[Gpdd] Re: (Health) Merlin

Lori Albee lorialbee at redshift.com
Thu Mar 4 13:27:00 EST 2004


Hi Michelle-

Merlin could have arthritis.  Our Little Bear wouldn't get up from her 
hut one day, so we rushed her to the vet.  The x-rays showed that she 
was suffering from arthritis, and it had finally got so painful that 
she decided not to walk at all.  The vet prescribed daily glucosamine 
supplements, plus baby aspirin for the first week to ease the pain 
until the glucosamine was working.  She was back on her feet in a 
couple days, and seemed her old self until she died of cancer at the 
age of 6.

I would hesitate to use the Osteocare without a firm diagnosis from 
your vet.  The high dose of calcium could be hard on his kidneys.

Best wishes to you and Merlin!

Lori

  ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 20:42:31 -0500
> From: "Michelle Melaragno" <doc141melaragno at adelphia.net>
> Subject: [Gpdd] RE: Health...emerging paralysis???
> To: <Gpdd at gpdd.org>
> Message-ID: <000001c3fff7$a421a820$ea619918 at Modoc>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hello,
> 	I'm writing for advice or info anyone can give me about a
> problem I've just begun to notice with one of my boars, Merlin.  He has
> started to kind of hop in the back end...both back legs hopping forward
> at the same time, instead of independent of each other.  If he is
> sitting quietly in my lap, his rear legs are positioned quite a bit
> forward and a bit splayed out from what their normal position would be.
> At first, I tried to tuck them properly under him, but he put them 
> right
> back.  He has been pretty quiet without a lot of activity, though no
> changes with eating and drinking.  Tonight, when I got home, he was
> lying on his side and seemed to have a hard time getting his back end
> under him to get up.  Also, his "top" leg as he lay on his side was
> straight out from his body, instead of relaxed and resting on the floor
> next to his other leg.  I'm calling my vet in the AM to get an
> appointment for him tomorrow.  He is a rescue, and when surrendered, 
> the
> owners did give his age...according to that, he is now 4 years old.
> I've looked for info in the on-line health pages, and mostly found
> paralysis info regarding vitamin c deficiency.  I feed Oxbow Cavy
> Cuisine, kale, romaine...doesn't seem to me that he could be c
> deficient???  P.G.'s info on paralysis describes an GP dragging its
> hindquarters...something that shows up quite suddenly with no prior
> symptoms.  He suggests Osteocare...a high dose of calcium 1 ml 2x/day 
> to
> start, then decrease dosage.  Within 24-48 hours, mobility begins to
> recover and these symptoms are usually not seen in the affected animal
> again.  Anyone know if there is such a thing as Osteocare in the US, or
> what its equivalent is?  Merlin is bright eyed and has a beautiful
> healthy coat.  He is not crying out in pain, but he is obviously not
> quite himself.  Please help if you have any ideas for my Merlin.
>
> Thanks,
> Michelle Melaragno
> Whistle Ridge Guinea Pig Rescue
>
>





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