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Choosing the right time for euthanasia

Black piggies

Black piggies

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I adopted the 2 floofs in June, the rescue said the congenitally undersized 5 year old wouldn't be expected to last long. The other floof is 3 or 4. I fell in love with their photo, and accepted that.

Mini floof wheeks for food, mounts big floof, chats to my other pair through the bars, seems a very happy, active little soul.

At mini floof's vet check last week, the cavy savvy vet said she has an inoperable bladder tumour, diagnostic work wouldn't change the diagnosis, she's too underweight for GA, and she only has weeks left.

I'm to take her back tomorrow. The vet said she uses weight loss as a barometer for when to PTS. While it seems right to wait and see what happens with cancer in a location that wouldn't be troublesome, (so long as pain was OK as measured by appetite), it just seems to me that a large bladder tumour would be troublesome. She was extremely uncomfortable having a necessary bum bath recently and the vet said to stop those now.

I don't want to PTS a seemingly happy animal but more than that, I want to pre-empt suffering.

Mini floof is 630g, since last week's prognosis I've given her a ton of sweet veg and fruit which is what she loves, so the scales tomorrow won't trigger euthanasia I don't think.

Any words of advice please?IMG_20210822_193823.webp
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I don't have any real advice, other than I am sorry to hear your little bean has a tumour, and also that you know them more than the vet does, so please do what you think is the right thing. Of course, take advice, but you know your piggy, if they are eating, seem comfortable and not in pain, it's not necessarily the right time.
Our vet said to us once; be guided by us, not lead.

PS: gorgeous piggies :love:
 
Aw I am so sorry for the diagnosis :( When my Erika had lymphoma, I took lead from her and she told me when she had had enough. The tumours in her neck grew so big, they were pushing on her windpipe causing breathing difficulties. Look deep in to the eyes and see if the spark has gone. If it has, they have had enough and it's time. If there is still a sparkle and they are still happy, comfortable and eating, they don't want to leave just yet.

I do however go with the saying that it is best to say goodbye a day too early rather than a day too late. Look in to your heart and be guided by your piggy x
 
Its a difficult one. You don't want to see her suffer yet you don't want to give her a one way ticket to the vet if she is still enjoying life. You can only be guided by what you think is best for her and by your vet of course. I only have experience of taking Velvet to her last vet visit to go on. Velvet hadn't hadn't been enjoying life for a few days, didn't want to eat anything and was generally very unhappy and just sat in one spot looking miserable. When I took her to the vet they said that it was def time for her to leave and they took her round the back. The vet came back with her and said that when the needle had gone in a load of pus came out so it was the right thing to do

I agree with @Claire W about looking in their eyes. If they are dull with no spark left it's time to say goodbye. You know her best. If she is still happy eating and chatting away, maybe now is not the time. It's so hard when you know the end is near but you're not sure exactly when it should be.
 
Thank you for sharing experiences. Maybe like with your piggies it is a watch and wait every day.

I love both those sentiments, to only be guided by the vet and to look deep in to the eyes. Mini floof has already had breakfast and she stood up against the bars at me and I gave her a blueberry and she was delighted. The past few days it's as though she's thinking "I've fiiiinally trained these hoomans to give me carrot, cherries and blueberries whenever I want, yippee" 😊
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

Its difficult thinking about how to know when it’s right but when you’re at that time, you know. You feel the change in them.
I’ve had to have a few beloved pets PTS so while I’ve obviously had to make that decision, I don’t feel Ive actually made the decision - they’ve always shown me it was time.
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. It must be such a difficult decision for you. My deepest sympathies go out to you.
My Violet never did stop eating completely, but she was clearly in pain and was continuing to get worse, and was losing more and more weight despite syringe feeding critical care. Ultimately, I wanted her to go to sleep happy, rather than suffering.
It's not a decision anyone can make for you, but trust yourself to make the right one. You know her best and it will be clear to you when it is her time 💕
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry to hear this.

