Wobbly guinea pig

[Tammy]

Hello piggie fans,

I have a guinea pig which is wobbling around, I can't describe it any better, which means it is unstable on its feet and it even has trouble keeping its head steady. I know a cousin and uncle of hers who also had this problem, so this may be something in her genes. I wonder though why it get worse as she gets older. I have been to vets and all they suggested was giving vitamin B and some other natural stuff called Vertigoheel. None helped. I would have been very worried at this point, if she wasn't such a happy guinea pig, she eats well, and her wobbling about doesn't seem to bother her.
I just wondered if there is anybody out there who happens to have a piggie like this, and if anybody has any idea what this imbalance can be caused by. By the way, when I first saw her in the shelter with her brothers (both OK) she wasn't wobbling at all, but as I kept watching her over the weeks - until I finally took her home - she started to become increasingly unsteady.

All comments are very much appreciated!

[Berne]

Supply your guinea pig with lots of vit C. Lack of vit C. will cause lameness of their legs and might cause them to be wobbly too.

Also, since when she was at the shelter, she was not wobbly, i suspect it could be a lack of vit C. Guinea pigs cannot produce vit C and we have to provide it to them by giving vegetables, vit C drops for water and fruits. The pellets given to her should also contain vit C too. Also timothy hay should be given.

But then again, since you mentioned that it could be in the genes, I think it would be advisable to seek professional help.

[Tammy]

Thanks a lot Berne for your advice. You are VERY right about the vitamin C and I make sure by giving them lots of fresh veggies and a syrup called Vitacombex (greatly liked too) that the piggies don't suffer any deficiency.
I am a volunteer at this shelter I picked her up from, and therefore watched her progress from being 3 weeks old - no wobbling whatsoever - till she was 3 months. In the course of this time the wobbling got more pronounced, so pronounced that I took her home with me since I saw little chance she would make it in the shelter.
I have had her now for 2 years and even though she can still function, it has been getting worse. In a way I feel it might be hereditary but I was wondering if there are any other opinions out there. In the shelter we had several "wobbly" piggies, all related to her, but males and females wobbled alike. So no gene passed on to just females or so.

Really appreciated your comment! Hope your piggies are all OK.

[Berne]

That is not too bad then. At least she is in your good hands for 2 years and she still is. http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif Do keep us all updated about her condition.

[kailee]

I have no idea about wobbly legs. But i always read up in the internet saying that weak legs are due to lack of vitamin C. So i think that is the cause. I am not too sure of the genes though. How are the guinea pigs in the shelter that wobble then? Are they treated too?

[Trin]

Have the vet check the pig for an inner ear infection as well. Ear infections can cause a pig to tilt its head to the side and make it off balance, which may create the 'wobbling' effect you were describing. I wouldn't say its a genetic problem because the piggie didn't always have this problem.

[Tammy]

Thanks to all of you for your advice and suggestions. Each and every one was very interesting and it more than worth to be looked into. At the moment I am not so much concerned about her wobbling anymore, but she has been behaving strangely lately, eats well, but is kind of sitting around unhappily. The vet now discovered she has a heart condition and her lungs are affected too. She is already doing better though due to the medication she got. The pigs of a friend of mine already have been found out to have heart problems, and they have been living for the past 2 years happily with this medication, so I am full of hope.
Has any of you ever had or heard of pigs with heart problems? We only have one vet in the area who can diagnose that.
Trin, you are in other forums too. Did you read anything about that? Berne, do you have any info on that? The signs for a heart condition are obviously a listless pig with breathing problems who sleeps a lot, but still eats well, which always kind of puts us at ease.

[Trin]

I'd suggest you post your question about heart problems on the medical board at Cavies ..the moderater Pinta has a pig with heart problems and she'd be more than happy to give you any info you need http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Tammy]

Thanks a lot Trin for the tip. I will definitely have a look there.