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My Guinea Pig Can't Move Her Left Rear Leg.

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Morticia

Morticia

New Born Pup
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Good morning everyone,
My Luna can't move her left rear leg and she drags it around, looks stiff and she's in pain. We took her to the vet and they did X-rays, bet said nothing seems to be broken, she won't move to eat, she avoids moving. The vet said the meds are only for infection and for pain, we took her two days ago and she doesn't seem to be in the same amount of pain she was then (on Friday), we take her out of her cage and she still complains but not as bad. Vet said she won't make it past 4-5 days but I don't know what to think, do? Do I give the meds another chance? Or do I stop her suffering? It breaks my heart to see her like that :( She won't even move to pee or poop, so we gotta mover her an clean her. She is eating and she looks happy, she doesn't look down or sick. What do you guys think? Please help us! :(
 
Are you in the UK? Has she fell? What pain medication was it and how long did you give it for?
 
Morticia said:
Good morning everyone,
My Luna can't move her left rear leg and she drags it around, looks stiff and she's in pain. We took her to the vet and they did X-rays, bet said nothing seems to be broken, she won't move to eat, she avoids moving. The vet said the meds are only for infection and for pain, we took her two days ago and she doesn't seem to be in the same amount of pain she was then (on Friday), we take her out of her cage and she still complains but not as bad. Vet said she won't make it past 4-5 days but I don't know what to think, do? Do I give the meds another chance? Or do I stop her suffering? It breaks my heart to see her like that :( She won't even move to pee or poop, so we gotta mover her an clean her. She is eating and she looks happy, she doesn't look down or sick. What do you guys think? Please help us! :(
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Hi!

Please start syringe feeding your guinea pig if it is not eating properly and make sure that hay (which should make up to 80% of the daily food intake) as well as water are very close by. WEigh her daily at the same time to control her food intake. Our detailed guide as tips for what you can do with what you have at home. Your home care is as important as the meds to get her through the rough spot.

Make sure that you clean and chnage the are she is lying in once or twice daily, so she is not lying in her pee and poos.

Please continue with the meds as she seems to get slowly better and if necessary, have her seen again at the end of the course.

We may be able to halep you a lot better if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details. We have got members and enquiries from all over the world. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to erpsonal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!
 
I am located in the US, and she hasn't fallen or been dropped. We had another guinea pig, Fluffy but last week my brother woke up to find her dead in the cage and then they said Luna started acting like this the day after Fluffy died. The meds I'll have to go home and get the names of both meds, since Luna is actually my little brother's but I brought her to my house to keep an eye on her closer, the meds are given to her every 24 hrs and today would be her third dose. She does eat well, she mostly eats her pellets and lettuce, and for the hay, what kind would be the best for her? Right now she's eating lettuce and she seems ok. She won't drink water so I have to give her with a syringe.
 
Morticia said:
I am located in the US, and she hasn't fallen or been dropped. We had another guinea pig, Fluffy but last week my brother woke up to find her dead in the cage and then they said Luna started acting like this the day after Fluffy died. The meds I'll have to go home and get the names of both meds, since Luna is actually my little brother's but I brought her to my house to keep an eye on her closer, the meds are given to her every 24 hrs and today would be her third dose. She does eat well, she mostly eats her pellets and lettuce, and for the hay, what kind would be the best for her? Right now she's eating lettuce and she seems ok. She won't drink water so I have to give her with a syringe.
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Any hay - timothy, orchard or meadow, as long as she eats it! if necessary, top her up with syringe feed. Pain and antibiotics can both suppress the appetite. Hopefully, with your good care she will pull through despite her loss and her gammy leg. ;)

I would also recommend to give her a wider range of veg; especially vitamin C rich veg like peppers or fresh cilantro (UK: coriander) or parsley. Lettuce is not very rich in nutrients.
Otherwise, you can give additionally 1/8 of a human vitamin tablet (if necessary dissolved in 1 ml of water and syringed for best effect). if she is on an antibiotic, adding a pinch of probiotic to any veg or mushe pellets can also help to boster the guts.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

Please keep at it, even if it is a longer slog. It sounds like Luna is starting to recover, and as she is still eating on her own, she clearly has got the will to live. Has there been anything that could have spooked them badly?

It would be helpful if you please gave us the names and dosage of the meds she is on. She may just have bedly sprained her back leg anywhere from her her hip joint down her side. Did the vets check for a dislocation of the hip joint?
 
Green peppers would be fine? Or yellow and red would be fine too? I'll get her some cilantro too. And what human vitamin would work best?
I'll post the names of th meds once I get them. And th X-rays didn't show anything broken and the vet didn't mention anything about the hip either, she did say something may be pinching her spine?
And yes, she doesn't look sad or down or sick, just that she can't move. I'm hoping she will get better. Her foot is just completely paralyzed.
 
Morticia said:
Green peppers would be fine? Or yellow and red would be fine too? I'll get her some cilantro too. And what human vitamin would work best?
I'll post the names of th meds once I get them. And th X-rays didn't show anything broken and the vet didn't mention anything about the hip either, she did say something may be pinching her spine?
And yes, she doesn't look sad or down or sick, just that she can't move. I'm hoping she will get better. Her foot is just completely paralyzed.
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Any colour of pepper will do - whatever she eats. Please have a look at our full list of veg. Ideally you feed a mix for a balanced diet.
 
Hello again everyone,

So Luna's attitude seems to be better, she looks happy but she's still dragging her foot/leg around and when it gets stuck, she cries, but she now lets me touch her without being in so much pain. My question is, what happens when the 7 day treatment for the Metacam is over? Does she have to stay on that medication to keep the pain numb? will she be able to walk again? Or what happens in these cases? Will somebody please help me? I'd greatly appreciate it.

Luna & I thank you.
 
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