Limping guinea pig

[Isabela]

Hello, I just found my guinea pig limping. She was laying and when I was cleaning she didn't come looking at what I was doing as always. Then she had to move because I was cleaning and I saw her limping. She has one front foot in the air and sometimes licks it. Sometimes she stands on it, but otherwise she's limping. She did run up and down the stairs and jump on the hay rack. Then I took her out and tried to see if it hurt her, but it didn't. She walks normal and it looks like she rests more. She's eating and laying. Is it possible that she just layed too long on that foot and it fell asleep or she just hurt her foot a little?
Thank you for your help.

 

[sport_billy]

Can you get her to a vet? It could be a sprain. Metacam an anti inflammatory pain killer would help and the vet could check her foot over

 

[Merab]

I agree - a vet trip is needed.
Hope she’s ok.
Keep us posted

 

[Isabela]

Can you get her to a vet? It could be a sprain. Metacam an anti inflammatory pain killer would help and the vet could check her foot over

I agree - a vet trip is needed.
Hope she’s ok.
Keep us posted

How could she have a sprain if I can pet her foot and she doesn't pull back or anything. The foot is slightly a different color than the other 3 foots. They are pink and this one is darker. She has white and brown color fur so maybe she has different colors in foot, I never noticed before. But do you really think a vet would be necessary? I mean, she eats normally and otherwise looks ok..

 

[pig in the city]

How could she have a sprain if I can pet her foot and she doesn't pull back or anything. The foot is slightly a different color than the other 3 foots. They are pink and this one is darker. She has white and brown color fur so maybe she has different colors in foot, I never noticed before. But do you really think a vet would be necessary? I mean, she eats normally and otherwise looks ok..

It could be a problem with circulation to her foot. It's very serious if it is. I had a pig who got hair around his toe and he nearly lost his toe. Another friends piggy got some bedding around his foot and he ended up having to be put to sleep.
Please get her to a vet and check very carefully that she has nothing higher up her foot or leg affecting her circulation.
Limping is not a symptom to be ignored it's good that she isn't poorly but could quickly become so

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

He could have cut it. I had a boar who somehow cut a rear leg, it was very small and hard to see, like a paper-cut on your hand. I never did work out how he did it, the first I knew was that he was limping. If it is that, he would need anti inflammatory and antibiotics to prevent infection of the wound.
So best get him to the vet soon.

 

[Wiebke]

How could she have a sprain if I can pet her foot and she doesn't pull back or anything. The foot is slightly a different color than the other 3 foots. They are pink and this one is darker. She has white and brown color fur so maybe she has different colors in foot, I never noticed before. But do you really think a vet would be necessary? I mean, she eats normally and otherwise looks ok..

A sprain or pulled muscle can happen in any joint from the hip/shoulder downward. It doesn't necessarily have to be in the foot. Like we humans hobble when we have injured our hip, knee or ankle and not just a stubbed a toe.
All it takes is a bad landing. Please see a vet if your piggy is unable to put any weight on the foot; that could be a break somewhere on the leg or foot. A painkiller/anti-inflammatory can also speed up the healing process and minimise the discomfort with a sprain or a pulled muscle.

Guinea pigs can have different coloured skin depending on their markings. You often only notice when you look at your piggy more closely.

 

[Betsy]

If one of my piggies was limping I'd take them straight to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment. I recommend you do the same.

 

[DMS260820]

If any of my pigs get this it will be blumming burnie

 

[Isabela]

It could be a problem with circulation to her foot. It's very serious if it is. I had a pig who got hair around his toe and he nearly lost his toe. Another friends piggy got some bedding around his foot and he ended up having to be put to sleep.
Please get her to a vet and check very carefully that she has nothing higher up her foot or leg affecting her circulation.
Limping is not a symptom to be ignored it's good that she isn't poorly but could quickly become so

He could have cut it. I had a boar who somehow cut a rear leg, it was very small and hard to see, like a paper-cut on your hand. I never did work out how he did it, the first I knew was that he was limping. If it is that, he would need anti inflammatory and antibiotics to prevent infection of the wound.
So best get him to the vet soon.

