Severus has osteodystrophy

[Laura M.]

Severus is a rescue guinea pig, we got him with his brothers from a rescue and have had him for just over two years, which makes him three or four years old (we think). His movements have never been right, he always waddled, but we thought that was simply because he was the heaviest and greediest. One day we noticed that he was limping and we hastily scheduled a vet appointment. The vet told us that his bones were not right and his feet stuck out at the wrong angles whilst one of his ribs was poking out of formation as well. The vet would have diagnosed it as scurvy, but Neville (Severus' brother who we took with him for emotional support) was fine. The vet said that is was probably osteodystrophy, and prescribed painkillers, antibiotics and supplementary feed. That was less than a week ago and Severus' condition has already deteriorated. His appetite is the same, but he cannot stand, and rather lies. When he tries to walk sometimes he falls on his side and we need to hold him whilst he walks. The vet is worried that he made have a bladder or kidney stone as well because there is sludge in his urine. At the moment we are just going to try to make his quality of life the best we can, but all of this makes me wonder what future he has. The vet said that there is no cure and he will not get better.

How long should I wait and when do I need to say goodbye?

 

[VickiA]

I am so sorry. There is really no right or wrong answer when it comes to the timing of the decision. You know your little man best, and only you can decide when the time is right for him and for you. personally, I tend towards the “ better a day too soon than a moment too late “ approach, but I fully appreciate that’s not right for everyone.

Wiebke has written a very helpful and sensitive guide that may help you with some of the decision making and to deal with some of the feelings you are experiencing.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Huge hugs to you. We are here to support you.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Sending hugs, I’m so sorry Severus has been diagnosed with osteodystrophy, poor little man. it’s a sad time, take each day as it cones. I think you will know when it’s time to say goodbye to you boy, but hope you have some happy times before then x

 

[Eriathwen]

I am so sorry, in my own personal experience with osteodystrophy I found that getting the right pain management can make all the difference, unfortunately some vets still under prescribe pain medication for guinea pigs. My old boar Leonard was on 3 different pain meds by the end, Metacam and paracetamol twice a day and gabapentin 3 times a day. He was palliative for 2 years before we lost him, his sister Shelly also has this condition and is on metacam and paracetamol twice a day, again she's been palliative coming up to 2 years and has recently been diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia and blood clot in her leg which will likely cause her passing, rather than the OD.

Leonard also developed bladder issues, first a stone, then a clot of blood, and interstitial cystitis.
Osteodystrophy is a cruel disease..the pigs that suffer from it are the bravest I've ever met.
My advice would be to really, really push for palliative pain management. Higher doses are tolerated much better than previously assumed due to their fast metabolism. However some do deteriorate rapidly, it varies quite widely between effected piggies, if painkillers do not help, I would say its time to let him go, sadly pain management is the only way to make it 'better' or more tolerable for them.