Injured Leg - Ideas?

[zblc015]

Hi there,

I got my 6 year old female Guinea pig out of the cage today and noticed that she was limping rather heavily and not wanting to bear weight on her back right. Any ideas what it could be?

She will rest on it when she's sitting, and she's fine with us touching it (gently, of course). Eating, drinking and pooping normally, and still happy to move about normally on 3 legs, she just holds the other one up out of the way. She not very happy to stretch the leg that much and her toes are fairly clamped together compared to the other back foot. She's not sensitive through her back or hips so I'm pretty sure the problem is the leg.

She hasn't been dropped or handled roughly so I think she did it whilst leaping about in her cage.

We're planning to see how it is tomorrow then go to the vets if it hasn't improved on Monday. I'd like to go with some foresight or suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Its hard to answer that question really, piggies are known to injure themselves when moving around their home so it could be a sprain. As always a vet visit as you've indicated will probably give you a better idea. Does the leg feel hot when you touch it? If so it would indicate an injury and possibly some anti-inflammatory treatment.

Keep her comfortable, try and minimise the amount of walking around she does by placing her favourite sleeping area with her water and food very close by.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there,

I got my 6 year old female Guinea pig out of the cage today and noticed that she was limping rather heavily and not wanting to bear weight on her back right. Any ideas what it could be?

She will rest on it when she's sitting, and she's fine with us touching it (gently, of course). Eating, drinking and pooping normally, and still happy to move about normally on 3 legs, she just holds the other one up out of the way. She not very happy to stretch the leg that much and her toes are fairly clamped together compared to the other back foot. She's not sensitive through her back or hips so I'm pretty sure the problem is the leg.

She hasn't been dropped or handled roughly so I think she did it whilst leaping about in her cage.

We're planning to see how it is tomorrow then go to the vets if it hasn't improved on Monday. I'd like to go with some foresight or suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

Hi!

It is very difficult to guess without a proper vet examination; it can be a simple sprain from landing awkwardly (which can happen to guinea pigs of all ages), arthritis, an internal swelling of some sort that impinges on mobility, a neurological issue etc.

What it is NOT is the typical old age calcium drop "overnight back leg paralysis" as that affects both hind legs.