A sprain or pulled muscle can happen in any joint from the hip/shoulder downward. It doesn't necessarily have to be in the foot. Like we humans hobble when we have injured our hip, knee or ankle and not just a stubbed a toe.
All it takes is a bad landing. Please see a vet if your piggy is unable to put any weight on the foot; that could be a break somewhere on the leg or foot. A painkiller/anti-inflammatory can also speed up the healing process and minimise the discomfort with a sprain or a pulled muscle.

Guinea pigs can have different coloured skin depending on their markings. You often only notice when you look at your piggy more closely.

If one of my piggies was limping I'd take them straight to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment. I recommend you do the same.

If any of my pigs get this it will be blumming burnie

Thank you all for your help. Today she seems a little better. Since it's Sunday and the vets are not working I will get her to a vet if the condition doesn't get better. Thank you for your help, I'll keep you posted

 

[Isabela]

Can you get her to a vet? It could be a sprain. Metacam an anti inflammatory pain killer would help and the vet could check her foot over

I agree - a vet trip is needed.
Hope she’s ok.
Keep us posted

It could be a problem with circulation to her foot. It's very serious if it is. I had a pig who got hair around his toe and he nearly lost his toe. Another friends piggy got some bedding around his foot and he ended up having to be put to sleep.
Please get her to a vet and check very carefully that she has nothing higher up her foot or leg affecting her circulation.
Limping is not a symptom to be ignored it's good that she isn't poorly but could quickly become so

He could have cut it. I had a boar who somehow cut a rear leg, it was very small and hard to see, like a paper-cut on your hand. I never did work out how he did it, the first I knew was that he was limping. If it is that, he would need anti inflammatory and antibiotics to prevent infection of the wound.
So best get him to the vet soon.

A sprain or pulled muscle can happen in any joint from the hip/shoulder downward. It doesn't necessarily have to be in the foot. Like we humans hobble when we have injured our hip, knee or ankle and not just a stubbed a toe.
All it takes is a bad landing. Please see a vet if your piggy is unable to put any weight on the foot; that could be a break somewhere on the leg or foot. A painkiller/anti-inflammatory can also speed up the healing process and minimise the discomfort with a sprain or a pulled muscle.

Guinea pigs can have different coloured skin depending on their markings. You often only notice when you look at your piggy more closely.

If one of my piggies was limping I'd take them straight to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment. I recommend you do the same.

If any of my pigs get this it will be blumming burnie

UPDATE: piggy is looking fine, she's walking normally again and she is having her foot down normally again She is still resting more, but she was jumping yesterday, she is eating fine and it seems that it's ok now. If anything changes I'll let you know.
I want to thank everybody that helped me and for being so thoughtful and friendly

 

[Merab]

Glad to hear she’s doing better.
Thanks for the update

 

[Wiebke]

UPDATE: piggy is looking fine, she's walking normally again and she is having her foot down normally again She is still resting more, but she was jumping yesterday, she is eating fine and it seems that it's ok now. If anything changes I'll let you know.
I want to thank everybody that helped me and for being so thoughtful and friendly

That is great news! it was obviously just a fairly mild sprain.

 

[Isabela]

That is great news! it was obviously just a fairly mild sprain.

Yes, maybe. I was so worried... Could it be because she slept weird like we humans do?

 

[Merab]

It’s part of a guinea pig’s job description to worry slaves!

 

[Wiebke]

Yes, maybe. I was so worried... Could it be because she slept weird like we humans do?

No, it is usually caused by landing badly after a jump or a popcorn. It is pretty common in lively guinea pigs, but it can really throw you when you have neer encountered it. The important thing is to always make sure that it is not a break and to also see a vet if it is a more severe sprain, which can take weeks to fully heal.

 

[Isabela]

No, it is usually caused by landing badly after a jump or a popcorn. It is pretty common in lively guinea pigs, but it can really throw you when you have neer encountered it. The important thing is to always make sure that it is not a break and to also see a vet if it is a more severe sprain, which can take weeks to fully heal.

Thank you very much for your help and information