Larry Pig nearing the rainbow bridge

Lemurs

Lemurs

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Hello, we have a boy of 5 years and 2 months. Yesterday when we woke up he was wobbly, struggling to walk, falling on his right side - then improved as the morning went on. The vet found a big, solid lump in his stomach then last night he went downhill. Sitting puffy and still under a bridge, then worst of all refusing his favourite pellets and pea flakes. He wasn't pooping then dropped 15+ in quick succession.

Around 1am I gave a tiny bit of metacam for comfort. Seconds later (before the medicine could work) he surprisingly looked for hay, had some pellets and flakes plus some hay cube/cookie.

So I left him be (with his 2 ladies) and this morning he is fairly normal and hungry, gnawing whatever he can reach to beg for food.

I have a few questions please.

When they are in that puffy, still state (I saw in a guide here that is considered end of life): are they best left alone? He didn't want to be on my lap with a blanket so I rested my hand on him to keep him warm. But then I feel like I'm stopping him sleeping..?

Also, do other GPs normally comfort them at this time by being present? My two girls weren't interested last night. They mostly chilled 1m away. Maybe I put them off as they do normally sleep in formation (30-50cm apart).

And most importantly for Larry: is there any downside to unlimited pea flakes & treats now we don't have to worry about weight and sugar?

Thank you.
 

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Hi I'm sorry you are finding yourself in this situation I'm no expert at all but if your have been told he is close to crossing the Rainbow Bridge I wouldn't think his favourite treats are going to have a downside.
I've heard others say that guinea pigs know when their friends are unwell but I guess how they react depends on their personality 💐
Asking as he's not in pain I would stay close doloow his lead as regards how much he wants to be handled and just keep things as calm and as normal as you can to avoid any stress 🙏
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

Their friends absolutely do know when they are unwell/at the end of life: they still draw comfort from being together but they don’t necessarily snuggle up together, and the others may well just do their own thing seemingly ignoring him.

Give him a warm but not hot snugglesafe heatpad (if you have one) so he can keep warm if he needs to.

It’s good you have pain relief for him. Keep up with that to keep him comfortable.

There is no downside to giving treats once you have an end of life diagnosis.

You may already have seen our guide but I’ll add it in again for you

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
 
So sorry that Larry Pig is coming to the end of his life.
He is in the best place at home with his family, human and furry.
Give him all his favourite food - it doesn’t matter now and will help give him a good ending.
It’s not an easy time for you so please take care of yourself too.
Holding you in my heart ♥️
 
I am very sorry that the rainbow bridge is calling Larry 😞 (((hugs))). He is better off at home surrounded by his friends. They will know that he is nearing the end of his life and will deal with it in their own way

There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving him his favourite treats

I hope his passing is peaceful. I am thinking of you all x
 
I’m so sorry the bridge is calling Larry Pig. Is he on a good amount of pain meds? When I had a terminal piggy I kept the diet pretty much the same as I didn’t want him to get bloat. When he was close to the end I put my hand on him softly so he would know I was there. Sending you hugs and hoping Larry Pigs passing is a peaceful one. ❤️
 
Thank you all for your kind words.

He is on 0.1ml of Metacam a day due to his size. He has lost weight due to the probable tumour but we didn't take him to the vets earlier as he was always himself.

I basically said goodbye last night. Today he has been more lively, eating well (he says thanks for the tip on unlimited pea flakes) and is begging for more by gnawing things like his bridge steps (below).

Hopefully tonight is peaceful and normal, then tomorrow I get to work from home with him :)
 

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Glad he seems ok. How much does he weigh? Is he on dog or cat pain meds?
 
Hello, he's had a really good, normal week thank you.

His weight distribution and feet don't always look settled but he's drinking & eating well. He's still chewing stuff when excited and begging for food. For some silly reason his current favourite begging-chew is cable ties (below). When I've gone to check him at 2, 3am he's still darting to them to beg for pellets :)

He's pooping a normal amount but gets many stuck half out where he's lost muscle. Weepweeps he is a dinky 650g and on the 0.5mg/ml cat Metacam. Maybe he has weeks rather than days but things can go downhill so fast (then back up again it seems). It's perfect pig temperatures at the moment so hopefully he gets at least all of Spring.
 

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Lemurs said:
Hello, he's had a really good, normal week thank you.

His weight distribution and feet don't always look settled but he's drinking & eating well. He's still chewing stuff when excited and begging for food. For some silly reason his current favourite begging-chew is cable ties (below). When I've gone to check him at 2, 3am he's still darting to them to beg for pellets :)

He's pooping a normal amount but gets many stuck half out where he's lost muscle. Weepweeps he is a dinky 650g and on the 0.5mg/ml cat Metacam. Maybe he has weeks rather than days but things can go downhill so fast (then back up again it seems). It's perfect pig temperatures at the moment so hopefully he gets at least all of Spring.
Click to expand...

That is wonderful to hear! I hope that it continues.:yahoo:
 
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