Possible Broken Leg?

[frankandluca]

Hello everyone, I have a ten month old male named Luca. Yesterday I went up to my room to feed him and found him outside of his cage. He lives in a 2x4 C&C cage on my floor. I think he climbed his hidey house and then jumped out. I’m almost positive he caught one of his hind legs on the c&c grids, and possibly broke his leg. He’s barely moved around all day and it’s been about 24 hrs since the accident. He’s eaten veggies and a little pellets and nibbled on hay but I can tell he’s probably in pain and that’s why his appetite isn’t normal. I will call for an appointment first thing tomorrow morning but feel terrible I don’t have anything to manage his pain in the meantime. I’m a 19 year old college student who isn’t doing the best financially but I will prioritize his health and comfort over anything. I’m afraid they’ll have to take him to surgery to put pins in the bone to stabilize it, or is it more common to just X ray and splint and go from there? He’s very young so I’m hoping for the second scenario. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I also have critical care to syringe feed him until he starts eating better. Thanks again.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

All you can do is get him to a vet asap for a diagnosis and pain relief.
There is nothing you can do at home other than emergency management which is syringe feeding as a piggy in pain can reduce their hay intake (still eating veg and pellets isn’t enough). Make sure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily so you can make sure he is eating enough hay. Hay is the most important part of the diet and the weight checks are the only way to know he is eating enough (you cannot gauge hay intake by eye) and ensuring you syringe feed to replace hay intake.
Keep him with his companion as much as possible as he will need the comfort, and obviously make sure to move hides away from the edge of the cage so he can’t try to do it again; or increase the cage height to two grids.

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi, it is good you are ringing the vet first thing for an appointment. As said above syringe feeding in the meantime is about all you can do.
Hopefully it will be some kind of soft tissue injury but if it is a break where you go from there will depend on the nature of the break. Pinning bones is not really an option for piggies as their bones are too small and delicate and can lead to a lot of complications. Straightforward breaks can sometimes be fixed with a splint, for more complex breaks amputation is often the best option. This is not as dramatic as it sounds, it is fairly straightforward surgery and piggies do very well on 3 legs. I once had a pig who had a leg amputated as a result of a fall from height. He was 5 months when it happened and went on to live to be old and lived a normal life.
Fingers crossed it will be nothing too serious for Luca.

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry your piggy has injured himself. Good luck at the vets. I’m hoping it’s not broken

 

[Bill & Ted]

hope you can get your little piggie to the vets very soon, he must be in so much pain, poor little man

 

[Stanley and Ollie]

I hope things are Working in your favor Pain medication medicam Good luck