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[Zackgizmo3214]

Hi I've have a Guinea pig called zack he is 4 years old and I have noticed his leg has been weird and one of his back legs is sticking out and he can't walk properly or stand up and he is lying down in his cage and he can't get up so he is pooing and weeing and he can't stand up so he Is laying in his own waste so hes all wet and he stinks I have bathed him yesterday and give his foot a salt bath as I've noticed a blister or some sore he Is not pooing properly and it's getting clogged my mother helped research and thought it could be impaction so we have helped squeezing his poop out as it is making his anal sack huge and is causing him pain we give him some cranberry juice dilated in water (don't worry its unsweetened and only put 2 tiny tea spoons so the water was barely pink) I don't know whats going on with him as our other piggy is fine and he is eating properly and drinking properly and eating hay and pellets perfectly fine we aren't rich and probably can't afford the vets so can someone please help I can insert some pictures if you want thanks

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry your boy is unwell. Unfortunately the only thing you can do is to get him seen by the vet. There is a vet service fof those who struggle. Perhaps have a look there and see if you’d be able to get him seen.
Veterinary

I would speak to your usual vet and see if they’d be willing to let you pay the fees back slowly. Or, I’d there a relative or good friend who could lend you the money?

Meanwhile have a read of the guides below. Also try and clean the cage - I’m thinking along the lines of removing the wet areas. Vet bed is recommended on here quite often. What are they bedded on?

And how is his weight? You should also start weighing him once daily at the same time. If he’s losing weight you will need to step in and syringe feed him. You can use his pellets soaked in hot water then use a syringe with the tip cut off once it’s cooled enough.

Please don’t give him any more cranberry juice. It’s not recommended for use in piggies. Please do try and get him seen sooner rather than later. Do let us know how you get on.

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
Impaction - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Without a picture we can of course not tell you what has happened but it is likely that your boy has dislocated or injured/broken his leg and urgently needs vet care because he must be in bad pain and his leg needs attending to.
He is unable to clean himself, so you need to do that for him and he will also struggle with eating and drinking - especially hay, which should make around three quarters of the daily food intake, so he can lose weight very quickly.

Please contact your local RSPCA branch if you unable to access any payment support help via the links in this thread as the last possible option.
A guide to vets fees, insurance and payment support.

Here are our care tips:
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment (this guide also contains tips on how you can improvise on feeding care for the short term with what you have at home)

 

[Zackgizmo3214]

Thank you so much I will try and get him to the rspca.

 

[Zackgizmo3214]

I’m sorry your boy is unwell. Unfortunately the only thing you can do is to get him seen by the vet. There is a vet service fof those who struggle. Perhaps have a look there and see if you’d be able to get him seen.
Veterinary

I would speak to your usual vet and see if they’d be willing to let you pay the fees back slowly. Or, I’d there a relative or good friend who could lend you the money?

Meanwhile have a read of the guides below. Also try and clean the cage - I’m thinking along the lines of removing the wet areas. Vet bed is recommended on here quite often. What are they bedded on?

And how is his weight? You should also start weighing him once daily at the same time. If he’s losing weight you will need to step in and syringe feed him. You can use his pellets soaked in hot water then use a syringe with the tip cut off once it’s cooled enough.

Please don’t give him any more cranberry juice. It’s not recommended for use in piggies. Please do try and get him seen sooner rather than later. Do let us know how you get on.

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
Impaction - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.

Thank you so much I will get him some help he dosent appear to be loosing weight and I'm frequently cleaning and removing the wet parts and I'm moving him myself as he can't himself I will get him seen by rspca and I will update.

 

[Siikibam]

Please remember that you can’t gauge weight by just seeing what he looks like, or seeing how much hay he’s eating. Hence weighing. I would switch to daily for now until he’s better. Good luck!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much I will get him some help he dosent appear to be loosing weight and I'm frequently cleaning and removing the wet parts and I'm moving him myself as he can't himself I will get him seen by rspca and I will update.

The PDSA (medical support charity for pets whose owners are on benefits) and the RSPCA (the rescue and welfare charity for animals whose lives are at risk) are two different places. The PDSA would be your first port of call and the RSPCA very much your last because it would mean that you would have to surrender your piggy.

