If one of my pets needed an amputation, we'd exhausted other options first, and we could afford it, I would most likely choose to do it again.
Thank you. This gives me hope. Thankfully I work at the vet whom is treating him so we have first hand care at the drop of a hat.One of my RB piggies had her back left leg amputated 20 or so years ago following an infected rat bite - very much a last ditch attempt to save her life which thankfully paid off. The leg was taken from the hip joint, I believe (I was a bit young but certainly there was no stump to speak of).
She was in the prime of life when it happened and lived for several years post-op. She walked by kind of bouncing off her belly and actually managed an incredible turn of speed with the proper motivation (dinner time, of course!). She spent the rest of her life participating in and enjoying the same activities as she did before, and managed to keep up with her siblings incredibly well. We did make adjustments to their cage/run (beyond the security measures added following the rat incident) so that it was easy to navigate and that there were no jumps, stones or edges which could potentially hurt her, as she didn't have quite the same level of control as she did; in the end though she never sustained any injuries to her left side despite the wobble.
Obviously this is just one anecdotal experience and, as I say, definitely not Plan A, but they can be remarkably resilient creatures. Of course the surgery carries its own risks and might be costly, but in our case at least it was worth giving her that chance.
I've just heard that they don't do well on 3 legs so really wanted to get advice from people who actually have piggies with only one back leg.
Thank you so very much for all this info. I'm not sure the cause of his osteomyelitis as he was surrendered at a tiny 430g (he's approximately one year old) he's now sitting at 725g and growing everyday. His little feet were in good condition and his exterior looked healthy. The previous owner said he got his leg caught in his cage but there were no visible wounds or scars.Hi and welcome
Osteomyelitis is when infection spreads into the bone (often through untreated bumblfoot/pododermatitis in filthy conditions). Sadly, in advanced cases, amputation is the only option when antibiotic treatment doesn't work.
Thankfully, 'tripod' piggies do well and can get around just like their normal companions they live with. Back leg amputation is easier on the piggy because the back legs are used as propellants whereas the front legs are the weight bearing ones. You see them not all that rarely in rescues, typically when infected foot sores, cuts abrasions get into the bones of neglect intakes.
Here are out post-op and emergency care tips which you may find helpful:
Tips For Post-operative Care
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
In case of loss of appetite weight post-op:
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Long term diet and weight monitoring:
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Looking after guinea pigs with mobility issues, including care tips and longer term complications:
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
You may find this youtube video of a three legged guinea pig coming for a health check into Cavy Central Guinea Pig Rescue in Sydney Australia interesting and helpful in terms fo what to look specifically out for:
I hope that this will help you?