Its difficult thinking about how to know when it’s right but when you’re at that time, you know. You feel the change in them.
I’ve had to have a few beloved pets PTS so while I’ve obviously had to make that decision, I don’t feel Ive actually made the decision - they’ve always shown me it was time.
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Thanks, that's a much easier way to think about it.
 
My Piggies said:
I'm so sorry to hear this. It must be such a difficult decision for you. My deepest sympathies go out to you.
My Violet never did stop eating completely, but she was clearly in pain and was continuing to get worse, and was losing more and more weight despite syringe feeding critical care. Ultimately, I wanted her to go to sleep happy, rather than suffering.
It's not a decision anyone can make for you, but trust yourself to make the right one. You know her best and it will be clear to you when it is her time 💕
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Sorry you've been though that too. I don't really know mini floof that well, but as I've been feeding her whatever she wants the past few days she's decided I'm her new best friend. They always get in your heart one way or another!
 
I’m sorry the news isn’t what you wanted. I’ve no experience but just wanted to offer sympathy. I think when the time is right, you will know. All the best and wishing tin lots of happy today’s.
 
So sorry for the sad diagnosis of Mini floof and I can completely understand where you are coming from. If Mini floof is still eating well and enjoying life generally then I would make the very best of your time with her. She doesn’t sound like it’s her time yet and I think that when the time sadly does come you will know. I would say take each day as it comes x
 
Black piggies said:
I adopted the 2 floofs in June, the rescue said the congenitally undersized 5 year old wouldn't be expected to last long. The other floof is 3 or 4. I fell in love with their photo, and accepted that.

Mini floof wheeks for food, mounts big floof, chats to my other pair through the bars, seems a very happy, active little soul.

At mini floof's vet check last week, the cavy savvy vet said she has an inoperable bladder tumour, diagnostic work wouldn't change the diagnosis, she's too underweight for GA, and she only has weeks left.

I'm to take her back tomorrow. The vet said she uses weight loss as a barometer for when to PTS. While it seems right to wait and see what happens with cancer in a location that wouldn't be troublesome, (so long as pain was OK as measured by appetite), it just seems to me that a large bladder tumour would be troublesome. She was extremely uncomfortable having a necessary bum bath recently and the vet said to stop those now.

I don't want to PTS a seemingly happy animal but more than that, I want to pre-empt suffering.

Mini floof is 630g, since last week's prognosis I've given her a ton of sweet veg and fruit which is what she loves, so the scales tomorrow won't trigger euthanasia I don't think.

Any words of advice please?View attachment 184027
View attachment 184029
Click to expand...

Hi!

It is a fine balance to strike between your desire to prevent any suffering and waiting too long. Generally, I find that it works out best to allow your piggy to decide when they are losing the will to live, or more specifically to eat. I know that it sounds trite but it is very much true - you will know when the time has come because your piggy is telling you.

If Mini is still wheeking for food and tucking in, then she is nowhere near that time as she is clearly still enjoying her life and has a zest for living. Just treasure every day she keeps enjoying her life and being a very pampered piggy although you may prefer to manage how much fruit you want to offer so you are not giving her a tummy upset. Make sure that the diet is still balanced enough to allow her to enjoy her treats not just for a matter of days but several weeks if her zest for life is carrying on further than your vet thinks. ;)

You may find the relevant chapter in this guide helpful, which deals with this issues in much more detail. It is very normal that you start asking yourself this question now that you are coming close to the time.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

All the best - and make the best of every precious day more you have together.
 
Many thanks, I was considering asking for euthanasia tomorrow, but I won't now, and will lay off the fruity treats.
 
I'm really sorry you're facing such a hard decision.
You can't set a date for these decision. As was written above, you will know when the time is right.
I once took a piggy to the vet (she suffered from lymphoma, it was getting worse and it was Saturday - I always tend to panic on Saturdays when the end comes closer for one of my piggies) and when I was sitting in the waiting room she was looking at me - and I knew I couldn't do it yet. So I had a talk with the vet and she was really great and offered to come into the practice on Sunday if it was neccessary.
It was - but Lea had one last day.
Though we probably usually wait a day to long. But since it is a final decision, it has to be right for your piggy and yourself.

