Leg injury

[cococookie]

hi everyone,
late september we noticed coco struggling to move her back leg so we took her to the vet who suspected a soft tissue injury and gave us loxicam to give her (0.6mls for 10days). we took her back on tuesday and the vet said that because she has not been using that leg, there has been muscle loss and too much pressure has been put on her other leg, causing it to bend inwards slightly. coco is five now and has ovarian cysts so i understand she has a lot against her. but she is still happy and eating and talking etc…
vet has recommended euthanasia, we have called a vet called cj hall who said that if they did ‘fix’ the leg, it would be hard to build back that muscle and thered the risk of her age etc…
Going to ask my mum to call a few more exotic vets specialists and see what they say. But just wondering if anyone’s here could help at all because i’ve been looking into stuff like pining the leg and bandages etc but i’m ot too sure what to do.
Anything helps

 

[Wiebke]

hi everyone,
late september we noticed coco struggling to move her back leg so we took her to the vet who suspected a soft tissue injury and gave us loxicam to give her (0.6mls for 10days). we took her back on tuesday and the vet said that because she has not been using that leg, there has been muscle loss and too much pressure has been put on her other leg, causing it to bend inwards slightly. coco is five now and has ovarian cysts so i understand she has a lot against her. but she is still happy and eating and talking etc…
vet has recommended euthanasia, we have called a vet called cj hall who said that if they did ‘fix’ the leg, it would be hard to build back that muscle and thered the risk of her age etc…
Going to ask my mum to call a few more exotic vets specialists and see what they say. But just wondering if anyone’s here could help at all because i’ve been looking into stuff like pining the leg and bandages etc but i’m ot too sure what to do.
Anything helps

Hi

Here is our detailed practical Care guide for guinea pigs with no or very limited mobility: Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

Here is our guide about caring for older guinea pigs and end of life aspects, which you may find helpful: Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A helpful and supportive information collection

Unfortunately, there is no magic wand procedure. Not having access to your piggy, I cannot comment on the situation, the severity of the loss of muscles and pain issues or the likelihood of longer term secondary complications of her case that will all have played into the considerations of the two vets you have seen; I have been through a whole rat-tail of issues with my old Nerys in the wake of her temporary back leg paralysis in combination with old age (she lived to celebrate her 8th birthday and a bit beyond but it was one thing after another for the last months of her life).

I would just like to say that no decent vet will recommend pts lightly - it is always a last resort and not the first consideration. You are well within your rights to ask for a second opinion but if every vet is coming to a similar conclusion, then please heed it because they are not making it lightly. However, it doesn't sound like it is an urgent decision so you do not have to make a snap decision.