Guinea pig lying on back

[ladymary86]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone had experience of a gp lying on his back?

Bit of backstory, Benjamin is a rescue pig, found in horrific circumstances which has meant he’s always been tiny, a bit frail, and has lost one eye, with limited vision in the other. He’s also deaf.

Since we got him we’ve managed to get weight onto him, treated his eyes and skin problems. All in all he’s a happy little pig who eats well, poops well and generally is no different to my other pigs! He’s feisty and always the first to wheek for food.

Lately, I’ve been finding him in his cage lying on his back, it’s like he can’t right himself, I always have to gently nudge him to roll him over. He’s not asleep, and goes right back to munching his hay when upright.

I wanted to ask if anyone had experience with this, should I change his setup or get him a cagemate (I’ve tried bonding with my pigs but he’s so feisty he’s gone for each).

I’m worried it neurological, as he has a few deformities which our cavy vet picked up on his last general health check up.

He’s our baby and I’m so worried.
Thanks in advance

 

[Swissgreys]

I will be honest and say I am not an expert, but this does not sound normal.
Being on their backs makes a piggy very vulnerable and would not be a natural position for them.
I would have him checked for ear problems which can affect balance.
But failing that if he appears to be otherwise happy and healthy and is not loosing weight then it may just be a complication from his other health problems - he sounds like a very special piggy.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone had experience of a gp lying on his back?

Bit of backstory, Benjamin is a rescue pig, found in horrific circumstances which has meant he’s always been tiny, a bit frail, and has lost one eye, with limited vision in the other. He’s also deaf.

Since we got him we’ve managed to get weight onto him, treated his eyes and skin problems. All in all he’s a happy little pig who eats well, poops well and generally is no different to my other pigs! He’s feisty and always the first to wheek for food.

Lately, I’ve been finding him in his cage lying on his back, it’s like he can’t right himself, I always have to gently nudge him to roll him over. He’s not asleep, and goes right back to munching his hay when upright.

I wanted to ask if anyone had experience with this, should I change his setup or get him a cagemate (I’ve tried bonding with my pigs but he’s so feisty he’s gone for each).

I’m worried it neurological, as he has a few deformities which our cavy vet picked up on his last general health check up.

He’s our baby and I’m so worried.
Thanks in advance

Hi

It the falling over and not being able to right himself is either connected to a neurological issue in the balance organ or to arthritis. I've had this in both older, arthritic piggies that have lost their flexibility and strength to keep themselves upright (the same as older people are more prone to falls) or with piggies with neurological problems connected to intense vertigo and that are no longer able/strong enough to self-right.

Please always put him upright again asap. Lying flat on the back means that the heart needs to work a lot harder; the heart strain can also lead to additional bloating in older piggies lying on their back as a tertiary complication with a tendency for mild bloating (not uncommon in oldies) and make self-righting really impossible. Lying on the back for hours can cause heart failure in older piggies with a weaker heart.
In his case, companionship with another piggy, especially not a full-on one is not a good idea; consider a guinea pig sized, toddler-safe soft toy (remove any stiched on eyes) that you rub all over with guinea pig scent so it smells 'right' for him to snuggle up with and use soft rags to bolster his weak side to help propping him up if needed.

The tips in this guide are also helpful for looking after frailer younger piggies: Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

Here are our practical care and information tips for looking after piggies with neuroligical and mobility issues:
CBS (Calcified Bulla Syndrome) and Neurological Problems - Symptoms and Care
Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility
All the best. Piggies with a tendency of falling over and no longer being able to self-right again can worry you a lot, as I know from experiences with a number of my own piggies. Just keep checking on him very regularly. He still needs to keep mobile as much as possible and for as long as possible, as immobility can come with its own rat tail of unpleasant secondary complications.

 

[ladymary86]

Thank you for your replies. He already has a snuggly bear in with him that he loves, and I’ve put some logs in so he hopefully can’t fall over. I’ve got him a vet appointment tomorrow to have him checked over. He’s got lots of hay and a water bowl close by, as well as his veg portion and nuggets. I’ve also got a camera trained on him, and my mums home all day so checks on him every hour if not more. I just can’t help but get angry with the horrible woman who had him before us, if it is a neurological problem, she let him down so so badly. Feel very helpless!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your replies. He already has a snuggly bear in with him that he loves, and I’ve put some logs in so he hopefully can’t fall over. I’ve got him a vet appointment tomorrow to have him checked over. He’s got lots of hay and a water bowl close by, as well as his veg portion and nuggets. I’ve also got a camera trained on him, and my mums home all day so checks on him every hour if not more. I just can’t help but get angry with the horrible woman who had him before us, if it is a neurological problem, she let him down so so badly. Feel very helpless!

HUGS

Neurological issues are sadly one of these health issues where there is comparatively little you can do, so it is normal to feel helpless and angry, with the anger either aimed at whoever you think caused it or yourself.

Please take the time to read the links in my post. They will hopefully help you to understand more about what you can do, what your vet may tell you and to ask better questions for your boy's benefit. We cannot put all the background information and little how to tips in every post. For that purpose we have created our guides with the comprehensive care information, all the little tips and background info so you can read and re-read the guides with new eyes as you go along and get more and different things out of them.

All the best for tomorrow.

 

[Wheekallweek]

At least he has you to care for him properly now, he's a lucky piggie in that way!

 

[ladymary86]

We’ve been to the vet and he’s convinced it’s not neurological! He thinks that the muscles in the back are hurting poor Ben, most likely a result of growing up in a tiny cage with no movement. He’s hunched and squeaked when the back was gently extended, so this is why he can’t right himself. We’re trying a course of metacam to ease the pain, and then revisit and come up with a plan next week. I’m relieved it’s not neurological but it hasn’t helped my anger towards his previous ‘human’ will carry on treating him as the king he is!

 

[Merab]

Glad it’s not neurological and in your care he can heal.
He’s landed on his paws with you.

 

[VickiA]

You are doing an amazing job. Hang in there. He’s landed firmly on his paws with you.

 

[YvonneBlue]

I hope that Benjamin starts to improve soon. He has found a fabulous home with you.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Benjamin sounds like he has really landed on his feet with you. I hope his back problem eases, you have done a marvellous job with him. I can fully understand why you are so angry with his previous owner, how some people can be so cruel it beggars belief

 

[Free Ranger]

He's probably too young for it to be arthritis but George started to 'creak' when he was 4-ish. We've found glucosamine in the form of oxbow joint support lozenges really helped him. George is also on metacam. We create warm little hideys either with snuggle-safe heat pads under fleece or a human hot water bottle, wrapped in a towel, and placed on the outside of our plastic cage pressed against the side to warm up one wall inside.
Thank goodness it wasn't neurological but poor fellow being unable to get up from his back. Well done on being his guardian angel