Dragging back legs from one day to the next
Hello everyone,
I have a 3 year old male guinea pig named Chip who lost the use of his back legs from one day to the next. The first time this happened he was being kept by someone who has a lot of experience with guinea pigs in my area as I was out of town. The carer said that my guinea pig had not been dropped or injured and he was taken to the vet immediately. The vet took xrays which showed no apparent signs of injury and said he has slight arthritis in his back legs and could maybe have a herniated disk from a false movement however this is just a hypothesis. He was prescribed metacam (3ml for 3 days) and gabapentin (3.8ml for 14 days). After roughly 4 days Chip started walking again and eventually it was like nothing had ever happened. A month past and again from one day to the next he was dragging his back legs again. The vet renewed the prescription which he has now been on for 4 days and his situation does not look like it is improving. He does not seem to be in pain at all and his appetite is still very good.
I have read about this happening to other pigs and that it could be due to a calcium deficiency. I have also read that many people have had success treating this with the calcium supplement Osteocare Liquid however I am located in Canada and cannot get my hands on this product. Does anyone know an alternative form of this supplement that I can find in Canada?
Can any one provide any advice on treating this problem?
Thank you!!
Kim
I have a 3 year old male guinea pig named Chip who lost the use of his back legs from one day to the next. The first time this happened he was being kept by someone who has a lot of experience with guinea pigs in my area as I was out of town. The carer said that my guinea pig had not been dropped or injured and he was taken to the vet immediately. The vet took xrays which showed no apparent signs of injury and said he has slight arthritis in his back legs and could maybe have a herniated disk from a false movement however this is just a hypothesis. He was prescribed metacam (3ml for 3 days) and gabapentin (3.8ml for 14 days). After roughly 4 days Chip started walking again and eventually it was like nothing had ever happened. A month past and again from one day to the next he was dragging his back legs again. The vet renewed the prescription which he has now been on for 4 days and his situation does not look like it is improving. He does not seem to be in pain at all and his appetite is still very good.
I have read about this happening to other pigs and that it could be due to a calcium deficiency. I have also read that many people have had success treating this with the calcium supplement Osteocare Liquid however I am located in Canada and cannot get my hands on this product. Does anyone know an alternative form of this supplement that I can find in Canada?
Can any one provide any advice on treating this problem?
Thank you!!
Kim
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Calcium lactate was advised because it is one of the more absorbable forms of calcium. Vitamin C is a good idea.
What is your guinea pig's diet? Fresh, good quality pellets along with fresh vegetables and unlimited high quality grass hay?
www.guinealynx.info/fave.html
What is your guinea pig's diet? Fresh, good quality pellets along with fresh vegetables and unlimited high quality grass hay?
www.guinealynx.info/fave.html
Thanks for the quick replies!!
Chip eats a variety of fresh veggies, herbs daily and sometimes fruits. Endives, carrots, green peppers, parsley, coriander, apples and blueberries are some of his favorites. As for pellets he eats oxbow adult guinea pig food and unlimited amounts of versele-laga timothy hay. I will give the vitamin C supplements a go and see what happens. Thanks again!
Chip eats a variety of fresh veggies, herbs daily and sometimes fruits. Endives, carrots, green peppers, parsley, coriander, apples and blueberries are some of his favorites. As for pellets he eats oxbow adult guinea pig food and unlimited amounts of versele-laga timothy hay. I will give the vitamin C supplements a go and see what happens. Thanks again!
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Does your guinea pig have a satin coat? (very shiny)
www.guinealynx.info/coat.html
It sounds like you are providing a fairly good diet.
www.guinealynx.info/coat.html
It sounds like you are providing a fairly good diet.
- Sef
- I dissent.
We had this happen with one of our guys a few years ago, but our vet never really understood the cause. The guinea pig was fine one day; dragging his hind legs the next. At the time, I believe she prescribed Prednisone, but I could be wrong. Toby was fine a couple of days later. Vet thought it might have been some sort of stroke.
Yes he is satin. Are you thinking osteodystrophy? This was my first hunch however after reading more into it it seems to mainly occur from a young age. If this is the case then apparently calcium lactate and sunlight could help? I do not get the feeling he's lacking vitamin C with everything he is eating but I could be wrong. Will still try vitamin C supplements in the meanwhile.
You have to be careful with Prednisone. It is a corticosteroid, so if you give an animal prednisone and another anti-inflammatory (like metacam) it will act as a blood thinner. If you use prednisone you need to switch to a different pain med that has no anti-inflammatory properties.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Some info on analgesics here:
www.guinealynx.info/analgesics.html
If he is a satin, the likelihood that calcium lactate might help increases.
www.guinealynx.info/analgesics.html
If he is a satin, the likelihood that calcium lactate might help increases.