This tutorial will go over the different possible explanations for your guinea pigs’ loss of mobility in greater detail.
Please keep in mind that we are not medical professionals. We’ve put together this guide to help our readers learn more about the subject. In the event of a medical emergency, you should contact a competent veterinarian as soon as possible.
How does a guinea pig use their hind legs?
The hind legs of a guinea pig are the most significant element of its anatomy. Guinea pigs utilize their rear legs to carry out a number of activities throughout their daily lives, including eating and sleeping. The guinea pig’s most important means of mobility is through its back legs.
Guinea pigs’ hind legs aid in their ability to move quickly. For a wild guinea pig, this is the most important part of his or her life.
Wild guinea pigs have to deal with predators on a daily basis in their natural environment. They must flee quickly, and because they lack hind legs, guinea pigs must exert considerable effort in order to go quickly.
Guinea pigs also use their hind legs to stand and look for predators or to beg for food on the ground. Naturally, the guinea pig’s hind legs must bear the brunt of the animal’s weight.
Guinea pigs also groom themselves with the help of their rear legs. They use their hind legs to ease irritation and smooth over their messed-up fur, which they develop through scratching.
Guinea pig hind legs anatomy
A guinea pig’s hind legs are divided into three essential parts.
- The foot.
- The leg.
- The thigh
Table of Contents
Guinea pigs thighs
The guinea pig’s thighs are the most important portion of its body since they contain the muscles that allow it to move. To assist them accelerate their pace, their thigh muscles have a lot of muscle mass and strength.
Guinea pigs feet
Walking is accomplished by the guinea pig’s feet. Their hind feet feature three toes on each side
Guinea pigs legs
Legs are located beneath the thigh and up over the foot on the right side of the body. The bones within them are extremely fragile.
Because guinea pigs’ legs are so frail, if your guinea pig suffers a fracture, it can be a life-threatening situation.
My guinea pig back leg injury
There are many ways in which guinea pigs can harm their back legs.
Some of the major ways are:
- Falling from height
- Mishandle by the owner
Falling from a great height might cause serious injury to a guinea pig. Owners should also be aware that if they do not pick their guinea pig in the proper manner, the animal may suffer an injury as a result of jumping from its owner’s arms.
It is important for guinea pig owners to make sure that their animals have enough space to relax in their cages, as guinea pigs are known to twiddle their legs into odd positions. As a result, their limb may get dislocated from the spine of your guinea pig. Luxation is the medical term for this.
When your guinea pig’s back legs become paralyzed, this is called luxation. It might be either restricted or comprehensive. That is dependent on the severity of the dislocation that has taken place.
It will take some time for your guinea pig to recover and return to its former self. It could take months for your guinea pig to make a complete recovery. Rest and patience are the best treatments for such problems.
It is possible that your guinea pig will require medication to alleviate his or her discomfort. Flunixin meglumine will be beneficial in reducing the edema that has occurred.
Your guinea pig must be kept in its cage for a month in order to get adequate relaxation. This can cause your guinea pig to become irritable and depressed.
You can assist them by spending as much time with them as you are able to. It has been shown that guinea pigs who are bored and lonely are more likely to experience stress and sadness.
A total dislocation of the leg from the spine may result in your guinea pig never being able to return to his or her former self. In such a circumstance, take your guinea pig to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
My guinea pig has a broken back leg
A guinea pig’s fractured leg can be less or more difficult than the leg’s dislocation, depending on the situation. The cleanliness of the breakroom and the location of the breakroom play a factor in determining this.
Given their status as prey animals, guinea pigs are exceptionally skilled at concealing their suffering. You must pay close attention to your guinea pig’s movements in order to recognize their discomfort.
Taking your guinea pig to the vet for X-rays is recommended if they are not placing weight on their back leg when they are walking around the house.
In order to treat this condition, braces or pins will be used. This type of treatment might be quite pricey. You can manufacture your own brace at home.
- Wrap the leg in gauze or bleached cotton material in a basic weave to keep it from slipping.
- Popsicle sticks or any other type of splint can be used. It will serve as a brace in this situation.
- You should avoid wrapping the leg excessively tightly because this can cause the blood flow to be interrupted.
After this, your guinea pig will require several weeks of relaxation to recover. You can give them some willow bark to chew on while they’re resting in their cage.
In addition to providing pain relief, it will also serve to divert the attention of your guinea pig.
My guinea pig hind leg shaking
The shaking of a guinea pig’s hind limb may be a reaction to overheating, but it may also be a warning of approaching paralysis in the animal.
In the event of overheating, you can take such steps to alleviate the situation.
- Make sure your guinea pig isn’t near a heat source. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight and instead transport them to a cool spot.
