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Fluffy is staying at the vets tonight

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Laure

Laure

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hey everyone,

I haven't posted for a while although I have still been logging on but I feel like I need some support tonight.

Today I took Fluffy (my 6 1/2 sow) to the vets. She has had ovarian cysts for a few years and about 6 months ago I had them drained. her sides were getting big again and restricting her movement so I thought they were filling up again which is why I took her to the vets.
The vets tried to drain them and nothing was coming out (last time they removed about 200ml from her!) and she said that it felt quite hard in there. Because I have to travel a long way (about 2 hours on trains/tubes/buses) she asked me to leave Fluffy there so that she can give her a scan tomorrow to see what is going on in there. BUT she has already warned me that it is possible that she has a tumour on her womb

I feel so bad about leaving her there on her own (although I know that she is the best hands possible) and I have been crying since I left the vets.
And now I am just expecting the worst. Also last time I left a piggy at the vets she died overnight and although she was very ill I just can't help worry about her being there overnight.

The vets said she was going to call me as soon as she has done the test but that it won't be until tomorrow late afternoon and I have an appointment at 6.45 to go back there.

I really hope she is OK and there is nothing sinister there but does anyone have any experience of a sow with a womb tumour? I feel she is too old to go through surgery but I want to give her the best chance and also the best quality of life possible. If she has a tumour, I don't know what to do for the best.

I would really appreciate any experience people have had with this in the past.

xx
 
Sorry to hear about Fluffy. I really cant give advice as i havent had this happen. I just wanted to say i hope everything goes ok and i will have my fingers crosed for you. let us know how it goes. Good luck to you and Fluffy xx
 
Hiya,

I am sorry to hear you are parted from Fluffy tonight but I am sure she will be just fine. She will be in good hands with your vet and its wise of him to keep her overnight if the travelling time is so long.

It is a worry for you but I am sure I can speak for all your friends on the forum by saying we are thinking of you and all have our paws crossed for you and little Fluffy.

Love and hugs
Helen.
x
 
Hi Laure,

Just to let you know I am thinking of you. I hope Fluffy will be ok. I've had no experience of this myself. ((hugs))) to you.

Louise
x
 
I'm sorry that Fluffy is poorly and it is only natural to feel the way that you are at the moment. She is in the best place at the moment where she can get the treatment she needs. I have not any experience with piggies ovarian cysts. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Fluffy x
 
Thanks everyone for your support. It really means a lot. I will let you know what the vet says as soon as I have some news x
 
I don't have any experience of this either, but like the others will be thinking of you and Fluffy - I know it's horrid to be parted from her, but I think it was wise of the vet to spare her from the long journey travelling home today and then back to the vets again tomorrow.

Fingers and paws all crossed.

Sue
 
I'm so very sorry to hear this. You must be very afraid and lonely without her.

Thinking of you both xx
 
Sorry to hear about Fluffy but you did the right thing leaving her at the vets because of the journey for you and the stress for her. However, I know how you must be feeling.

You have obviously loved her and cared really well for her as she is such a good age.

My Holly recently had a tumour or cyst on her ovaries or in her womb which was identified by a scan. She always had a chubby tummy but it got bigger.
The vet said that it was quite common in older sows, but operations in guinea pigs are very risky, especially if they are poorly.

I hope all goes well and you get good news tomorrow ... please let us know how Fluffy gets on xx
 
Thank you so much for your kind messages. x

Goldie what happened with your sow? If you don't mind talking about it.
Fluffy is fine within herself, she doesn't appear in pain. She has been having problems making poos in the last couple of days and both the vet and I thing this is due to the cyst/tumour pressing on her internal organs. But she has been eating/drinking fine.

The only thing is that she is struggling to walk has her tummy has gotten so big and with her age she also has arthritis in her back legs which the extra weight is obviously not helping.

I am really scared about the decision I might have to make tomorrow night if it's bad news :-(

xx
 
Hi,

I am so sorry you have to go through this.I hate having to leave a piggy at the surgery.
I have never had a gp with a ovarian tumour,but have had 1 or 2 sows that have had to have surgery for large cysts.In both cases they had initially respoded to chorolon injections but a lot later on the cysts returned and despite draining filled up very quickly.They were both fine after the surgery and both were over 5 years ofr age.
You c an trust Anne to help you make the right decision because she does not give up easily on a gp.

Hugs from The Mob.
 
Aw, I am so sorry to hear about Fluffy. That must be so horrible to have to leave her at the vets - I would be beside myself.

Any news on how she is doing today? My thoughts are with you and hope shes on fine.
 
Laure said:
Goldie what happened with your sow? If you don't mind talking about it.
Click to expand...

Sorry that Fluffy is still staying at the vet but she is obviously in very safe hands.

I didn't say too much last night in my posting as I knew you were upset about the situation with Fluffy. However, after the scan result for Holly came through by phone call from the vet and the fact that the tumour or cyst was approx 5cm in diameter, I decided that I would let Holly pass away peacefully at the vets. Because of Holly's age and what a happy piggy she had been and the sudden onset of her illness, I knew in my heart that was best for her.

She had always been chubby but her tummy got really big over a couple of days and she stopped eating, drinking and moving around. Apparently it had grown and was now pressing on her internal organs. So it was a shock to me that all of a sudden she had gone. She would have been 6 years old in October and I had adopted her at approx 6 weeks old from Cottontails Rescue.

But each and every case is individual and I am keeping everything crossed for Fluffy. Hope all goes well. Keep us posted xx
 
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Hello everyone.

