Guinea amputation

[Becca_xo]

Hi guys, there was an incident in my vet which meant my little guinea Biscoff jumped from height and broke his top front teeth and his right rear femur (hip to knee bone). Sadly surgery wasn't a success and he's now on three legs. I bought him home today and he seems to be doing well with his cage mate Cookie (both 2yo boars). Anyone else have any experience with these post op journeys? I also think Cookie may be keeping a close eye on him - are they known to care for other sick guineas? Thanks all

 

[Siikibam]

Hello and welcome. I’m sorry your boy was injured but it’s good that he ma t be recovering well. There have been a few members whose piggies had to have an amputation. I believe they adapted and were able to live a full life afterwards.

I can’t remember them off the top of my head but I’d you do a search the threads should come up.

Sending lots of healing wheeks to Biscoff.

PS they do know when the other is sick and will sometimes hang around them as support

 

[Becca_xo]

Hello and welcome. I’m sorry your boy was injured but it’s good that he ma t be recovering well. There have been a few members whose piggies had to have an amputation. I believe they adapted and were able to live a full life afterwards.

I can’t remember them off the top of my head but I’d you do a search the threads should come up.

Sending lots of healing wheeks to Biscoff.

PS they do know when the other is sick and will sometimes hang around them as support

Thank you, and that's good to hear. Absolutely heartbroken when I heard the news but he seems well in himself and already great progress on the motability side of things! Glad cookie will be some support for him too

 

[poggle]

Here's one I commented on: help us - broken leg?

There's a link to another one in there as well

I don't remember the post-op well as I was quite young but our girl did very well on three legs. All the best for your pig

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hello and welcome to the forum
I hope little Biscoff makes a full recovery. I think guinea pigs like most animals just get on with life, Cookie will take care of him I’m sure.

There are quite a few threads on amputation from a search of the titles

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
So sorry to hear of Biscoff’s accident.
Hoping that he makes an excellent recovery.

 

[Free Ranger]

Oh, heartbreaking for poor Biscoff and for you What was he there for in the first place? Is his original problem OK?

One thing I do remember from previous threads is that the loss of a hind leg seems to be easier for them to manage than the loss of a front one as the front legs bear a lot of weight - those big heads are heavy! But with a hind leg if they get tired they can just sit down a minute. I hope they have given you plenty of painkiller for his recovery journey.

As far as his front teeth are concerned as long as the break was clean they should be able to grow back and level up against the bottom incisors but keep an eye on them... if they start to look like the edges are slanting instead of straight it can indicate chewing to one side so you might have to go back to a vet to have his mouth checked over again. He will be tender for a while and might be unable to bite at things but by cutting his veggies into thin strips or little chunks, and by helping him get them into his mouth, it should show him that he can still manage. There have been piggies on the forum who are completely missing a pair of incisors and they had to relearn how to eat but they adapted well.
We'll be thinking about you all. Biscoff, you're a very brave boy x

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi, I once had a piggy who had to have a rear leg amputated following a fall. He adjusted really quickly and went on to live a long, full life. Rear legs are designed to propel the piggy forwards, whereas the short, front legs are designed to carry the bulk of the weight, which is in the chest and skull, so fortunetly losing a rear leg doesn't put too much added stress on the body. The main difference it will make to him long term is his ability to groom himself as he won't be able scratch on that side to remove loose fur and skin debris, so he will just need you to give him a regular brush and check for any build up of wax in his ear. Other than that he should be able to carry on as normal.

 

[Becca_xo]

Oh, heartbreaking for poor Biscoff and for you What was he there for in the first place? Is his original problem OK?

One thing I do remember from previous threads is that the loss of a hind leg seems to be easier for them to manage than the loss of a front one as the front legs bear a lot of weight - those big heads are heavy! But with a hind leg if they get tired they can just sit down a minute. I hope they have given you plenty of painkiller for his recovery journey.

