My guinea pig fell. Why is he dragging his back legs and squealing?

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. So sorry this happened to Jingle. Are you sure the paralysis is related to the fall? Dragging the back legs can be a sign of scurvy which is a vitamin C deficiency. Very common in guinea pigs if they are not on a supplement. Does he take a vitamin C supplement? If not, he needs about 50mg per day and you will usually see improvement in a week or so. I suggest this one: ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natural-Science-Vitamin-Supplement-Count/dp/B00E0HQA7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522060364&sr=8-1&keywords=oxbow+vitamin+c ) It's common for injury to the spine, pelvis, or limbs to result in hind leg paralysis. Sometimes administering corticosteroids can help the guinea pig heal. You will need to get these steroids from your vet. Back injuries can occur very easily occur in guinea pigs. A twist the wrong way while playing or a fall can fracture the pelvis or some vertebra. X-rays would detect these conditions. Does he have feeling in the feet if they are pinched? The sporozoan parasite, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, is yet another possibility. It is treated with anti-parasitic medications, such as febendazole. Some bacterial infections can also result in paralysis. There are no tests to detect these. Some vets simply treat with febendazole and a safe antibiotic in case these conditions are to blame. You may want to speak to your vet about that possibility. Did you use a vet that is used to treating guinea pigs? If not, I suggest you find one. Guinea pigs are not small dogs or cats, they are different and have different conditions/diseases. A vet that is not used to treating them may not know what to look for or how to treat them. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Your guinea pig probably fell and injured his spine, this is a very situation, he will probably stay paralyzed, you should take him to the vet to check how bad it is and bear in mind he might need to be put to sleep.

Thanks for reaching out about Pepper. Hopefully by now you have seen the veterinarian and things are positive and/or manageable. A radiographs is recommended to have assessed the condition. Good luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mellow. It would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian if you are concerned about his leg. As you mentioned, guinea pigs are good at hiding signs of pain. He may benefit from some prescription pain medication. Please do not give him any over-the-counter medication as it can be toxic. In the meantime or if there is not a veterinarian in your area that sees guinea pigs, be sure to keep him quiet. Offer him plenty of food and water, but I would not handle him for 24 hours to allow him to rest. I hope this information helps!

He probably got his leg injured, possibly from the cage, you will need to take him to the vet to get it checked and treated, it's possible that it is a minor injury but it could also be severe and the leg might need to be amputated.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Oh dear, it does sound very concerning - I am worried that Brownie may have fractured her leg or foot from that description. She needs to be seen by a vet right away. Your vet will likely want to x-ray that leg to determine if (and specifically where) there's a fracture, and can then discuss the best way to help her heal, as well as start her on the necessary pain medication. Unfortunately there's nothing safe and over-the-counter that you can give her to help, so keep her safe and confined until you can have her seen by a vet. Hope this helps and she feels better soon!

It sounds like Boo is very ill, it could be a gastrointestinal condition that is causing this. you must take him to the vet urgently in order to get it checked and treated as by the sound of his condition he might not survive if you wait the weekend.