Again thank you so much for your support. Unfortunately the news weren't good today. Fluffy had an xray and a scan and the vet is not able to say what is wrong with her but thinks it might be a tumour. All of her organs are being pressed on by the growth and not in the right place and this is obviously affecting her.
When I took her to the vets yesterday she hadn't seemed in pain to me and I am very much in tune with her. She wasn't really able to get about but Fluffy is used to this as she has had arthritis and blumblefoot + other problems over the years. She was still eating and drinking and squeaking at me.
Anne (the vet) said that I should probably have her put to sleep but I just couldn't have her die at the vets having spent the night and day there. She's never been away from home and I knew that she would be scared (I know this sounds silly but I am sure of it). I would rather she passed away at home in her own bed, in a familiar environment and with her friends.
So tonight I brought her home. Anne gave me some Metacam to make her a bit more comfortable. I have to say she is looking pretty miserable tonight and it's breaking my heart. She's refusing all food and I have been trying to syringe feed her all night (not forcing her, just offering it to her). So far all she's managed is 2 halves of cherry tomatoes (her favourite) a bit of Critical Care formula (I have also tried Oxbow's CC which she normally loves but she is not having any of it tonight).
Anne also said that she could try to operate on her although her chances are not very good at all but part of me feels that if she is still hanging on in a couple of days I should give her that chance.

I just don't know what to do. I feel so powerless, it's horrible!

xx
 
I can't really make any suggestions but, it sounds like you are doing everything for her to keep her comfy and she must surely know how much she is loved.

Sending you many hugs (((((hugs))))
 
Oh love i'm so so sorry HUGE HUGS and loves from us both xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>

Have you tried to pop some of her fav food into her mouth and see if she'll munch it?
Try to give her some water too xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

All you can do is be with her, cuddle her, love her and tell her just how much you love her xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Have you somebody to be with you too love?
 
So sorry to hear the news Laure .... I did think it sounded very similar to Holly's condition but I was keeping my fingers crossed that it wouldn't be.

It is a very difficult and heart-breaking situation to be in. When I am in that situation, it can be a case of my heart ruling my head ... if you love something, then it is difficult to let it go.

You know that we are all here to help and support you whatever you decide to do .... sending you and Fluffy lots of hugs xx
 
am so sorry my heart goes out to you give her loads of love and kisses and a hug to you
 
Thanks for the messages guys!

Fluffy has made it through the night and I barely slept as I wanted to keep an eye on her and keep trying her with food etc... so I was getting up every hour to check on her.
Last night I managed to get her to eat a couple of leaves of our home grown lettuce and she seemed to enjoy that. This morning though she didn't want to take food from me.
I have made her a mixture of baby food, Critical Care and water and she's just had about 10 cc of it. I know it's not enough but I hope it will help for a while. I just don't know if I should keep trying to feed her or just let her go.

This is so hard!
 
I'm so sorry to hear about poor Fluffy. It is a heartbreaking situation to be in, hugs and xoxo to you both xx
 
oh i am sorry to hear about Fluffy, what an awful situation you are in. thinking of you both and sending lots of hugs
xx
 
I'm sorry that the news from the vet was not good and I'm thinking of you both. I understand completely what is like not knowing what the right decison is as I'm sure many of the others of here do too. When my sow was taken ill the vet wanted to put her to sleep there and then and I felt exactly how you felt. I brought her home and nursed her and she went peacefully at home. As hard as it might be you'll know when the time is right.
 
Just letting you know that we're thinking of you here across the pond....
HUGE HUGS xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
about to go off to bed soon............will check up later
Give Fluffy some more kisses from us, and some more for you too
xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
We are thinking of you.this is the real downside of piggy keeping,I have been through this many times as most of us on the forum have,and it never gets any easier.

Just keep her comfortable and try and get some fluid into her.Rehydration therapy would be good.
Do not force the food too much if she does not want it.
You have done the right thing in taking her home,pts is the very last option for me,and only if the gp is in pain.It is much nicer if they can go at home.
It does not sound good,but they can still sometimes amaze us and make a sudden recovery.

Healing vibes from The Epsom Mob.
 
I'm so so sorry.

But I am so glad she is at home with you. So many people would have chosen something different - I know this because I see it on the forum a lot.

You have made an amazing choice. I respect you so much for that.

Kisses please for the little one, and hugs for you too. You aren't alone; you have friends here who are thinking of you lots.

x
 
Once again I can't thank people enough for their support.
Fluffy has really taken a turn for the worse today, she has not eaten or drunk anything since this morning and I have decided not to syringe feed her anymore as I do not want her to spend her last few hours being force fed.
She's too weak to even walk now and hasn't moved all day. She is in her pigloo facing away which she has never done before and has been like that for a few hours which is why I know her time is coming.
Although it is very upsetting I have come to terms with it and I am really glad I brought her home so that I got a chance to say goodbye properly

xx
 
I'm so very sorry about little Fluffy, and I feel so sad for you. I was wondering if she would like to rest on your lap instead of being in her pigloo? Maybe loosely wrapped in a towel, but being on your lap she'd know you were close. She probably wouldn't want you fussing her, but just being with you? I know it's not the same, but one of my cats had a stroke, and I sat up all night just holding her in my arms until I could get to the vet - she knew I was there, and I think felt comforted.

Anyway, my thoughts are with you.

Sue
 
Thanks for the suggestion Sue. However Fluffy was never much of a cuddler so I think this might stress her out even more. Jut been looking on Peter Gurney's site and he says that he always left them alone when they were getting close to crossing the bridge. I guess like everything it just depends on the piggy's personality.

xx
 
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