Katherine
Soppiest Piggie Owner 2015
On Wednesday night we had to help our oldest piggie, Milly, to go over the Bridge. We didn't realise how ill she was until it was too late - she was always very quiet, and she just hid it so well. It wasn't until the last couple of days that we thought something was up. I feel very bad about this, although the lovely vet told me not to feel guilty. Anyway, Milly's lungs were in an "horrendous" state, and they said they'd never seen a piggy with lungs that bad to recover, so as we very much trust the excellent vets there, we agreed it was best to let her go.
Now the problem is that Milly's cage mate Angelina is on her own, although there is another cage next to her (about 18 inches away) with Flora and Ivy. I asked the vet whether it was advisable to observe a quarantine before seeking a new companion for Angelina, and she said that it would be wise (2 weeks) although she thought it very unlikely that that she will have caught anything, especially as she is much younger (around 2 years). However, much better safe than sorry.
But what I am really worrying about is do we show Milly's body to Angelina when we bring her home for burial (we are collecting her sometime today). Angelina was exceptionally devoted to Milly, and I am concerned that if she realises she's not coming back, and then has to wait 2 weeks on her own, whether she will go into a decline. Back in the summer, they had to spend 10 days apart while Milly was staying at the vets being treated for a non-healing eye ulcer, and although Angelina coped, she did lose a bit of weight, and when Milly came home again, was absolutely overjoyed.
Also, would there be any further risk of infection if we show her Milly? When it was Milly herself who was bereaved, we did bring her friend home from the vets and show her what had happened, but in that case the death was due to failiure to recover from a complicated spay, not an illness as such. Also we were able to take Milly dating very quickly.
Angelina seems okay at the moment, eating well, and about as lively as you'd expect in the circumstances. She even popcorned when I was chatting to her! But as far as she is concerned, Milly has just vanished, and maybe she is hoping she is going to come back, as happened last time. I don't know how she would manage to realise that Milly has actually died.
What do I do? Do I let her face facts, as it were, and hope it won't hit her too hard, or do I let her carry on hoping? Or will she just gradually accept that Milly isn't around, and then be ready for a new friend at the end of the quarantine?
Please help me someone! I have gone on at great length, and I hope someone has had the patience to get to the end! My head is spinning with worrying about what's best for Angelina.
Now the problem is that Milly's cage mate Angelina is on her own, although there is another cage next to her (about 18 inches away) with Flora and Ivy. I asked the vet whether it was advisable to observe a quarantine before seeking a new companion for Angelina, and she said that it would be wise (2 weeks) although she thought it very unlikely that that she will have caught anything, especially as she is much younger (around 2 years). However, much better safe than sorry.
But what I am really worrying about is do we show Milly's body to Angelina when we bring her home for burial (we are collecting her sometime today). Angelina was exceptionally devoted to Milly, and I am concerned that if she realises she's not coming back, and then has to wait 2 weeks on her own, whether she will go into a decline. Back in the summer, they had to spend 10 days apart while Milly was staying at the vets being treated for a non-healing eye ulcer, and although Angelina coped, she did lose a bit of weight, and when Milly came home again, was absolutely overjoyed.
Also, would there be any further risk of infection if we show her Milly? When it was Milly herself who was bereaved, we did bring her friend home from the vets and show her what had happened, but in that case the death was due to failiure to recover from a complicated spay, not an illness as such. Also we were able to take Milly dating very quickly.
Angelina seems okay at the moment, eating well, and about as lively as you'd expect in the circumstances. She even popcorned when I was chatting to her! But as far as she is concerned, Milly has just vanished, and maybe she is hoping she is going to come back, as happened last time. I don't know how she would manage to realise that Milly has actually died.
What do I do? Do I let her face facts, as it were, and hope it won't hit her too hard, or do I let her carry on hoping? Or will she just gradually accept that Milly isn't around, and then be ready for a new friend at the end of the quarantine?
Please help me someone! I have gone on at great length, and I hope someone has had the patience to get to the end! My head is spinning with worrying about what's best for Angelina.
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