- Don’t use cold water to wash your guinea pig down the toilet. Your guinea pig may go into shock as a result of this.
- Spritz their ears with water. Their ear aids in the exchange of heat, which helps to cool down their body.
- Make sure your guinea pig has access to cool water.
- Using a comb, remove any excess fur from your guinea pig.
If you have cool tiles in your house, you can put your guinea pig in them.
Overheating is characterized by symptoms such as red ears, shortness of breath, drowsiness, drooling, and disorientation in movement.
The cause of a shaky leg in your guinea pig may not be overheating; instead, it could be a warning sign of approaching paralysis in your pig. The weakening of the guinea pig’s back limb could be a slow and steady process over several months.
My guinea pig back leg not moving
f the back limb of your guinea pig is not moving, there could be a variety of reasons for this. The following are some of the most common causes:
- Muscles and bones suffer from regular wear and tear.
- Fracture or dislocation are two terms used to describe the same thing.
- Toxicity resulting in serious health consequences
This difficulty emerges as the age of guinea pigs increases. This is frequent in guinea pigs beyond the age of ten.
Throughout their lives, guinea pigs endure a significant amount of wear and tear, which causes their muscles to become weak. And after a while, it begins to give way.
A fracture or another condition can also be the cause of such an issue.
Make sure your guinea pig is not suffering from any fractures or dislocations.
Taking your guinea pig to the veterinarian will assist you in determining the cause of the problem by performing X-rays on your guinea pig.
A blood test on your guinea pig can also reveal whether or not the animal is suffering from a sickness or toxin.
What causes hind leg paralysis in guinea pigs?
Physical injury in guinea pigs can result in the loss of the ability to move their hind legs. The following are some of the other causes of hind limb paralysis:
- Having a stroke in guinea pigs can result in paralysis of the muscles in the body. When it comes to guinea pigs, a stroke is the most likely cause of partial paralysis.
- Cancer: When cancer spreads to the spine, it causes the spinal cord to become compressed. It is possible that paralysis will occur in this situation.
- A guinea pig suffering from intervertebral disc disease (IVD) will be unable to use its rear legs for a period of time. It is responsible for separating one or more discs from the spine. Your guinea pig’s intervertebral disc is likely to expand as a result of the injury. It can induce back or neck pain as a result of the condition.
- Ingestion of toxins: Guinea pigs are unable to vomit if they are exposed to a poisonous chemical through their airways. Lack of energy and enthusiasm, rapid breathing, and paralysis are all signs of toxicity. toxicity
- Spinal spondylosis: If your guinea pig suffers from this condition, they may experience problems with their spine. It is in this case that the bone spur impairs the movement of the spine.
In the event of paralysis, your guinea pig will require the assistance of a professional veterinarian in order to receive the best possible treatment.
In addition, an expert is required in order to determine the particular cause of paralysis.
This type of problem cannot be resolved at home since it requires the use of many types of devices, which you are unable to accommodate in your home.
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How is hind leg paralysis in guinea pigs treated
Such difficulties are addressed with anti-inflammatory medications, which reduce swelling and redness, as well as pain relievers, which provide temporary pain relief.
In such situations, adequate rest and patience are also required. When the swelling subsides, your guinea pig will be able to return to its normal self.
Toxins have the potential to cause problems. Guinea pigs are unable to eliminate poisons through vomiting because they lack the necessary stomach muscle power. As a result, a professional veterinarian may be required to administer intravenous fluids to remove the toxins from the body.
When it comes to strokes, there is no specific treatment. If your guinea pig has been severely injured, the treatment will differ. If the patient’s quality of life has been affected, euthanasia may be considered.
Cancer will be addressed through the removal of the tumor. Following surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be required to slow the spread of the cancer. If there is a risk of the disease spreading, an amputation may be necessary to prevent the disease from spreading.
Also see: Do Guinea Pigs Have the Ability to Vomit? Why Guinea Pigs aren’t able to vomit!
My guinea pig is dragging their back leg
When your guinea pig drags their hind leg, it is most likely due to the presence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi. It is a parasite that can infect your guinea pig’s spine, brain, or kidneys, causing it to get ill.
This will have an effect on the guinea pig’s back legs, causing them to become unsteady. Your guinea pig’s back leg will be quite stressful if you force it to use it! The outcome is that they will drag their back legs since they will be unable to handle the weight. In such a situation, complete paralysis is possible.
Encephalitozoon cuniculi, often known as E cuniculi, is a parasite that can live for more than a year. It is caused by the ingestion of spores. The spore is transported through the bloodstream to the brain and other organs. It is excreted in the urine and serves as a source of infection for other people.
Determining the presence of this condition is difficult. The following are some of the symptoms of encephalitozoon cuniculi:
- Lack of voluntary control over urination.
