The only lucky thing about "Tex" Barnes of Park View, Sharnford is the fact that he has a very dedicated owner. Having only graced this world for 10 months he has managed to break a hind leg (which healed successfully), succumb to a heavy lice infestation (which cleared with the appropriate treatment), and only just managed to fight off a severe bone infection (osteomyelitis) when his right front leg was amputated. I'm not entirely sure who deserves a medal, "Tex" for his powers of recovery not commonly seen in this species or his owner Mrs Barnes who has cared for him throughout his short but very eventful life. To make matters worse there is no health insurance for Guinea pigs!

Amputation of a limb is always an emotive subject and the main concern is how the patient will cope afterwards. Generally speaking the smaller the patient the more adept they seem to be at thriving with only three legs. The surgery itself is a major procedure with the additional problems in such a small mammal of hypothermia (cold body temperature) and haemostasis (bleeding). The complaint of "phantom pain" which appears to affect over 30% of human amputees has of course never been recorded in veterinary medicine!

Fortunately, "Tex" has continued to thrive despite these medical hurdles and has made me rethink my views on Guinea Pigs' capabilities of withstanding life's traumas. So much so in fact that my colleague and Guinea Pig expert, Ingrid, has convinced me to adopt 2 guinea pigs who were needing rehoming. I only hope that they possess at least half of "Tex's" fighting capabilities.