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Help, dropped piggy dragging back legs :-(

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Fluffy breadrolls

Fluffy breadrolls

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Hi all, looking for some advice. My daughter accidentally dropped our very wriggly piggy Pogo! straight away he couldn't use his back legs and they trail behind him 8... . This happened yesterday. We took poor Pogo to the vets and they have given him a steroid injection and told me if it doesn't help to go back after the weekend to put him to sleep :(

He seems his usual happy self,chatting to his buddy Simon, eating and drinking well, managing to go to the loo etc, we are keeping a close eye on his legs and tummy to make sure he is clean and comfortable.

He does have feeling still, if we gently squeeze his toes he pulls his leg away slightly and when on his tummy if we touch the soles of his feet he pulls them away a little.

Is 3 days long enough to give him to recover? Has anyone else had this happen? What else can we do for him? Would it be cruel to keep him going beyond Monday if he isn't improved any?

We are so worried as he is a fab little piggy, we want to give him every chance to recover.
 
I am very sorry; it is one of these freak accidents.

You can try and gently massage his feet and legs, especially as he's till got feeling in there. It all depends on the nature of his injury unfortunately. Sometimes, it can take a few days for the full extent to show and then you need to reassess; there can also be secondary problems with a piggy with mobility problems. It is a very dififcult decision to make, especially as Pogo is still OK in himself.
 
So sorry to hear of your horrible accident! Have you taken the little guy to the vets for an X-ray? If his legs are angled but still functioning I would wonder how his pelvis is.

We had the same fright yesterday, when I took our little fear bundle momo into the garden for the first time to show her where the dandelions come from. Stupid me thought it would make her day...I stood up to take her back in and she launched herself from my shoulder onto the concrete steps. I called the vet straight away and managed to get an appointment 20 minutes later. It looks like the only damage was that she bit right through her top lip. I've got pain meds and antibios for her and tempted her with readigrass an hour later. She's eating well and the boyfriend said if it wasnt for the bloody lip you wouldnt know anything had happened to her! Poor crumpet.

I hope pogo gets better soon! There's is nothing more heart crushing than a piggy who doesn't look right (haha, coming from me who has no kids yet :P My pigs are my dependents!)
 
I would defiantly take him to the vets for an x-ray as it would be wise to asses if there is any more damage. It is good that it hasn't dampened his mood though and he's still eating and using the bathroom. Don't worry! Think optimistically that he will recover. Piggies can pick up on moods so a optimistic owner means a happy Pogo!
 
There is a condition with Guinea pigs, where they lose the use of their back legs, and after a period of time it mysteriously seems to put itself right,

there are differing causes for this, but one cause has the rather exotic name of fibrocartilaginous embolism or (FCE),

and is thought to be brought about by a sudden jolt to the spine/body etc. And is usually associated with jumping, but as your piggie was dropped it might be worth looking at FCE as a possibility

Especially since it has a habit of putting itself right for no apparent reason.

A brief explanation, as I remember it being explain to me , a FCE is something to do with the inside of a disc of the spinal column that suddenly breaks away into the blood vessel of the spinal cord and causes an obstruction. Hence the loss of mobility

but the good news is with this condition it does have a habit of putting itself right!

You said are three days long enough?, if it is some think a FCE then as long as the piggy is not unduly suffering then no , It could take several weeks

I have had pig's that have dragged their back legs around for weeks, and then suddenly the regained mobility.

I'm not saying that is what's happened here ,

just saying it is something to look at when you make your decision, and perhaps talk to your vet about. Before making a decision about Pogo,

If he were my pig as long as he was not in pain or distress, and had a reasonable quality of life I would give him the benefit of the doubt,

Even if he never walk properly again, animals are far more adaptable than we are , and never ponder on what they have lost,

they just make the most of what they have.
 
How awful for you and poor Pogo. I hope he recovers the use of his legs. I hope little Momo feels better soon too. :)
 
If he doesn't appear to be in pain I'd definitely wait a bit longer than three days. Particularly after reading about FCE, as mentioned above. Really hope hes ok x
 
Pogo still isn't using his back legs :-( but he is bright as a button and doesn't seem to be in any pain :-) He definitely has feeling in his legs and last night when I was holding him he did stretch his legs out ( as if he was having a stretch) which is the first proper movement we have noticed!

