Isabelle - neurological problems

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:45 am


The only danger I see with that (and I am NOT an orthopedic specialist!!) is that it might in fact help keep her upright -- but if she does fall, it'd make it harder for her to get back up.

If you could rig something soft, with rounded sides that would roll with her, maybe that would help?

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jacqueline

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:22 am


It looks like Blossom is starting to come very closer to her when she topples. Maybe she'll come around to "helping"?

I just don't know what to do for her. Mostly, she seems to right herself okay, even though it's painful to watch. Any bump in the fleece will trip her up. I have tried to arrange everything so she can walk alongside an edge to get to it.

I was just wondering if there's anything I could rig to brace her and keep her upright. you know those wheelchairs where the base is wider that the seat?
Image

Would something like that be worth trying to rig up? Maybe a wheeled frame, with a hammock in the middle she'd rest in? I'd have to make sure her feet would touch the ground. It would, however, impede her ability to lay down, unless I made the hammock with just enough leeway so she could rest on her side if she wanted.

Or, just leave her be?

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:42 am


I'd forget the wheel chair bit. I think she'd get very tired in it, and not be able to change positions ever.

Not reading back, but is she on any kind of medication that might help this? Anti-seizure meds maybe? I don't even know if they exist for guinea pigs.

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jacqueline

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 12:13 pm


She's not on any meds. There aren't any symptoms to manage. Her toppling over isn't related to seizures at all.

I also want to be careful about giving her any med that might alter her senses - she's already so wobbly.

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 5:03 pm


Honestly, if she's able to right herself most of the time -- and it would really, really help if Blossom decided to learn to help :-) -- I'd just leave her be.

It's painful to us to watch her fall and try to right herself. If it's not painful to her, though -- if she just stumbles, rolls, and does what she has to do to get back up -- then what does it matter? (Except, of course, if she can't get up and you're out of the house for a while.)

If she's in pain, or if she gets visibly frustrated during a fall, that's another story. But if not, look at it from her point of view. "Oh, flop ... and I'll just get back up again, that's just the way it is."

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jacqueline

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:02 pm


You're right Talishan. I have resisted interfering when she tumbles. I watch to be sure she gets up alright. Sometimes she struggles, and gets tired. She'll pause for a minute, then whip herself up.

She's a tough girl.

I do have to choose her cagemates carefully. She and Blossom are good together. At one point I had her living with 3 other girls, and they actually lay in wait and pushed her over, unprovocated. No, really - I saw it with my own eyes.

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:22 pm


Pig tipping.

;-)

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jacqueline

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:51 pm


Yeah, that's what I thought too. I giggled a little. But it is sad. . .

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:10 pm


Ah, training wheels! That's what you're thinking! An out-rigger of sorts.

I do think it is good exercise to try to right herself though.

Oh, I think that is sad too!

Bumpers on the side? Some kind of very safe , not across the throat but chest web to stabilize soft bumpers? The danger would be if she did somehow flip, she could never right herself on her own.

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jacqueline

Post   » Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:57 pm


Yes - training wheels!!!

I wonder if I put her in it for a couple of hours, during her more active times, if it would help her work on keep centered and stabilized

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jacqueline

Post   » Mon Mar 02, 2015 2:44 pm


The last few weeks Isabelle has been losing weight. She also has been needing to lean more against the walls to get around. She's grown weaker. She's been getting supplemental CC

Last night I saw her on her side and she wasn't moving to right herself. I thought she had died, but no. She was truly weak and in some pain. I gave her some metacam, wrapped her in some fleece and just held her.

She quietly stopped breathing after about an hour or so.

She was a very sweet girl. I'm glad she passed quietly and softly, without much drama.

I miss her.

*Sigh*

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lisam

Post   » Mon Mar 02, 2015 3:08 pm


I'm sorry.

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