Hay Pokes
Unfortunately, arthritis is quite common among senior pigs, and we can begin to see the tell-tale signs in guinea pigs as young as just three years old. We always check for arthritis when carrying out health checks on pigs because it is important to catch it right away. Arthritis, you see, can be quite painful and, if left unmanaged, can potentially lead to a host of other health issues. While there may be no cure for arthritis in guinea pigs, there is a lot that can be done in the way of pain management.
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Signs that your guinea pig may have arthritis include lethargy, reduced activity, spending more time in their house than usual, and some pigs may even develop a 'hop walk.' In some pigs, you might notice significant muscle atrophy in the back legs, and that once-bright little spark that was always in their eyes may have dulled.
Arthritis in the back legs (ankle)
The most common type of arthritis is in the joints of the back legs, the ankle part if you will. In the early stages, you can feel a swelling in the joint, and the area may feel warm to the touch. Once the arthritis really sets in, the entire foot joint will usually swell significantly. The easiest way to tell is to pick up your guinea pig and gently bend its little foot back and forth. A healthy guinea pig will have plenty of movement, and you can manipulate the foot up and down without difficulty. In a guinea pig with arthritis, the range of motion will be drastically reduced, and in some cases, the joint may have fused, and no movement at all is possible. During the free health checks that we offer to the public, I often grab a younger animal that does not suffer from the condition to illustrate the tremendous difference in the range of motion of the ankle in an arthritic pig and a healthy pig.
Arthritis of the hind stifle
Then there is arthritis of the hind stifle. Not as common as the previously mentioned ankle arthritis, which I just covered, but still, it can be very painful, if not worse. The stifle joint is the equivalent of the knee joint in humans and is located quite high up in guinea pigs' legs. You can feel your way to it by starting at the bottom of the leg and working your way up. The first joint you will encounter is the stifle. Animals suffering from this type of joint ailment may appear a little bow-legged while walking, and they will walk more slowly and with less confidence than they used to.
In fact, my own guinea pig, the beloved Casanova, a member of the well-known 'Buddha Boys' gang, suffered from a terribly bad stifle. I very sadly had to let him go for his own sake. I began to notice something was amiss when he would no longer stand up at the front of the cage to beg for treats with the other boys. This was highly unusual and prompted me to have an x-ray done, after which he was officially diagnosed.
Arthritis of the spine and hips
We also have arthritis of the spine and hips. These types are very hard to detect by sight or touch and require a vet visit for a radiograph.
There are many other areas where arthritis may develop. No joint in the body is safe from this disease, but these are the most common areas in a guinea pig that I have personally experienced. Sadly, there is no cure for arthritis, and pain management becomes the single most important treatment.
There are a few pain management options available here in the USA (and some in the UK), so let’s take a look at these.
Meloxicam
Meloxicam, also known under its trade name Metacam, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and the most prescribed drug for this condition. This medication is not meant for long-term use because it can be pretty hard on the liver. According to a USA government website, 'Meloxicam has been linked to rare instances of acute, clinically apparent liver injury.' Despite being the more popular choice among veterinarians, I personally am not convinced of its ability to manage arthritic pain because I have not witnessed a significant improvement in the motion of guinea pigs taking this medication.
Gabapentin
It appears that Gabapentin has become the new favorite among veterinarians and is prescribed as a general pain reliever for pets. However, Gabapentin is commonly used to treat some types of nerve pain but is classified as an anticonvulsant medicine, not as an opioid or painkiller. I was recently personally prescribed this medication and found that it did nothing for pain and just made me feel extremely sleepy.
Tramadol
This drug is effective and much stronger than the medications discussed earlier. I think some vets shy away from this medication because it is classified as an opioid. Tramadol is a potent pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain that is not being relieved by other types of pain medicines. However, I do not think Tramadol is a good candidate for long-term treatment because it is so strong.
CBD Cream
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient in cannabis that is derived from the hemp plant, but it does not cause a high and is not addictive. When CBD first gained popularity, it was hailed for its ability to provide relief from a large number of ailments. My immediate thought was how this may work on guinea pigs. It turns out that it really works very well, especially on guinea pigs suffering from arthritis. In addition to applying the cream to the ear flap, it can be rubbed directly onto sore joints as well.
The rescue had an older female who suffered from arthritis and was very reluctant to walk. I made a video of her mobility before and after administration. The first part shows her in one of our large free-range enclosures, and we watch as she painfully takes a few steps. I then administered a pea-sized amount of the CBD cream by rubbing it onto her ear flaps (there are many veins in a guinea pig ear, and this is how the CBD gets absorbed into the system quickly).
After a 10 minute wait, I put her back down in the same spot and could not believe what I was watching. This little old lady started walking, then walking faster and was so excited to check out her new surroundings. It was night and day, and had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it. She even started arguments with the other ladies there and kicked a few out of their hideys. There are a couple of videos on my YouTube Channel you can watch.
Arthritis remedies for guinea pigs
I had the pleasure of meeting a young German veterinarian a while back who was on vacation and came by to visit the rescue. We ended up going to dinner to talk more, and she pointed out a very interesting fact about arthritis that I had not noticed until she mentioned it.
80% of stifle and ankle arthritis patients are male! And yes, this is true. Males are more likely to develop it than females. She did not know why this was the case, and it certainly is something I would love to get to the bottom of.
So, please, check your guinea pigs! Be proactive. Be hands-on with them and look for issues so you can tackle them immediately.