Thank you Gizzy for the info, that gives us hope that there is some chance pogo may recover mobility :-) will keep you all updated, but not going to put him to sleep as vets have advised...he's happy so I don't think it's fair when he's not suffering, if that changes then obviously we will do the best by our little chap! X
 
Fluffy breadrolls said:
Pogo still isn't using his back legs :-( but he is bright as a button and doesn't seem to be in any pain :-) He definitely has feeling in his legs and last night when I was holding him he did stretch his legs out ( as if he was having a stretch) which is the first proper movement we have noticed!

Thank you Gizzy for the info, that gives us hope that there is some chance pogo may recover mobility :-) will keep you all updated, but not going to put him to sleep as vets have advised...he's happy so I don't think it's fair when he's not suffering, if that changes then obviously we will do the best by our little chap! X
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I do believe when you own a pet especially a guinea you do know when the time is right and it is obviously not now. My vets suggested I put my late Abby to sleep and I knew she wasn't in pain she lived for another ten months in the end I knew when it was the right time, I think you have to trust your instincts as they are never wrong. I am glad I trusted myself and my Abby Sammy was with me longer.

I hope your guinea continues to get better, ill be keeping a check on the thread Fluffy bread rolls

S :)
 
Fluffy breadrolls said:
there is some chance pogo may recover mobility :-) will keep you all updated, but not going to put him to sleep as vets have advised...he's happy so I don't think it's fair when he's not suffering, if that changes then obviously we will do the best by our little chap! X
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I'm so very pleased to hear that, I think vets are programmed to view Guinea pigs as disposable animals, and rarely seem to take into consideration, that a devoted keeper will persevere, as long as there fur baby is not in pain

The main thing is that Pogo is happy and has a quality of life,
 
gizzy said:
I'm so very pleased to hear that, I think vets are programmed to view Guinea pigs as disposable animals, and rarely seem to take into consideration, that a devoted keeper will persevere, as long as there fur baby is not in pain

The main thing is that Pogo is happy and has a quality of life,
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Gizzy sooo true, my old vets which are no longer did view them as exactly the way you describe.

Since being on here and learning more about calcium and the stones that can form, I look back at my Abby who did have a bladder stone and unlike alot of people's vets on here never once was suggested metacam, cutting back on calcium foods, water filter or anything just PTS, since joining and watching what I feed them more, I hope it helps them.

it's good to have some knowledge yourself instead of relying on some vets who really don't know much about them.

S x
 
Pogo update!

Pogo has gained a good bit more movement especially in his left leg which he can now pull under himself and it goes through the motions of walking but he doesn't yet have the strength to lift his back end up properly :-) his right leg is slowly improving as well but is much weaker now than the left . He's still a good way off walking but I'm pleased he is heading in the right direction.

My son has been a star looking after him, cleans pogos bottom end regularly and he pops a bit of Vaseline on his legs to stop him getting sore. We move his legs 3x a day to keep his muscles from wasting away and he has a swim a few times a Week. He loves the bath and gets quite excited, it's very cute ,he loves the hair dryer too! Lol!

Hoefully our little Pogo continues to improve :-)
 
You've done really well so far. With all the love & affection you are giving Pogo there is a very good chance that he will make a full recovery. I've had 2 instances of proving going against the odds year. Mousey lost a toe nail in April & vet said it was unlikely to come back. It's re-appeared in the last 2 weeks. Minky went blind in May & my previous vet said she wouldn't get the sight in that eye back. After my new vet removed an abscess, in her neck her sight returned.

I do hope that Pogo has a similar outcome.
 
Hi Can I suggest you read a couple of my old threads,

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?94280-Star-needing-healing-wheeks&highlight=

and

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?94457-Good-news-for-Star&highlight=

as they show what happenned last year. I spent a couple of weeks doing morning and evening bathing, supporting Star in warm water, effectively swimming therapy. This also helped prevent urine scalds from where she was lying still.

I believe you can tell from the brightness in their eyes if they are ready to go.

Star is now a four year old acting like a teenager, runiing around and causing mischief.

Steve
 
so pleased to hear he is recovering. I had one years ago that jumped while in my childs arms. Instinctively he grabbed back legs and she was hanging. She always had odd hips after that (quite low back end and splayed) My vets were great saying as long as she was happy and could get around she was fine.
 
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