5 year old piggy has stopped eating & drinking. Vet felt a mass in abdomen and advises euthanasia.

[Julezfm39]

Hello everyone...

It's been a while since I posted here.. But I'm hoping that someone can help me decide on what to do.. My darling boy Cocoa stopped eating yesterday and also hasn't been drinking (he's a real foodie and drinks a lot too, usually). I fed him last night and this morning through a syringe with some pellets mashed up in warm water, cooled down. However I could feel his hip bones even though he's always been a smaller and lighter piggy.

Took him to the vet just now and she felt a mass in his stomach that isn't constipation. He's a very calm piggy but he squeaked when she gently pressed the lump. She advised me to have him PTS as he's not eating and within a couple of days he will go downhill quickly. He had been eating as normal until yesterday but she said that he was probably gradually eating less and less as the mass grew.

I'm due to take Cocoa to the vets again at 5.45pm today to be euthanised. I came back home first because my kids (who are 15 and 14) will want to say goodbye to their fur baby.

Am I doing the right thing? I just gave him a piece of cucumber which he usually loves... he tried to take a bite but then just turned away. I put him back in his cage and now he's hiding in his little house. It breaks my heart to say goodbye to him but I don't want him to suffer and the vet is certain it's a tumour.

I lost another piggy, Fluffy, out of the blue (he was 4yo) 2 months ago and so I just feel I cannot cope with more loss. I'm still grieving the passing of my Mum last August too so I feel like there's a big build-up of loss

If he has to go then his brother Caramel (who died when he was only 2 and a half) will already be waiting for him

Thank you for your advice x

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone...

It's been a while since I posted here.. But I'm hoping that someone can help me decide on what to do.. My darling boy Cocoa stopped eating yesterday and also hasn't been drinking (he's a real foodie and drinks a lot too, usually). I fed him last night and this morning through a syringe with some pellets mashed up in warm water, cooled down. However I could feel his hip bones even though he's always been a smaller and lighter piggy.

Took him to the vet just now and she felt a mass in his stomach that isn't constipation. He's a very calm piggy but he squeaked when she gently pressed the lump. She advised me to have him PTS as he's not eating and within a couple of days he will go downhill quickly. He had been eating as normal until yesterday but she said that he was probably gradually eating less and less as the mass grew.

I'm due to take Cocoa to the vets again at 5.45pm today to be euthanised. I came back home first because my kids (who are 15 and 14) will want to say goodbye to their fur baby.

Am I doing the right thing? I just gave him a piece of cucumber which he usually loves... he tried to take a bite but then just turned away. I put him back in his cage and now he's hiding in his little house. It breaks my heart to say goodbye to him but I don't want him to suffer and the vet is certain it's a tumour.

I lost another piggy, Fluffy, out of the blue (he was 4yo) 2 months ago and so I just feel I cannot cope with more loss. I'm still grieving the passing of my Mum last August too so I feel like there's a big build-up of loss

If he has to go then his brother Caramel (who died when he was only 2 and a half) will already be waiting for him

Thank you for your advice x

Hi

BIG HUGS

Yes, please let Cocoa make the journey to the Rainbow Bridge and spare him any unnecessary suffering from a slower death in major discomfort in his last very few days or even just hours. It is the last most loving but most heart-breaking gift we can make a bleoved pet.

We can sadly never choose when and what from out piggies die - that is always out of our control - but we can give piggies what they want out of good piggy life: many happy todays. And we have the power to given them a merciful shortcut when their journey is turning into a painful slog. As long as you have given your piggies the good daily care and love, you haven't failed and you will not fail them making their invitable death a quick and pain-free one.

It is always so hard when we get the worst possible new and have to make the decision while we are still very much in shock and have not got the time to allow our desire to keep with us/our fear of loss and our wish to spare our beloved ones any suffering sort themselves out beforehand. But would be not rather shoulder the emotional pain ourselves in order to spare those we love any bad physical pain when the chips are down?

Be kind with yourself and give yourself time to digest both the shock and the loss, which is bringing up any previous not yet digested grieving. It is after all a double whammy you are dealing with on top of more recent losses.
But what you won't have to deal with is guilt - you have not failed Cocoa in any way and you are not going to fail him by cutting short the suffering that comes with the terminal stages of cancer when it is overwhelming the body. And none of the death are your fault; the timing and bunching up is unfortunately rarely nicely spaced out and it is definitely not in your control.

Please seek help with the free Blue Cross pet bereavement services (UK animal charity) if you feel like you are drowning and totally overwhelmed by your pain or caught in a bad loop and unable to move on. Talking it out with somebody is the best thing you can do for yourself. The link is below.



Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

 

[Trish B]

I'm really sorry but I think you are doing the right thing for poor Cocoa and that is the most important thing to consider no matter how horrible. Even harder for you to bear though in view of your very recent bereavements and another loss just make things even more painful and overwhelming.

I'm from the Woking area too..Sending you strength to get through this afternoon's appointment xx

 

[piggieminder]

A decision made out of love to save them pain and suffering is the kindest but hardest thing to do. I am so sorry you and your family are facing this.
Thinking of you this afternoon.

 

[Julezfm39]

Hi

BIG HUGS

Yes, please let Cocoa make the journey to the Rainbow Bridge and spare him any unnecessary suffering from a slower death in major discomfort in his last very few days or even just hours. It is the last most loving but most heart-breaking gift we can make a bleoved pet.

We can sadly never choose when and what from out piggies die - that is always out of our control - but we can give piggies what they want out of good piggy life: many happy todays. And we have the power to given them a merciful shortcut when their journey is turning into a painful slog. As long as you have given your piggies the good daily care and love, you haven't failed and you will not fail them making their invitable death a quick and pain-free one.

It is always so hard when we get the worst possible new and have to make the decision while we are still very much in shock and have not got the time to allow our desire to keep with us/our fear of loss and our wish to spare our beloved ones any suffering sort themselves out beforehand. But would be not rather shoulder the emotional pain ourselves in order to spare those we love any bad physical pain when the chips are down?

Be kind with yourself and give yourself time to digest both the shock and the loss, which is bringing up any previous not yet digested grieving. It is after all a double whammy you are dealing with on top of more recent losses.
But what you won't have to deal with is guilt - you have not failed Cocoa in any way and you are not going to fail him by cutting short the suffering that comes with the terminal stages of cancer when it is overwhelming the body. And none of the death are your fault; the timing and bunching up is unfortunately rarely nicely spaced out and it is definitely not in your control.

Please seek help with the free Blue Cross pet bereavement services (UK animal charity) if you feel like you are drowning and totally overwhelmed by your pain or caught in a bad loop and unable to move on. Talking it out with somebody is the best thing you can do for yourself. The link is below.



Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

Thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful reply. I definitely need to make use of the bereavement services as I am very much drowning in grief at the moment. My profile picture on here is actually Cocoa - I love him so much! Everything you have said makes perfect sense and I will write an update later. I'm going to spend some time giving him huge cuddles before I let him go x

 

[Julezfm39]

A decision made out of love to save them pain and suffering is the kindest but hardest thing to do. I am so sorry you and your family are facing this.
Thinking of you this afternoon.

Thank you so much. My heart is broken but I know that this is the right thing to do for my baby boy xx

 

[Julezfm39]

I'm really sorry but I think you are doing the right thing for poor Cocoa and that is the most important thing to consider no matter how horrible. Even harder for you to bear though in view of your very recent bereavements and another loss just make things even more painful and overwhelming.

I'm from the Woking area too..Sending you strength to get through this afternoon's appointment xx

You're in the Woking area too? I'm just near Horsell. Thank you so much for your thoughts.. I am just heartbroken and there has just been too much loss these past few months x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful reply. I definitely need to make use of the bereavement services as I am very much drowning in grief at the moment. My profile picture on here is actually Cocoa - I love him so much! Everything you have said makes perfect sense and I will write an update later. I'm going to spend some time giving him huge cuddles before I let him go x

My thoughts are with Cocoa and with you. Been there often enough myself.

Give yourself time to heal by processing everything in its own time and don't expect to bounce back quickly. Keep a feeler out for the case you get stuck in a pernicious loop and seek further help again then.

Please take the time to read our grieving guide; it contains further ideas on how you can additionally help yourself with the processing with some quite easy measures but that can make a difference in your own mental health welfare in the longer run. You do not have to do it all alone but if you do it right and keep looking after yourself you can come out of this experience stronger and an emotionally more mature person. It's in the dark times that you make the deep roots to grow higher and stronger as a human; it is not just all bad. And that is perhaps the most surprising parting gift that our pets can leave us.

 

[Betsy]

So very sorry you are going through this. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time. It is the greatest gift of love we can give a pet to end their suffering. You love Cocoa and have given him lots of happy todays which is all a guinea pig wants and needs.

 

[Trish B]

You're in the Woking area too? I'm just near Horsell. Thank you so much for your thoughts.. I am just heartbroken and there has just been too much loss these past few months x

I live in New Haw but use Lynton Vets in Horsell.

Please get some help with bereavement services....You have been through such a lot and have a family to support as well.

Thinking of you. You are helping Cocoa in the best way possible xx

 

[Wiebke]

Thinking of you. I hope that you are OK.

