• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Peeing blood and neck lumps

Harry has eaten a couple of spinach leaves last night and a small amount of lettuce this morning. Hamish enjoyed his food and cuddles yesterday. It gave me a bit of hope and I suggested to my vet friend that I should keep the appointment and she could check Harry’s back teeth as chewing seems to be a bit of an issue for him.

However, she has said that she will take a look at them both but if “bad days outnumber good days, it’s time to let them go.”

I think I’m clutching at hopeful straws and I’m slightly worried she’s going to try to sway my decision. I think firstly, I’m trying to cling to the pigs with everything I’ve got but there’s a bit at the back of my head that’s worried she’s sick of receiving messages and questions about Hamish in the past year. I hope the latter is me being paranoid as she is my friend.

I think I’ll ask her to forget about being my friend for the appointment and ask her two questions once she’s examined them: 1) If she’d seen Hamish and Harry for the first time today, what would her professional opinion be. 2) If they were her own pigs (she’s also very attached to her own piggies), what would she do?

If we do decide to put both to sleep, I’ll ask them to both be placed back in their carrier and I won’t look at them until we come home or I think I’ll have a complete meltdown.

So I’m not sure if I’ll be returning with two live pigs, one or none currently.
 
I’m very sad to report that both Harry & Hamish went to the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon. I just need to gather myself a bit and then I’ll update on what happened later.
 
I am so sorry for your sad news :( You did everything you could for them and have given them a fantastic life.

Sleep tight Harry and Hemish. Together forever across the rainbow bridge xx
 
So sorry to hear this, you obviously loved them very much and did everything you could for them, including this last sad but brave decision to let them go to sleep x
 
Aw, I’m so sorry that your little Harry and Hamish have been helped over the bridge x Sending you big hugs, they will have known just how much you loved them. No one could have cared for them more x
So very sorry x
 
Thank you all so much for your support. It was a hugely difficult decision to make. Kate was wonderful and guided me through options but, ultimately, she agreed that they would not get better and would only get worse. The decision was more clear cut with Harry but Hamish has been declining drastically too and I felt they should go together or I think I’d have been back there in a couple of days with Hamish.

I had great difficulty signing Hamish’s papers and even almost wanted to rush through and stop her putting him to sleep but I restrained myself. When she brought them back through, she told me she knew it was the right thing because she gave him another examination and cuddle and discovered he had a large tumour in his stomach that would explain his sudden huge appetite. I’m glad both boys went to the bridge together and that they would not endure the suffering that would lie ahead.

When I returned home, I unwrapped them to discover they’d been placed beautifully together. Hamish was spooning Harry and it looked like he was looking after him even now.

I’ve let the others say goodbye and they’ve gone through a range of rituals - sniffing, licking mouths, bums, ears and eyes. Rupert’s goodbye ritual was the most elaborate - involving all the above plus cleaning Hamish, laying on him but I drew the line at humping!

I’m worried Herbie has not said goodbye to Hamish. He sniffed Harry then completely ignored his cage mate and moved away. I think he was in shock.

I plan to attempt to bury both together in the garden tomorrow. They will be joined by the ashes of Barney - Hamish’s previous friend.
 
I think you have made the right decision for both Harry and Hamish x
Sending you hugs at this most difficult time, they have gone off over the bridge together. You gave them a lovely life, filled with love and happiness and made the kindest caring decision when they needed it x
 
alexr said:
Thank you all so much for your support. It was a hugely difficult decision to make. Kate was wonderful and guided me through options but, ultimately, she agreed that they would not get better and would only get worse. The decision was more clear cut with Harry but Hamish has been declining drastically too and I felt they should go together or I think I’d have been back there in a couple of days with Hamish.

I had great difficulty signing Hamish’s papers and even almost wanted to rush through and stop her putting him to sleep but I restrained myself. When she brought them back through, she told me she knew it was the right thing because she gave him another examination and cuddle and discovered he had a large tumour in his stomach that would explain his sudden huge appetite. I’m glad both boys went to the bridge together and that they would not endure the suffering that would lie ahead.

When I returned home, I unwrapped them to discover they’d been placed beautifully together. Hamish was spooning Harry and it looked like he was looking after him even now.

I’ve let the others say goodbye and they’ve gone through a range of rituals - sniffing, licking mouths, bums, ears and eyes. Rupert’s goodbye ritual was the most elaborate - involving all the above plus cleaning Hamish, laying on him but I drew the line at humping!

I’m worried Herbie has not said goodbye to Hamish. He sniffed Harry then completely ignored his cage mate and moved away. I think he was in shock.

I plan to attempt to bury both together in the garden tomorrow. They will be joined by the ashes of Barney - Hamish’s previous friend.
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS
You have made absolutely the right decision but it may take some time until your heart has caught up with your head.
What a lovely way to send them to the Rainbow Bridge together.

Please do not worry about Herbie; not every piggy is demonstrative, the same way as humans will react very differently to a loss. Just keep an eye on him, like you do on any bereaved companion in the coming days. As long as he is eating and drinking, he will be OK.

Be kind with yourself in the coming days.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top