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Hurt leg but no visual wound

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Kkin1128

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My guinea pig Lion has a hurt leg. I was getting ready to do the nightly feeding and I noticed that Lion was staying in his little hutch instead of running towards me like he usually does. I lifted the hitch and he is limping and his leg seems very sore. I can touch his foot and move it fine and his leg can also move fine but when it is moved a certain way or pressure is applied when he steps down then he winces in pain. I do not believe it is broken as the bone feels fine from what I can tell and there is nothing in his cage that could hurt his leg. I also don’t think it’s bumblefoot since there is no signs of that other than him babying and limping on the foot that is hurting him. Could he have possibly run and twisted his leg wrong like how a human twists their ankle? I am thinking of wrapping some gauze around it and possibly adding a splint to keep it stable if he is not walking around better by tomorrow. He is also eating just fine and has an appetite and is going potty just fine, but he isn’t wanting to walk much because of his leg so I have been moving the food to him. If it does not get better soon I will take him to the vet but does anyone have any idea what it could be or any recommendations? I am so worried about my little man and feel so bad that he is in pain :(
 
Sorry he is hurt like that.
It would be best to take him to the vet before it gets any worse. Emergency vet would know. Poor fellow!
 
Yes, they can get sprains and soft tissue injuries.
Please do not attempt to splint or wrap his leg in any way. Please have him seen by a vet asap for a diagnosis and pain relief.
Make sure you keep hay beside him at all times if he isn’t moving and switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily to ensure he is still eating enough hay while he is reluctant to move (you cannot judge they are eating enough hay by eye and as hay intake is 80% of the daily food intake it’s important to know enough is still going in). Piggies in pain can stop eating enough hay and you wouldn’t be able to tell without the weight checks.
 
Jenny did this years ago. No reason to be hurt and then limping like a trooper. She had sprained her shoulder somehow. What she needed was pain relief and the only way to get it was a vet visit.

I also do not have the skills to feel for a broken bone, it isn’t as obvious as you might think.
 
I’m sure your piggy will be fine but they definitely need pain killers until it heals. Good luck at the vets.
 
Just to throw in - fractures can hide themselves quite well. I managed to hide a fractured arm from my parents for two weeks in my youth - I could function normally, was just in pain that I didn't think to mention :roll:
 
Does your piggy live inside or out? if outside I would worry about a spider bite.
Please don't wrap or splint as Lion could chew and ingest something that could cause further trouble for him.
I definitely echo what others have said about vets and pain meds.
If Lion is not moving much, as well as a pile of hay next to him, please also offer the water bottle to him regularly so he can drink without needing to move.
Poor fellow. Really hope he is on the mend very soon xx
 
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