• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Specialist Front leg amputation

Booknerd

Booknerd

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
63
Reaction score
53
Points
220
Location
Essex, UK
Hi everyone,

I posted two weeks ago and i'm sorry to post again but this weekend we need to make a decision whether to amputate my guinea pig's front leg.

I have searched past threads but all the ones i've seen on front leg amputations are quite a few years old so i thought i would ask.

Has anybody got any experience/stories of how their guinea has coped with a front leg amputation?

Scout's shoulder tumour has completely pushed her leg out and if we remove the tumour it is likely the leg will need to be removed too :(

Thank you 🙏
 
Oh dear poor piggy and poor you, this sounds a tricky call to make- personally I have no experience of this and I think our more experienced health advisers are offline now but I will tag them anyway @Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) @Abi_nurse .
I would say if you trust your vet and they advise this is the best option and your piggy has a reasonable chance of making it through the surgery and recovering, then trust your vet and give piggy a chance, they are remarkably adaptable little animals and have no real idea about body image, or disability, they learn to live with the "now" and if the new now is missing a leg but being in less pain then I'd see how it goes.
Hope you get some more experienced advice but best of luck, hugs and healing wheeks! X
 
I can’t offer any advice or help as this is outside my experience but I did want to offer support.
It’s a tough decision to make but go with your heart.
 
I’m sorry I have no experience of this. Sending you good wishes as you make this momentous decision.
 
Really sorry you are in this position. I have not dealt with anything like this before but sending healing wheeks. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly
 
Can’t tell you what to do for certain but I can say I have had a front leg amputee and he did well with good management.

I hope you can come to a decision. Thinking of you.

x
 
Aw, poor Scout! So sorry to hear this. I have no experience to offer but sending you both best wishes and hoping she will make a good recovery x
 
((HUGS.)) I feel like someone asked a question recently about this- they adopted a pig with a congenital birth defect of the front foot and he underwent amputation and came through okay? Am I nuts or does anyone else remember this?

I don't have any specific experience, but want to send you and your piggie good wishes. A lot of animals react surprisingly well to amputations... I haven't known any guinea pigs with missing limbs, but I have known a couple dogs and cats who did quite well.
 
Freela said:
((HUGS.)) I feel like someone asked a question recently about this- they adopted a pig with a congenital birth defect of the front foot and he underwent amputation and came through okay? Am I nuts or does anyone else remember this?

I don't have any specific experience, but want to send you and your piggie good wishes. A lot of animals react surprisingly well to amputations... I haven't known any guinea pigs with missing limbs, but I have known a couple dogs and cats who did quite well.
Click to expand...
Yes I remember. And last update I think he was getting on well and adapting to being three-limbed.
 
Hi all,
I apologise for taking some time to comment back to this. It’s taken me a little while to come to terms with it.

I just wanted to let you know that just before Xmas we chose to have the surgery for Scout. Unfortunately she did not make it through the surgery. The vet said that the tumour had also wrapped itself around her neck so even if she had of made it though it was very complicated.

just wanted to thank everyone for the support you all gave. It really means a lot x
 
Aw, I’m so sorry Scout didn’t make it, sending you hugs at such a sad time. You did everything you could have done for her and she will have passed away knowing that you loved her very much x
Sleep tight gorgeous girl x
 
Booknerd said:
Hi all,
I apologise for taking some time to comment back to this. It’s taken me a little while to come to terms with it.

I just wanted to let you know that just before Xmas we chose to have the surgery for Scout. Unfortunately she did not make it through the surgery. The vet said that the tumour had also wrapped itself around her neck so even if she had of made it though it was very complicated.

just wanted to thank everyone for the support you all gave. It really means a lot x
Click to expand...

HUGS

I am ever so sorry!

Try to find comfort in that her unexpected passing has been a blessing in disguise and spared her any further unavoidable suffering.
You and your vet have done your very best for Scout but there are always limits. And it is always out of your own control what you come up against, even as the most dedicated or experienced owner or vet.

I have lost several piggies in make or break operations, especially in the earlier years and know how hard it is to come to terms with it. Please do not let her death spoil the way you want to remember her in the long term. I have made this mistake with my Hafina, who I lost in an unavoidable eye removal operation in 2011.
You may find our grieving guide helpful; it includes the story of how lost but finally regained my loving memory of Hafina: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top