Towards the end of life

[indigoquail]

Hello everyone. I think my beautiful girl T may be getting close to the end of her life. I feel awful for not noticing the symptoms sooner, but she’s been more lethargic, has lost a lot of weight (I can feel her bones very sharply) and she’s not eating as much. She’s still having a little water and she ate some carrots this morning. She still seems to be okay, and she’s not squeaking like she’s in pain. She had a UTI before, so I think I know what it sounds like when she has pain. Her movements seem quite labored and she seems tired and less vocal. She’s at least 6 and a half based on my guess.

Do these sound like symptoms of old age? I want to make sure she’s not in any pain. I don’t think so, but I want her to be able to pass peacefully. Any insight would be appreciated.

I love her so, so much and I’m so devastated at the thought of losing her. I know her cagemate P will be so sad as well. P has been seeming to stand guard while T rests, which just breaks my heart. I love my girls so much.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I'm sorry to say it is unlikely these symptoms are due to old age. Many of the symptoms you are describing are signs of illness in guinea pigs so it may be that she has been unwell for a little while, especially given the pronounced weight loss you have described.

I would encourage a vets visit as an emergency and you can offer some syringe feed/mushed up pellets too as it sounds like she is unable to eat enough on her own

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone. I think my beautiful girl T may be getting close to the end of her life. I feel awful for not noticing the symptoms sooner, but she’s been more lethargic, has lost a lot of weight (I can feel her bones very sharply) and she’s not eating as much. She’s still having a little water and she ate some carrots this morning. She still seems to be okay, and she’s not squeaking like she’s in pain. She had a UTI before, so I think I know what it sounds like when she has pain. Her movements seem quite labored and she seems tired and less vocal. She’s at least 6 and a half based on my guess.

Do these sound like symptoms of old age? I want to make sure she’s not in any pain. I don’t think so, but I want her to be able to pass peacefully. Any insight would be appreciated.

I love her so, so much and I’m so devastated at the thought of losing her. I know her cagemate P will be so sad as well. P has been seeming to stand guard while T rests, which just breaks my heart. I love my girls so much.

Hi and welcome

How old is your guinea pig and how long exactly have they not been well?

Have you booked her in for a vet check and have you been stepping in with daily (insteady of once weekly) weigh-ins on your kitchen scales? Are support feeding? Symptoms of pain differ depending on the pain and where it is located.

Here is what you can do at home to support an ill guinea pig, which sounds like what you are dealing with. It does not replace any necessary medical treatment but helps to keep your piggy going through a tough spot.
Please keep in mind that over three quarters of what a guinea pig eats in a day is hay, which you cannot control by eye, only on the scales. A piggy nibbling on a little veg is like us humans nibbling on a banana. Your feeding support is there to mainly replace the missing hay fibre which is responsible for the massive weight loss.

Please take the time to read these very practical step-by-step how-to care guides, which we cannot type out every time in full:

What you can do to support your guinea pig while they still have the will to live (i.e. are still somewhat interested in food):
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

How to spot that your guinea pig is actually dying and how to support a dying guinea pig:
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

All the best.