- Eye discharge.
- Head tilting and spasms of neck.
If your guinea pig is suffering from this condition, make sure that you always wear gloves while picking them up or touching them in any other manner.
This parasite can also be transmitted to people, where it can cause illness in those who have a weakened immune system to contract it.
The identification of Encephalitozoon cuniculi can be accomplished using a blood test.
In the event that this parasite is discovered, steroids can be used to kill it. Seek competent veterinary guidance on this matter as well. Because disinfectant eliminates parasites that are living in the urine of the guinea pig, it is important for the owner to clean his or her cage periodically.
Another important contributing factor to guinea pigs dragging their back legs could be a deficiency in calcium in their diet.
Yes, a high calcium diet is detrimental to our guinea pigs’ health, but the converse is also true: a very low calcium diet is detrimental to their health. It is critical to maintain a proper nutritional balance in our guinea pigs in order to avoid such complications.
My guinea pig is limping
The limping of your guinea pig indicates that your guinea pig is suffering from a fracture. When they are unable to support their own weight, they will typically limp.
If this is the case, have a look at your guinea pig’s hock first. The hock of a hind leg is the section of the leg that sits on the ground. If the hock of your guinea pig is reddish, inflamed, or covered with ulcers, it is likely that it has a bacterial infection.
Bumblefoot is sometimes referred to as plantar pododermatitis in some circles. It is caused by the introduction of the staphylococcus bacteria. It can be discovered on your guinea pig’s toes and hocks, among other places. This ailment is divided into four grades:
- Grade 1 – Grade 1 is the light condition. In this guinea pig will go through some unnoticeable hair loss.
- Grade 2 – In grade 2 there will be noticeable changes as with hair loss, their feet will get red and swollen.
- Grade 3 – This grade will come with pain. Your guinea pig will suffer torment in grade 3. There will also be a risk of getting infected as your guinea pig feet skin will start to break open.
- Grade 4 – In this stage, the infection will be rapidly spreading as the ulcer will form. Immediate treatment is needed in this grade.
- Grade 5 – This grade will be very painful for your guinea pig. Your guinea pig will not be able to walk at all. Also, the swelling will get troublesome.
You should take care of some factors if your guinea pig is suffering from a bumblefoot.
- Make certain that their cage is free of debris.
- Make sure your guinea pigs have a comfortable place to sleep. Fleece bedding can be of use in this regard.
- Wash their feet with antibacterial soap to keep them healthy.
It would be great if you wrapped your guinea pig’s feet in bandages or a piece of fabric to protect them. - If bumblefoot persists, take your guinea pig to the veterinarian. Your guinea pig will also require a painkiller in order to gain some relief from the discomfort.
My guinea pig can’t stand up
It is possible that your guinea pig is obese, which is the most prevalent cause of his or her inability to stand up.
Illness or other injuries can also be a contributing factor to their obesity, as their hind legs are unable to support their weight. As a result, your guinea pig has difficulty getting to his feet.
Before making any decisions or becoming overly concerned, make sure that your guinea pig is not overweight.
It is possible to determine whether or not your guinea pig is overweight because every breed has a roughly equal weight (ranging anywhere between 1000 and 1200 grams).
In the event that you can detect the presence of ribs, their bottoms are plain and their pelvis is circular rather than pointed. If your guinea pig is at a healthy weight, and if it isn’t, then obesity may be the cause of his or her problem with weight. You can also use a guinea pig to perform the same task.
Does Arthritis impact a guinea pig’s back legs?
Arthritis is prevalent in guinea pig’s life. It is widespread in older guinea pigs. Two types of arthritis impact guinea pig’s back legs.
- Osteoarthritis: Old age and obesity are the two reasons for this cause.
- Septic Arthritis: When a guinea pig goes through the injury, the infection gets into the wound site, which causes arthritis.
Any of the conditions listed above will make it difficult for your guinea pig to use their rear legs properly. Standing, walking, and exercising will be difficult for your guinea pig.
It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that their guinea pig does not become slow. As arthritis progresses, becoming fatigued will exacerbate the symptoms.
There is currently no cure for arthritis, with the exception of providing pain relief through massage and nutritional supplements.
You have the ability to prevent the problem from worsening. Provide your guinea pig with a nutritious, low-fat diet to ensure that they do not get obese. In such situations, carrying a lot of weight might be unpleasant.
Will a massage help my guinea pigs hind legs?
A massage can be beneficial to your guinea pig’s hind legs, and you can assist them by massaging their hind legs.
With the exception of getting healed and feeling rested, your guinea pig is going to enjoy it immensely. This will also assist you in establishing a secure connection with your guinea pig during the experiment.
