Making "THE" decision

[Amberly81]

Hello. I hope everyone's little ones are doing well.
I am a mess today. Last year I lost Bella. I spent nearly £2000 trying to get her better but she passed after her operation due to heart failure. No regrets and I'm doing it again. But this time for Swift, her sister.
Swift is 7 years old. I've just been told that vet has found a huge mass in her abdomen. Basically taking up most of her abdomen. She hasn't been eating well the last few days and I took her to the emergency vet over the weekend where they thought it was her teeth becoming spiky so I got my hopes up thinking she was fixable. But the vet has said there's more, they think it's a tumour causing an obstruction and given her less than 50% survival. Not only because of what they've found, but because she's 7 and has lost far too much weight. I feel guilty as I thought the weight loss was due to her age and getting old.
I've told my vet to send the images to a specialist vet who deals with exotic animals and get yet another opinion. I just don't feel I'm ready to lose her and I know that's selfish as her needs come first but I'm exploring everything to try and keep her with us. I love her so much and I'm holding back tears but still holding out hope. What do I do? I can't make the right decisions when my head is so messed up. I keep thinking about her little face looking up at me. I'm so incredibly upset and hate being in this position..

 

[Lorcan]

I've always said I'll know when I get told it's enough, when their eyes and body and actions say so. In effect, Swift will tell you when she's ready if she needs to, she's a good age and has had a good life with you, but if you think she's still got some fight in her, I'd let her fight. But be realistic about the outcome - especially with her age, her current weight and appetite and everything else. Hope is good, but it can hurt too.

 

[piggl]

I am sorry you are in this position, especially after everything that went on with Bella.

You have been given some amazing advice above, but I thought I would add that you are in what is called the 'gray area', there is no right or wrong as any decision is made from love and care. A fantastic thing I first heard on this forum was "Better a day too early than a minute too later", and I followed this advice for the euthanasia of my boy.
One thing I will say is I believe you will know when it is time, but I also hope you do not feel pressured to hold on to the very last minute, as at least this is how I felt when I went through deciding when to put down my boy. I put him down sooner than later, and I felt really guilty for a long time but I know I made the right decision and it was made out of love for him.

You definitely should not feel guilty for not being for not being initially concerned about her weight loss, you were not aware of what was going on. It is also not selfish to not want to say goodbye, it is normal and completely a valid emotion/reaction to finding out something so scary/upsetting.
Take many pictures, have loads of cuddles and I hope you have many more happy days with your girl.

My thoughts are with you.
I will attach the forums bereavement guides that you may find nice to read through -
Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry you have found yourself in this sad position. I think age makes these decisions more difficult. As you want to fix them but they are old and frail. I think you have done the right thing getting a specialist opinion. I’d listen to what they say, then make your decision. Some things just can’t be fixed and the call to the bridge is strong. Take care

 

[Wiebke]

Hello. I hope everyone's little ones are doing well.
I am a mess today. Last year I lost Bella. I spent nearly £2000 trying to get her better but she passed after her operation due to heart failure. No regrets and I'm doing it again. But this time for Swift, her sister.
Swift is 7 years old. I've just been told that vet has found a huge mass in her abdomen. Basically taking up most of her abdomen. She hasn't been eating well the last few days and I took her to the emergency vet over the weekend where they thought it was her teeth becoming spiky so I got my hopes up thinking she was fixable. But the vet has said there's more, they think it's a tumour causing an obstruction and given her less than 50% survival. Not only because of what they've found, but because she's 7 and has lost far too much weight. I feel guilty as I thought the weight loss was due to her age and getting old.
I've told my vet to send the images to a specialist vet who deals with exotic animals and get yet another opinion. I just don't feel I'm ready to lose her and I know that's selfish as her needs come first but I'm exploring everything to try and keep her with us. I love her so much and I'm holding back tears but still holding out hope. What do I do? I can't make the right decisions when my head is so messed up. I keep thinking about her little face looking up at me. I'm so incredibly upset and hate being in this position..

Hi

HUGS

I am ever so sorry. Losing several piggies/pets in close succession is very hard and often devastating.

Please take the time to contact one of the free support platforms that the Blue Cross offers for pet bereavement; they are staffed by trained volunteers so you can talk through it all in strict confidentiality and hopefully clear your head a little to be able to make any necessary decisions with a not less aching heart but at least a clearer mind as to how much you want to put an elderly piggy through. Also take the time to cry if it helps you to release some of your torrent of emotions that are swamping you right now.
Here is the link: Pet bereavement and pet loss

News of terminal illness corresponds to the shock part of a sudden death; your grieving process doesn't start with a death, it starts with the reality of an impending death. Apart from the actual loss itself, it is the second worst part of the grieving process. I hope that it helps to put your current overwhelming wave of emotions and pain into a bit more of a perspective.

Please accept firstly that 7 years is a very good age right at the top end of the average life expectancy and that the pain in her body that your girl must be in is considerable and inoperable. Guinea pigs are wired to suppress any signs of illness to an amazing degree. When they finally show, your piggy is generally already in a bad and often advanced way, especially with internal growths.

If it is in any way a bit of a consolation for you, I have just had to make that decision in May for a 3 years old with a suspected large internal cancerous growth that had been causing a massive build-up of fluid in her body cavity, which was masking what was behind it. Her heart checked out fine but any surgery would not have come with any decent expectation of success. She'd been fighting medium bloating symptoms (as which it was initially treated for) unsuccessfully for several days and she was weakening. Tegeirian was my third loss just this year, the two others being two sows coming up to their 7th birthday and dying from old age related issues - considering their background, it was a bit of a miracle to have got the two sisters that far but that didn't make it any easier when they were passing.

I feel for you, having lost yet another two piggies of mine within a day of each other just before Christmas, one very unexpectedly during the night before her booked Monday morning appointment when she took a sudden turn for the worst. Unfortunately, you are never ready to say goodbye whatever the age and whatever the time gap between any losses.
It does however help me to think of them reunited at the bridge and to mourn them all together as a bonded unit.

Wiebke's Home Care Support Guides
Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs

My thoughts are with you.

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you are facing this difficult and painful decision.
I can’t add to the advice but I am holding you in my heart