How did you find out about the forum?

Two days ago, and for what feels like an eternity, I was googling everything sick piggy / dying piggy related. For nine hours, almost none stop, I was holding and comforting my dying piggy, Waddles. With very little maneuverability, because I was half lying, half sitting, so Waddles could be comfortable on my chest, I found myself searching the internet for information on dying piggies. I was frustrated that there seems to be very little information about piggies dying of old age. Every site seems to have a diagnosis and treatment regime. What I really wanted was support for comforting a dying piggy with options for helping them get to Rainbow Bridge.

Below is the ONLY site I found with an old age section but must admit it didn't really contain the information I wanted.
http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/Old-Age-Guinea-Pigs.shtml

So, after much searching, I stumbled upon the guinea pig forum in reference to something else, either C&C cages or kidney stones, maybe.

I loved the live chat and hoped to get some immediate support despite the time change and it getting late in Canada, meaning much of the UK would be sleeping.

Thankfully, like piggies, their owners can be up at all times too and I did get into the forum and some quick replies immediately. Thank you!

I read on here somewhere, (there is so much good information and wonderful posts) that the general public doesn't understand how guinea pigs can get into our hearts and when they die, we grieve just as dog owners grieve when they lose a pet. That made sense to me. Honestly, I didn't realize how much I loved Waddles till I held him dying in my arms for nine hours. I really thought I loved how they made my kids happy but didn't notice the impact on me till just two days ago.

I have a new found appreciation for Tyreese and recognize that he too holds a big spot in my heart, beside Waddles.

Well, this has gone on long enough. I'm so glad I found this forum and for the wonderful contributors who lend their kind words and experiences. Perhaps I haven't read enough posts to find information on old age piggies or maybe they just aren't here. Could any information on this topic maybe get a sticky so it can be easily found in a hurry, please?

Thank you.

Such a wonderful place this is !
 
MariaLovesPigs said:
Two days ago, and for what feels like an eternity, I was googling everything sick piggy / dying piggy related. For nine hours, almost none stop, I was holding and comforting my dying piggy, Waddles. With very little maneuverability, because I was half lying, half sitting, so Waddles could be comfortable on my chest, I found myself searching the internet for information on dying piggies. I was frustrated that there seems to be very little information about piggies dying of old age. Every site seems to have a diagnosis and treatment regime. What I really wanted was support for comforting a dying piggy with options for helping them get to Rainbow Bridge.

Below is the ONLY site I found with an old age section but must admit it didn't really contain the information I wanted.
http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/Old-Age-Guinea-Pigs.shtml

So, after much searching, I stumbled upon the guinea pig forum in reference to something else, either C&C cages or kidney stones, maybe.

I loved the live chat and hoped to get some immediate support despite the time change and it getting late in Canada, meaning much of the UK would be sleeping.

Thankfully, like piggies, their owners can be up at all times too and I did get into the forum and some quick replies immediately. Thank you!

I read on here somewhere, (there is so much good information and wonderful posts) that the general public doesn't understand how guinea pigs can get into our hearts and when they die, we grieve just as dog owners grieve when they lose a pet. That made sense to me. Honestly, I didn't realize how much I loved Waddles till I held him dying in my arms for nine hours. I really thought I loved how they made my kids happy but didn't notice the impact on me till just two days ago.

I have a new found appreciation for Tyreese and recognize that he too holds a big spot in my heart, beside Waddles.

Well, this has gone on long enough. I'm so glad I found this forum and for the wonderful contributors who lend their kind words and experiences. Perhaps I haven't read enough posts to find information on old age piggies or maybe they just aren't here. Could any information on this topic maybe get a sticky so it can be easily found in a hurry, please?

Thank you.

Such a wonderful place this is !
Click to expand...

There is not a very lot of information on older piggies around, and that is mainly geared towards making their lives as comfy as possible. There is even less information on dying piggies.

We try our best on this forum to support other members grappling with a life-threatening illness, dying piggies or bereavement on a case-by-case basis.

In the case of advice on dying piggies, the problem is that each situation is different and very dependent on the individual stance of the owner as well as the availability of emergency vet care and nature of the illness/breakdown. It is often very difficult to assess via the internet how far gone a piggy is already and whether it is worth trying to save it or whether the owner needs to consider euthanasia if a piggy is obviously suffering; and it can be even more difficult to explore the various options very carefully and tactfully with a stressed/panicky owner we are not familiar with and haven't been able to build up a platform of trust yet.
There is simply no right or wrong in these situations, as pretty much all decisions are being made from love and the wish to spare a beloved pet any unnecessary suffering. The important thing is that whatever they do, it has to feel right for the owner who bears the weight of the responsibility for their pet, so the grieving process is easier on them and they don't have to struggle as much with the inevitable feelings of guilt or having failed their beloved pet that are characteristic for the onset of the grieving process.

As to information on care for elderly piggies, I have asked a forum member who is very experienced in looking after mainly elderly or chronically ill/disabled piggies for an information sticky for our forum, but he is currently dealing with a family bereavement, so it is not the time to push him on that front! :(

Guinea Lynx medical website have articles about elderly piggies, pts/euthanasia and bereavement in their care section: http://www.guinealynx.info/aging.html
We have so far got information for bereavement and euthanasia on our forum:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/looking-after-a-bereaved-piggy.110463/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...t-happens-when-its-time-to-say-goodbye.89716/
 
Wiebke said:
There is not a very lot of information on older piggies around, and that is mainly geared towards making their lives as comfy as possible. There is even less information on dying piggies.

We try our best on this forum to support other members grappling with a life-threatening illness, dying piggies or bereavement on a case-by-case basis.

In the case of advice on dying piggies, the problem is that each situation is different and very dependent on the individual stance of the owner as well as the availability of emergency vet care and nature of the illness/breakdown. It is often very difficult to assess via the internet how far gone a piggy is already and whether it is worth trying to save it or whether the owner needs to consider euthanasia as the piggy is obviously suffering; and it can be even more difficult to explore the various options very carefully with a stressed owner we are not familiar with and haven't been able to build up a platform of trust yet.
There is simply no right or wrong in these situations, as pretty much all decisions are being made from love and the wish to spare a beloved pet any unnecessary suffering. The important thing is that whatever they do, it has to feel right for the owner who bears the weight of the responsibility for their pet, so the grieving process is easier on them and they don't have to struggle as much with the inevitable feelings of guilt or having failed their beloved pet that are characteristic for the onset of the grieving process.

As to information on care for elderly piggies, I have asked a forum member who is very experienced in looking after mainly elderly or chronically ill/disabled piggies for an information sticky for our forum, but he is currently dealing with a family bereavement, so it is not the time to push him on that front! :(

Guinea Lynx medical website have an article about elderly piggies, pts/euthanasia and bereavement in their care section: http://www.guinealynx.info/aging.html
We have so far got information for bereavement and euthanasia on our forum:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/looking-after-a-bereaved-piggy.110463/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...t-happens-when-its-time-to-say-goodbye.89716/
Click to expand...
What you have just provided me is WONDERFUL. Thank you. You should post it as a sticky on its own. I would have loved to have read this 40 hours ago:) I've read the threads above, already but thanks again for reposting. I really appreciate your sincerity and this forum is wonderful!
 
Found you via Google. I needed more knowledge after becoming a volunteer and fosterer, books only take you so far, this forum has been invaluable. Thank you.:nod:
 
I was interested in joining a forum for guinea pigs so I joined another forum and it was very confusing to figure out where to post a thread. So I deleted my account and looked up guinea pig forums up popped this forum so I clicked on it and had a look around and decided to join. It was really easy to find my way around the place, so I was delighted. Everyone here is really nice and I think I'm really lucky to be part of the community here.:clap:
 
I am not 100% sure but i think i was googling bladder stones in guinea pigs and this is the first site that came up, it took me a while to join though being the shy little thing i am lol and even though i cant get on as often as i used to i still love it and always will do.

My new years resolution is to be here more often, and i have been every day so far, but i dont always post, there are so many new members that i dont know now, so i have to build my confidence again. :eek:
 
Using google I was researching different types of bedding as I was concerned about the colour of my newly adopted piggies' feet and TGPF came up. The TGPF gave the most informative, down to earth description of my options. Then I had more of a nosey around the site and realised how invaluable it could be.... and I wasn't wrong (the books my daughter and I had been given/seen about guinea pigs were absolutely rubbish, no real substance to the content and, knowing a little more now, they were even providing the wrong advice!) The other internet sites I looked at I just didn't have confidence in, apart from guinealynx but then that got a bit technical for me sometimes :blink: It has been absolutely brilliant being a part of TGPF, especially being a new piggy mum, and I love the way the community supports, responds, shares and laughs with each other. Well done to all of you who make this such a great place to be and have available. Thank you :luv:
 
doglovinpiggylover said:
I am not 100% sure but i think i was googling bladder stones in guinea pigs and this is the first site that came up, it took me a while to join though being the shy little thing i am lol and even though i cant get on as often as i used to i still love it and always will do.

My new years resolution is to be here more often, and i have been every day so far, but i dont always post, there are so many new members that i dont know now, so i have to build my confidence again. :eek:
Click to expand...

You've met me in the flesh too, how lucky are you? :))
 
I haven't heard anything for a while, he had been placed with a feisty doe who took an instant dislike to him, so they were split before anything happened. So he's back on his own. :(
 
I'm new to TGPF too... I find instructions in bullet points easier to do than in long sentences! :lol!:
  • At the top of the home page click on the Forum tab
  • Choose the Forum you think is most relevant for what you want to ask
  • Then click on that Forum to select it.
  • At the top it says Post New Thread click on that
  • A new screen comes up for you to post your thread - type in the title and fill the details in the box underneath and then post. :)
 
I think I found out through another forum. Some one had posted a link to here, and being curious, I had a look round. Liking what I found, I signed up! Not as active as I could be, but then there's stuff going on in RL that I can't really ignore at the moment.

Hopefully will be a little more active on here this year. Time will tell, I suppose!
 
This is the 2nd site I have joined actually, the first one was good but has gone flat, so last week I just typed in guinea pig forums, and voila,,there you were. I had a look and liked the layout, it is different and a bit more adult it seems. And you all seem a nice friendly bunch:) I like to browse and chat and add pics and look through loads of piggie pics and get ideas, inspiration and help:) thanx
 
I found out about TGPF through good old Google. As an owner of 7 piggies, this forum is invaluable to me. There are lovely fellow cavy fanatics on here, and it is home to some of the most useful GP advice on the web. x
 
I came across this site on bing. While looking for a local vet to take my poor baby pig to when I found him in a dumpster behind a pet shop he had matted eyes and a puncture wound. He is now very happy living with his two girl friend. I also at this same pet shop have recently bought a few pregnant piggies in bad shape (3) one had to be rush straight to the vet. The amount of info on here has been helpful. Thank you!
 
I found the forum through google,I have kept piggies for several years now but wanted somewhere to talk pig,share pictures share ideas and get new ideas to use myself and see pictures of gorgeous piggies all over. I love it,I have had great fun looking at all the pictures and reading all the stories.
 
I Googled guinea pig advice and this site came up, I also have it in facebook. I only joined on Saturday and so far have learnt an abundance of information! I love scrolling through the threads taking tips and hints. Very welcoming forum!
I
 
I think I found it when I was trying to find out information about C&C Cages, probably through Google. I found the thread with pictures of everyone's cages, and was hooked!
 
I found out about this through a lovely lady who gave me advice whilst searching for a neutered boar to go with my sow (she fell out with the other sows).
I am a member of another forum, which I am rather attached to and like very much indeed, but this is also a really lovely and helpful forum :)
 
I found it through Google. I kept searching anything and everything to do with piggies after getting mine & a majority of the useful answers were on this forum. I've never been a member of a forum before so thought I'd give it a go & learn lots at the same time! :)
 
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