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Can guineas cope with only 3 legs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Louby_nancy
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Louby_nancy

My beautiful 3 month old guinea pig Barney has broken her back leg (yes she's actually a girl!). The vets have tried a splint but some 2 weeks later its still twice the size of the other leg and apparently isn't healing. So on Monday 9th June I have to return to the vets and make the decision whether to have her put her to sleep or to amputate her leg. She is my little baby and i'm not worried about the money (we don't have insurance). To me she is priceless, i want to keep her, so the amputation was my initial thought. BUT my friend says i'm being selfish. She says Barney will have a crappy life and will not cope at all with only 3 legs. She says she'll be depressed, and that I should do the right thing by her and have her put to sleep, apparently its the kindest thing to do! But I just can't face the thought of it. Does any one know of a 'happy' 3 legged guinea? Please help, i'm sick with worry about her....
 
Oh I'm so sorry, how heartbreaking for you. I've no experience of this but you know my thinking is she is young and may adapt. Perhaps its worth a try to see how she does cope?

I don't think I could PTS without having a good try first. You won't know until you try. Hope someone with knowledge on this can advise. Perhaps another healing method?

Hugs to you,

Louise
x
 
Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry your little one had this accident.

Please go ahead with the amputation. This is no reason to destroy a guinea x
 
Hi there is a member on here sammy who took one of the guinea i rescued who only has three feet the fourth is a stump and from what she tells me he gallops round his pen, and is very happy,

I would give it a go, you never know it may work,

good luck and keep us posted
 
welcome to the forums from me and the girls in oz :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: am so sorry to hear about barney and her leg. i have had no experience with this and guinea pigs but like said i have seen dogs and cats adapt and as barney is only 3 months old she may adapt to 3 legs.
are you sure that they can't reset it or put pins in it? others if you got her pts you would always be wondering what if, if you get her leg removed you can try it and if she then suffers you can reconsider your decision then. sending hugs and healing vibes :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: hoping all goes well, give barney a :-* :-* :-* from us O0
by the way a person's leg if broken takes longer than 2 weeks and that is with complete bed rest. good luck O0
 
Worth a try to get her well first, don't think of pts till you've tried everything :)
 
I would deffo try the amputation first and as a totally last resort if that doesn't work then finally consider PTS. To PTS now without trying would be to possibly shorten a long and happy life.

I have never had a 3-legged GP but have had poorly ones and even ha a sow who had a stroke and survived and lived happily for a further four years.

It's always worth having a try. Please do try and help this poor unfortuante little girl. 0:)
 
Hello and welcome....I'm the one with the 3 legged piggie....well 3 and a half, I guess if he was human he would have lost from the knee down so he does have a stump. He lives a very full life and is a very happy piggy, I truely believe his disability doesn't hinder his life in any way shape or form....he's just extra special...give her a chance....love sammy x
 
I would go ahead with the amputation as guineas are stronger and much more flexible than we think sometimes. Towards the end of my guinea's life she had arthritis in her back legs and spine and still wanted to drag herself around the room to explore. She could everything she could do normally - just that bit slower. Also your little pggie is only 3 months old which means he has plenty of time to adapt. I think you will probably have to give a lot more tlc like help washing parts he may not be able to reach and I would also purcahse a vetbed. These are great poorly pggies, cat, dogs etc. whilst recovering from operations or if they are older. They absorb urine so keep your piggie dry whilst he is recovering. Also keep them lovely and warm which helps with circulation (help his other joints while they take more pressure). You can also wash them in the machine. I bought mine from Pets @ Home for convenience but you may pay an extra pound or two than if you purchased one online. Hope this helps and I'm sure you make the right decision. Please let us know how you both get on :)
 
Many thanks for all your kind words. Well today is the big day... she is about to go under and have her leg removed. There was no choice really for me (no way could I really PTS), but just wanted to be reassured that I was doing the right thing. My friend is still convinced I am doing Barney wrong! Anyway after the op. Barney's staying at the vets overnight, so I shall keep you posted on her progress...
 
good luck louby i hope it all goes to plan for yo and your furry
 
Good luck, will keep Barney in my thoughts. You are doing the right thing! :smitten:
 
Good luck! I think thats definately the best thing to do. Many animals cope perfectly well with only three legs. Hope all goes well for your little one O0
 
hoping all goes well for barney :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: and hoping she learns to adjust to 3 legs O0 think i would ignore the friend and go with your heart O0 good luck and healing vibes for you and barney :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
You are definately doing the right thing in giving Barney a chance.Paws crossed for a complete recovery.
 
Barney had her op on monday and she came home yesterday. She's very quiet, not eating much and the wound looks horrific. The whole leg has gone right up to the main body - poor thing. She is indoors in a small box (approx 13" x 18") to stop her moving around too much, so the wound doesn't come open. But she seems to be dragging her bum around on the floor of the box when trying to move around. It's not working with just three legs. I hope she is just feeling sore still and just doesn't want to make the effort, rather than she just can't do it. I am seriously thinking have I done the right thing.
To try and make Barney more comfortable I have put fleece in there, so the dragging shouldn't make her bottom sore (like I assume hay would). I know it's still only Day 2 today but she doesn't seem very good to me. We have a vets check up tomorrow (thurs), so I hope this is all 'normal'.
Will keep you posted...
 
It's something she has to get used to and hopefully she will. Imagine chopping one of your limbs off you automatically think it was there. Give her time I'm sure she'll adjust. Bless her. :smitten:
 
she has had major surgery so naturally would be sore and to a certain degree in shock. i wonder if animals are like people and suffer from limb syndrome or what ever it is called where they get pain from the missing limb. give her time and she may surprise you, you both have come so far and barney is a little fighter O0 sending hugs and healing vibes :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: good luck at the vets tomorrow. O0
 
My guinea took a few days to adjust when she lost the use of her back legs. You can put vaseline on her bottom and tummy to stop the skin getting sore. She may lose some of the fur on her tummy and around her back end but don't worry - this is where the hair folicles have become weak and have snapped. Continue with the vaseline and my guinea's fur grew back. Putting her on fleece is a good idea. Also syringe feed her and syringe her water or take the water bottle to her regularly so she doesn't get dehydrated. Put food on the floor by her so she doesn't have to move around to get - just until she is a bit stronger and is feeling more confident. Fingers crossed for you and Barney.
 
Hows barney doing today sweetheart? Only just noticed this thread, It must have been a difficult decision to make but i'm sure you made the right one. Hope little babe barney is coming to terms with her disability and feeling better today. :smitten: :smitten:
 
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