Two different sorts of massage are available to you for your guinea pig.
- Effleurage.
- Petrissage
Effleurage
- Allow your guinea pig to be in a comfortable position. If your guinea pig is having difficulty getting into a comfortable position, use a towel to support him or her.
- Gently wash your guinea pig’s feet and rub their toes with soft hands to relieve stress.
- Get up close and personal with your guinea pig’s face, gently stroking their cheeks and the top of their head.
- Continue along the guinea pig’s spine until you reach the tailbone (the terminal part of the spine), then stop. Make certain that you are not applying excessive pressure.
- Then, once you’ve finished massaging their backs, repeat the procedure on their joints to make them more comfortable. You can also apply quick, rapid bursts of pressure on the muscles to achieve the same results.Following effleurage, you can move on to the next sort of massage known as petrissage if your guinea pig is comfortable with the first.
Petrissage
A petrissage is a type of massage that is quite vigorous. It entails kneading as well.
It is important not to use petrissage until your guinea pig has become accustomed to using effleurage on its back. The procedure consists of the following steps:
- It will be the same as with effleurage that the initial step will be taken.
- Increase the pressure in these regions, but avoid putting pressure on your guinea pig’s neck at any time.
- They are quite fragile. Begin kneading as the pressure on the dough increases as well.
- Effleurage is a type of warming technique used by your guinea pig. After that, begin kneading the shoulders of the subject.
- From the shoulders to the hindquarters, make a gentle descent. Continue to knead the dough, but do not apply any pressure. Kneading the bottom of your guinea pig’s spine can cause your guinea pig to get frightened. To avoid kneading their spine’s base, keep your hands away from it.
- After that, it’s time to move on to the legs. Knead your guinea pig all over the body, excluding the thighs, as this might be uncomfortable for the animal..
- Finally, effleurage might be used to bring them to a state of relaxation.
That is not the best approach to take in order to fully recover from this situation.
However, it provides relief to your guinea pig and also decreases the possibility of paralysis as a result of wear and strain.
Additionally, your guinea pig will find it wonderful and will appreciate it.
Will my guinea pig need their hind leg amputated?
Occasionally, after assessing the paralyzed guinea pigs, amputation is the sole treatment choice for the animals. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. Leg fractures are the most prevalent reason for amputations in the United States.
Leg fractures do not necessitate amputation; only those guinea pigs who are unable to heal on their own are subjected to this procedure.
If the bones are not able to heal on their own, the owner must take action to ensure that they do so. Otherwise, if the owner does not take action, it will result in negative consequences for them.
In the event that the disease spreads, amputation of the leg may be necessary. It should be severed in order to prevent the illness from spreading throughout the body. Cancer and tumors would be the most obvious examples of this phenomenon.
The majority of guinea pigs are allowed to have their limbs amputated. The majority of the guinea pigs will recover quite rapidly and will never require an amputation in their lives.
Can guinea pigs live with three legs?
There are lots of guinea pigs who are just fine with their missing legs. But they struggle a lot to be balanced initially. However, they will eventually master the balance.
Also, it is essential to help your guinea pig clean themselves as guinea pigs may struggle with their grooming. Ears and bottom could be a major concern for a guinea pig with three legs.
The guinea pig owner needs to make sure that their guinea pig should always stays fit and healthy. The heavy body weight can increase the burden on their three legs, making it difficult for them to manage.
Guinea pigs can survive merrily and contentedly with their three legs.
It’ll take some time to get managed with this. Guinea pigs can play, run, and stand with their missing leg.
It is severe but common to have three legs of your guinea pig. They can cope very well, but the owner needs to ensure that they don’t get infected or sore; you need to be vigilant with their stump.
Conclusion:
We know from all of the material presented above that back limb disorders in guinea pigs are extremely common.
As they grow older, their hind legs become increasingly weakened.
This type of problem can also be caused by disease, physical damage, or any other traumatic event. Without proper treatment, it might also result in paralysis.
Joint disorders are a typical cause of leg weakness in older people.
There is something about which the owner should be concerned.
- Check to see that your guinea pig’s leg is not shattered before proceeding.
- Your guinea pig’s legs or feet may harbor bacteria, which can be harmful to them. As a result, it is necessary to conduct a test for the same.
- Ensure that your guinea pig does not become overheated by checking its temperature.
- Take your guinea pig to the veterinarian if you suspect he or she is suffering from a medical condition such as a stroke or cancer.Your guinea pig’s back rear will become tough to groom as a result of these disorders, and they will also experience pain as well.A case like this should be handled with care by the owner. Groom your guinea pig on a regular basis, and spend as much time as possible with your guinea pig while it is sleeping. Giving your guinea pig a massage might also be beneficial to him or her.
