[Gpdd] Health: Guinea pig with paralysis

[Libby Bradford]

Hello all,

I haven't written in a very long time.  We've lost piggies and gained 
several others.  I'll try to remember to list all of my current little 
ones at the end of the message. 

On Wednesday night, we had to rush a piggie to the vet.  He had suddenly 
lost the use of his back legs.  He was fine earlier in the evening, but 
by 10:30, he was dragging his back legs and was very unstable on his 
feet.  The vet x-rayed him and found at least one blown disc and 
possibly two others.  He's been at the vet the last two days, for 
injections of prednisone (and because we couldn't get him due to the bad 
weather) and some TLC.  So far, his legs haven't been of any use to 
him.  We're still hoping we'll see some improvement, but I thought I 
would ask: has anyone had a piggie with no use of his back legs?  
Otherwise, Dink is perky as can be.  He's eating, drinking, and doing 
his normal things -- except he can't bounce around like he used to.  
He's just such a perky little guy, we can't give up on him!

We know that he'll need a smaller space, so he won't feel that he needs 
to move around so much, and that he'll need to be on towels and 
carefresh.  He'll need lots of care just to make sure he doesn't get 
infections.

Any other suggestions or experiences with this?

Wheeks from the singing guinea pigs (in order of seniority  -- based on 
when we got them):
Louis XIV, Tangie, Dink, Duck, Alf, Ozzie, Henry VIII, Pepe, Isabella, 
Charlie, Kate, Leopold, and Edgar Allan Weirdo

Libby

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**********************************************************************
Libby G. Bradford
Academic Advisor - Computer Science
133-F McBryde Hall
Virginia Tech
Telephone: (540) 231-3209  Fax: (540) 231-6075
Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday 9:00 to 10:45 a.m.
Monday through Thursday 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Friday By appointment

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Anonymous