Help Needed! Flyer can't move back legs!

[ClaraElizabeth]

I have had my flyers for almost two years now. This morning I woke up to one of my flyers nesting in my nightstand, which is very unusual. She came out a few minutes later, and i knew something was wrong immediately. Upon closer inspection, she was dragging both her hind feet behind her, crawling around. I quickly picked her up and it looks like she may have broken both her hind legs. I panicked and ran out, added some reptocal to the water and offered it to her, which she drank. I have given them calcium on occasion, but after the first year i noticed they would repeatedly leave the food with calcium alone, and i left off the calcium. They've only gotten it less than 5 times this year. I also cut up mushrooms and give it to them, which they seem to like, about once a week or so... They get Henry's Healthy Blocks for Flyers and some kind of nut, carbohydrate, vege, or fruit every night.

At first i thought it was MBD, but upon reading the symptoms she hasn't exhibited any until this morning, dragging her hind legs around. Just a few days ago we had some friends over and she was as lively and good spirited as ever, and has never acted up for the last few days. She is a bit fatter than her sister, which may have added to the problem, but i don't know. Help? She doesn't have compound fractures, but she won't let anyone near her now and is in a shoebox laying on her back. I'm not sure what to do...

[ClaraElizabeth]

Upon closer inspection it looks like she may have broke her back. I'm not sure if it's because both girls lost their tails as babies in a logging accident or if it's something else, but from time to time when they play they'll fall from whatever they were holding on. It has happened since they were little, so it's nothing new. I think she may have fell and landed the wrong way, breaking her back. She drags herself around on her tummy and her legs and tail twitch frequently.

[ClaraElizabeth]

I have had my flyers for almost two years now. This morning I woke up to one of my flyers nesting in my nightstand, which is very unusual. She came out a few minutes later, and i knew something was wrong immediately. Upon closer inspection, she was dragging both her hind feet behind her, crawling around. I quickly picked her up and it looks like she may have broken both her hind legs. I panicked and ran out, added some reptocal to the water and offered it to her, which she drank. I have given them calcium on occasion, but after the first year i noticed they would repeatedly leave the food with calcium alone, and i left off the calcium. They've only gotten it less than 5 times this year. I also cut up mushrooms and give it to them, which they seem to like, about once a week or so... They get Henry's Healthy Blocks for Flyers and some kind of nut, carbohydrate, vege, or fruit every night.

At first i thought it was MBD, but upon reading the symptoms she hasn't exhibited any until this morning, dragging her hind legs around. Just a few days ago we had some friends over and she was as lively and good spirited as ever, and has never acted up for the last few days. She is a bit fatter than her sister, which may have added to the problem, but i don't know. Help? She doesn't have compound fractures, but she won't let anyone near her now and is in a shoebox laying on her back. I'm not sure what to do...

it looks like she may have broke her back. I'm not sure if it's because both girls lost their tails as babies in a logging accident or if it's something else, but from time to time when they play they'll fall from whatever they were holding on. It has happened since they were little, so it's nothing new. I think she may have fell and landed the wrong way, breaking her back. She drags herself around on her tummy and her legs and tail twitch frequently. Right now she's in a shoebox on the floor with water and food nearby. She's pretty quiet but looks like she's in pain. :(

[Spanky]

Can you take her to a vet?

[ClaraElizabeth]

Technically they are illegal, since they were rescues. I could probably take them to a small animal vet, but if it's a broken back i don't think there's much they can do. It's probably either euthanasia or do nothing, which i'm sure they won't do. :( Any suggestions for pain? She's been dragging herself around and going places, not much luck with food yet.

[lovesmice]

I know folks use Tramadol or Metacam. (I have used the latter with my rodents.) Metacam is a pain medication plus a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID). It cannot be used with Prednisone since it is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. If you put her weight, I am sure a Flyer parent will help calculate dosage and send it via a PM.

[lovesmice]

Just to clarify, please wait for a Flyer expert to reply with pain medication information. All rodents are different so what might be good for a Grey might not be for a Flyer. The meds I mentioned give you somewhere to start, though, on a Board search until someone replies. (I did PM a Flyer person who hopefully will use the forum soon.) Take care, and I am really sorry your baby is suffering.