Untreated arthritis, aside from being very painful, can also cause secondary issues like bumblefoot. A guinea pig with aching joints will move around a lot less and sit in the same position for long periods of time. This can cause pressure sores on the bottom of the feet that may result in a small crack in the skin, allowing bacteria to enter. A pain treatment that works for your guinea pig is very important and should be started immediately.
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Signs that your guinea pig may have arthritis include lethargy, reduced activity, spending more time in their house than usual, and some pigs may even develop a 'hop walk.' In some pigs, you might notice significant muscle atrophy in the back legs, and that once-bright little spark that was always in their eyes may have dulled.
Arthritis in the back legs (ankle)
The most common type of arthritis is in the joints of the back legs, the ankle part if you will. In the early stages, you can feel a swelling in the joint, and the area may feel warm to the touch. Once the arthritis really sets in, the entire foot joint will usually swell significantly. The easiest way to tell is to pick up your guinea pig and gently bend its little foot back and forth. A healthy guinea pig will have plenty of movement, and you can manipulate the foot up and down without difficulty. In a guinea pig with arthritis, the range of motion will be drastically reduced, and in some cases, the joint may have fused, and no movement at all is possible. During the free health checks that we offer to the public, I often grab a younger animal that does not suffer from the condition to illustrate the tremendous difference in the range of motion of the ankle in an arthritic pig and a healthy pig.
Arthritis of the hind stifle
Then there is arthritis of the hind stifle. Not as common as the previously mentioned ankle arthritis, which I just covered, but still, it can be very painful, if not worse. The stifle joint is the equivalent of the knee joint in humans and is located quite high up in guinea pigs' legs. You can feel your way to it by starting at the bottom of the leg and working your way up. The first joint you will encounter is the stifle. Animals suffering from this type of joint ailment may appear a little bow-legged while walking, and they will walk more slowly and with less confidence than they used to.
In fact, my own guinea pig, the beloved Casanova, a member of the well-known 'Buddha Boys' gang, suffered from a terribly bad stifle. I very sadly had to let him go for his own sake. I began to notice something was amiss when he would no longer stand up at the front of the cage to beg for treats with the other boys. This was highly unusual and prompted me to have an x-ray done, after which he was officially diagnosed.
Arthritis of the spine and hips
We also have arthritis of the spine and hips. These types are very hard to detect by sight or touch and require a vet visit for a radiograph.
There are many other areas where arthritis may develop. No joint in the body is safe from this disease, but these are the most common areas in a guinea pig that I have personally experienced. Sadly, there is no cure for arthritis, and pain management becomes the single most important treatment.
There are a few pain management options available here in the USA (and some in the UK), so let’s take a look at these.
Meloxicam
Meloxicam, also known under its trade name Metacam, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and the most prescribed drug for this condition. This medication is not meant for long-term use because it can be pretty hard on the liver. According to a USA government website, 'Meloxicam has been linked to rare instances of acute, clinically apparent liver injury.' Despite being the more popular choice among veterinarians, I personally am not convinced of its ability to manage arthritic pain because I have not witnessed a significant improvement in the motion of guinea pigs taking this medication.
Gabapentin
It appears that Gabapentin has become the new favorite among veterinarians and is prescribed as a general pain reliever for pets. However, Gabapentin is commonly used to treat some types of nerve pain but is classified as an anticonvulsant medicine, not as an opioid or painkiller. I was recently personally prescribed this medication and found that it did nothing for pain and just made me feel extremely sleepy.
Tramadol
This drug is effective and much stronger than the medications discussed earlier. I think some vets shy away from this medication because it is classified as an opioid. Tramadol is a potent pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain that is not being relieved by other types of pain medicines. However, I do not think Tramadol is a good candidate for long-term treatment because it is so strong.
CBD Cream
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient in cannabis that is derived from the hemp plant, but it does not cause a high and is not addictive. When CBD first gained popularity, it was hailed for its ability to provide relief from a large number of ailments. My immediate thought was how this may work on guinea pigs. It turns out that it really works very well, especially on guinea pigs suffering from arthritis. In addition to applying the cream to the ear flap, it can be rubbed directly onto sore joints as well.
The rescue had an older female who suffered from arthritis and was very reluctant to walk. I made a video of her mobility before and after administration. The first part shows her in one of our large free-range enclosures, and we watch as she painfully takes a few steps. I then administered a pea-sized amount of the CBD cream by rubbing it onto her ear flaps (there are many veins in a guinea pig ear, and this is how the CBD gets absorbed into the system quickly).
After a 10 minute wait, I put her back down in the same spot and could not believe what I was watching. This little old lady started walking, then walking faster and was so excited to check out her new surroundings. It was night and day, and had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it. She even started arguments with the other ladies there and kicked a few out of their hideys. There are a couple of videos on my YouTube Channel you can watch.
Arthritis remedies for guinea pigs
I had the pleasure of meeting a young German veterinarian a while back who was on vacation and came by to visit the rescue. We ended up going to dinner to talk more, and she pointed out a very interesting fact about arthritis that I had not noticed until she mentioned it.
80% of stifle and ankle arthritis patients are male! And yes, this is true. Males are more likely to develop it than females. She did not know why this was the case, and it certainly is something I would love to get to the bottom of.
So, please, check your guinea pigs! Be proactive. Be hands-on with them and look for issues so you can tackle them immediately.
Untreated arthritis, aside from being very painful, can also cause secondary issues like bumblefoot. A guinea pig with aching joints will move around a lot less and sit in the same position for long periods of time. This can cause pressure sores on the bottom of the feet that may result in a small crack in the skin, allowing bacteria to enter. A pain treatment that works for your guinea pig is very important and should be started immediately.
