Conditions Newborn baby without use of back legs

[tkowalski]

We have a guinea who had babies last night and one of them doesn't have use of her back legs and is struggling to nurse (I think but hard to tell), she's been on her own in the corner of their little house a few times. She does pull herself along and has eaten a little hay. Do you think that there is hope for her or most humane to put her down? I have a vet appt later this afternoon and have no idea if I should take her/him on their own or take the mom and the other babies? If I should try to feed her goats milk via syringe in the meantime or leave her/him and mama alone? Any/all advice is appreciated! This is SO hard!

 

[Soecara]

If the vet is likely to be any more than 1 hr I would try to take them all if the carrier is large enough, if it isn't going to be that long or if the carrier is too small I would just take the one baby.

It may just be some inflammation causing the mobility issues and if that is the case there is a good chance they could recover, I would at least give them a week (barring a sudden change in condition) before considering euthanasia.

Do not feed goats milk. For starters if she only birthed last night the mum won't even have her milk in properly yet so none of the babies would be drinking much milk yet. If the baby is eating hay chances are as long as they can get to mum and she doesn't run away they should be able to nurse from her.

If you decide to give the baby some time before deciding what course of action to take just make sure to keep track of their weight. In the next day or two the babies should start slowly gaining small amounts of weight each day and if the weaker one starts to fall behind it's siblings in weight gains then they may need some one on one time with mum a couple times a day.

 

[tkowalski]

If the vet is likely to be any more than 1 hr I would try to take them all if the carrier is large enough, if it isn't going to be that long or if the carrier is too small I would just take the one baby.

It may just be some inflammation causing the mobility issues and if that is the case there is a good chance they could recover, I would at least give them a week (barring a sudden change in condition) before considering euthanasia.

Do not feed goats milk. For starters if she only birthed last night the mum won't even have her milk in properly yet so none of the babies would be drinking much milk yet. If the baby is eating hay chances are as long as they can get to mum and she doesn't run away they should be able to nurse from her.

If you decide to give the baby some time before deciding what course of action to take just make sure to keep track of their weight. In the next day or two the babies should start slowly gaining small amounts of weight each day and if the weaker one starts to fall behind it's siblings in weight gains then they may need some one on one time with mum a couple times a day.

Thank you so much for this thoughtful reply. We'll keep giving the baby loads of love and hope that it makes it.
Heading to the vet in a few hours.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Hoping very much for this little one to recover and have a good life. Please keep us updated on how he makes out, or what diagnosis there is if any.

 

[tkowalski]

Morning. I'm very sad to report that after a trip to the vet that two vets confirmed no feeling/function/musculature of the back legs of this sweet baby. After many many tears and cuddles we let her/him go. Sweet little guinea angel. Questioning myself like crazy and thinking that I could have made it work however there seemed to be so many challenges and not much of a life for this sweet little one. Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I am so sorry. It was likely for the best. It seems so callous to say but sometimes we have to make these choices and there will always be second guessing and "what ifs".

Thank you for loving them enough to do what was best for them. Rest in peace at the Rainbow Bridge, sweet little one.

 

[bpatters]

I do hope this was the result of an accidental pregnancy and not a deliberate one. Guinea pigs can have several genetic conditions that cause severe deformities and/or lifelong pain. There are enough accidental pregnancies that no one needs to ever deliberately breed a guinea pig.