I would take it a day at a time ... and I wouldn't cut back on the sweet stuff completley. :inn:
Of course you shouldn't overdo it and Mini Fluff shouldn't have to cope with a bad tummy on top of everything. But she deserves a little bit of sweetness on her last days.
 
Black piggies said:
I adopted the 2 floofs in June, the rescue said the congenitally undersized 5 year old wouldn't be expected to last long. The other floof is 3 or 4. I fell in love with their photo, and accepted that.

Mini floof wheeks for food, mounts big floof, chats to my other pair through the bars, seems a very happy, active little soul.

At mini floof's vet check last week, the cavy savvy vet said she has an inoperable bladder tumour, diagnostic work wouldn't change the diagnosis, she's too underweight for GA, and she only has weeks left.

I'm to take her back tomorrow. The vet said she uses weight loss as a barometer for when to PTS. While it seems right to wait and see what happens with cancer in a location that wouldn't be troublesome, (so long as pain was OK as measured by appetite), it just seems to me that a large bladder tumour would be troublesome. She was extremely uncomfortable having a necessary bum bath recently and the vet said to stop those now.

I don't want to PTS a seemingly happy animal but more than that, I want to pre-empt suffering.

Mini floof is 630g, since last week's prognosis I've given her a ton of sweet veg and fruit which is what she loves, so the scales tomorrow won't trigger euthanasia I don't think.

Any words of advice please?View attachment 184027
View attachment 184029
Click to expand...
 
Viennese Furbabies said:
I'm really sorry you're facing such a hard decision.
You can't set a date for these decision. As was written above, you will know when the time is right.
I once took a piggy to the vet (she suffered from lymphoma, it was getting worse and it was Saturday - I always tend to panic on Saturdays when the end comes closer for one of my piggies) and when I was sitting in the waiting room she was looking at me - and I knew I couldn't do it yet. So I had a talk with the vet and she was really great and offered to come into the practice on Sunday if it was neccessary.
It was - but Lea had one last day.
Though we probably usually wait a day to long. But since it is a final decision, it has to be right for your piggy and yourself.

I would take it a day at a time ... and I wouldn't cut back on the sweet stuff completley. :inn:
Of course you shouldn't overdo it and Mini Fluff shouldn't have to cope with a bad tummy on top of everything. But she deserves a little bit of sweetness on her last days.
Click to expand...
Aw that was nice of the vet to open for Lea. I do think vet access is a consideration, there's a 24 hour vet about a mile away where I've taken a piggy to be PTS on a bank holiday, so I can take it day at a time. She's had a healthy tea but having water melon tomorrow 😋
 
I'm so sorry for your diagnosis 😔 sending hugs 💗
When princess had an inoperable abdominal tumour she was still eating but in noticible pain we added in opoids on top of metacam which helped for a time, when the tumour grew large and started to take up a lot of her abdominal cavity and as such her appetite reduced during lockdown 2020 we took the vets advice and let her go 💖 if she's still her normal happy self then I'd say enjoy the time she's like that 💖 big hugs 💗
 
Emx93 said:
I'm so sorry for your diagnosis 😔 sending hugs 💗
When princess had an inoperable abdominal tumour she was still eating but in noticible pain we added in opoids on top of metacam which helped for a time, when the tumour grew large and started to take up a lot of her abdominal cavity and as such her appetite reduced during lockdown 2020 we took the vets advice and let her go 💖 if she's still her normal happy self then I'd say enjoy the time she's like that 💖 big hugs 💗
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Poor Princess. That's amazing you got her opiods for the pain, didn't know that was possible. Thank you.
 
I'm sorry for your sad diagnosis. I agree with many others... look at her behavior. If she is happy doing normal guinea pig things, let her be. I really do think you'll know when the time comes (I have with pets I had to have put to sleep.) For me, when they can't (or don't want to) do normal quality of life things anymore, they're telling you they're not enjoying life anymore. But until then, just cherish all the days.
 
Black piggies said:
Poor Princess. That's amazing you got her opiods for the pain, didn't know that was possible. Thank you.
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I hope your girl stays happy for the longest time for you 💖 yes they are restricted drugs but vets do prescribe them :) we did buprecare (the cheapest of the two options) and that worked for a bit then when that stopped working we got tramadol (not cheap think it's about £90 a month!) do not feel bad if it is not something you want to do however, it is a personal decision, we pts my cat recently as she needed opoids but reacted badly to them however princess had no side effects at all 💖
 
Emx93 said:
I hope your girl stays happy for the longest time for you 💖 yes they are restricted drugs but vets do prescribe them :) we did buprecare (the cheapest of the two options) and that worked for a bit then when that stopped working we got tramadol (not cheap think it's about £90 a month!) do not feel bad if it is not something you want to do however, it is a personal decision, we pts my cat recently as she needed opoids but reacted badly to them however princess had no side effects at all 💖
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Aw what a shame about your cat. Glad Princess got the benefit. The vet said mini floof only has weeks left and she's so undersize as her normal, I'm not sure the vet will want to go big guns with any treatment. But good to know for the future about the opiods.
 
Black piggies said:
Aw what a shame about your cat. Glad Princess got the benefit. The vet said mini floof only has weeks left and she's so undersize as her normal, I'm not sure the vet will want to go big guns with any treatment. But good to know for the future about the opiods.
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*hugs* 💖 I hope she stays happy for a long time, I think they tell you when they're ready 💗
 
So sorry for the diagnosis.
It’s a tough decision to have to make.
With Jemimah last year I decided to allow her to live as long as she wanted.
The vet said I could have Metacam as soon as I thought she needed it and that if she needed pts just to call.
We had another 3 months before she simply didn’t wake up one morning.

You make the decision that you feel is right for you and for Mini Floof.
You are such a dedicated and caring owner - you will know .
 
I am so sorry about the diagnosis. Your piggies are absolutely adorable 😍 💕

I recently had to make the decision for my Monty. In May he lost use of his back legs and hips, I had to syringe water but he ate well. I had called the vet a few weeks before to have him pts when I thought it was the right time, but then changed my mind.

What was difficult towards the end was that Monty had good days and bad days. Some days he'd be perky and eat veg and pellets, other days he was lethargic and it was a struggle to get him to eat anything. He started to have more bad days than good (2 or 3 bad days for each good day), and was losing weight rapidly and struggling to even hold his head up. He was actually having a good day on the day I had him pts, which was difficult for me but on his last day he enjoyed all his favourite foods and was not in too much pain.

Only you will know, but I would say if they are still tucking in to their favourite food and reacting to the fridge door and plastic bag rattles, it probably isn't time yet. It is such a hard time, I an sending you lots of love and hugs, it's awful having a poorly piggy. Just enjoy every moment you have with her ❤❤❤
 
Well mini floof has gone down to 610g today. Shocked as she seems to be eating so much. The vet seemed happy to watch and wait, if mini floof is happy.. to wait for an obvious downturn or 500g in weight, whichever comes first. I saw her popcorn yesterday, she's always been a live wire, weird for her to be so alive and so close to the end. Guess it's what we'd all want though.
 
Black piggies said:
Well mini floof has gone down to 610g today. Shocked as she seems to be eating so much. The vet seemed happy to watch and wait, if mini floof is happy.. to wait for an obvious downturn or 500g in weight, whichever comes first. I saw her popcorn yesterday, she's always been a live wire, weird for her to be so alive and so close to the end. Guess it's what we'd all want though.
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I'm so sorry to hear that mini floof has lost more weight. They are such delicate little things. She is a very loved and a very happy piggy ❤❤ Sending love and hugs x
 
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