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Back Legs Failing

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Mie

Mie

New Born Pup
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Hi!

We have a female guinea pig (7 years 11 months) and today I was a bit upset to see she could hardly walk when she was out for her daily stroll around the house. For the last couple of months I've noticed that she has had trouble jumping up to her food tray. She can't really do that anymore, so I made a wooden ladder for her, but even then it's difficult. She sits for long periods of time in the same spot, which causes her to sometimes soak in her own urine and I need to clean her up daily. Other than that, she eats and drinks like she always has, her weight is the same and her feces are looking normal. Her fur is shinier and nicer than ever. She is not in any pain. Don't know if there's much to do, but maybe you guys have some advice.

- R.
 
It is likely arthritis that is causing this. We recommend a painkiller from a vet.
You can additionally try vegetarian glucosamine from the pharmacy, about 1/4 of a human tablet per day. Crush any tablets and mix them with 4 ml of water. Shake well before use and store in the fridge. Your pharmacy should have 1ml syringes and little plastic medicine bottles for mixing and shaking.
Other members with arthritic piggies can give you further tips. @sport_billy @Pebble
 
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Poor little girl :( She is a grand age for a piggy and I suppose they have trouble like we do when they get older. Worth talking to your vet regarding some Metacam it is an anti-inflamatory as well as a pain killer so will work on both fronts. It is well tolerated in piggies we had a girl who was on it for 1 & 1/12 years.
 
Thank you for your replies. I will consult a vet and see what pain killers are recommended. As I say, she doesn't seem to be in much pain. She was a lot better yesterday, so there has been a quick change.
 
Mie said:
Hi!

she could hardly walk when she was out for her daily stroll around the house.
she has had trouble jumping up to her food tray.
She sits for long periods of time in the same spot, which causes her to sometimes soak in her own urine

.....She is not in any pain.

- R.
Click to expand...

I think your guinea pig is in pain...but not all the time. Form the symptoms highlighted above it suggests it is painful for her to put weight on the joints in her back legs (which she needs to do to keep herself clean when she urinates).
How much does she weigh?

Agree that a vet visit (possibly with conscious Xray if possible as she is rther elderly for a GA) should show up arthritis or other joint issues and vet can prescribe metcam as pain relief/anti-inflammatory. You can also talk to the vet about upping Vit C content to 30mg per day....and possibly providing some short term calcium supplementation (osteocare) for a few days to see if there is any improvement in hind leg mobility.
 
Went to see a vet, but she simply stated that she didn't know much about guinea pigs, and couldn't really be of much assistance. I have upped the Vitamin C content a little, but that's all the vet could suggest. I have sent them an email asking if they prescribe metacam.

I can see now that it's painful for her when I press parts of her lower body around her legs. Her back legs are often locked in a V-shape and stand very closely together.

Her weight is the same as always (about 800 gr), she eats and drinks like usual, and her feces look healthy.
 
One of my girls has very stiff hind legs after she suffered a sudden paralysis (which was successfully treated with osteocare). She has been have glucosamine for about a year now and it has made a massive difference to her mobility. Definitely worth a try, along with some Metacam.
 
It's possible to get vegan glucosamine here, but I've not heard anything about the stuff from shellfish being harmful. @helen105281 @Pebble - do you know of any reason why shellfish derived glucosamine is bad (other than the fact that it's not vegetarian and piggies are?)

Osteocare is a mixture of calcium and magnesium given for bone health in humans. I use the liquid form as it is easier to dose. Is there something similar in Norway?
 
The tablets I linked to are 750mg, The standard dose is 125mg but I dose at double that. For 125mg you need to put 1 tablet in 6ml of water and the give 1ml once a day.
 
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