Dropped guinea pig with back leg paralysis

[georgecartergreen1]

Hey, so long story, my friend brought his kids over to see my guinea pigs and ended up dropping one of them while my back was turned, we rushed him to the local vets and hes okay, however hes now struggling to use his back legs, hes not in much pain as far as the vet can tell and weve been given painkillers and anti inflammation meds, but to improve his quality of life and help him recover we need a wheelchair. Ive looked around online and it all seems to be from the usa and would take too long to get here (uk). I'm also needing a new cage set up as they currently have a second level (c&c) which he can no longer get up.

So 2 questions
Any advice for diy cages?
And any ideas for a wheelchair?

 

[Siikibam]

Hi and welcome. I’m afraid I don’t know that a wheelchair would work for a piggy. I don’t know that it’s something anyone has experience with.

As for the cage, could you just close off the second floor? Or maybe use the grids from the second floor to expand the ground floor?

I would get him booked in with an experienced exotic vet for a further check. In the meantime, have a read of the guide I’ve linked to below. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will be a long to answer you more comprehensively.

Just a couple of questions. How old is he? How far did he fall? Did the vet check for internal injuries? And what medication was he prescribed?

I’ve got everything crossed that he feels better soon.

Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry your piggy has had an accident. I also haven’t heard of wheelchairs for piggies. So does your vet think it’s just inflammation and your pig will recover. Did they take an X-ray?

 

[georgecartergreen1]

I’m so sorry your piggy has had an accident. I also haven’t heard of wheelchairs for piggies. So does your vet think it’s just inflammation and your pig will recover. Did they take an X-ray?

Hi, yes so they took an xray and no breakages or fractures or dislocation they can see, so thinks inflammation, he still has feeling in his legs and can move them somewhat, but they drag behind him as he moves, again he is moving them but doesnt seem to gave the strength to lift them, vet feels like recovery is possible. Thanks for your reply

 

[georgecartergreen1]

I’m so sorry your piggy has had an accident. I also haven’t heard of wheelchairs for piggies. So does your vet think it’s just inflammation and your pig will recover. Did they take an X-ray?

Hi and welcome. I’m afraid I don’t know that a wheelchair would work for a piggy. I don’t know that it’s something anyone has experience with.

As for the cage, could you just close off the second floor? Or maybe use the grids from the second floor to expand the ground floor?

I would get him booked in with an experienced exotic vet for a further check. In the meantime, have a read of the guide I’ve linked to below. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will be a long to answer you more comprehensively.

Just a couple of questions. How old is he? How far did he fall? Did the vet check for internal injuries? And what medication was he prescribed?

I’ve got everything crossed that he feels better soon.

Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

Hi, hes a year and a half old, our local vet deals with exotics so hes booked for further checks, and he fell about 2 and a half feet, should have explained that his legs are dragging too, but they move and have feeling, they took an xray and no breakages or fractures or dislocation they can see, so thinks inflammation, he still has feeling in his legs and can move them somewhat, but they drag behind him as he moves, again he is moving them but doesnt seem to gave the strength to lift them, vet feels like recovery is possible. Thanks for your reply

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry about your accident. Has your vet done an x-ray to see whether there is actually a problem with the spine/nerve damage or whether it is just bad bruising that will settle down again eventually?

Unless you have access to a technician trained to design orthopedic support like wheelchairs, it is a flashy gimmicks that can do much more irreparable harm to the spine and musculature than good. It is one of those striking ideas that rarely work out in reality, unfortunately, because a lot more needs to go into it than you'd expect. I know of one piggy whose video is still sadly making the rounds that died very shortly after.

Of course, your first instinct is to focus on giving your guinea pig their full life back as that will make you feel less bad about it all but it is unfortunately not quite as simple and straightforward as that.

Please take the time to read our very practical care guide for guinea pigs with no mobility that looks in detail at all the little things you can/should do in terms of comfort, accessibility of food/water, cleanliness in the bedding area and daily care to minimise the risk of secondary complications and how to ensure quality of life with a chapter on tailored enrichment. There is actually quite a lot you can do without a wheelchair.
Here is the link: Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

PS I have taken the liberty to put your health problem in the title since everything on this forum is about guinea pigs and you'll attract much more interest and pertinent answers that way.

 

[georgecartergreen1]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry about your accident. Has your vet done an x-ray to see whether there is actually a problem with the spine/nerve damage or whether it is just bad bruising that will settle down again eventually?

Unless you have access to a technician trained to design orthopedic support like wheelchairs, it is a flashy gimmicks that can do much more irreparable harm to the spine and musculature than good. It is one of those striking ideas that rarely work out in reality, unfortunately, because a lot more needs to go into it than you'd expect. I know of one piggy whose video is still sadly making the rounds that died very shortly after.

Of course, your first instinct is to focus on giving your guinea pig their full life back as that will make you feel less bad about it all but it is unfortunately not quite as simple and straightforward as that.