 

[artcasper]

As above.. please get him checked by a vet...especially as he is probably in pain. All the best.

 

[Free Ranger]

If you are on certain benefits you can be eligible for PDSA treatment either free or much cheaper so have a check on their pages - here's a link.
Check if you're eligible
It's the only way we could afford a vet when I was younger. Vets can give painkiller for pigs as well as other medications.

When they get something wrong it's obvs better for piggy to get it treated sooner rather than later but it is often also cheaper for the loving owner as problems left for a long time can cause other complications to happen. The poop retention might simply be because he can't move around properly so sorting the leg out - if possible - will sort out the poop and the blistering foot. If he is an indoor pig you might be able to lie him on a piece of folded fleece with lots of very absorbent bedding underneath - the pee goes through and doesn't come back up much so it can protect the skin from urine scald. If they are on damp newspaper or shavings the pee can really puddle.

We have had posters from other countries like the US or Australia stressing out because vets are much more expensive than here and often many hours drive away too. Sometimes the only way they have managed to help their pigs was by surrendering them to a local recue centre who agreed to take them on and get them treatment. It's a last resort I know, but just in case we have a list of recommended rescues on the green bar link at the top of the page...

Good luck Zack - you're still in your prime and not old yet! It's a shock when these things happen but you'll get through it x

 

[Zackgizmo3214]

Hi I've have a Guinea pig called zack he is 4 years old and I have noticed his leg has been weird and one of his back legs is sticking out and he can't walk properly or stand up and he is lying down in his cage and he can't get up so he is pooing and weeing and he can't stand up so he Is laying in his own waste so hes all wet and he stinks I have bathed him yesterday and give his foot a salt bath as I've noticed a blister or some sore he Is not pooing properly and it's getting clogged my mother helped research and thought it could be impaction so we have helped squeezing his poop out as it is making his anal sack huge and is causing him pain we give him some cranberry juice dilated in water (don't worry its unsweetened and only put 2 tiny tea spoons so the water was barely pink) I don't know whats going on with him as our other piggy is fine and he is eating properly and drinking properly and eating hay and pellets perfectly fine we aren't rich and probably can't afford the vets so can someone please help I can insert some pictures if you want thanks

Hi I can't believe I'm saying this would of never thought this would happen so soon but on the 5th April 4 days ago as I'm writing my baby zack has passed away I don't know what exact reason I'm guessing old age complications as he was 4 and a half I found him in his cage at around half 11 at night as I was going to bed I'm absolutely heartbroken as he started to perk up a bit and I thought he was getting better he looked very peaceful and wasn't in any pain that I know of I cuddled him half an hour before I'm glad I got to cuddle him before he passed I have buried him and made a wish as doing so he's in my local park and I will visit him as much as I can he really was my best friend and I don't know how to cope without him sounds a bit silly but he was super special to me and I know you will all understand as we all love piggies if anyone has some coping advice for grief as I'm only a young teen that would be great! he lived the best life ever and was spoiled and had cuddles everyday of me I have made him a memorable box with his toys and waterbottle etc and I've got pictures and a piece of his fur on tape I also have his blankets and a dressing gown I used to cuddle him on and I cuddle it every night for comfort thank you for the advice everyone I'm truly heartbroken but I'm glad he's not in pain anymore just hope he's in a safe place which he is cause he was an angel I'm posting some pictures as memory rip zack love you so much angel.

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry.

Here is our human grieving guide for yourself so you can make more sense of what you are experiencing now and in the coming weeks and what you can do for any companion of Zack's in the wake of his loss:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[Zackgizmo3214]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry.

Here is our human grieving guide for yourself so you can make more sense of what you are experiencing now and in the coming weeks and what you can do for any companion of Zack's in the wake of his loss:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Thank you I'm just glad I got to have 4 and a half lovely years with him

 

[Free Ranger]

Sometimes leg problems like you describe have a cause like a big growth or tumour or something that can't be predicted or cured. It helps us cope if we can know the cause but sometimes we can't know - we can only try to do our best for them. I'm so sorry for your loss - he is at peace now. Spend time with your other piggy and it will help both of you x