Wobbly walking/falling over?

[danuutka]

This morning when I woke up my guinea pig Lulu was making weird shrieking noises . When I looked up I realised that she was walking really weirdly. She is extremely wobbly, falling over, and sore. She shrieks at a slight movement, and seems to be walking on the heels of her back feet. It doesn’t seem like paralysis as she is still using them, but rather she’s very unsteady on her feet, and walking very widely, struggling to get herself around.

She seems to just throw herself into a sleeping position instead of moving. It’s heartbreaking.

I just got back from the emergency vet, who couldn’t find an obvious cause for this - she was thoroughly examined, had an X-ray, both of which didn’t show anything. She is booked in for tomorrow with another exotics vet for further investigation.

For now we have been given gut stimulants, and she was given I'm buprenorphine. Unfortunately, she still isn’t really wanting to move much. She’s nibbling on food here and there, and pooping.

What could this be? I’m so confused and hysterical, I just want her to be okay but no one seems to know what’s wrong or how to help her.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, so sorry, poor little mite, hope you can find out what’s happen to her very soon x
In the meantime make sure she is eating enough and step in with syringe feeding if her weight is dropping (weigh daily)

 

[danuutka]

Aw, so sorry, poor little mite, hope you can find out what’s happen to her very soon x
In the meantime make sure she is eating enough and step in with syringe feeding if her weight is dropping (weigh daily)

Thank you. Yes I’m trying to give her a bit of critical care currently. Thankfully she does seem to have somewhat of an appetite, and I’ll go and pick her some grass later when I have someone over who can watch her.

 

[Free Ranger]

One of my previous pigs was given an opioid painkiller and she was pretty stoned afterwards for a while - she just wanted to sit still and didn't eat much for quite a few hours, but she was back to normal by evening and regained her appetite. Lulu might liven up later on but it sounds like she was distressed by her condition even if it wasn't actually painful(?)
Is she an older girl? Sometimes guinea-pigs can have strokes or develop neurological disorders... my vet even spoke of 'guinea-pig dementia' once but it's not common. If it's this sort of thing you might have to prepare yourself for tough times as I don't think there's much they can do but as long as your pig has quality of life - even if it's not the same as before - they can still be happy. We had an old chap years ago who lost his balance due to a growth on the brain but he moved along by leaning against the wall! He didn't get better but he got another month or two of happiness before he got worse. However, I have heard that ear infections can cause loss of balance so perhaps you will be looking at something more simple to treat. I do hope so. Just try and keep her comfortable until the exotics vet can get a look at her and help her to keep eating. If she's got a companion she'll take comfort from them

 

[Wiebke]

This morning when I woke up my guinea pig Lulu was making weird shrieking noises . When I looked up I realised that she was walking really weirdly. She is extremely wobbly, falling over, and sore. She shrieks at a slight movement, and seems to be walking on the heels of her back feet. It doesn’t seem like paralysis as she is still using them, but rather she’s very unsteady on her feet, and walking very widely, struggling to get herself around.

She seems to just throw herself into a sleeping position instead of moving. It’s heartbreaking.

I just got back from the emergency vet, who couldn’t find an obvious cause for this - she was thoroughly examined, had an X-ray, both of which didn’t show anything. She is booked in for tomorrow with another exotics vet for further investigation.

For now we have been given gut stimulants, and she was given I'm buprenorphine. Unfortunately, she still isn’t really wanting to move much. She’s nibbling on food here and there, and pooping.

What could this be? I’m so confused and hysterical, I just want her to be okay but no one seems to know what’s wrong or how to help her.

We all wish what these things are but they are unfortunately very difficult to diagnose. It can be anything from sciatica, a blood clot, something neurological etc. If you are lucky, it is temporary.

Please step in with feeding top-up support NOW if your piggy is only nibbling and switch to weighing daily. Keep in mind that the poo output is still reflection the 'before' state; it tends to run 1-2 days behind depending on the gut speed. Only the scales can give you the up to date information that you rely on with feeding support.
The good news is that whatever it is at least not so painful that it is causing partial or full gut stasis as it did when my elderly Ffraid suffered temporary loss of mobility with massive pain. She did recover by the way but kept having mild bloating issues for the remainder of her 8 years long life.

