checked by a vet to find the cause of his discomfort.
If he is in pain, then the vet would prescribe a prescription painkiller, appropriate dosing for which is done by his weight.

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

He is not loosing anymore weight and staying at around 950g, I will try feeding him fibre to help him gain weight, thank you. And he is going to the vet as soon as they can get him in.

 

[Roger & Roland the Pigs]

Hi

It is unlikely that the limp is caused by arthritis in a 2 years old since that is pretty rare. In 15 years of existence we have come across less than a handful of cases. But it looks like some discomfort in the leg.
All the best for his vet check! I hope that the vet can get to the bottom of it all. Pleas emake sure that he is kept warm through the coming very cold nights and colder days.

Thank you, he is inside in a warm enclosure so I think he is okay heat wise.