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Hello Everyone - poorly piggy

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Hi I am a guinea pig owner and I have been for a good few years. I was doing some research and tried to find some help with a question when I stumbled along this forum, had a look around and saw how amazing you all are and thought you may be able to give me some advice.
I recently made an appointment with my vet to have my guinea pig pts. She is a 4 and a half year old sow.
In late February she started having stomach issues so was put on Emeprid, when it didn't go away we tried all sorts of things like Cisapride and fibreplex. She was also being support fed and on painkillers. The whole time she was acting just like her normal self, eating well and a ton of personality.
After about a month and 2 weeks we decided to do some investigative work, and found she had some dental issue of some sort, they fixed it but we were given a terminal diagnosis.

It has been almost 4 weeks since then and she is showing signs of deteriorating again, her stomach is going funny and her weight is slowing dropping as it did pre dental operation. We spoke to the vet and alongside my judgement we decided to put her down Wednesday.
The issue is that she seems like herself, she is acting like herself, she is eating on her own and has all the personality in the world but I know she is in discomfort now and very soon it will go worse. She is on painkillers twice a day for preventative measure and I do believe if i stop this she will go worse, but I can not help feel like i am killing her instead of putting her to sleep.
Please know I definitely know this is right for her and us, from what i have read it says i am in the gray area, but it doesnt make it feel any better. This may sound bad but if she was in a bad way i may feel better about it. I am just wondering if there is anything i can do to make me feel better about it as deep down i know this is the right decision it just feels like i am putting down my best friend while she is still "fine" (even if i know she is in pain in the inside)
 
I am so sorry for the situation you are in.
Feeling guilty is a perfectly normal response to grief.
In February my Priscilla received a terminal diagnosis.
We decided to opt for pts even although she didn’t act as if she was very ill.
I knew she was only comfortable because of the Loxicom and syringe feeding so made the decision and live with the guilt.

It’s always a question of is it too soon, or too late.
You made the decision that , deep in your heart, you knew was the right one for your girl.
Allow your grief time to work through and be gentle with yourself.

I’m glad you found the forum.
You will find a lot of care and support here.
 
I am so sorry for the situation you are in.
Feeling guilty is a perfectly normal response to grief.
In February my Priscilla received a terminal diagnosis.
We decided to opt for pts even although she didn’t act as if she was very ill.
I knew she was only comfortable because of the Loxicom and syringe feeding so made the decision and live with the guilt.

It’s always a question of is it too soon, or too late.
You made the decision that , deep in your heart, you knew was the right one for your girl.
Allow your grief time to work through and be gentle with yourself.

I’m glad you found the forum.
You will find a lot of care and support here.
This is my exact situation, it is very nice to know that a more experienced owner has made a similar decision.

It feels unlawful to make that decision for a pig that seems perfectly fine, even though we know what we are doing and why we are doing it.
Sorry to hear you lost Priscilla, a very adorable name and I imagine an even more adorable piggy.

You do not need to share, as it is still kind of recent but did you find anything that helped with that guilt you felt/feel? Or is it just time and patience with yourself.
I try to rationalize my thoughts by reminding myself that my girl is coasting by on painkillers and support feed right now, even if she seems her normal funny self, but it isn't that easy unfortunately.
 
We first realised something was amiss when our vet said they were sending Priscilla’s
x-ray to their exotic specialist.
Knowing that there was a possibility that this would be bad news my husband and I talked about options.
I like to make a decision, live with it for a few days and see if it stills feel right.
When we were told by the vet that it was end stage cancer there was no question that pts was right.
I know that guilt is part of grief so that helps me live with it.
I know it’s a natural reaction and grief takes time so when I feel bad I talk to myself, remind myself about the grieving process and that pts was the right decision.

This is how I cope. Hope that helps.
 
We first realised something was amiss when our vet said they were sending Priscilla’s
x-ray to their exotic specialist.
Knowing that there was a possibility that this would be bad news my husband and I talked about options.
I like to make a decision, live with it for a few days and see if it stills feel right.
When we were told by the vet that it was end stage cancer there was no question that pts was right.
I know that guilt is part of grief so that helps me live with it.
I know it’s a natural reaction and grief takes time so when I feel bad I talk to myself, remind myself about the grieving process and that pts was the right decision.

This is how I cope. Hope that helps.
I see, your case is a bit more severe than mine, but we saw her x-rays and her teeth were skew-if from the roots. They said it was genetic and were surprised she had lived that long without any intervention.
Over the weekend she showed her first signs of digression and was when I first thought about it, then when she was not any better today spoke with my vet and then the decision was made.

I know I am doing it for her and that her body is slowly breaking down, and the GA needed to cut down the teeth every month would kill her anyway. Thanks for your help.
 
I'm sorry for your predicament,but you absolutley made the decision out of love ,welfare of your piggie.Neverless it still hurts emotionally.hugs to you.
 
Hi I am a guinea pig owner and I have been for a good few years. I was doing some research and tried to find some help with a question when I stumbled along this forum, had a look around and saw how amazing you all are and thought you may be able to give me some advice.
I recently made an appointment with my vet to have my guinea pig pts. She is a 4 and a half year old sow.
In late February she started having stomach issues so was put on Emeprid, when it didn't go away we tried all sorts of things like Cisapride and fibreplex. She was also being support fed and on painkillers. The whole time she was acting just like her normal self, eating well and a ton of personality.
After about a month and 2 weeks we decided to do some investigative work, and found she had some dental issue of some sort, they fixed it but we were given a terminal diagnosis.

It has been almost 4 weeks since then and she is showing signs of deteriorating again, her stomach is going funny and her weight is slowing dropping as it did pre dental operation. We spoke to the vet and alongside my judgement we decided to put her down Wednesday.
The issue is that she seems like herself, she is acting like herself, she is eating on her own and has all the personality in the world but I know she is in discomfort now and very soon it will go worse. She is on painkillers twice a day for preventative measure and I do believe if i stop this she will go worse, but I can not help feel like i am killing her instead of putting her to sleep.
Please know I definitely know this is right for her and us, from what i have read it says i am in the gray area, but it doesnt make it feel any better. This may sound bad but if she was in a bad way i may feel better about it. I am just wondering if there is anything i can do to make me feel better about it as deep down i know this is the right decision it just feels like i am putting down my best friend while she is still "fine" (even if i know she is in pain in the inside)

Hi and welcome

You are certainly a very caring owner and are trying to do your best to spare your beloved one any unnecessary suffering. It is the most loving but also the most heart-breaking gift you can make.

Right now, your girl is still well enough to carry on (hence your strong feelings of guilt) but I promise you that you will know in your heart when the day has come to say goodbye - the day the pain is getting too great to carry on with a normal life and the day she doesn't want to go on anymore. In that moment all you want to do is to save her from a painful natural death and you won't feel like killing her anymore at all; just doing your best to save her from any unnecessary suffering at the sharp end.

I have written a very detailed and practical guide about the end of life and all the challenges that come with it. It doesn't make easy reading (it certainly didn't make easy writing) but you will hopefully find very helpful in navigating this difficult time.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Please also be aware that your grieving process doesn't start with the moment of death but with the moment you realise that a beloved pet or person has only very limited time left. The strong feelings you are experiencing are actually part of your grieving process, which runs differently with a terminally ill pet or person. We all experience these feeling to some degree or other because they are the other side of the same coin that carries your love; you would not experience them if didn't care so strongly.
Our grieving guide may help you with understanding a bit better your emotions but it also contains links to support places for pet bereavement for several countries if you need somebody to talk to freely who understands and is a specially trained volunteer, confidential and supporting. All forum members that made use of it and told us they had done so have come back with a positive experience.
Here is the link: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I hope that this will help you getting the support you need and giving you some practical help in finding the right moment when the time comes. We are always here for moral and practical support, too.
 
Hi and welcome

You are certainly a very caring owner and are trying to do your best to spare your beloved one any unnecessary suffering. It is the most loving but also the most heart-breaking gift you can make.