 

[Merab]

So very sorry that you have had to make this difficult decision but it is a gift of love for Cocoa.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you all in my heart

 

[Julezfm39]

My thoughts are with Cocoa and with you. Been there often enough myself.

Give yourself time to heal by processing everything in its own time and don't expect to bounce back quickly. Keep a feeler out for the case you get stuck in a pernicious loop and seek further help again then.

Please take the time to read our grieving guide; it contains further ideas on how you can additionally help yourself with the processing with some quite easy measures but that can make a difference in your own mental health welfare in the longer run. You do not have to do it all alone but if you do it right and keep looking after yourself you can come out of this experience stronger and an emotionally more mature person. It's in the dark times that you make the deep roots to grow higher and stronger as a human; it is not just all bad. And that is perhaps the most surprising parting gift that our pets can leave us.

Thank you so much... I let my baby go yesterday at 6pm. He passed peacefully and is with his brothers and sisters now I have cried a lot but I'm also grateful for the 5 precious years of life that he shared with me. Rest in Peace darling Cocoa

 

[Julezfm39]

So very sorry you are going through this. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time. It is the greatest gift of love we can give a pet to end their suffering. You love Cocoa and have given him lots of happy todays which is all a guinea pig wants and needs.

Thank you for your lovely words . My darling boy crossed the rainbow bridge at 6pm last night and is now at peace with his brothers and sisters. He is the 8th piggy I've lost in 4 years. I've also lost 4 rats and 3 hamsters in that time too.. I've loved them all with all my heart but as my fur babies pass away I'm not getting more.. I can't cope with the heartbreak to be honest

 

[Julezfm39]

Thinking of you. I hope that you are OK.

Thank you for your kind words... darling Cocoa is at peace now

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your kind words... darling Cocoa is at peace now

BIG HUGS

Be sad but please don't feel bad. You have done all the right things for Cocoa and your other boys; they have had plenty of love and good care and couldn't have found a better piggy mummy. Try to picture them together at the Bridge and mourn them together; that can make it a little easier on you.

Please look after yourself and make sure that you get help whenever you need it. Give yourself time to grieve and even more time to heal. Multiple deaths in a short span of time are so hard to deal with since you can process only so much at any given time. I call the overload 'grieving indigestion' since it has a tendency to come all up again, especially in so many little ways that you cannot brace for.

But you will eventually get through it all. The loves in our life become a part of us since they shape us as much as we shape them; they are never fully lost because they live on in who we have become because of them.

Cocoa was a beautiful boy. There is now a little furry guardian angel trying to work out how to use his new wings so he can look after you as much as you have looked after him.

 

[Julezfm39]

I live in New Haw but use Lynton Vets in Horsell.

Please get some help with bereavement services....You have been through such a lot and have a family to support as well.

Thinking of you. You are helping Cocoa in the best way possible xx

Thank you so much.. I will get some bereavement services as I am still struggling to cope with the loss of my mum..

You're not far away at all.. I use Kingswood Vets in Kingfield. They are absolutely wonderful. I used to live over near Woking Park so that's why, as they were closer.

Darling Cocoa is at peace. I miss him so much as he was so special... he had such an adorable character x

 

[piggieminder]

Sending you hugs. I hope your tears of sadness will soon turn into smiles when you think of him.

 

[Julezfm39]

So very sorry that you have had to make this difficult decision but it is a gift of love for Cocoa.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you all in my heart

Thank you so much . It's so hard as he was a gorgeous boy with the cutest character. I miss him terribly but he is at peace and frolicking with his brothers and sisters now xx

 

[Julezfm39]

Sending you hugs. I hope your tears of sadness will soon turn into smiles when you think of him.

Thank you so much. In the midst of my grief I feel blessed that he was my adorable companion for 5 precious years

 

[Bill & Ted]

Sending you big hugs at this most sad and difficult time. Treasure your memories of Cocoa, they will feel painful right now but in time they will bring you great comfort, take care x

 

[Trish B]

Thank you so much.. I will get some bereavement services as I am still struggling to cope with the loss of my mum..

You're not far away at all.. I use Kingswood Vets in Kingfield. They are absolutely wonderful. I used to live over near Woking Park so that's why, as they were closer.

Darling Cocoa is at peace. I miss him so much as he was so special... he had such an adorable character x

I'm so very sorry...You're a rodent lover like me and each loss leaves such a void..It never gets any "easier" does it?

Losing your Mum is such an immensely devastating bereavement...It's still very early days for you but please look after yourself emotionally and seek help if you feel you need to? Poor Cocoa's passing must magnify everything..

I have thought of switching to Kingswood as I believe Emily Hosier is interested in exotics? I'm glad they were good to you last night..It helps..xx