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I think my piggy time is almost up..

currynugget

currynugget

New Born Pup
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Hi all, my old girl is almost 6,5 years old at least.. She's outlived my other two piggies and she's always been the healthiest girl. However, these past few days I noticed that her breathing is laboured and she seems like losing her appetite. I know it's normal for old piggies but she has no medical history. All these 5 years I only took her to the vet twice and it was always false alarms.

Just a few days ago she still ate her pellets and happily ate the hays. She still eats veggies now but I just can tell that she's more slow now and doesn't really eat hays. What weird is that she would pull the hay with her mouth but seems like she couldn't eat it (?) I also noticed that she would lay down her head a lot (maybe to rest? Idk. Please see attached). She also doesn't seem move much too.

I know lots of you would probably tell me to go to the vet and get her checked but I'm pretty sure the vet would suggest to put her down. I love her so much and even though I kinda ready to let her go, I still want her to be comfortable at home and let her pass naturally, but of course I don't want her to suffer.
 

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It may be a mouth problem. in which case with her age you would want to see a vet. that can be fixed. Ultimately it is up to YOU when you put the animal down. I'm personally dealing with a similar situation with my cat. she's around 15 years old now. her teeth are rotten and she's too old to have them removed. also has liver failure. she was doing really bad last week but seems to have put back on some weight. last visit for antibiotics the vet did bring up if i had thought about putting her down. I told him "one day, but not today." as long as I can fix whats wrong I'm gonna fix it. even if it only pushes her along another month or two, money well spent in my opinion. Lifes not all fun and games. the end for all of us is gonna have a bunch of ups and downs, but they all end in that final down. no one has a crystal ball. i know personally if i was on my death bed doctor told me $150 bucks, maybe last another couple of weeks maybe a month. I'd pay that.... at the same time if the health is just getting worst and worst... you dont have 24/7 to care of it and theirs just no coming back. it is the humane thing to do. no point in needless suffering.

There is no right answer. only what's right by you. do you physically have the time and resources to get her better if she's ill. can she even be made better. all factors you have to weight your self. You do what you need to do to look at your self in the mirror and feel no shame. It will be a hard time and the best thing you can do in it for your animal is be brave. I'm sure the old gal is tired. she lived a long life full of popcorn's and veggies. she's already tripled life expectancy in the wild. never having to know true fear of predators or weather storms, thunder and lightning and cold winds. sounds like a life of pure luxury to me. but seems to be one or two kernels of popcorn at the bottom of that bag.

You have my sympathies Mood Kindred.
 
superka said:
It may be a mouth problem. in which case with her age you would want to see a vet. that can be fixed. Ultimately it is up to YOU when you put the animal down. I'm personally dealing with a similar situation with my cat. she's around 15 years old now. her teeth are rotten and she's too old to have them removed. also has liver failure. she was doing really bad last week but seems to have put back on some weight. last visit for antibiotics the vet did bring up if i had thought about putting her down. I told him "one day, but not today." as long as I can fix whats wrong I'm gonna fix it. even if it only pushes her along another month or two, money well spent in my opinion. Lifes not all fun and games. the end for all of us is gonna have a bunch of ups and downs, but they all end in that final down. no one has a crystal ball. i know personally if i was on my death bed doctor told me $150 bucks, maybe last another couple of weeks maybe a month. I'd pay that.... at the same time if the health is just getting worst and worst... you dont have 24/7 to care of it and theirs just no coming back. it is the humane thing to do. no point in needless suffering.

There is no right answer. only what's right by you. do you physically have the time and resources to get her better if she's ill. can she even be made better. all factors you have to weight your self. You do what you need to do to look at your self in the mirror and feel no shame. It will be a hard time and the best thing you can do in it for your animal is be brave. I'm sure the old gal is tired. she lived a long life full of popcorn's and veggies. she's already tripled life expectancy in the wild. never having to know true fear of predators or weather storms, thunder and lightning and cold winds. sounds like a life of pure luxury to me. but seems to be one or two kernels of popcorn at the bottom of that bag.

You have my sympathies Mood Kindred.
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Thanks so much for your reply. I personally believe it’s not mouth problems. Just looked at her teeth actually this morning and she always has the perfect teeth. Our last visit to the vet, they said her teeth are fine. I personally think there’s something wrong in her lungs/heart. I just can tell that her breathing is laboured just like my last piggy that i had to put down because she had a mass in her heart.

Thank you, i know i’ve given a beautiful life for her and i believe she knows that she’s loved.
 
((HUGS.)) It's definitely hard when the old pigs start to show their age. There's always the option to see a vet for pain relief or treatment if possible. Even if she is getting near the end of her natural life, medical care may be able to make her more comfortable for longer. Ultimately the choice to put to sleep is always you, not the vet, so even if the vet suggests that doesn't mean you have to make that choice if the problem is age or something manageable. I've got a palliative care piggie at home right now too, she's doing well so far on pain meds but we know eventually she will pass or we will have to help her pass if she can't enjoy life anymore. I know it's hard. As you said, she has lived a really long and happy life. I keep trying to remind myself that living a happy life long enough to grow old is pretty much the win state of life. ((HUGS)) to you and your piggie.
 
Freela said:
((HUGS.)) It's definitely hard when the old pigs start to show their age. There's always the option to see a vet for pain relief or treatment if possible. Even if she is getting near the end of her natural life, medical care may be able to make her more comfortable for longer. Ultimately the choice to put to sleep is always you, not the vet, so even if the vet suggests that doesn't mean you have to make that choice if the problem is age or something manageable. I've got a palliative care piggie at home right now too, she's doing well so far on pain meds but we know eventually she will pass or we will have to help her pass if she can't enjoy life anymore. I know it's hard. As you said, she has lived a really long and happy life. I keep trying to remind myself that living a happy life long enough to grow old is pretty much the win state of life. ((HUGS)) to you and your piggie.
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Thank you for your words 😭
I just lost another piggy 3 months ago and funnily enough i was ready for this one to pass before the other one just cause we know that she’s an old gal.

For now she just seems always tired and weak. Doesn’t move much but i always remind myself that it’s okay if she just wants to rest.
 
You may find the forum guide here useful A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

I'm so sorry for your situation - you know your piggy best. If she seems as if she's OK but just drawing to a close you could perhaps offer things like mushed pellets for her to eat to see if she is interested. Or if there is any 'recovery' food left over from previous piggies? We'll be thinking of you x
 
currynugget said:
Hi all, my old girl is almost 6,5 years old at least.. She's outlived my other two piggies and she's always been the healthiest girl. However, these past few days I noticed that her breathing is laboured and she seems like losing her appetite. I know it's normal for old piggies but she has no medical history. All these 5 years I only took her to the vet twice and it was always false alarms.

Just a few days ago she still ate her pellets and happily ate the hays. She still eats veggies now but I just can tell that she's more slow now and doesn't really eat hays. What weird is that she would pull the hay with her mouth but seems like she couldn't eat it (?) I also noticed that she would lay down her head a lot (maybe to rest? Idk. Please see attached). She also doesn't seem move much too.

I know lots of you would probably tell me to go to the vet and get her checked but I'm pretty sure the vet would suggest to put her down. I love her so much and even though I kinda ready to let her go, I still want her to be comfortable at home and let her pass naturally, but of course I don't want her to suffer.
Click to expand...

Hi

It could be dental overgrowth, a root abscess or some other infection as your piggy is eating only soft foods, which only a vet can check for. Other diagnosed common old age complaints like arthritis can usually be mitigated for at least a while with painkillers and glucosamine etc.

You need to monitor the weight and step in with support feeding asap. Keep in mind that at least three quarters of the daily food intake is hay, which you cannot control by eye. Just nibbling on a little veg won't be enough to keep your piggy going; they will weaken quickly eventually die from lack of feed.

Here is more very practical how-to support care information for ill guinea pigs off their food:
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

Please see a vet and step in with your home support asap.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

It could be dental overgrowth, a root abscess or some other infection as your piggy is eating only soft foods, which only a vet can check for. Other diagnosed common old age complaints like arthritis can usually be mitigated for at least a while with painkillers and glucosamine etc.
You need to monitor the weight and step in with support feeding asap. Keep in mind that at least three quarters of the daily food intake are hay. Just nibbling on a little veg won't be enough to keep your piggy going; they will weaken quickly eventually die from lack of feed.

Here is more practical support care information:
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

Please see a vet and step in with your home support asap.
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Could dental overgrowth happen within 2 days? She was totally fine on Thursday and we did give her worming. Could it be the reason..?
 
Did she have worms? Do you routinely worm her or is it something new you’ve done?
We don’t routinely worm in this country (no need to) so it’s not something we come come up against.

I can only otherwise agree - syringe feed her mushed pellets or recovery feed and have a vet check her over
 
currynugget said:
Could dental overgrowth happen within 2 days? She was totally fine on Thursday and we did give her worming. Could it be the reason..?
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Teeth do not overgrow in 2 days; but they take a while until symptoms become visible (slowed chewing and increasingly avoiding hard foods are some of the first) but those symptoms also apply to other health issues.

We simply cannot tell you whether your piggy is suffering from dental overgrowth or an upset digestive system, sight unseen and without access to your piggy. We can only ever make guesses based on the information you provide, your own speculations and through the mirror of your own perception. For finding out what is really going on and getting the appropriate treatment you need to see a vet in a hands-on examination. I am very sorry but no online place is equipped to replace a vet visit because of the lack of direct access.

But in any case you need to step in with feeding support right now and switch from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time on your kitchen scales so you can tailor necessary support level to what is needed and keep your piggy going until they can see a vet and get any needed medication. The Syringe Feeding guide has a chapter on emergencies and how to improvise with what you have at home or easily available until you can get hold of a vet and recovery care products, as does the Emergency Care guide.

All the best.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Did she have worms? Do you routinely worm her or is it something new you’ve done?
We don’t routinely worm in this country (no need to) so it’s not something we come come up against.

I can only otherwise agree - syringe feed her mushed pellets or recovery feed and have a vet check her over
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I live in Australia and they always say to worm the piggies every three months. And yeah we’ve been giving her critical care twice a day.
 
currynugget said:
I live in Australia and they always say to worm the piggies every three months. And yeah we’ve been giving her critical care twice a day.
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Check daily with your kitchen scales whether that is enough - if your girl is not eating any hay whatsoever, it may not be. The best time to weigh is first thing in the morning when the weight is lowest for the most accurate day-on-day comparison; the weight swings in a ca. 30g band over the course of 24 hours so weighing at different times can give misleading impressions.

If your piggy has noticeably less or smaller/thinner poo output, then they haven't eaten enough in the past 1-2 days. Keep in mind that the poo output always runs that much behind the actual food intake.
 
Just want to give you all an update..

We brought her to the vet as expected, there was crackles in her lungs so it could be cancer, lung/heart problems. The vet tried to check her mouth but she didn't wanna go too far since she was having a hard time breathing. She also mentioned that her body was feeling cold and it was already starting to look purple inside her mouth.

We decided to help her pass. She ate one last blueberry and she passed away just from the sedatives. She didn't fight back and the vet said "I think she's ready."

Thank you all for your prayers, I'm gonna cry a little bit more and then I'm gonna celebrate her life knowing she had a beautiful life with us ❤️
 
I’m so sorry you lost your beautiful piggy. You gave her the very best life. Popcorn high at the bridge. Take care ❤️
 
Thank you for taking the time to update us. I'm so sorry. It sounds like she had a lovely long, happy and healthy life with you....all we want for any of our pigs. Rest well sweet fuzzy girl 🧡
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your sense that her time was approaching was spot on, and she must have known how much she was loved to feel secure enough to let you know that. She had a piggy life to be celebrated x
 
So sorry for your loss.
You made that tough decision out of love.
Holding you in my heart ♥️
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
 
I think you did exactly the right thing. I am a big believer in just because you could, doesn't mean you should.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss! It sounds like you gave her a beautiful life and helped her to pass peacefully. ((HUGS)) and be kind to yourself while you grieve.
 
Aw, I'm so sorry for your loss :( My Edward was helped over the bridge last Wednesday. He was nearly 7 so I am trying to celebrate his life. Your girl lived a long and happy life x
 
Wiebke said:
It could be dental overgrowth, a root abscess or some other infection as your piggy is eating only soft foods, which only a vet can check for. Other diagnosed common old age complaints like arthritis can usually be mitigated for at least a while with painkillers and glucosamine etc.

You need to monitor the weight and step in with support feeding asap. Keep in mind that at least three quarters of the daily food intake is hay, which you cannot control by eye. Just nibbling on a little veg won't be enough to keep your piggy going; they will weaken quickly eventually die from lack of feed.

Here is more very practical how-to support care information for ill guinea pigs off their food:
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

Please see a vet and step in with your home support asap.
Click to expand...
I’m so sorry for your loss, you did the kindest action made out of love for your little old lady, sending hugs x
She sounded like she had a wonderful long and happy life, something very dear to celebrate x

Sleep tight little lady 🌈
 
currynugget said:
Just want to give you all an update..

We brought her to the vet as expected, there was crackles in her lungs so it could be cancer, lung/heart problems. The vet tried to check her mouth but she didn't wanna go too far since she was having a hard time breathing. She also mentioned that her body was feeling cold and it was already starting to look purple inside her mouth.

We decided to help her pass. She ate one last blueberry and she passed away just from the sedatives. She didn't fight back and the vet said "I think she's ready."

Thank you all for your prayers, I'm gonna cry a little bit more and then I'm gonna celebrate her life knowing she had a beautiful life with us ❤️
Click to expand...

HUGS

I am very sorry.

It sounds like your girl was already dying and her body was closing down; the heart was already very much in failure. :(

You did absolutely the right thing to spare any further unnecessary suffering. Be sad but be proud that you haven't failed her. Also be kind to yourself in the coming days as you will need some time to digest the huge shock. We can do out best to give our piggies a happy life and to get them to a good age but we can never choose when and what from they die.

Here is a practical and sensitive guide for grieving owners if you need it: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Here is practical advice if you have a bereaved companion: Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
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