terminally ill guinea pig, what to do with healthy pig

[ahrchee]

i have two female guinea pigs, ottoline and ava, a mother-daughter pair. i recently discovered that ava, the daughter, has a mass in her bladder. i will care for ava as long as i feel she has a good quality of life, but she already has blood in her urine, so i am trying to prepare myself for what comes next.

ottoline and ava are very closely bonded. they've been together all their lives. ottoline was very young, not even fully grown, when she became pregnant. the rescue i adopted her from sexed her incorrectly and she became pregnant from her cagemate there. i was told i was adopting a male when in fact i was adopting a pregnant female. that turned out to be quite a surprise, lol.

i had intended these two be my last guinea pigs, but i've always dreaded this day because i know guinea pigs grieve deeply and should always have a cagemate. i feel like it is so cruel to leave ottoline on her own, but i do not want to commit to having another pig. i absolutely adore guinea pigs, but my living situation has changed and i've developed an allergy to the hay.

in my right mind, before this happened, i felt like it was the right choice to not get another pig. but now that the day is approaching where ottoline might be left on her own, i feel myself tortured by my own selfish decision. rehoming her will be extremely difficult because of the influx of covid pets and i've heard all the horrors stories of people accidentally adopting guinea pigs out to snake owners. i actually looked extensively into rehoming before moving because it was unclear on whether or not i'd be able to keep them and all the nearby rescues were like, don't even bother emailing because we're full up.

i know i can never give ottoline all the support she needs. she's already pretty high-strung, she chirps when even the smallest thing in her environment changes, like accidentally leaving the scary broom within sight of the cage. after i moved, she chirped for three nights straight until i decided to leave the light on for her at night. she's also only 5, she could live another 3 lonely years, all by herself, without her baby. i can't even handle her as much as i would like to because of the allergy.

this is turning into a rambling mess, but i guess i'm just looking for some moral support here.

tl;dr - i'm in distress over my ill guinea pig and the healthy one who will be left behind since i do not want another pig.

 

[Wheekallweek]

So sorry to hear Ava is poorly
Don't think too far ahead and stress yourself out. Just really enjoy the time you have left together. Ottoline will be fine alone for a little while, then once things have settled and you're in a better head space you can think about the next steps

 

[Claire W]

I am very sorry that Ava is fighting a terminal illness All I can suggest it to enjoy whatever time you have left together and make lots of memories. Don’t think too far ahead but ideally Ottoline would benefit from having a new friend when the time comes. Some rescues offer an end of life fostering service where you foster a piggy as a friend and then take the piggy back to the rescue when your remaining piggy passes away. But that’s something to think about another day (((hugs))) x

 

[ahrchee]

So sorry to hear Ava is poorly
Don't think too far ahead and stress yourself out. Just really enjoy the time you have left together. Ottoline will be fine alone for a little while, then once things have settled and you're in a better head space you can think about the next steps

thank you, i feel like thinking of the now instead of the future is really good advice and good to hear. its so hard grieving a guinea pig because people don't give you the support they do like if you had a cat or dog, they're like its a guinea pig who cares. it's been lonely, so thank you for the support.

 

[ahrchee]

I am very sorry that Ava is fighting a terminal illness All I can suggest it to enjoy whatever time you have left together and make lots of memories. Don’t think too far ahead but ideally Ottoline would benefit from having a new friend when the time comes. Some rescues offer an end of life fostering service where you foster a piggy as a friend and then take the piggy back to the rescue when your remaining piggy passes away. But that’s something to think about another day (((hugs))) x

oh, i've never even heard of end of life fostering, thank you so much for informing me. that's definitely something i'll look into when the time comes. and thank you for the support as well.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

HUGS

I am very sorry. Looking after a terminally ill piggy is such a bitter-sweet experience. Just cherish every day more that you have as the special gift that it is but be prepared to let her go as soon as she loses her zest for life and the pain is becoming too great.

You may find the very practical but sensitive advice in this guide helpful in making any difficult decisions and challenges easier on you in the coming days. It is always hardest when you come close to the line but are not quite there yet because as a loving owner you want to be sure to get it right: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Here is our practical advice as to what you can do bereaved companions in the short and longer term and what companion options you have. These very much depend on your local options and rescue access - the latter come in a very wide range. By far not everybody has access to the full breadth of them so we are trying to offer as many possible solutions as we can. The guide link will give you more in-depth information on various aspects and how to best go about things/avoiding potential pitfalls. If you have a rescue nearby, may be some temporary rescue fostering in an adjoining cage may also be worth a consideration if direct companionship doesn't work out:
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (includes chapters on challenges specific to bereaved singles and how it comes out when their social needs are transferred on to you)
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

 

[Wheekallweek]

thank you, i feel like thinking of the now instead of the future is really good advice and good to hear. its so hard grieving a guinea pig because people don't give you the support they do like if you had a cat or dog, they're like its a guinea pig who cares. it's been lonely, so thank you for the support.

It's my pleasure, we are all piggy lovers here and understand what you're going through

 

[Merab]

So sorry that Ava is terminally ill
Enjoy each day and make lots or memories.
Guinea pigs live for today so give her as many happy todays as possible.

Many of us have cared for terminally ill piggies and it is hard.
We are here to support you.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry to read your sad situation, sending big hugs I think all owners know there will come a time when you decide or life decides you can no longer continue keeping piggies and what to do with the one that’s left, it comes to us all at some stage in life. I would try not to worry too much and live life for the now. Enjoy your girls, I am so sorry Eva may not have much time left but make the best of it so you will have happy memories. I can understand you worrying about how Otterline is going to manage without her Ava but she might surprise you and do well as a single, would there be any possibility of fostering a female from one of the rescues?

 

[Zanzan]

Well you can be sure that no one on here will ever say 'it's a guinea pig, who cares?'! You will always find support for you and love for every pig here, from tiny babies to old plodders, from floofy beauty queens to lumpy brown potatoes. Enjoy your remaining time with Ottoline and know that we are all with you and Ava

 

[Rufus&Edward]

I'm in the exact same situation, but with a 5 year old boar that I think will sadly soon be on his own there's no fostering options near me, and the boy who will be on his own was a rescue pig himself when I had the same situation a few years back with my original piggy who had died.

It's so hard knowing what to do as you just want what's best for them. It's tricky at that age as they might not have much longer left themselves, or they could have a fair few years yet.