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Time to let go

T

twobigpigs

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi.

Unfortunately I think we are close to the end of life for one of my pigs. I only have two and have owned them for almost 6 years now. They are both atleast 7 years old as they were not babies when I got them.

I just need help with two things. What to do with my other guinea pig. I am not planning/not able to get another pig and I don’t think I could let someone look after her as I do not believe she would re-bond. She is a very dominant and aggressive pig (sometimes) to her current friend. Given her age too and their on-going health issues I don't think it would be fair.

The other thing is the symptoms of the sick pig. I would appreciate peoples opinions / if it sounds like the right thing to do.

She is 7 years old and suffering with heart failure. The medicine she is on she responded well to for about three weeks and now it isnt working as well as i hoped. She coughs violently daily, her nose is always crusty and runny. When she wheeks it sounds like she is drowning due to the amount of fluid on her lungs. She barely moves but due to the medicine making her pee more she has developed urine scald on her belly. Her fur is coming out, she has bald batches on her belly. Not only this, she gets groomed frequently by her cage mate as she is unable to do it well herself. She has lost a lot of weight but still continues to eat and drink. She only properly perks up when she is fed or when I am holding her. Not to mention she is so bony and you can clearly see her hips when she is doing nothing. Her breathing is also quite forced and violent looking.

Just wondering if based on this it is the right thing to do.

Thanks
 
Hello, I am sorry for what you and your pigs are going through. Here are some guides that you may find helpful:
When is it time?
And more in depth, A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying

I have had piggies pass by euthanasia with terminal conditions and piggies pass naturally. It's not easy either way because they're our loved ones. I always try to ask myself, am I prolonging this for the well being of my guinea pig and do they have quality of life? Or am I doing this for me?

If you are totally sure you will not adopt another guinea pig/re home, there are also guides to owning a bereaved pig + a singleton pig. A major thing is going to be giving her extra love and attention since you will be her only source of socialization.

Edit to add additional guides:
Looking after a bereaved guinea pig
Single guinea pigs
 
brilapiggies said:
Hello, I am sorry for what you and your pigs are going through. Here are some guides that you may find helpful:
When is it time?
And more in depth, A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying

I have had piggies pass by euthanasia with terminal conditions and piggies pass naturally. It's not easy either way because they're our loved ones. I always try to ask myself, am I prolonging this for the well being of my guinea pig and do they have quality of life? Or am I doing this for me?

If you are totally sure you will not adopt another guinea pig/re home, there are also guides to owning a bereaved pig + a singleton pig. A major thing is going to be giving her extra love and attention since you will be her only source of socialization.

Edit to add additional guides:
Looking after a bereaved guinea pig
Single guinea pigs
Click to expand...
thank you so much!

i do feel like I'm prolonging her not very nice life for mine and the other piggies benefit. The one who will become a singleton pig (pumpkin) is always the first to squeak and she perks right up when pebbles returns to the cage shes always concerned when she coughs ect.

I don’t think i could guarantee a ‘better’ home for her mainly because I would feel an immense amount of guilt for giving her up to someone else.

Equally I have two plush toys of the piggies that look identical to each pig.. would it be worth keeping one in the cage to try and trick her? or would it be worse
 
twobigpigs said:
Hi.

Unfortunately I think we are close to the end of life for one of my pigs. I only have two and have owned them for almost 6 years now. They are both atleast 7 years old as they were not babies when I got them.

I just need help with two things. What to do with my other guinea pig. I am not planning/not able to get another pig and I don’t think I could let someone look after her as I do not believe she would re-bond. She is a very dominant and aggressive pig (sometimes) to her current friend. Given her age too and their on-going health issues I don't think it would be fair.

The other thing is the symptoms of the sick pig. I would appreciate peoples opinions / if it sounds like the right thing to do.

She is 7 years old and suffering with heart failure. The medicine she is on she responded well to for about three weeks and now it isnt working as well as i hoped. She coughs violently daily, her nose is always crusty and runny. When she wheeks it sounds like she is drowning due to the amount of fluid on her lungs. She barely moves but due to the medicine making her pee more she has developed urine scald on her belly. Her fur is coming out, she has bald batches on her belly. Not only this, she gets groomed frequently by her cage mate as she is unable to do it well herself. She has lost a lot of weight but still continues to eat and drink. She only properly perks up when she is fed or when I am holding her. Not to mention she is so bony and you can clearly see her hips when she is doing nothing. Her breathing is also quite forced and violent looking.

