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Time to PTS?

h_and_piggies

h_and_piggies

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hello everyone,

I think it might be time for my boy Bertie. I’ve got an appointment at 3pm today with the vets. He’s been fighting a URI since before Christmas and has been on various antibiotics (Baytril, Sulfratrim, Marbocyl, and now azithromycin). He was responding well to azithromycin (breathing was better and nose was less snotty), and he’s been on this now for 5 weeks. But he’s taken a turn for the worse last 2 days. His breathing is getting more laboured and noisy. He’s clearly not happy. He’s not eating on his own, so much so I have stepped in with syringe feeds. He’s also on Frusol and Bisolvon, as well as various painkillers.

I feel that it’s his time now. Obviously I’ll see what the vet says, but I’m torn as I don’t want to give up too soon on him. But does anyone have any advice, has anyone else got their piggy through a stubborn URI?

Here’s a link to another thread on his earlier health dip in January: Emergency vet visit - laboured breathing
 
Sorry, I forgot to say, he’s now well over 6. He had his 6th year adoption anniversary last Sunday.
 
Sending you a lot of love. If you have a good vet that you trust let them guide you as to how likely they think any quality of life/recovery is for him. I have found that it helps to be honest with the vet that you are considering whether PTS is in his best interests as they then know they aren't broaching a subject unexpectedly to someone who is holding on to tons of hope. I've had to make the call a few times and it never gets any easier but just remember that you are making a decision about putting Bertie first, therefore any decision you make cannot be the wrong one
 
Hi

I am very sorry.

Discuss it with your vet and then go with your gut feeling. That way you will be happier in the long term.

One of the most difficult times is when you are coming close to the situation of having to make a decision. When it is entirely up to you as the owner to decide as to when it to call it shots, it can be a heavy burden and you inevitably have questions and feel insecure.

That is what you are experiencing now; it is also the time when your grieving process starts in earnest - grieving doesn't start with a death but with the moment you realise that a loss could be inevitable or impending. The second worst time in the whole grieving process is always the onset; it is comparable to the shock element of a sudden loss, only that the two are not coinciding and you have that extra time to do and say everything you need to and to make whatever short or longer time you have left count.

Please take the time to read the guide link below. It takes you through all the aspects that are involved when you come to the point you are now and will hopefully help you make any decisions with a clearer mind if not an easier heart - the actual pain of the loss never gets less as each bond is unique and precious.
But you can do something about the burden of guilt and soul-searching that comes with every pts/euthanasia by taking all factors involved into account and by thinking things through. While we cannot tell you when the right time is, we can at least give you the instruments to work out what constitutes the 'right time' for you. There is a grey area where there is no right or wrong, as long as you are putting your piggy's welfare before your own pain and fear of loss but we all sit a little differently in that area without any of us being wrong.
Here is the link: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Wishing you and your poorly boy all the best!
 
Yes @Claire W, I did have a boy with a stubborn URI. I did everything I could for my Cutey Pie Dennis. @Qualcast&Flymo kindly sent me her nebuliser to try and get him better. Unfortunately, after 3 months of fighting his little body just gave out. I found him one morning on the way to the Rainbow Bridge and before I could get him to the vet, he crossed over. Sometimes its a case of just because we can doesn't mean we should.
 
Thank you everyone for your advice. I’ll discuss other feasible options and likelihood of recovery with my vet today. In the meantime, I’m having some cuddles with Bertie. He’s always been a super cuddly boy, so I’m taking time out to have those last moments if it is a PTS decision later on.
 
I'm sorry you're having to face such a horrible decision. I hope your vet has some more tricks up their sleeve🤞

One piece of advice I've seen repeated on here is to make a decision and then sit with it for a while before acting on it. If it still feels right, move forward with it; if it doesn't feel right, reassess. I appreciate that there's not much time before the appt to do this, though.

You have his best interests at heart and know him better than anyone - I'm sure you will make the best choice for him.
 
Sending you a hug. It’s a very difficult decision. Speak to the vet and go with your gut. You will be making any decision with love at the heart of it.
 
Thanks for all the advice. Bertie is gone now. Speaking with the vet there was one last option, but it was unlikely to have worked and would only have given him days. Given total duration and all other routes we’d taken, it was the kindest thing for Bertie to put him to sleep. He was very unlikely to recover and was on a downwards trajectory. It was better to let him go then. I could tell he was tired. The vet said Bertie had tried really hard and put up a good fight. But I could see that Bertie was fading and he was ready to go. I’ll add a tribute for Bertie soon.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. It's such a hard decision to have to make, I've been there myself with past pets. ((HUGS)) to you. It sounds like you did everything you could to help him fight and then gave him a peaceful passing when it was time, and that's the best any of us can do for the pets that we love.
 
I’m so sorry you lost Bertie. It’s the kindest thing we can do for them when the end is near. Take care. ❤️
 
I'm so sorry that you had to make the decision for Bertie and help him over the Rainbow Bridge. Don't feel bad as your decision was the last act of love you could show him.
 
I am so sorry. Please know you have done the right thing. Wherever Bertie is right now, he is young again, pain free, full of energy and looking down on you with so much love and appreciation that you chose him just as much as he chose you.
 
So so sad to read this
You did everything for Bertie and you should be very proud of that
Yes it hurts deeply
Your heart will alway love ❤️ him
Take care x
 
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