Right now, your girl is still well enough to carry on (hence your strong feelings of guilt) but I promise you that you will know in your heart when the day has come to say goodbye - the day the pain is getting too great to carry on with a normal life and the day she doesn't want to go on anymore. In that moment all you want to do is to save her from a painful natural death and you won't feel like killing her anymore at all; just doing your best to save her from any unnecessary suffering at the sharp end.

I have written a very detailed and practical guide about the end of life and all the challenges that come with it. It doesn't make easy reading (it certainly didn't make easy writing) but you will hopefully find very helpful in navigating this difficult time.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Please also be aware that your grieving process doesn't start with the moment of death but with the moment you realise that a beloved pet or person has only very limited time left. The strong feelings you are experiencing are actually part of your grieving process, which runs differently with a terminally ill pet or person. We all experience these feeling to some degree or other because they are the other side of the same coin that carries your love; you would not experience them if didn't care so strongly.
Our grieving guide may help you with understanding a bit better your emotions but it also contains links to support places for pet bereavement for several countries if you need somebody to talk to freely who understands and is a specially trained volunteer, confidential and supporting. All forum members that made use of it and told us they had done so have come back with a positive experience.
Here is the link: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I hope that this will help you getting the support you need and giving you some practical help in finding the right moment when the time comes. We are always here for moral and practical support, too.
Are you saying I am putting her down too early?

I mean based off the issues she was having before her dental and now it is beginning again I am just not sure being well enough to carry on cuts it.
If I wait longer her guts will begin to deteriorate and then the process will start all over again, I imagined putting her out of her pain before she was in the point of needing to be put down would be kinder. I would like to think in that with all my information put together and my hands on analysis of the situation would be enough but if more people than me are having back and forth thoughts am i doing the wrong thing?

I understand you have more experience than me but I am just really genuinely wondering if the only right time to put down a pig is when they are at their worst? I am asking genuinely in hope for an answer, i hope it doesn’t sound argumentative.

If I keep her going on her critical care and loxicom, I can’t tell if she is living or coping. Then her stomach starts to go funny and that would i guess be the time to put her down. But by that point she will not be digesting her food causing her to go into stasis again and her teeth will be digging into her cheeks again.
My heart hurts enough that i’m losing her, I can’t also be the one to put her to sleep before her time. :no:
 
I think she meant you know best when the time is right. You are best placed because you know what your girl is like in general. It would be impossible for someone to just say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’, and it wouldn’t be right.

Someone on here (@Merab's Slave) I believe says make a decision and sit with it for a few days to see how you feel about it.

This is, I feel, one of the hardest parts of piggy slaveship. It’s like the final act of love and it’s entirely normal to sway from one decision to another. All the best with your decision, I am sure it will be what’s right for your girl.

Better a day too early than too late, or something similar!
 
Are you saying I am putting her down too early?

I mean based off the issues she was having before her dental and now it is beginning again I am just not sure being well enough to carry on cuts it.
If I wait longer her guts will begin to deteriorate and then the process will start all over again, I imagined putting her out of her pain before she was in the point of needing to be put down would be kinder. I would like to think in that with all my information put together and my hands on analysis of the situation would be enough but if more people than me are having back and forth thoughts am i doing the wrong thing?

I understand you have more experience than me but I am just really genuinely wondering if the only right time to put down a pig is when they are at their worst? I am asking genuinely in hope for an answer, i hope it doesn’t sound argumentative.

If I keep her going on her critical care and loxicom, I can’t tell if she is living or coping. Then her stomach starts to go funny and that would i guess be the time to put her down. But by that point she will not be digesting her food causing her to go into stasis again and her teeth will be digging into her cheeks again.
My heart hurts enough that i’m losing her, I can’t also be the one to put her to sleep before her time. :no:

Not having access to your piggy, I cannot say when the time has come that is right for you; only you as the owner can ever make that decision and only your vet can give their assent after a quick examination.

