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Specialist Growth on spine, seeking advice/opinions

Meggy50

Meggy50

New Born Pup
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Our guinea pig, Lilly, is 3 1/2 years old. I took her to the vet 10 days ago because she was dragging her back legs and not using them properly. The vet examined her and couldn't find any obvious cause and gave us Loxicom to use for 10 days to see if there was any improvement, thinking it might be inflammation causing the problem.

Lilly is otherwise healthy, she is weeing and pooping like normal and is eating normally as well (see picture). On our return visit yesterday, she was examined again and the vet agreed she does not seem to be in any pain, but is still unable to use her hind legs. They did an x-ray (see below) which has shown a small growth on her spine. The vet said there is nothing that can be done and the only course of action will be to put her to sleep.

We are devastated, she is one of the family and we can't bare to lose her. Before we say goodbye to her, we want to make sure that there really is no other option available? We are speaking to a different vet tomorrow, but I don't know if there are any specialist guinea pigs vets that might be able to treat a case like this? Has anyone had a similar case to this one and was operating an option?

Just really looking for any advice/thoughts on what we should do. We live in Buckinghamshire - any recommended vets in this area or near by that might be able to help?

Thank you x
 

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Hi!

I have sadly not come across a case like that nor do I have the medical background to judge it. I would also think that most vets have never come across something like that. Personally, I would rather doubt that it is operable; as much as it pains me for Lilly's and your sake. :(

Here is our care guide with lots of practical tips for looking after guinea pigs with short or longer term mobility issues, which you may find helpful: Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
 
Thank you. If there is nothing that we can do, is it best to put her to sleep sooner rather than later? She appears to be in no pain, she is really enjoying her food, she is moving around the cage (even though her legs are dragging). It seems so hard to comprehend putting her to sleep when she's so full of life, but at the same time it is awful to see her unable to move her back legs and it must be putting a strain on the rest of her body? It's all so very sad and upsetting. We just want to do what is best for her, I don't want her to suffer in any way.
 
Meggy50 said:
Thank you. If there is nothing that we can do, is it best to put her to sleep sooner rather than later? She appears to be in no pain, she is really enjoying her food, she is moving around the cage (even though her legs are dragging). It seems so hard to comprehend putting her to sleep when she's so full of life, but at the same time it is awful to see her unable to move her back legs and it must be putting a strain on the rest of her body? It's all so very sad and upsetting. We just want to do what is best for her, I don't want her to suffer in any way.
Click to expand...

That is a very tricky question because it is a grey area as you have to weigh up quality of life/the ability to express natural behaviour against any discomfort/the likely risk of secondary complications (see the guide link for that) and the growth getting larger and impacting even more functions plus your own financial and time commitment abilities. Within this triangle, there is no right or wrong; just an individual variance of which factors are more important to you than others. As long as you are making any decision with your piggy's welfare and not your own fear of letting go foremost in mind, you are not going wrong.
As with any chronic and especially any developing/deteriorating health issue, you will also have to review this regularly and set your own limits early on as to the amount of support you want to give and where you set the limit once further secondary issues set in, as this can turn into a rather slippery slope. It will make it hopefully easier for you when the time comes to make a very hard and heartbreaking decision.

It is always so much more difficult to work out where you stand on these issues when it is much less likely that your piggy is taking that decision out of your hands but it is important that you do so with an open mind and that you also ask your vet for their own recommendations and the reasons they have come to that conclusion. As the owner, the ultimate decision is always yours.

You may find the more detailed discussion in this guide on these issues useful. It doesn't make easy reading but it does help you make any decision of yours with a clearer mind and heart so it feels right for you and will carry you through some tough times. It will hopefully give you the handles you need to make the decisions that are right for you, but make them on an informed basis so that when you look back and soul-search (as you always do when losing a piggy) you will still be able to stand by your decisions that they ones you'd make again in the same situation.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
 
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