Grumpy after v.e.t.

Thanks for all your guinea-pig well wishes yesterday. Sybil went to the vet today, with Big Sid for company. During the day, I watched her shuffle around the grass of the run and find her way into the shelter of the hutch, which is a relief as I was worried about her being able to negotiate the inch-step up into the shelter. She's calling for food and is drinking OK, but her front-right leg is still being held at a right angle out away from her body. The vet, who is a fantastic guinea-pig vet, gave her a good prod, but found no broken bones, bits out of order or bumps. It's possibly muscle strain or a torn nerve. Sybil has been given honey-flavoured anti-inflammatory drops and we'll see how she goes.

I'm glad that she's not in any pain, but her being more immobile than usual means that she could develop sores on her feet from standing in one spot (in urine) for too long. So, more cage changes in future and a lot of TLC. My main concern was that she was in pain, but she doesn't seem to be. Not a squeak out of her at the vet's, even when she was being prodded. The vet could have taken an x-ray, but at four-and-a-half, Sybil's no pup and we didn't wish to anaesthetise her just for the x-ray. It's possible that there's something serious going on within her since she's lost a lot of weight, too, but as long as she's in no pain, I don't wish to go meddling any further than is needed. So it's all observation from here - fingers crossed that the drugs do work for her.

On a plus side, Omar had a good sunbathe in the sunny side of the garden this afternoon. The guineas, the cat and I joined in. I was having technical nightmares with work, so I took some time out with a fennel tea and the menagerie in the open air with the birdsong. When I returned to the computer, the problem was solved and all was well.