Guinea pig with mobility cart

[angelgirl]

Hello
I have an older guinea pig that has had worsening neurological issues making it hard for her to use her back legs. She is otherwise healthy- eats, drinks, is mobile she just can't move fast or she tips on her side and also can't walk on cushy surfaces. Anyway, I bought her a mobility cart but I'm worried about her being able to rest. How can she rest and relax while always being in her cart? She seems like she wants to lay down so badly like she normally does but obviously can't because of the cart. Should I give her breaks? But then that would defeat the purpose of the cart. I've never had a disabled guinea pig before so this is new to me.

[Lynx]

Very good questions! Not sure if I remember how people have dealt with this but I understand your concern.

As best you can, I would try to make the cart comfortable and observe to see if you can figure out how to make her resting time more natural. I think limiting time in the cart is a good idea, especially after reading the following post.

A long time member made a cart for her guinea pig, Roxy (the Roxy Roller).
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/view ... hp?t=15475

On that topic, she writes:

She can't wear it all the time because she can't hunker down and relax while strapped in. Her hindquarters are always up and to sink on her front end probably bugs the back.

This was a young guinea pig in different circumstances than yours.

There are other posts in the forums about other types of carts and circumstances if you search.

[Sef]

This is just my opinion, but I wouldn't use a cart except during floor time. Otherwise I don't see how the guinea pig would be able to eat or sleep comfortably, or reach cecals. I had a male guinea pig a few years ago who lost the use of his back legs, and he adjusted by scooting himself across the cage. The biggest challenge was keeping him clean.

Good luck! I hope you find a good balance that will work well for your girl.

[angelgirl]

Thank you guys for your replies! She seemed to eat just fine with the cart, it was just resting that was the concern. I decided to forgo on the cart for now and see how things go. She seemed to do worse with it than without so at least I have it on hand in case she gets to the point where she's not mobile at all. I am also thinking about building one that has smaller wheels like in the link that Lynx posted, the Roxy roller. I think maybe the one I got had too big of wheels and too wide of a wheel base. Thank you so much!