Just wondering if based on this it is the right thing to do.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi

HUGS

I am ever so sorry. Pts (putting to sleep)/euthanasia always happens after a vet assessment and only if the vet is agreeing with you but I would think that you are within the grey wiggle space where it depends which factors weigh higher or lower with you but there is no right or wrong as long as you are putting your piggy's interest before your own fears. The most difficult stage is generally when you come close to making that decision and you naturally start questioning yourself since you want to get it right. Your heart is certainly in the right place.

You may find the guides via this link here helpful as they take you through the whole process in detail and in depth to help you make any decisions with a clearer mind if not a less aching heart but also talk you through what you can do for a companion immediately after and in the longer term as well as your own grieving process, which usually throws a couple of spanners right at the onset: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (Contains a chapter on challenges specific to bereaved piggies and a chapter on how to spot when piggies transfer their social species needs onto you)

My thoughts are with you.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

HUGS

I am ever so sorry. Pts (putting to sleep)/euthanasia always happens after a vet assessment and only if the vet is agreeing with you but I would think that you are within the grey wiggle space where it depends which factors weigh higher or lower with you but there is no right or wrong as long as you are putting your piggy's interest before your own fears. The most difficult stage is generally when you come close to making that decision and you naturally start questioning yourself since you want to get it right. Your heart is certainly in the right place.

You may find the guides via this link here helpful as they take you through the whole process in detail and in depth to help you make any decisions with a clearer mind if not a less aching heart but also talk you through what you can do for a companion immediately after and in the longer term as well as your own grieving process, which usually throws a couple of spanners right at the onset: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (Contains a chapter on challenges specific to bereaved piggies and a chapter on how to spot when piggies transfer their social species needs onto you)

My thoughts are with you.
Click to expand...
thank you so much 🫶
I'm seeing the vet on wednesday and I think itll be time 😔
 
twobigpigs said:
thank you so much 🫶
I'm seeing the vet on wednesday and I think itll be time 😔
Click to expand...
Our hearts are with you and the forum is here if you need it for support! I've heard that stuffed animals can help but haven't tried personally. Be careful of any bits she could chew off. Another thing one of the guides mention is a blanket or something soft that smells like her companion after she passes.
 
brilapiggies said:
Our hearts are with you and the forum is here if you need it for support! I've heard that stuffed animals can help but haven't tried personally. Be careful of any bits she could chew off. Another thing one of the guides mention is a blanket or something soft that smells like her companion after she passes.
Click to expand...

I second the scented rag or cosy but we have found that stuffed pets are often ignored since they do not smell and feel right.
However, companions of a slowly deteriorating/very will piggy know before us that their companion is very ill and will generally have already taken their leave.
The upset is generally much worse with a sudden, unexpected death, either at home or when the decision to euthanise happens as the result of unanticipated bad news during a vet examination.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
Wiebke said:
I second the scented rag or cosy but we have found that stuffed pets are often ignored since they do not smell and feel right.
However, companions of a slowly deteriorating/very will piggy know before us that their companion is very ill and will generally have already taken their leave.
The upset is generally much worse with a sudden, unexpected death, either at home or when the decision to euthanise happens as the result of unanticipated bad news during a vet examination.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Click to expand...
Thank you! I don’t actually have anything that she has sat in or been on recently that hasnt been washed ☹️ I will definitely put them back in the cage to try and absorb her scent. I mean pumpkin sits right next to pebbles all the time everyday and she grooms her ect.

I will definitely try and get something with her scent on for pumpkin to bring comfort to her. I do think itll hit her hard despite her knowing. She definitely knows shes not well she has been with her every second of the day since shes had heart failure 💔
 
twobigpigs said:
Thank you! I don’t actually have anything that she has sat in or been on recently that hasnt been washed ☹️ I will definitely put them back in the cage to try and absorb her scent. I mean pumpkin sits right next to pebbles all the time everyday and she grooms her ect.

I will definitely try and get something with her scent on for pumpkin to bring comfort to her. I do think itll hit her hard despite her knowing. She definitely knows shes not well she has been with her every second of the day since shes had heart failure 💔
Click to expand...

In this case, please bring home the the fleece or cosy you use to take Pebbles on her last journey to the vets and allow Pumpkin to snuggle into until the scent has gone several days later if Pumpkin prefers to snuggle into it.

If you feel strongly about it you can always ask your vets to take Pumpkin's body home for a goodbye or whether it would be possible for Pebbles to be there. By far not all clinics offer all options so you have to work with what is on offer.
 
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Wiebke said:
In this case, please bring home the the fleece or cosy you use to take Pebbles on her last journey to the vets and allow Pumpkin to snuggle into until the scent has gone several days later if Pumpkin prefers to snuggle into it.

If you feel strongly about it you can always ask your vets to take Pumpkin's body home for a goodbye or whether it would be possible for Pebbles to be there. By far not all clinics offer all options so you have to work with what is on offer.
Click to expand...
Ah! thank you, that gives me more flexibility on whst to do 🫶
 
twobigpigs said:
Ah! thank you, that gives me more flexibility on whst to do 🫶
Click to expand...
It is worth enquiring at the clinic how they handle things and how flexible they are. It very much depends on the nature of the bond. Pumpkin is obviously rather emotionally dependent on Pebbles and doesn't want to leave her. Vets these days are becoming more open but it varies massively and also depends on good/bad experiences in some places. But you can always ask tomorrow.
 
Wiebke said:
It is worth enquiring at the clinic how they handle things and how flexible they are. It very much depends on the nature of the bond. Pumpkin is obviously rather emotionally dependent on Pebbles and doesn't want to leave her. Vets these days are becoming more open but it varies massively and also depends on good/bad experiences in some places. But you can always ask tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Yeah of course, i think i will ask tomorrow. Thank you!
 
Just wanted to say I’m thinking of you both at this sad time. Take heart you gave her her best life and now you are helping her this last time
 
on route to vets now.. hopefully we come home with her, if not she will be happier x
I don't exactly think she will be let go today considering the appointment is about a few other issues but i reckon i will have to schedule an appointment for it to happen in the next week or so x
 
Thinking of you as you deal with whatever happens at today’s appointment.
 
She came home! Vet said we are on the fence with the decision she said that she looks bright and happy ect despite only seeing her today. Said that she respects the decision of if we decide to see how things go or if we need to take it to the next step. We got sent with some antibiotic cream for her belly and some more heart medicine as we ran out this morning.

She did say that the decision probably will be approaching soon - i do think it could be time but equally she has days where shes full of life and happy. I will try with the cream for a week or two and then make my judgement on what to do next if things don’t improve or go downhill.

Thank you everyone for all the support youve given me 🫶 Will put a piggy picture here in a little bit
 
Merab's Slave said:
She’s beautiful.
Hope you’re feeling ok - it’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for you
Click to expand...
I'm feeling alright, she was just so alert during the vet visit and now shes not wanting to eat loads unless i give it to her by hand . Could be her being dramatic unless she doesnt want to eat? Shes eaten hay and pellets ect.

She also fell asleep on me earlier! Super still, quiet, breathing shallower - gave me a heart attack!
 
Merab's Slave said:
A guinea pig is created to age us fast.
Hope she’ll be ok.
Make happy todays and good memories for as long as you have
Click to expand...
thank you 🩷 She knows (or should know) she is well loved. I do believe she has happier better days which I will choose to remember 🫶
My god they are made to age us fast for sure!
 
Despite any hope I was given, it is time. She has lost the ability to walk properly she drags herself around except i dont know whats happened to the front feet? Its the back legs that have strength. She is not the kind of pig to settle down with you and have a good cuddle, she enjoys sitting behind your neck and up on your shoulders underneath your hair for some warmth. She is in the ‘relaxed’ position when i know fully that shes not relaxed. She just can’t walk properly. Her poops are borderline diarrhoea. I haven’t held her yet, I dread to find out what she looks like underneath but its not fair for her.

So thank you all for your help, I do believe we will be saying goodnight and goodbye to her today.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. Sleep well and popcorn high over the rainbow bridge sweet girl ❤️ 🌈
 
I’m so sorry to read this. You have given her a super life and a gentle death at home surrounded by love. Be gentle with yourself today. Huge hugs x
 
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