There is a grey zone in which we all weigh various legitimate factors playing into this differently. Some prefer to pts sooner, others will prefer to hang on for as long possible.
None of us can ever tell anybody else when the right time has come; it has to be right for your piggy and right for you.

But if the need to pts is not one of immediate urgency where every minute counts, perhaps you may want to consider giving yourself just a little more time so you can let her go not feeling quite so badly about yourself?
 
Not having access to your piggy, I cannot say when the time has come that is right for you; only you as the owner can ever make that decision and only your vet can give their assent after a quick examination.

There is a grey zone in which we all weigh various legitimate factors playing into this differently. Some prefer to pts sooner, others will prefer to hang on for as long possible.
None of us can ever tell anybody else when the right time has come; it has to be right for your piggy and right for you.

But if the need to pts is not one of immediate urgency where every minute counts, perhaps you may want to consider giving yourself just a little more time so you can let her go not feeling quite so badly about yourself?
I will think about it, i mean i thought i was okay and coming to terms with it but not anymore haha.
 
I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly and the prognosis is not good. You definitely know your piggy and only you and your vets are best placed to make this decision.

I was in a slightly different, but still similar, predicament in November 2021. My beloved 16.5 year old border terrier Eddie started to have fits. It turned out he had a brain tumour. We opted to help him over the bridge. He had had a wonderfully spoilt life full of our whole family’s love. I wanted him to have a “good death” too. I have no feelings of guilt because the decision came from my heart.

Don’t feel guilty. You’ve tried to “fix” the issue and it’s returned. You are making this decision with her needs and quality of life at the heart of it.

A day too early rather than a day too late.

Sending you a hug 🤗
 
I will think about it, i mean i thought i was okay and coming to terms with it but not anymore haha.

HUGS
It is not an easy or straightforward process at all unless it is an emergency and the decision is basically taken out of your hands by circumstances.

Mind and heart can really pull big ones on you when you feel so deeply. Be kind on yourself, too - making an end of life decision for someone you love is one of the emotionally hardest challenges you can face. We humans are wired to live with a big hyper-critical internal auditing system that questions everything, and never more so with the kind of decision you are about to take. It can really mug you.

But your heart is totally in the right place so you won't be going wrong when the chips are down. :tu:
 
I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly and the prognosis is not good. You definitely know your piggy and only you and your vets are best placed to make this decision.

I was in a slightly different, but still similar, predicament in November 2021. My beloved 16.5 year old border terrier Eddie started to have fits. It turned out he had a brain tumour. We opted to help him over the bridge. He had had a wonderfully spoilt life full of our whole family’s love. I wanted him to have a “good death” too. I have no feelings of guilt because the decision came from my heart.

Don’t feel guilty. You’ve tried to “fix” the issue and it’s returned. You are making this decision with her needs and quality of life at the heart of it.

A day too early rather than a day too late.

Sending you a hug 🤗
Thank you, for your kind words.
HUGS
It is not an easy or straightforward process at all unless it is an emergency and the decision is basically taken out of your hands by circumstances.

Mind and heart can really pull big ones on you when you feel so deeply. Be kind on yourself, too - making an end of life decision for someone you love is one of the emotionally hardest challenges you can face. We humans are wired to live with a big hyper-critical internal auditing system that questions everything, and never more so with the kind of decision you are about to take. It can really mug you.

But your heart is totally in the right place so you won't be going wrong when the chips are down. :tu:
Thank you for your help with this situation, I did take time to really think about it but this morning I have woken up to a piggy who looked to be in pain and was down weight aside from my support feeding, so I have decided to keep my decision as such unfortunately.

I am doing everything I can to keep her comfortable.
 
Thank you, for your kind words.

Thank you for your help with this situation, I did take time to really think about it but this morning I have woken up to a piggy who looked to be in pain and was down weight aside from my support feeding, so I have decided to keep my decision as such unfortunately.

I am doing everything I can to keep her comfortable.

If your decision still feels right with you after a rethink, then go for it with hopefully a stronger mind and a bit more at peace with yourself.

My thoughts are with you and your poorly little girl.
 
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