paralysis overnight

Question
QUESTION: Hi...my GP has become paralyzed in his hind legs overnight. He was diagnosed with scurvy one week ago and i've been giving him vitamin c twice a day. what can i do to help my GP out? any medical suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thank you.
ANSWER: Tracy,

There are only two reason to your GP's paralysis. The first one could be just due to the scurvy, it can become to painful to walk. Second is that he could have a spinal injury, which can happen after a fall or something of that sort. Those are the only two things that it could be.

You can take him down to the vet and get his back x-rayed to see if it is spinal injury. By what you say it could very well be that. If it is spinal injury there isn't much you can do but make him comfortable, ways to make him comfortable are to if you use litter change it out for fleece or old towels, as the litter will be to hard to move around on for him, lower the water bottle so he has easier access to it and lower the hay rack. If you take him in for an x-ray then you may want to ask your vet about what can be done for him. I had a rescued GP with a spinal injury, she lived to be about 6 years old, but I had her some time ago and then there wasn't anything that could be done medically. But time changes everything, so there might be something that you can do medically for him. Only your vet will know though.

I hope everything is ok with your GP, and that he gets better soon.

        Take care,
         Jules

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i was researching paralysis on the internet. it said to give it liquid calcium .5ml twice a day and the paralysis will resolve on its own. have you heard of this?

Answer
Tracy,

There is a paralysis that I've never heard of until just a couple of hours ago while talking to a friend of mine whose Guinea Pig had the same thing. There was no true reason for it.

It has something to due with a calcium problem, and as such it causes paralysis over night with no apparent reason. So providing heavy doses of calcium, in the shape of Osteocare in many cases seems to help. The recommended dosages are one ml night and morning for two days, slipping back to one ml daily for the following three days. Usually within twenty four to forty eight hours of beginning this treatment the animal begins to recover mobility.

This type of paralysis is rare and happens every now and then, but after the first time around it doesn't ever appear again. I didn't even know of this type of paralysis, but apparently it is rare and happens for unsure reasons, though most people believe it has something to due with calcium build up in the stomach which affects some Guinea Pigs.  

I hope this helps and that everything works out for you and your little Guinea Pig.
        Take care now,
         Jules