Here is practical information on how to support a guinea pig with mobility issues of any sort: Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

 

[danuutka]

We all wish what these things are but they are unfortunately very difficult to diagnose. It can be anything from sciatica, a blood clot, something neurological etc. If you are lucky, it is temporary.

Please step in with feeding top-up support NOW if your piggy is only nibbling and switch to weighing daily. Keep in mind that the poo output is still reflection the 'before' state; it tends to run 1-2 days behind depending on the gut speed. Only the scales can give you the up to date information that you rely on with feeding support.
The good news is that whatever it is at least not so painful that it is causing partial or full gut stasis as it did when my elderly Ffraid suffered temporary loss of mobility with massive pain. She did recover by the way but kept having mild bloating issues for the remainder of her 8 years long life.

Here is practical information on how to support a guinea pig with mobility issues of any sort: Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

Thank you so much for your response. I have been giving her Critical care all day, and we had already been monitoring her weight because we had an “off” feeling about her.

Could I ask how did your piggy recover from the loss of mobility? Did it just come back over time?

I think my vet wants to step in with GA to get different angles of X-ray and to do bloods, but I’m so worried about her age and general well-being.

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

With anti inflammatory pain relief and time she has a good chance of making good progress. She may have injured her spine in some way, causing soft tissue damage, which won't show up on x-ray. If it is neurological, again with anti inflammatories and time a good amount of recovery can be made. I once had a piggy who out of the blue one day started screaming and collapsed and started fitting. I thought he was dying and rushed him to the vets. I don't know what caused it but with time and meds and syringe feeding he gradually improved. For the first few days he had to rely 100% on syringe feeding and it was several weeks before he was strong enough to be reunited with his brother but after that he was able to live as normal again, apart from being left with a head tilt.

You have given your girl the very best chance by getting her to a vet quickly. Don't feel pressured into rushing ahead with further tests you are not happy with. Managing her pain, keeping her hydrated and food moving through her guts are the most important things right now.

Wishing her a speedy recovery

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for your response. I have been giving her Critical care all day, and we had already been monitoring her weight because we had an “off” feeling about her.

Could I ask how did your piggy recover from the loss of mobility? Did it just come back over time?

I think my vet wants to step in with GA to get different angles of X-ray and to do bloods, but I’m so worried about her age and general well-being.

What Ffraid had was somewhat different to yours; she lost her backleg mobility for about 5 hours over the course of a rather tense night after literally twisting with pain; this intense pain is also what caused her partial GI stasis. But in the very early morning hours the worst was over and she was able to start eating again at least a little (some coriander) and taking on more feed. I had her seen as an emergency first thing in the morning by a local vet. In her case, the suspicion was more in the direction of sciatica or a blood clot in the area very the main back leg vessels join. She gradually regained her full appetite and mobility over the course of the following days but remained prone to mild bloating episodes after a part of her gut stopped working shortly. She was coming up to 6 years at the time.

Usually regaining mobility depends on the cause; if it returns, it is generally slower than when the loss happened (which can be very quick). In the majority of cases, mobility will fully or partially return over the course of several days to months. Each case is different and the cause is often a matter of guess so it is a case of 'ride the tiger' wherever it takes you.

PS: the oldest piggy of mine who needed a full GA and operation was just a month short of her 7th birthday. In your case, it would be as minimal and as short as possible in order to keep the risk low. The risk of complications generally goes up with the duration a piggy is under.

 

[danuutka]

Goodbye my sweet Lulu. The news has shocked me to my core. We expected the vet to tell us that there’s something we can do for you, but unfortunately your little body couldn’t handle it. There was a fracture between your spine and pelvis, we don’t know how it happened because your cage is all flat, but the vet suspects it could’ve happened over time, due to a seizure, or you could’ve always had it from your previous home.

I was up most of the night trying to feed you, in the hopes that we could help you. Unfortunately, some sort of freak fracture happened.
It has been an honour to be your mummy for these 9 months. You healed a hole in my heart caused by Benio’s tragic death, and fixed me when I didn’t think anything could. Two of my most special piggies gone in one year. It’s not fair.