Please take the time to read our very practical care guide for guinea pigs with no mobility that looks in detail at all the little things you can/should do in terms of comfort, accessibility of food/water, cleanliness in the bedding area and daily care to minimise the risk of secondary complications and how to ensure quality of life with a chapter on tailored enrichment. There is actually quite a lot you can do without a wheelchair.
Here is the link: Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

Hi have submitted replys to previous posts so dont want to fill this with a repeat, but basically xray was done, but legs are still dragging, with painkillers he does then pull his feet back under him to walk but soon goes back. Thanks for the advice about a wheelchair, didnt think of that

 

[Wiebke]

Hi have submitted replys to previous posts so dont want to fill this with a repeat, but basically xray was done, but legs are still dragging, with painkillers he does then pull his feet back under him to walk but soon goes back. Thanks for the advice about a wheelchair, didnt think of that

It has taken me a little while to write my post during which time the thread has moved on.

Please take a deep breath. Chances are very good that the back leg paralysis is only temporary as it is not complete. Be patient and hang in there, as hard as it is for you to see a being in your care struggle.
I am sure that you will take your own precautions, so I am skipping that chapter; you sound like a responsible if badly shaken owner to me.

Please follow the practical care advice in our mobility guide link for the time being - there are lots of little things involved in looking after a piggy that is not moving much that you would not necessarily be aware of ro think of the first time you are confronted with mobility issues but that can make all the difference. Which is why I have written the care guide with all the little bits, so you can bookmark it, read it through and look some details up again as needed.

We do get the occasional wheelchair enquiry on here, usually from people reeling from the consequences of an accident like yours or from curious younger members.
My arguments re. wheelchairs for guinea pigs have been made by a former forum member who is working professionally with prosthetics and has been in the technical support team twice at Paralympics, so they really know a thing or two. I only know of one piggy that ever received a professionally designed wheelchair some years ago; all the other (few) wheelchairs were home DIY. There is a good reason why you couldn't find much because it doesn't work much in practice and the real thing would be anything but cheap, even if you could find somebody willing to make one for you.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

this is so sad, poor piggie! i hope you find a suitable solution for him! please keep us updated, sending him healing vibes

 

[georgecartergreen1]

Hopefully everyone who gave my advice can see this.. so after a fun couple of weeks of extra baths and physio my guinea pig made a full recovery and is now back home with his brother, thank you for the caring for a disabled guinea pig pack it made quite a difference.

 

[Swissgreys]

Thanks so much for the update.
It is always lovely when people take the time to come back and share a happy outcome

 

[Wiebke]

Hopefully everyone who gave my advice can see this.. so after a fun couple of weeks of extra baths and physio my guinea pig made a full recovery and is now back home with his brother, thank you for the caring for a disabled guinea pig pack it made quite a difference.

Thank you for your update and so happy that your piggy has recovered from their bad bruising! We rarely hear back, so it is much appreciated.
I am also glad that my mobility care guide has helped you with all the practical tips in it.

We have got quite an extensive practical tips and important information resource on a wide range of topics from specific Care guides for practical daily care as well as illness support aspects (including emergencies), life-long health monitoring to understanding behaviour and including a spot of guinea pig whispering; lots of practical hot weather tips which in combination can really make a difference right onto fascinating insights into guinea pigs as a species for those who like to find out more about what makes their piggies tick.
This link here makes great browsing but also a very helpful resource. We continue to work on it and update our guides in our (scant) free time. You may want to bookmark the link: Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

 

[leftwing]

Hopefully everyone who gave my advice can see this.. so after a fun couple of weeks of extra baths and physio my guinea pig made a full recovery and is now back home with his brother, thank you for the caring for a disabled guinea pig pack it made quite a difference.

Hi our Guinea pig has had a similar accident to the one yours had. It happened last night. We went to vets today and they said it still has deep sensation but is dragging it's hind legs. The vet gave us inflammation meds. Can you recommend what steps we can do to help the injury? Could be permanent bit we will at least give it until Monday to make an improvement otherwise vet recommends we put it down. Glad your piggie got well. If you can help we would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

Hi our Guinea pig has had a similar accident to the one yours had. It happened last night. We went to vets today and they said it still has deep sensation but is dragging it's hind legs. The vet gave us inflammation meds. Can you recommend what steps we can do to help the injury? Could be permanent bit we will at least give it until Monday to make an improvement otherwise vet recommends we put it down. Glad your piggie got well. If you can help we would appreciate it. Thanks

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry about your accident.

Please start your own support thread in this section; unlike social media we can provide ongoing personalised support but we ask our members to please start their own thread for each ongoing case so we can keep all pertinent information together as much as possible and avoid confusion. This is a historic thread from last summer with no further updates from that member. Please be aware that we get a lot of one-off enquiries.
Spinal injuries can take up to two days to fully develop and bad bruising may take weeks to fully well down again.

Here is our very practical care guide for guinea pigs with mobility issue with all the how-to tips: Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

Emergency and support feeding care:
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures