Help crossing over? How do i know

Ninarodders

Ninarodders

Junior Guinea Pig
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My guinea pig is dying. He is around 5 maybe closer to 6 now I think. I'm not sure on his age as didn't get him as a baby. He has had 2 bladder stone surgeries the last being end of April beginning of may. We lost his friend about a month ago. As he is poorly and old we decided to not try and find a friend. Also we wouldn't go ahead with a 3rd surgery. So we made the decision to just keep him comfortable till the end.

He last saw the vet 9th Dec and was quite healthy minus bladder issues. The last couple of days I noticed a decline in him. He's lost his appetite (still eating but not like before, quite minimal in comparison). He is still nibbling on hay and he got a new carrot house and he is currently nibbling on that. He is slowly loosing weight. He does not seem distressed at all (i don't think so anyway) I'm more distressed than him to be honest.

My question is how do I know if I need to take him vet to help him over the bridge? His back end is very wet today. (He does go through periods of being wet and then being dry again). I just know it's the end for him but I'm not sure how the end will come you know? Do I take him vets or can he stay at home a bit longer. Is staying at home more for my benefit or his?
 
I am so sorry you are in this heartbreaking situation. I am not an expert at all but hopefully one will be on here soon but in my opinion follow your heart you know him best and you clearly love him and I'm sure you will put his needs before your own. Most say that if he still able to do his guinea pig things all be it perhaps less often or less slowly then he still has a good quality of life as such. How much weight is he losing?
Also what is your guineas name? 💕
 
Ninarodders said:
My guinea pig is dying. He is around 5 maybe closer to 6 now I think. I'm not sure on his age as didn't get him as a baby. He has had 2 bladder stone surgeries the last being end of April beginning of may. We lost his friend about a month ago. As he is poorly and old we decided to not try and find a friend. Also we wouldn't go ahead with a 3rd surgery. So we made the decision to just keep him comfortable till the end.

He last saw the vet 9th Dec and was quite healthy minus bladder issues. The last couple of days I noticed a decline in him. He's lost his appetite (still eating but not like before, quite minimal in comparison). He is still nibbling on hay and he got a new carrot house and he is currently nibbling on that. He is slowly loosing weight. He does not seem distressed at all (i don't think so anyway) I'm more distressed than him to be honest.

My question is how do I know if I need to take him vet to help him over the bridge? His back end is very wet today. (He does go through periods of being wet and then being dry again). I just know it's the end for him but I'm not sure how the end will come you know? Do I take him vets or can he stay at home a bit longer. Is staying at home more for my benefit or his?
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Hi

HUGS

It is always most difficult for any loving owner when you come close to the line of no return but are not quite there yet, as you are right now. You are on the edge of the grey zone where there is no right or wrong but that usually makes you question yourself only harder.

I would recommend that you read our guide for yourself and make a list of questions that are important for you to answer honestly to know where you stand and where you draw the line for yourself.
The guide contains both a chapter on how to spot when the body is closing down/has started to close down naturally and what you to consider if you have are potentially facing pts/euthanasia with a terminally ill/deteriorating piggy. It is something you have to judge very much on a case by case order although some of the fundamental ethical questions you will only have to work through once for yourself so it gets that bit easier over time.

Wiebke

Thread 'A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs'

1 Your mental health, sensitivities and work commitments
- Mental health and support resources
- Sensitivity aspects
- When work and other commitments clash
2 Life or death emergency – Can my piggy be saved?
- Contacting a vet clinic at all times and link to life and death emergencies list
- What to do if I cannot access vet care instantly?
- The need to save up for emergency vet access
3 Is my...
  • Like

It is a bit of an imposition from me to ask you to do this kind of homework now but it will help you deal better with any inevitable decision and later on a lot with the usual soul searching/guilt trip that comes with any loss of a beloved one but that is usually much stronger when the responsilibility is resting fully on you.

We are here if you would like to discuss certain aspects in more depth.
 
I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly. Sending you massive hugs.

I lost my Pepper last year to a possible tumour. I decided not to operate and gave him palliative care. I said that as long as he was eating and drinking and pottering around the cage then he still had a good quality of life. He was on painkillers and wasn’t in pain. On the day he passed he was a little quiet and by 4pm I knew it was time. His breathing had become very laboured. I called the vets to get an appointment to help him on his way over the bridge. 10 minutes before we were due to leave for the appointment he peacefully left for the bridge surrounded by his friend Pebble and me.

