guinea pigs

What type of lettuce are you feeding her? Do you feed her any other vegetables? Are they washed very well?

What type of bedding is she on?

Has she been handled lately, or dropped at all?

Does she squeal in pain when touched or held?

Is the chattering or grinding her teeth?

Is the room she is housed in air conditioned and cool?

How long have you had her, and how long has this been going on?

Did it come on suddenly, or gradually over the course of days or weeks?

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I am NOT, nor do I claim to be, a Veterinarian.
Always check with your vet for any symptoms your pet exhibits.

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Like I said we have had her and another female for four years. Everything is th e same. No one has dropped her. She eats iceberg lettuce the way she always has. Her bedding is the same. Nothing has changed. She has been acting this way foe a few days.The cage is clean and set up in my cool basement.The other guinea pig is fine. The only difference between the two pigs is that the sick one is smaller in size. But has always been smaller.

First, you really need to get them off of the iceberg lettuce, as it can cause gastrointestinal problems and is toxic to guinea pigs in high quanitites. Green leaf and romaine lettuce is the safe lettuce that is fed to guinea pigs.

Next, due to the fact that she is laying on her side, and has lost use of her back legs, leads me to believe that she may have an injury to her hip. This could've been caused by her wiggling around while being held or grabbed. There is a chance that there could also be nerve damage to her hip, or even her back.

Another possiblity, especially given her age, is that she suffered a stroke. These are common in guinea pigs and small rodents, unfortunately. The symptoms usually appear as leaning torwards one side, and loss of mobility in the hind legs.

If it is indeed a stroke, there really isn't anythng you can do at home, without seeking medical treatment. In the meantime, make sure to keep her comfortable, and that her food bowl and water bottle are easly accessable to her without her having to reach much for it.

Unfortunately, either possibility really needs to be checked out by a veterinarian. 4-5 years old for a guinea pig is up in age, but not terribly so. I have two that are 6 years old, and are as active as ever. They can live as long as 10 with proper care.

Any time an animal loses mobility in their hind legs, indicates that something severe is going on. A veterinarian will need to examine her in order to diagnose, or rule out, any potential illness she may have, and determine an appropriate course of treatment.

Hope this helps!

__________________
I am NOT, nor do I claim to be, a Veterinarian.
Always check with your vet for any symptoms your pet exhibits.

Please press Accept if you find my answer helpful.