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Potential broken leg advice

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sophiekerrs

New Born Pup
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Hi all. After some advice really. We have a 12 week old Guinea pig that we’ve had since 9 weeks old. He started limping on Monday evening so we took him to the vet Tuesday. On examination he said he couldn’t definitively say if he had broken his leg or not without X-rays. He prescribed metacam (pain relief and anti inflammatory) and ordered cage rest, separate hun from his brother and to monitor him. He’s been having this daily for the past 2 days and has made some improvement. Spoke to the vet again today who has given us some options. We can keep going with the pain relief and what we’re doing and see if he improves further, or X-ray and surgery (amputation) if the leg is broken rather than sprained/pulled muscle. My issue is funds are limited and the X-ray alone will be £250 before any surgery/further treatment.

He said if we leave it and don’t operate and it is broken it could heal incorrectly and need surgery to amputate anyway.

Does anyone have any experience with this or any advice? Can a potential broken leg heal with cage rest and pain meds? The thing is he hasn’t had an accident that I’m aware of so I’m struggling to see how he could have broken it in his cage, however the vet said it could be done easily as they’re bones are delicate especially as he is just young. Does anyone have any tips, advice or experience or what to look out for and how soon it would be that we should notice an improvement if broken or if not broken? Funds are limited but ultimately I don’t want him to be suffering.
 
So sorry to hear your piggie might have a broken leg/sprain. I am sorry I have no experience, but someone may be along soon to offer advice.
Do you think you vet might have a pay plan? This could help ease the financial pressure
 
@PigglePuggle adopted a guinea pig with a broken leg that had not been treated and had set at an awkward angle.
I am sure she can share more about this.

And breaks can happen in exuberant young piggies when they popcorn and land awkwardly, however it is far more likely to be a sprain.

I would personally question the advice to separate him from his cage mate. I would be more inclined to leave them together, and just make sure their cage doesn't contain things he can climb on and is all on one level. Separating them risks their future relationship.
How experienced with guinea pigs is your vet?

Two days isn't very long and it is good you are seeing some improvement.
I would be tempted to wait a few more days as long as he is moving around and eating.
Please weigh him daily to keep an eye on this, as how much they are eating is not something that can be measured by eye.
 
Hi, I agree with the advise above about not separating etc. I once had a piggy who had to have a leg amputated as a result of a fall. It was very clear on vet exam that it was broken and an x-ray confirmed the nature of the break.
Hopefully your piggy just has soft tissue damage which can take a little while to heal
 
Update guys. Went to give him his pain meds tonight and he seemed interested in food but very wobble, moving his head from side to side and falling over from one side to another, like he was drunk?! I’ve no idea what this means now
 
sophiekerrs said:
Update guys. Went to give him his pain meds tonight and he seemed interested in food but very wobble, moving his head from side to side and falling over from one side to another, like he was drunk?! I’ve no idea what this means now
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It sounds like he needs to see a vet urgently.
Is it possible to have him seen tonight?
Failing that make him comfortable and get him seen first thing tomorrow morning.
We can't diagnose over the internet, but based on your description he needs a hands on examination as it sounds like there is something else going on.
 
I would agree with the above that he really needs an emergency vet, and that maybe the limping isnt a leg injury but a neurological problem affecting his balance- or more hopefully, sometimes an ear infection may cause balance and head tilt issues.
Only the vet can say really- ear infection, a more sinister ear condition resulting from an infection calcified bulla syndrome that has become sadly more common in some areas, stroke, the parasite E. cunniculi usually caught from rabbits- all have similar symptoms but very different treatments and very different outcomes.
As a young piggy, youth and time should be on his side if he gets prompt diagnisis and treatment- but the symptoms for ears and balance issues, vs neurological damage, overlap a lot.
We have a helpful forum guide about this, but unfortunately I cannot link things in from my phone- maybe one of the mods or other H&I advisors or forum buddies can find the CBS and neurological guide and link this in here?
But ultimately the vet is needed- an ear infection or E. cunniculi caught early may be quite treatable with a good outcome.
 
Hi all unfortunately we had to have Jackson storm put to sleep. We think it was a neurological issue and he was deteriorating. We’re very sad but now concerned about his brother McQueen. He’s had time to say goodbye but is now alone. We’re planning on getting him a new friend, but does anyone have any tips on bonding? He’s 3 months so does this make the process easier? I know it should be a neutral space so I’ve ordered a new indoor pen to introduce them and will clean out and give them a fresh new pen. Anyone with experience with this offer any advice?
 
sophiekerrs said:
Hi all unfortunately we had to have Jackson storm put to sleep. We think it was a neurological issue and he was deteriorating. We’re very sad but now concerned about his brother McQueen. He’s had time to say goodbye but is now alone. We’re planning on getting him a new friend, but does anyone have any tips on bonding? He’s 3 months so does this make the process easier? I know it should be a neutral space so I’ve ordered a new indoor pen to introduce them and will clean out and give them a fresh new pen. Anyone with experience with this offer any advice?
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sophiekerrs said:
To add as well mcqueen was the more docile one so will this be a positive too?
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I'm so sorry for your loss.

