My guinea pig holds his leg up. Can rest heal it without a vet visit?

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.

I would endeavour to get her sn emergency appointment tonight to get some pain relief as I imagine she will be sore. However if you cannot I would move her into a smaller area with a soft material on the floor and no loose bedding or objects thst she could catch herself on. Feed and water as usual. Treatment will vary depending on severity of injury, it may be medicine or could be surgery if the leg is broken. Again cost will vary massively depending on the injury.

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!

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!

Check her foot for swelling or redness. She may have an infection (bumblefoot) which would account for the symptoms you are seeing. It happens when guinea pigs are kept on a wire bottom cage. Dirty bedding can also complicate it, especially if she develops a small wound on her foot. You don't necessarily need a vet that specializes in pocket pets. A local vet should be able to diagnose and dispense antibiotics. If this is not possible, try foot soaks in a dilute chlorhexidine or Betadine solution. You don't need much, just enough for her to stand. Soak daily, dry thoroughly and keep her on paper towels until she heals. Change bedding daily or more often if necessary.

I'm so sorry about Pig. Ideally he needs to see a vet as he may have a spinal cord lesion, pelvic fracture or other fracture. He may have a collapsed disc or broken vertebra. Spinal cord lesions may not always start with full paralysis. He needs to be kept fairly quiet to help allow for healing but knowing the extent of his injury will help determine if he can recover. He also may need pain medication which is only available by a prescription from the vet. After exam the vet may likely recomend radiographs to look for the lesion. The sooner a diagnosis is made and treatment started the better his chance of recovery.

Hello. The leg was splinted & often this is all that is necessary to heal a bone. There is no one food that is necessary for healing bones. Just continue your pig on a good quality food & make sure your Vit. C is as fresh as possible. Anti-inflammatories like meloxicam & carprofen are used in GPs & with a broken leg I would certainly recommend he be on some. Talk to your vet about prescribing one of these medications in your Guinea Pig. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.