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Unusual behaviour, is she ill - or worse?

Qualcast&Flymo

Qualcast&Flymo

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I've been out all day, and only came home a while ago. I gave the piggies a pile of grass and lots of hay before I went out, and saw them all tuck in. After my return I collected some more fresh grass and put it in the hutch, then topped up the hay. At that point I noticed that Rosemary hadn't come out of her cosy to eat. She wS moving her head a bit so I thought maybe she was just dozing still. But she didn't eat the grass I then put by her and only moved around in the cosy.

After a bit I decided to pick her up to check she was OK. She's 25g lighter than last weight 4 days ago, no gunk on eyes or nose, seems to be breathing normally, though I can hear her breaths a bit. But she didn't wriggle at all and also didn't want the Nugget I offered.

I can't tell if she's ill despite lack of major symptoms... or is it just her time, as she is approx 5.5 to 6 years old?
I could probably get her to the vet, expensive though that would be, but I don't want to subject her to stress if there's nothing they could do. (Poor Zebedee and his predecessor Yoshi both passed away at the vet hospital on their own :no:).

I came indoors to have my dinner, I think I'm going to go and bring Rosemary and Winifred indoors to review more closely and try to give R some syringe food. Then what ?
 
Just tried some syringe food, Rosemary refused it. Wouldn't open her mouth at all and tried to get away from it...

I noticed Winifred grooming Rosemary's face when I went to get them from the hutch, which isn't really usual behaviour either.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
I've been out all day, and only came home a while ago. I gave the piggies a pile of grass and lots of hay before I went out, and saw them all tuck in. After my return I collected some more fresh grass and put it in the hutch, then topped up the hay. At that point I noticed that Rosemary hadn't come out of her cosy to eat. She wS moving her head a bit so I thought maybe she was just dozing still. But she didn't eat the grass I then put by her and only moved around in the cosy.

After a bit I decided to pick her up to check she was OK. She's 25g lighter than last weight 4 days ago, no gunk on eyes or nose, seems to be breathing normally, though I can hear her breaths a bit. But she didn't wriggle at all and also didn't want the Nugget I offered.

I can't tell if she's ill despite lack of major symptoms... or is it just her time, as she is approx 5.5 to 6 years old?
I could probably get her to the vet, expensive though that would be, but I don't want to subject her to stress if there's nothing they could do. (Poor Zebedee and his predecessor Yoshi both passed away at the vet hospital on their own :no:).

I came indoors to have my dinner, I think I'm going to go and bring Rosemary and Winifred indoors to review more closely and try to give R some syringe food. Then what ?
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Hi

HUGS

I am so, so sorry!

It is of course impossible to for me to tell you what is going on; the coming hours will tell. But yes, something seems to be seriously wrong. :(

Please try to see a vet as soon as possible; especially if she is not really swallowing/processing any feed or really fighting any feed - which usually means that she is no longer able to process it, unfortunately.

You can find information on emergency care in this guide collection: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Our dying guide contains a chapter on how to work out whether your piggy has crossed the line of no return or not.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

The two guides between them should hopefully help you to get through the night whichever way things are falling out.

Fingers very firmly crossed!
 
Thanks Wiebke. We're on the way to the vet now. Hubby is driving so I can observe the pigs in the box.

If its a bad URI, does it sound like it's past the point of no return? And if she's on her way to the Bridge is it better to help her on her way, or to take her home so she can pass with her friends at hand?
 
Vet says it's bloat.

I think I'm going to have to leave her in the care of the hospital, I don't have the skills for 4 hourly emergency support feeding etc.
I don't want to as she'll be on her own but what else can I do. I know the chances of recovery aren't good. She seems quite unhappy, but not yet totally given up.
 
So sorry she's ill. Glad you got her to a vet. Hope she turns a corner and gets better quickly.
 
VickiA said:
I’m so sorry @Qualcast&Flymo. I think I’d do the same in your position. Fingers crossed that with this prompt treatment and round the clock care she will pull through. Bloat can strike so suddenly.
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Swissgreys said:
:agr:
Fingers crossed she rallies, but at this point you have done everything possible, and given her the absolute best chance.
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Hope4gem said:
So sorry she's ill. Glad you got her to a vet. Hope she turns a corner and gets better quickly.
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Thanks, I hope I was prompt enough. But of course it had to happen this weekend when I am out at a meeting all day both days. Normally I would have been in and out of the piggies room multiple times during the day and noticed the odd behaviour sooner if it had been noticeable then.

Hoping and praying for good news in the morning but one has to be realistic. 🙏
 
Firstly, your a great piggy mom, the fact you noticed something was wrong is good going, not everyone does and you’ve got the vets asap.
Hoping that things will go well for today x
 
Thank you all for your positive vibes, I appreciate it.

Sadly the morning vet phoned earlier and told me that although Rosie had survived the night, she had declined further. She wasn't moving around any more and had started to regurgitate fluid. We agreed that there was no way back as pain relief and gut meds hadn't worked, so it would be kinder to ease her passing. I am at a meeting all day so I couldn't have collected her so she could pass at home peacefully with her friends even if that were possible.

I will collect her tonight and show her to Winifred and Squeaks.

Sleep tight gentle girl, we'll all miss you xx
 
Betsy said:
Sleep tight beautiful. The Rainbow Bridge certainly has been very busy lately.
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Too true, it has been busy lately. I hadn't expected any of mine to be taking that road just yet, as though they are all +/-6 years old, they all seemed hale and hearty.
I was lucky though especially with the pandemic to have gone 4 years without a loss.
This is Rosie in Feb 2021
20210218_143644.webp20210218_143630.webp
Hugs to everyone else whose piggy/s has toddled off to Rainbow Bridge recently :hug:
 
I collected Rosie from the vets late afternoon and showed her to Squeaks and Winifred. They both went to the far end of the hutch and didn't want to come and see her. I suppose it was too long after and they can smell the anaesthetic and/or death, and don't like it. Winnie had the opportunity to make her farewells yesterday on the way to the vets, perhaps she did so already.

Now I need to decide how to deal with the body ...:hmm:
 
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