You know your boy best and you will do the right thing for him when the time comes. That may be leaving him in his surroundings or taking him to the vets. ❤️
 
Thank you all for your kind responses. It seems he has perked up a bit this afternoon. Still obviously very poorly but I feel like he's still himself a little. He wasn't coming out this morning but this afternoon as he's heard me he has come out a bit more. Since the 9th Dec he's lost approx 90g. He'd be up and down but last couple days it's just been down. I think he's ate a bit more today. But guess I'll find out when I weigh him in the morning. I'm honestly so scared of him having a hard death at home. But would prefer him to have a home death. I mean from my human perspective I'd prefer to be at home so I'd assume he would too as that's where he feels most safe?

I've done a bit of reading throughout today and it seems their deaths aren't always peaceful and that is what I'm scared of now. I live 40 mins from my guinea pig vet and I couldn't imagine taking him anywhere else even if it is just to cross over. They were so kind to me before with his friend.
 
Sending hugs. I agree on: OK if still tottering about eating and drinking, also if still attempting to clean self - then there's a quality of life and a will to live.
 
Ninarodders said:
Thank you all for your kind responses. It seems he has perked up a bit this afternoon. Still obviously very poorly but I feel like he's still himself a little. He wasn't coming out this morning but this afternoon as he's heard me he has come out a bit more. Since the 9th Dec he's lost approx 90g. He'd be up and down but last couple days it's just been down. I think he's ate a bit more today. But guess I'll find out when I weigh him in the morning. I'm honestly so scared of him having a hard death at home. But would prefer him to have a home death. I mean from my human perspective I'd prefer to be at home so I'd assume he would too as that's where he feels most safe?

I've done a bit of reading throughout today and it seems their deaths aren't always peaceful and that is what I'm scared of now. I live 40 mins from my guinea pig vet and I couldn't imagine taking him anywhere else even if it is just to cross over. They were so kind to me before with his friend.
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No, you are not quite there yet. It is always such a difficult one to call, and it sadly never gets easier. You can never predict how things develop because each passing is different. It is truly a tiger you have ride wherever and whenever it takes you.

Hang on in there.
 
Ninarodders said:
He is doing quite well tonight. Took his meds fine and got excited over fresh hay and is eating his dinner. I assume these up and down days are to be expected this close to the end.
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Yes, they are unfortunately. Cherish the bright moments.
 
Can/should I be offering critical care? I wouldn't force anything on him as he us at the end and not going to recover but can I be offering him some. I know from the past he loves it. But since April he's not had any guinea pig biscuits of any sort just hay and veggies (grass in summer). This was vet recommendation to help prevent (or last longer) between stones. I dont want to make any bladder issues worse but also he is at then end. He is steadily loosing weight and getting very fussy with what he eats. He had a bit of coriander and a chunk of carrot this morning but wouldn't eat the lettuce. (So I gave the carrot which he loved)
 
Ninarodders said:
Can/should I be offering critical care? I wouldn't force anything on him as he us at the end and not going to recover but can I be offering him some. I know from the past he loves it. But since April he's not had any guinea pig biscuits of any sort just hay and veggies (grass in summer). This was vet recommendation to help prevent (or last longer) between stones. I dont want to make any bladder issues worse but also he is at then end. He is steadily loosing weight and getting very fussy with what he eats. He had a bit of coriander and a chunk of carrot this morning but wouldn't eat the lettuce. (So I gave the carrot which he loved)
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You can always offer but let him decide.

You may find the practical tips in our chapter on looking after terminally ill piggies helpful in this respect. We are addressing this issue of falling into the feeding trap and how avoid it in there:
Wiebke

Thread 'A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs'

1 Your mental health, sensitivities and work commitments
- Mental health and support resources
- Sensitivity aspects
- When work and other commitments clash
2 Life or death emergency – Can my piggy be saved?
- Contacting a vet clinic at all times and link to life and death emergencies list
- What to do if I cannot access vet care instantly?
- The need to save up for emergency vet access
3 Is my...
  • Like
 
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