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Squiggles Spinal Injury

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sqiugglesmum

sqiugglesmum

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi I'm new to the forum and am worried about our guinea pig. She is dragging her back legs and appears wobbly when she tries to stand on them.The vet has diagnosed a spinal injury and has given her anti inflammatories and a physiotherapy program to follow.We're taking her back in a fortnight for review if all goes well.After 2 days of treatment she already seems a bit better.As she is 4 could she develop arthritis from her injury? Any advice would be really appreciated Thanks
 
Sometimes these things get better by themselves but I think an x-ray would be the best way to see exactly if it's spinal or something else. One of mine broke her back leg when she was 6 months old. She was painkillers for a fortnight & her leg healed by itself. She's now over 3 & I can't even remember which leg it was.
 
I agree with Stewybus, an xray needs to be done if possible to see what the exact injury is. Water therapy may help too (in the bath).
 
Liquorice03-11-12001.jpg

Sorry I'm currently unable to find it, but here's a piccie. Make sure the water isn't too deep, and support your piggies back end whilst she learns to paddle with them, Liquorice did very well, in fact she did learn to swim. The water will take the weight and make them more buoyant, and good for easing any discomfort :) x
 
It is great news that after 2 days the problem is getting better. I agree that an x-ray may help if it is really an injury to the spine.
Back leg lameness in older guinea pigs is not all that rare, but it can have a wide range of causes (sudden drop of calcium is the most frequent cause, neurological, sciatica etc.). The exact cause is often very difficult to near impossible to diagnose for a vet. The good news is that most older piggies recover and regain their mobility.

Here is more on water therapy: http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/swimming.htm
Gentle massage of the limbs can also help.
 
Did this come on suddenly, overnight? I ask because I had a pig with these symptoms and I tried a Peter Gurney trick, which cured her. I was sceptical, but thought I'd try it before going to the vet, as she was fine in every other way and did not seem to be in any pain, just dragging her back legs. The regime was 1 ml Osteocare (it's a calcium supplement for humans from the pharmacist), morning and night for one day, then 0.5 ml morning and night for the next three. Peter says there is usually some improvement after 24h and often sooner, which was the case with Lulu, but he does make it clear that if there is no improvement after 3-4 days, or the paralysis spreads, then expert advice is needed. As you've already seen the vet, you may want to try it, or discuss with the vet first. All I can say is Lulu is running around now (with the help of glucosamine and chondroitin, which I've mentioned in another thread).

This all comes from Peter Gurney's book "Piggy Potions".
 
BonBon2010 said:
Liquorice03-11-12001.jpg

Sorry I'm currently unable to find it, but here's a piccie. Make sure the water isn't too deep, and support your piggies back end whilst she learns to paddle with them, Liquorice did very well, in fact she did learn to swim. The water will take the weight and make them more buoyant, and good for easing any discomfort :) x
Click to expand...
Thank you! Liquorice certainly seems to like the water. I'll try this alongside Sqiuggle's physio, which is basically massaging and manipulating her joints in her back legs.
 
Wiebke said:
It is great news that after 2 days the problem is getting better. I agree that an x-ray may help if it is really an injury to the spine.
Back leg lameness in older guinea pigs is not all that rare, but it can have a wide range of causes (sudden drop of calcium is the most frequent cause, neurological, sciatica etc.). The exact cause is often very difficult to near impossible to diagnose for a vet. The good news is that most older piggies recover and regain their mobility.

Here is more on water therapy: http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/swimming.htm
Gentle massage of the limbs can also help.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for the link I'll have a look and try the water therapy tomorrow. The gentle massage is part of the physio the vet recommended.She said try this every hour, which is what we're doing Poor Sqiggle! She's trying SO hard.It's heartening that they can get better though x
 
Elwickcavies said:
Did this come on suddenly, overnight? I ask because I had a pig with these symptoms and I tried a Peter Gurney trick, which cured her. I was sceptical, but thought I'd try it before going to the vet, as she was fine in every other way and did not seem to be in any pain, just dragging her back legs. The regime was 1 ml Osteocare (it's a calcium supplement for humans from the pharmacist), morning and night for one day, then 0.5 ml morning and night for the next three. Peter says there is usually some improvement after 24h and often sooner, which was the case with Lulu, but he does make it clear that if there is no improvement after 3-4 days, or the paralysis spreads, then expert advice is needed. As you've already seen the vet, you may want to try it, or discuss with the vet first. All I can say is Lulu is running around now (with the help of glucosamine and chondroitin, which I've mentioned in another thread).

This all comes from Peter Gurney's book "Piggy Potions".
Click to expand...
This is good info about the calcium and worth a try.We assumed it was an injury because we found Squeak, Squiggle's much bigger sister, climbing on her back.When we separated them Squiggle was dragging her back legs.We immediately separated Squiggle and took her to the vet.Like Lulu, she isn't in any pain, is eating, drinking and tolerating well and is behaving normally other than the leg problem. Glad that Lulu is now doing well. Thank you x
 
I would also suggest to get an x-ray as the type of physiotherapy you may want to give would probably depend on the location of the injury. X-ray's can be done consciously, so your piggy would not need to be sedated. Hope things continue to improve! Fingers crossed. @BonBon2010 it would be really great if you could share the video if you can find it (maybe even in a separate threat). I think it would be really good to see a successful water thearapy.
 
I have a spinal pig,he has spinal disease,diagnosed by an x-ray,and he had about 8 sessions with an animal chiropractor,made a huge difference as his shoulder and pelvis were out of alignment - you would need a specialist in pet therapy for this though - mine was covered by my insurance.
 
Cyberpig said:
I would also suggest to get an x-ray as the type of physiotherapy you may want to give would probably depend on the location of the injury. X-ray's can be done consciously, so your piggy would not need to be sedated. Hope things continue to improve! Fingers crossed. @BonBon2010 it would be really great if you could share the video if you can find it (maybe even in a separate threat). I think it would be really good to see a successful water thearapy.
Click to expand...
Oh dear! I'm a bit worried about my 4 year old piggy being sedated, but what needs to be done has to be. Not much difference in her today, but after yesterday's progress I suppose this is to be expected.Thank you :tu:
 
TAN said:
I have a spinal pig,he has spinal disease,diagnosed by an x-ray,and he had about 8 sessions with an animal chiropractor,made a huge difference as his shoulder and pelvis were out of alignment - you would need a specialist in pet therapy for this though - mine was covered by my insurance.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this.Another idea to be considered,if she doesn't improve.Thanks
 
sqiugglesmum said:
Oh dear! I'm a bit worried about my 4 year old piggy being sedated, but what needs to be done has to be. Not much difference in her today, but after yesterday's progress I suppose this is to be expected.Thank you :tu:
Click to expand...

She really doesn't need to be sedated, unless she is very wriggly. However, if so then your vet could use gas sedation (or something like that). Our 5 1/2 year old piggy had a proper operation in March and he was fine (he had been eating and pooing well, so there wasn't that much of a risk).
 
My vets have managed to xray even my most wriggly and fiesty pig conscious, they use blocks if needed. It all depends on the pig though.
 
Phew! That's a relief.Tried water therapy as part of her physio regime. I don't think I did it right though as she just sat along my arm with her legs in the water, making no attempt to move them. However I massaged her joints whilst she was in there. She seemed to quite like it and has been a lot less stiff since Thanks for advice!I'm SO glad to be talking to people who understand.Sometimes the reaction is "It's only a guinea pig!" x
 
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