I’ll miss you waking me up with your loud wheeks, I’ll miss your little red eye, I’ll miss cuddling you and hearing you sing. I hope mummy and daddy made the best decision for you. You won’t be in pain anymore, and I hope you’re happy popcorning away with Benio over the rainbow bridge.

I can’t stop thinking of the what ifs. What if we could’ve saved her? What if putting her to sleeps the wrong decision? When could she have fracture her spine when all she did was sleep, and take slow strolls around the room? What if I did this to her without knowing?
MI was able to have one last cuddle with you in the outside of the vet practice. You snuggled into me, and I wish I could’ve held you forever. My sweet angel miracle piggy.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I am so sorry little Lulu has not made it, you must be incredibly sad. I think you did the right thing, please don’t be in any doubt, sending hugs x
Sleep tight little Lulu

 

[Sezzy16]

Sending you hugs and comfort
Rest in peace little Lulu

 

[danuutka]

I am so sorry little Lulu has not made it, you must be incredibly sad. I think you did the right thing, please don’t be in any doubt, sending hugs x
Sleep tight little Lulu

My heart hurts so much. I can’t figure out how she’s got this fracture. It’s tearing me apart.

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

It is always devastating when the cause of a problem turns out to be one of these unforeseeable and unpreventable freak things that nobody can foresee or do anything about. I am ever so sorry that the only thing you could give Lulu was the most loving but most heart-breaking gift of all - to free her from her pain and suffering as a recovery would have been impossible. It is just one of those freak 'cosmic bad luck' things that can happen to anybody at any time and that have nothing to do with good or bad ownership.

I am however glad that your vet has been able to find the cause. All we can do on here is speculate on the basis of insufficient evidence.

Please be kind to yourself and take the time to grieve. You may find that Lulu's passing will re-open previous wounds that have only just scabbed over. Seek help if needed; the best thing you can do is talk it out and not let your strong feelings build up inside you. Also try to find a creative activity to help you process your feelings on another level, too.
Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

 

[danuutka]

BIG HUGS

It is always devastating when the cause of a problem turns out to be one of these unforeseeable and unpreventable freak things that nobody can foresee or do anything about. I am ever so sorry that the only thing you could give Lulu was the most loving but most heart-breaking gift of all - to free her from her pain and suffering as a recovery would have been impossible. It is just one of those freak 'cosmic bad luck' things that can happen to anybody at any time and that have nothing to do with good or bad ownership.

I am however glad that your vet has been able to find the cause. All we can do on here is speculate on the basis of insufficient evidence.

Please be kind to yourself and take the time to grieve. You may find that Lulu's passing will re-open previous wounds that have only just scabbed over. Seek help if needed; the best thing you can do is talk it out and not let your strong feelings build up inside you. Also try to find a creative activity to help you process your feelings on another level, too.
Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

Thank you. I just can’t get it out of my head that I somehow fractured her, or was responsible for it. I don’t know how it could’ve happened otherwise.

 

[Bill & Ted]

My heart hurts so much. I can’t figure out how she’s got this fracture. It’s tearing me apart.

I’m so sorry. It very much sounds like she had it before you got her and as she’s got older her muscles may have got weaker and not being able to hold this fracture in place. Please don’t think you are to blame in anyway, you gave her a lovely life and Lulu will have known just how much you loved her x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. I just can’t get it out of my head that I somehow fractured her, or was responsible for it. I don’t know how it could’ve happened otherwise.

As humans we are wired to seek the fault always with ourselves; this is even stronger after a traumatic death or when you have mental health issues. You just have got a full dose of it.

I can categorically tell you that you have NOT caused the fracture or hurt Lulu in any way. It was either an accident of hers or a stress fracture/break of an existing hairline fracture when she was fitting, none of which is of your own doing at any stage. She may have likely had a fall before she came to you but I can assure you that this kind of injury does not happen from normal handling - and after nearly 15 years and litterally tens of thousands of piggies, we should have a fairly representational data base. The fact that this is the first time we have come across this should tell you something...

PLEASE contact the Blue Cross on their free pet bereavement phone line or email service. They are there for exactly these kinds of scenarios. All forum members who have taken the step have come back to us with positive feedback saying that it has eased their distress and has helped them.
Phone line number and email contact via this link here: Pet bereavement and pet loss