As far as his front teeth are concerned as long as the break was clean they should be able to grow back and level up against the bottom incisors but keep an eye on them... if they start to look like the edges are slanting instead of straight it can indicate chewing to one side so you might have to go back to a vet to have his mouth checked over again. He will be tender for a while and might be unable to bite at things but by cutting his veggies into thin strips or little chunks, and by helping him get them into his mouth, it should show him that he can still manage. There have been piggies on the forum who are completely missing a pair of incisors and they had to relearn how to eat but they adapted well.
We'll be thinking about you all. Biscoff, you're a very brave boy x

Thanks for all of your well wishes everyone!

He was only in for a nail clipping at the vets, he darted when the nurse went to pick him up. Absolutely heartbroken that he's now gone through all this I've only had the boys about 3 months, adopted from a busy family with kids who had lost interest. He's always been more timid of the two, and although will now approach me and clamber on my hands to get treats, I hadn't felt like we were at a place I could pick him out the cage yet - we were just taking it a little bit at a time. I hope all the progress isn't lost!

The next battle seems to be getting him to take his meds, holding him on the shoulders to administer with a syringe just isn't feasible - he's just too scared. I have tried dripping onto shreds of lettuce and it worked yesterday but today he's noticed and won't eat it any advice on how can I trick him into eating the meds?

 

[Free Ranger]

What has he got? Baytril is notoriously disgusting. Matacam (loxicom) is famously delicious. Gabapentin can sometimes taste like chicken if you get the cat version (although apparently that goes down better than the non-meaty 'sweet' version!)

It's going to be Baytril isn't it...

 

[Becca_xo]

We've got Metacam which is sweet and he was taking willingly straight from the syringe yesterday, but yet not today. We've also got 0.1ml of Cisapride which is nearly small enough to hide. The bigger sticker is Marboflaxacin 0.5ml and HATES it.

 

[Free Ranger]

Ooh I've not heard of that one before. But many antibiotics are bitter-tasting. It's tricky at first because piggy doesn't know what's happening but once you've done it a few times he'll realise that although it's grim, it's quickly over. I'm right handed so I get my syringes loaded and ready on my RHS together with a sprig of parsley (mine don't like coriander and this helps take the taste away).

Then I kneel on the floor (my cages are floor level) put a towel or fleece on my lap and lift piggy onto that. If you've got a wriggler wrap them firmly in the towel like a piggy burrito with the head out. I turn them to face right, and put my left hand over the top of the head, using forefinger and thumb to gently hold the jaw (like a piggy crash helmet) and lifting slightly. You should now be able to slip that nasty syringe in through the mouth and down the side, towards the back of one of the cheeks. Once it's that far in they can't spit it out again. Don't try and get it through the bitey front teeth - go down the side. Then follow up quickly with the nicer versions and a tasty treat. Keep an eye on his appetite which is sometimes affected by antibiotics, but generally people have no problem (the ones that do end up on here so proportionally it looks worse than it is!)

I'm going to ask one or two other members about the Marboflaxacin as it's a new one to me. Well done - you're training each other! By the end of all this you'll have a much closer relationship as he'll be more used to the handling and he'll learn he can trust you because you're gentle with him x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys, there was an incident in my vet which meant my little guinea Biscoff jumped from height and broke his top front teeth and his right rear femur (hip to knee bone). Sadly surgery wasn't a success and he's now on three legs. I bought him home today and he seems to be doing well with his cage mate Cookie (both 2yo boars). Anyone else have any experience with these post op journeys? I also think Cookie may be keeping a close eye on him - are they known to care for other sick guineas? Thanks all

Hi

I am so sorry about the accident. Companions can be very caring and supportive of disabled/handicapped companions.

'Tripod' piggies do generally perfectly well and get around just as much and as fast as their four legged companions once they are healed and have adjusted. This is easier with an amputated back leg, which act as propellors than with a weight bearing front leg.

Here are our practical post-op and mobility care guides in case you need them for the recovery:
Tips For Post-operative Care
Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility