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Last couple days? Are we doing right by her?

I am so sorry you are going through this. Sending you my support again at such a difficult time.
 
I’m sorry you’re going through this tough time. I’m sure she knows she’s loved.
 
Fluffbabies said:
Update: I've spoken to the OOH vet who recommended we take her in to PTS. They said it could take a long time for her body to shut down naturally, meanwhile she's waiting and her casemates are waiting for it to happen too.

I appreciate this forum so much to have a place to write about these tough times.
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BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry but I usually opt for a booked/planned pts with mine in comparable situations when the dying process is clearly underway but is either not going very quick or smoothly. It is very much a grey zone and therefore emotionally more difficult to navigate because the decision is fully on you and not taken out of your hands by sudden deterioration or by clear pain/discomfort.

A few hours or days won't ultimately make a huge difference for you when seen against a whole lifetime but they will do so for Nugget and save her unnecessary discomfort - it's sometimes the most heart-breaking but loving gift we can make them once any chance of recovery or a temporary improvement has passed. Keep in mind that not eating also means that any oral pain/medical support will fall by the side since the body stops processing nutrients. Nugget is just on the edge of it; it is the trickiest part of the journey when you have to serious consider how soon or late to call the shots. Nugget's mate clearly knows what is up.

Sparing her a long, arduous trudge to the Bridge is not a betrayal, especially when you have been through it with other piggies and know what is yet in store; it is the kindest thing you can do. I am always relieved when a piggy of mine can pass away naturally at home if they are not in any discomfort apart from the bit at the very end but never at the price of any drawn out suffering or major distress. Take comfort in that Nugget could not have found a more loving home.

PS: Sorry for not posting on here much; I have lost my Hapus on Wednesday and her companion Heilin is taking it rather hard.
 
Wiebke said:
BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry but I usually opt for a booked/planned pts with mine in comparable situations when the dying process is clearly underway but is either not going very quick or smoothly. It is very much a grey zone and therefore emotionally more difficult to navigate because the decision is fully on you and not taken out of your hands by sudden deterioration or by clear pain/discomfort.

A few hours or days won't ultimately make a huge difference for you when seen against a whole lifetime but they will do so for Nugget and save her unnecessary discomfort - it's sometimes the most heart-breaking but loving gift we can make them once any chance of recovery or a temporary improvement has passed. Keep in mind that not eating also means that any oral pain/medical support will fall by the side since the body stops processing nutrients. Nugget is just on the edge of it; it is the trickiest part of the journey when you have to serious consider how soon or late to call the shots. Nugget's mate clearly knows what is up.

Sparing her a long, arduous trudge to the Bridge is not a betrayal, especially when you have been through it with other piggies and know what is yet in store; it is the kindest thing you can do. I am always relieved when a piggy of mine can pass away naturally at home if they are not in any discomfort apart from the bit at the very end but never at the price of any drawn out suffering or major distress. Take comfort in that Nugget could not have found a more loving home.

PS: Sorry for not posting on here much; I have lost my Hapus on Wednesday and her companion Heilin is taking it rather hard.
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Thank you for your message Wiebke. I don't necessarily expect replies as I know we all go through very hard times as piggy parents and these posts are not easy to read. I feel very blessed if people reply with their support. I find it cathartic to write on here as well knowing there are people who understand.

I am very sorry to hear about Hapus and hope things get easier for Heilin. Sending love and hugs.

It did feel like the grey area because so often we thought she was passing right then and there was she was so peaceful the whole time she was just sleeping mostly and her breathing almost stopped. So we thought if her breathing was stopping peacefully in our arms that was the way to go. Although you can never know absolutely about pain levels she didn't give any signs. I found she was passing urine and small poops so I knew she wasn't blocked. I think it confused us when she rallied and had the salad and her medication. She looked so bright eyed and her urine was only pinky again, not blood, I almost thought she had just had a bad day and would take syringe feed. It made me doubt myself again. But as we gain more experience I guess it becomes more obvious.

We planned pts for Leia and Ginger was running around like she was in her prime until she collapsed and she was gone very quickly so this was a new experience.

We took Nugget to the vet and had her PTS right after my last message. She was wrapped up for the journey and looked very peaceful. The vet looked in her mouth and said she was pale. She told us afterwards she went over the bridge with just the gas though they did the injection to be sure.

There's two of us piggy parents so we both needed to get on the same page. One of us thought she was passing peacefully amongst her family and one of us wanted to take her to be PTS. We both wanted so hard to just do what was best for her.

RIP Nugget <3 Run free with Ginger and Leia x

I'm glad and feel relief that she is at rest but what I wouldn't give to have her here. I hope I remember her ways and mannerisms.

Now the uncontrollable tears and grief starts properly. The worst is when I forget she's not in the cage, happy and healthy, running out to the sound of the fridge/salad bag or rushing as fast as she could to the nugget bowl when she heard the nugget bag... or I wake up after finally falling asleep and have to re-remember with that pit in my stomach and rush of sadness. :'(
 
I’m so sorry. Popcorn high over the bridge with old friends Nugget. Take care. ❤️
 
So very sorry to hear about Nugget. It’s such a hard decision but it sounds like you did everything you could for her. Sleep tight Nugget and give yourself space and time to grieve ❤️🌈
 
HUGS

If Nugget went that quickly at the vets then that means that her sudden perk was just a last little flicker of the candle before she would have taken a sudden turn for the worst very soon after. It is not at all uncommon and but can really hit you if you make the mistake to throw all your hopes into it. I have witnessed this last flicker quite a few times.

Having to retrain yourself to sever all the little unthinking habits and checks in your daily life is perhaps the hardest and most painful thing because it brings the loss home in so many different ways over the coming weeks, often in unexpected ways so you cannot brace for it. I cannot remember how often I have got the food prep wrong after a loss and especially after a cluster of losses or prepped a medicine syringe for a piggy that was no longer there... :(

Be kind with yourself and give yourself time to grieve but rest assured that you could not have done any more for Nugget than you have. She was blessed to have found you and you are blessed to have found her. You have given her a good life and have extended it as much as possible and reasonable with your medical care.

Guinea pigs don't have a concept for longevity or for an average life span (which Nugget has lived to, by the way); they measure their lives in happy days and live in the now. As long as you provide those good days, you can never go wrong; no matter how long or short a life is. What from, when and which way our beloved ones die is not something we can ever choose; we can only cherish every day we have them in our lives, keep them in our hearts once they are gone and try to do our best to minimise any suffering at the end - that bit is thankfully in our control.

Take care and allow yourself to grieve.

For those reading this thread: here is the link to our helpful Dying&Euthanasia / Grieving owners&children / Bereaved companion care collection Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
 
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