Symptoms of arthritis?

[moodysuzy]

Hello,

I’m wondering if one of my older pigs (Prawn, he’s 4.5 years) has a touch of arthritis, but I don’t really know much about the symptoms in guinea pigs.

He’s still very mobile and when he has floortime he bolts around but is noticeably slower than he used to be (to be expected in his old age!)

What I’ve noticed is that sometimes he sort of hops? his back legs when he’s in the cage.

We’ve also noticed that when he’s out in our laps (on a big fleece pad) and he’s lazing around, when he wants to move he sort of leaves his back legs behind sometimes? Like he’ll drag them for a second while he gets comfy again - again he might just be lazy and sleepy!

I’ll probably take him to the vet anyway soon to get them to have a look at him, but is there any obvious symptoms or anything that I can look out for? Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes it’s that kind of thing that would be a sign. Definitely getting him checked out.

My rainbow bridge rabbit had spinal arthritis. The first sign was that he looked a bit stiff for a few moments when getting up from resting.

 

[moodysuzy]

Yes it’s that kind of thing that would be a sign. Definitely getting him checked out.

My rainbow bridge rabbit had spinal arthritis. The first sign was that he looked a bit stiff for a few moments when getting up from resting.

Great thank you - I’ll try and get some videos for the vet cos I guarantee I’ll take him and he’ll act like the most agile, spritely guinea pig they’ve ever seen

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes of course he will!
One of my piggies injured his leg once, was limping around the cage. Put him on the vet consultation room floor and he walked like nothing was wrong. Luckily the vet knows they hide it and gave painkillers. Took him home, put him back in his cage and he immediately went back to limping!

 

[Tigermoth]

Yeah, a funny way of walking, splayed legs, bunny hops can all be signs.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,

I’m wondering if one of my older pigs (Prawn, he’s 4.5 years) has a touch of arthritis, but I don’t really know much about the symptoms in guinea pigs.

He’s still very mobile and when he has floortime he bolts around but is noticeably slower than he used to be (to be expected in his old age!)

What I’ve noticed is that sometimes he sort of hops? his back legs when he’s in the cage.

We’ve also noticed that when he’s out in our laps (on a big fleece pad) and he’s lazing around, when he wants to move he sort of leaves his back legs behind sometimes? Like he’ll drag them for a second while he gets comfy again - again he might just be lazy and sleepy!

I’ll probably take him to the vet anyway soon to get them to have a look at him, but is there any obvious symptoms or anything that I can look out for? Thanks

Hi

Please have your boy checked out by a vet. He will feel the skeleton and joints.
Higher dosages of analgesics (precription-only meloxicam like dog strength loxicom or rheumocam in terms of UK brnads currently in use) and glucosamine support (we recommend 4joints liquid for dogs for the UK, 0.4 ml for 1 kilo once daily) will need time to build up fully but they can give a piggy with milder to moderate arthritis a new lease of life. Glucosamine is not classed as a medication but as a food supplement, so vets usually don't prescribe it. Unlike other species, guinea pigs tolerate much higher concentrations of meloxicam (metacam) and other unlicensed painkillers, like more newly gabapentin for more advanced arthritis pain, much better than other species, including for long term use.

Symptoms of arthritis can be creeping up very subtly and slowly. They vary depending on where the arthritis develops but a general slowing down, slower walking/running, noticeably stiffer back legs when seeing a piggy walk from behind (it is not quite as noticeable in the weight bearing front legs), struggling to jump or climb into a hay tray or cosy; picking up redigested poos from the floor instead of the bum and dirtier bums when piggies can no longer lick themselves clean when the arthritis is in the spine, not being able to scratch/bite the middle of the back when it itches etc. Some piggies can show symptoms of age sooner than others but they can appear from about 4-5 years onward.

For more old age issues and some practical care tips for less mobile piggies that are no longer able to fully look after themselves:
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection
Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility