Sick Dragging back legs

[momomiyamommy]

My guinea pig, Miya has been dragging her back legs. She is three years old, she is a Satin, she is fed a great variety of vegetables and greens everyday so I don't think it is scurvy. She never behaved like a normal guinea pig, very skiddish and afraid of everything (I don't know if this is relevant). She had a cold/illness and Bactrim cleared it up until today, she had crust around her eyes and she was dragging her back legs. She could move her back legs but not normally. I have a vet appointment when my mom comes home from work. Finding a cavy savvy vet in the area is hard. The last vet I told them advice that I found on the internet because he wanted to prescribe a dangerous antibiotic. Is there anything I should do in the meantime or any questions I should ask the vet. Is there any specific thing the vet should or should not do in this case?

 

[bpatters]

Satins are very prone to osteodystrophy, which is a painful bone and joint disease. It's likely that your pig has it, and I would insist on a x-ray to see the legs and hip joints. Here's a website with more info: Guinea Pig Welfare » Satin Guinea Pigs

 

[momomiyamommy]

@bpatters thank you very much! That makes me very sad do you think feeding her calcium rich foods could help?

 

[Varcoda]

it is very sad indeed what do you feed her daily? too much calcium isn't good, but satins need abit more calcium than others i THINK.

at the moment i don't think diet will help much, it's best to wait for that vet appointment and meantime let your piggy rest as she might be in pain.

hope the vet will be able to diagnose her well and help her!

 

[momomiyamommy]

what do you feed her daily? too much calcium isn't good, but satins need abit more calcium than others i THINK.

I heard before that Satins needed extra calcium so I gave her extra calcium-rich foods, like dandelion greens and parsley while my other piggy got a little bit I gave her more because I heard they could get sick without enough calcium.
I don't measure exactly but I feed about

Every day: 4 stalks of cilantro, 1/8th of bell pepper (green), lettuce (1/2 cup-1 cup maybe)

Every other day: 1 inch slice of cucumber or 4 dandelion green leaves or carrot (3 inch slice)
Every other day: 1/6th apple or 2 grapes or 2 blueberries (some honeydew, watermelon, or cantaloupe during summer but not recently)

 

[bpatters]

They may also need vitamin D supplementation -- extra calcium alone won't do the job. She may need other meds as well.

 

[adelore]

I'm so very sorry to hear this. I hope eveything goes ok for you and your little one at the Vet. Please let us know, we are rooting for a speedy recovery.

 

[sakee]

Poor baby! I hope you get some answers at your vet appointment.

 

[HannibalLecter]

They may also need vitamin D supplementation -- extra calcium alone won't do the job. She may need other meds as well.

Slightly off topic perhaps, but I've wondered about the use of Glucosamine for pigs for a while as it has greatly improved my old dogs joints.
Do you think it's worth a try with senior or silkie pigs? Especially since Oxbow released their "joint support" supplement.
Oxbow Animal Health | Natural Science - Joint Support

 

[CharScoobJoey]

:'( Poor pig. It sounds painful.

 

[Iklepink]

There is a great thread over at guinea lynx by those who deal with Satins. None of them mention the use of Glucosamine.
Dependant on the progression of the Oseteodystrophy they supplement their Satins with various combinations of calcium and vit D, some with extra veggies and sunlight others with injectables from the vet.

The best starting point is to get your vet to xray so you can take the best course of action. I hope they are able to help your little lady

 

[Joslyn1111]

Hope your pig get well soon!