Support cushion?

LMPigs

LMPigs

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello

Our senior guinea pig is suffering from something (we think E.cuniculi or a middle ear infection or both) that makes him pretty much immobile at the moment. We are going through various treatment options with the help of our vet but in the meantime, he cannot really stand up and mainly lies on his side when in his cage. When we take him out to feed him etc. we noticed that if he's in a supported position which is more similar to a normal guinea pig position (i.e. upright, if that makes sense) he seems more comfortable and has more freedom of movement for his head, which is pretty much the only part of him that he seems to have almost normal control of currently.

Therefore, I am looking for some sort of small support cushion, bed or similar that he might be able to lean on when he's in the cage, in the same way we support him when he is on someone's lap. It cannot be very high off the ground as we do not want him to fall, and we obviously don't want anything that would restrict his (limited) movement. The thoughts I had were maybe a sort of sausage shaped cushion or beanbag type affair that he could lean against.

Important to note that while he is feeling quite sorry for himself his girlfriend and cage mate is full of beans and absolutely loves chewing up anything she can find, so its important that whatever we go for is safe to gnaw/consume!

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Thank you
 
Hi poor guy. I wonder if some kind of mini v cushion would help? I'm certain some super ideas will be along soon could he use a low hanging hammock?🤔
 
Just wanted to let you know,my boy became temporarily paralyzed from an ear infection. He zooms around now, but I had to syringe him and wipe off his bottom and feet twice a day.

My boy actually has calcified bulla syndrome, it showed up on an X-ray.
 
I think a mini v cushion would help. Question is, where would we find one for a piggie!

I did also have the same thought re hammock but I think he would unfortunately not be able to get out of it safely and risk injuring himself trying to get out.

On the x-ray one of his bulla is definitely less transparent than the other, so we are treating for this as well. Good to know you saw such a significant recovery. Hopefully it will be similar for us.

At the moment we are syringe feeding him (though he can actually still eat, as long as you put the food next to him), and moving him regularly so he's not lying in pee etc. Would just be good if he could be in a more comfortable position.
 
I was wondering about a tube cushion? I'm useless with a sewing machine, but somebody once made me one out of a pair of old woollen trousers, used part of the leg, can't remember what I stuffed it with, something soft, and then it got sewn up. Piggies lay next to it, leaning on it.

Or with the same pair of trousers made a cushion out of the top bit, incorporating the zip and stuffed with straw litter pellets (absorbable bedding) that could be removed and replaced by opening the zip. It was sewn very well, in a way that the piggies couldn't harm themselves on the zip. My piggies would lie on this but also next to it, leaning on it which might work for your piggy.

Mini v cushion sounds a possible good idea too.
 
I'm afraid I have no advice, just want to offer healing rumbles from my Beastie Boys ♥️
 
He did relapse a month later and with his CBS he could relapse again. But the second was less severe. He's been off antibiotics 3 weeks and so far so good.

You might need a two month course of antibiotics to nip it in the bud.
 
I improvise a little soft pad of some fleece leftovers or a small patch of vetbed bedding and fit into the preferred cosy or denning area.

You may find these guidelinks here helpful in looking after piggies with mobility or old age/frailty issues.

Wiebke

Thread 'Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility'

Introduction
1 Why can guinea pigs stop moving around?
- Animal attacks, severe illness or pain
- Back leg paralysis with list of potential causes
- Post-op, sudden illness or acute pining after bereavement
2 Adapting the living space
- Bedding and cosies
- Everything within reach
- Warmth and stable conditions
3 Weight monitoring and feeding support
- Weighing...
  • Like

Wiebke

Thread 'Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection'

1 Caring for Older and Frailer Piggies
- Overview of old age and its particular challenges (Guinea Pig Magazine article)
- In-depth care information
- The importance of regular health/weight monitoring and saving up for euthanasia/vet access
- Signs of illness/pain, emergency and hot weather care
- Common old age issues and practical care advice
2 Facing the End and Dealing with Dying and Loss
- Overview of the challenges and practical approaches...
  • Like
 
LMPigs said:
I think a mini v cushion would help. Question is, where would we find one for a piggie!

I did also have the same thought re hammock but I think he would unfortunately not be able to get out of it safely and risk injuring himself trying to get out.

On the x-ray one of his bulla is definitely less transparent than the other, so we are treating for this as well. Good to know you saw such a significant recovery. Hopefully it will be similar for us.

At the moment we are syringe feeding him (though he can actually still eat, as long as you put the food next to him), and moving him regularly so he's not lying in pee etc. Would just be good if he could be in a more comfortable position.
Click to expand...
How handy are you with just a needle and thread wondering if you got a standard pillow or cushion guinea friendly stuffing you could use the 90 degree corner and cut it as a V then sew the open side using just a simple stitch?🤔
Does that make sense?
 
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