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Female Guinea Pig Not Moving Around Like Normal

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Mamoru

New Born Pup
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Lately, one of my two guinea pigs (both female) hasn't been moving around like she used to, spending most of the day in one spot of her cage. I didn't think too much of it at first, because I figured she just found a spot she liked, since I would find her facing different directions whenever I went by the cage. However, the other day when I was putting her back in the cage after holding her, I heard her squeal and noticed that she had her left hind leg extended backwards. It wasn't at an unnatural angle or anything, just seemed like she was keeping it limp for some reason. Today, I was checking her paws, thinking she might have injured the rear left one, and sure enough, giving all her paws a gentle squeeze, the only one she reacted to was her left hind paw. There's no external signs of injury, and I can't tell if there's any bruising, as her paws are all completely black. I also couldn't really feel anything when I was checking her paws. Could she have broken a bone in her foot somehow? If so, shouldn't it have healed already, since she's been staying mostly still for a few weeks now? I figured I'd ask here first rather than going to the vet, since the only small vet in the area is one I've brought my guinea pigs to in the past, and they've always had a sudden turn for the worse after the appointment. x.x
 
Hi welcome to the forum. Please could you update your location on your profile as it will help us tailor our advice accordingly.

We can only recommend a vet visit as it is not possible to diagnose over the internet. It is possible she has a sprain, though I don't think that would last as long as you say she has been like this for. The vet may need to do an xray to establish what has happened. It also sounds like she may need pain relief which will only be available from the vets. Is she eating, drinking and pooing ok?
 
She's eating, drinking, and pooping just fine, though rarely she'll be uninclined to move to the food. Only happened yesterday evening when I put their treats in their bowl, though. As for my location, I didn't notice this was a .uk site until after I signed up and posted this. I'm from the states, so I don't really expect too much help when it comes to finding a vet. I should be able to find one on my own.
 
We do have some US members so we may be able to help.
 
Mamoru said:
She's eating, drinking, and pooping just fine, though rarely she'll be uninclined to move to the food. Only happened yesterday evening when I put their treats in their bowl, though. As for my location, I didn't notice this was a .uk site until after I signed up and posted this. I'm from the states, so I don't really expect too much help when it comes to finding a vet. I should be able to find one on my own.
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Hi and welcome!

Please have your girl seen by a vet. It can be a break, a dislocation or a bad sprain. Please make sure that she has got food, hay and water within reach and please change her bedding in her corner frequently to keep her dry and clean.

Here is a link with recommended US vets, listed by state: http://www.guinealynx.info/cabinet/index.php/Veterinarians

We have got members from all over the world, and quite a number from the US and Canada. Please add your state to your details, so we can adapt any advice to products that are available in the US straight away. This saves quite a lot of time for everybody.
 
She just passed... I was looking for a vet that knew what they were doing, but I had nowhere near enough money for even an exam, and my parents and brother wouldn't help with the cost, so I was unable to bring her in. Her condition got worse rapidly yesterday and today, and she passed away with her cage-mate curled up with her for warmth...
 
Thank you. I think she was hiding her symptoms until she couldn't hide them anymore, so I think it was too late for her even if I got to a vet. I've already cleaned the cage in hopes that Butterscotch will be less stressed without Kuroko's scent in there. I need to take even better care of Butterscotch now that it's just me and her.
 
I noticed the thing about scent. Would a t-shirt I wore while holding Kuroko yesterday work? Butterscotch is a bit of a loner normally, so maybe her cuddling up to Kuroko as she passed was to help with her agoraphobia (I had taken the tunnels out of the cage), but I don't want to take any chances.
 
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