The best way to find a compatible friend is with the help of a rescue centre. In the UK some rescues will allow you to date your piggy with one of their piggies looking for a new home, so that you can ensure compatibility before committing to a new piggy.
If you buy a piggy from a pet shop etc, then ensure you have a back up plan for living arrangements in case the two are not compatible, don’t bond can’t be in the same cage.
At three months old he is just coming up to his hormonal teens so it can make the process trickier, not impossible by any means, but the help of a rescue would be valuable to ensure compatibility

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
 
So very sorry that you have lost Jackson Storm.
You did everything possible and make that last tough decision out of love.
He had a great life with you.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
 
Thank you for all or your support and advice. We are gutted and they really take a part of your heart so quickly ❤️ We now have to do the best for his brother McQueen so we are visiting a rescue today after speaking to them for most of the morning as they think they have the perfect piggie who needs a loving home and who we can hopefully try and bond McQueen with 🤞🏼 Wish us luck! I’ve done so much research over the past 24-48 hours on boar bonding (read all the guides and watched lots of videos) but still feeling very nervous!
 
I know this needs to be done quickly though as McQueen is already displaying signs of loneliness 😥 just feel really guilty like we are replacing Jackson storm quickly but we just want to do what is best for his brother. It’s so hard isn’t it
 
Hope all goes well today.
You are not replacing Jackson Storm, you are finding a successor for him because you have so much love to give.
We are never ready to get another piggy as soon as a bereaved piggy needs a companion.
Don’t worry.
Any new piggy will very quickly create its own place in your heart.
 
Hi all, so the boys have been living together for a few days now. Introductions went as well as we could have hoped and after a few hours the normally introductory behaviour, they settled and went to sleep together so we put them into a clean cage. It appeared the original Guinea pug (McQueen) had asserted dominance over the new one (Mater). Things have been going well ever since. Today I have noticed Mater trying to mount McQueen and there has been a lot more rumblestrutting than the past few days. Is this normal during the 2 week settling in period? Should I put them in the run they were in for their introduction so they’ve got some more space or shall I just leave them to it? I was really hopeful with how things went and now I’m a bit nervous 😬 please help reassure me this is normal…
 
Just to add some more context, I’m working from home today so have put them both in their indoor run with some bay and hides and am leaving them to it. The noises and humping have stopped and they are currently sat together in their tunnel. Is it normal for the less dominant pig to try and challenge the dominant one in the first few days/weeks? Could that be what’s happening? Both are eating and drinking well and there are periods where they will be together quietly with no dominant behaviours. McQueen the one who appears more dominant thus far was the least dominant in his previous pairing (as was Mater) could it be that he’s not really sure how to respond to mater challenges? Is the rule, just like when you introduce, that you shouldn’t intervene unless a full blown fight starts? Do they need to just work it out themselves?
 
Absolutely.
Make sure they have space and no areas where one piggy can get trapped and leave them to work through it.
It's a complicated process, and not really over for at least a couple of weeks.
As Mater is new to your home it might have taken him a while to feel settled enough to 'discuss' leadership with McQueen.
It all sounds very normal to be honest.
 
Thank you, it’s so stressful 😬 will Mater either have to back down or McQueen roll over to him? He has tried to hump him a few times and McQueen has turned round and nipped him I’m assuming as a “hey, know your place” sort of thing? It’s nerve racking to watch isn’t it but probably worse for us than it is for them
 
These are the boys. Mater is the black one who has hair missing from his previous pairing ☹️
 

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sophiekerrs said:
Thank you, it’s so stressful 😬 will Mater either have to back down or McQueen roll over to him? He has tried to hump him a few times and McQueen has turned round and nipped him I’m assuming as a “hey, know your place” sort of thing? It’s nerve racking to watch isn’t it but probably worse for us than it is for them
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It is totally nerve wracking - honestly I was always a mess whenever I had to do bondings!

It isn't always a matter of one piggy having to 'give up' leadership.
Sometimes they are just testing out the dynamic, or having a bit of a feisty day and throwing their weight around.
I always look at it like siblings - one day they are fine sharing their stuff and hanging out, and the next day they don't want to. It's a bit of a continual 'to and fro', but it's perfectly normal, and actually important for piggies to have this social interaction.
 
Seeing the photo though I would remove the hides with single entrances.
If they are having a feisty day then you don't want one piggy getting trapped and lashing out because they don't have any choice.
Just get a few cardboard boxes and cut 2 doors in each one.
 
sophiekerrs said:
Hi all, so the boys have been living together for a few days now. Introductions went as well as we could have hoped and after a few hours the normally introductory behaviour, they settled and went to sleep together so we put them into a clean cage. It appeared the original Guinea pug (McQueen) had asserted dominance over the new one (Mater). Things have been going well ever since. Today I have noticed Mater trying to mount McQueen and there has been a lot more rumblestrutting than the past few days. Is this normal during the 2 week settling in period? Should I put them in the run they were in for their introduction so they’ve got some more space or shall I just leave them to it? I was really hopeful with how things went and now I’m a bit nervous 😬 please help reassure me this is normal…
Click to expand...

Yes it’s normal and yes leave them to it. The less you interrupt them the better.
Only separate if it becomes clear things are failing or if there is a fight

Ensure they have a big enough cage - covering 12 square feet (180x60cm)
 
Bonding is probably more stressful for the humans than the piggies.
They know what they’re doing.
It sounds perfectly normal and when they settle you will have a very happy pair.
Gorgeous piggies.
 
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