[ClaraElizabeth]

She weighs around 3 oz. I had the idea of feeding her GME since she didn't want to eat much or drink, and she took a little. She also took and pecan and has HHBs within close range. I would just like to help her get out of pain. I'm not sure what the prognosis is, but if we can get her healing she's strong and I'm pretty sure she'll make it fine. :(

[HRT4SQRLS]

Hi ClaraElizabeth,
I'm sorry about your flyer.
I sure wish you had a vet because an X-ray is the only definitive way to determine if her back is broken. Do you feel any type of bump along her spine? IF it is broken, it would depend on where the break is on the spine. It could lead to death in a few days or life with permanent paralysis. The paralysis could also involve bladder and bowel issues.

Based on your diet, it doesn't seem that MBD is indicated but it certainly wouldn't hurt to give her some calcium as a just in case. Just curious does she eat the HHB or does she hide them? None of mine will eat the flyer blocks.

I have never treated an animal with this type of injury so I'm reluctant to recommend anything. I'm not sure if prednisone would be recommended or not. If you want pain relief for NOW you could give the infant ibuprophen. It would help with pain and inflammation. At her weight, the high side of dosing (30 mg/kg) would be approximately 0.05ml which is approximately a drop. You could try this for tonight but I would sure like to see a vet involved.

I really sorry about this. I have 3 flyers and I know that I would be devastated.

[lovesmice]

Hi ClaraElizabeth,
I'm sorry about your flyer.
I sure wish you had a vet because an X-ray is the only definitive way to determine if her back is broken. Do you feel any type of bump along her spine? IF it is broken, it would depend on where the break is on the spine. It could lead to death in a few days or life with permanent paralysis. The paralysis could also involve bladder and bowel issues.

Based on your diet, it doesn't seem that MBD is indicated but it certainly wouldn't hurt to give her some calcium as a just in case. Just curious does she eat the HHB or does she hide them? None of mine will eat the flyer blocks.

I have never treated an animal with this type of injury so I'm reluctant to recommend anything. I'm not sure if prednisone would be recommended or not. If you want pain relief for NOW you could give the infant ibuprophen. It would help with pain and inflammation. At her weight, the high side of dosing (30 mg/kg) would be approximately 0.05ml which is approximately a drop. You could try this for tonight but I would sure like to see a vet involved.

I really sorry about this. I have 3 flyers and I know that I would be devastated.

Excellent post.

[ClaraElizabeth]

Hi ClaraElizabeth,
I'm sorry about your flyer.
I sure wish you had a vet because an X-ray is the only definitive way to determine if her back is broken. Do you feel any type of bump along her spine? IF it is broken, it would depend on where the break is on the spine. It could lead to death in a few days or life with permanent paralysis. The paralysis could also involve bladder and bowel issues.

Based on your diet, it doesn't seem that MBD is indicated but it certainly wouldn't hurt to give her some calcium as a just in case. Just curious does she eat the HHB or does she hide them? None of mine will eat the flyer blocks.

I have never treated an animal with this type of injury so I'm reluctant to recommend anything. I'm not sure if prednisone would be recommended or not. If you want pain relief for NOW you could give the infant ibuprophen. It would help with pain and inflammation. At her weight, the high side of dosing (30 mg/kg) would be approximately 0.05ml which is approximately a drop. You could try this for tonight but I would sure like to see a vet involved.

I really sorry about this. I have 3 flyers and I know that I would be devastated.

I cannot feel a bump along her back, but I am also reluctant to palmate the area for fear of doing more nerve damage. If it is broken, it must be pretty low in the back. She's been taking avocado and pecans and a little GME. She's reluctant to drink water but with the milk I'm not too concerned about dehydration. She made a little nest in her box and seems to do better if she can stay quiet. I'd love to get a vet or rehabbed involved but not sure who to contact. If I lose her I'm not sure how her sister would take it, as they are quite close. :(

She's learned to hold a position where her legs don't twitch as frequently, which I'm glad. Thanks so much for your concern and help!