When to know euthanasia is the kindest option

[Elephonty]

I am very reluctantly writing this post about my chronic bladder pig woody. Apologies for the very lengthy post.

He has had on and off issues for about 2 years with sludge production and subsequent pain.

At the moment he is on a diuretic that allows him to pee out excess sludge but this comes at a cost of pain when peeing.

He is currently on gabapentin and metacam but at times when the sludge is thicker it obviously causes more discomfort and so he will squeak when he passes the urine.

Before and after he urinates he is absolutely fine, he's active has a killer appetite and maintained the same sort of weight throughout.

My question is now if its selfish to keep him going this way on the top pain meds but still on and off having pain after these are administered.

It's very difficult for me to decide as he is otherwise fit and healthy so If anyone has any input or ways to help me decide I would be very grateful.

I have attached a picture of him in his current position that I like to call a death nap as he peed a little blood this morning so I am monitoring this and will call the vets for their advice.

 

[Betsy]

It's such a hard decision to make. @Merab's Slave advised me once to make a decision, mull it over for a few days and if it feels like the right one then go for it, if not then don't as this is what she does. Speak to your vet too and see what they think his quality of life is like.

 

[Elephonty]

It's such a hard decision to make. @Merab's Slave advised me once to make a decision, mull it over for a few days and if it feels like the right one then go for it, if not then don't as this is what she does. Speak to your vet too and see what they think his quality of life is like.

Thank you! I am going to try book an appointment for today to discuss if they have any as he has started peeing little droplets of blood it's just very difficult as he is absolutely fine in himself otherwise, he's munching on a mound of hay as we speak and has just come begging for some treats!

 

[piggl]

I had a guinea pig whose back teeth were all going the wrong way, he had a dental and then 3 weeks later he started to show symptoms of pain and discomfort again.
I put him down when he was still moving around and acting fine (on painkillers and support feed), he was 5 year old though, so I may have done differently if he was younger. I think you need to take into account how the painkiller is helping him.
In my case without the painkiller, my boy would have not been able to do much at all, and this is how I knew when it was time.

It was really tough, I can’t lie it felt like I was putting him down wrongfully, but I did it in his best interest and over time I have came to peace with this.

You are in the gray area, there is not really any right or wrong answer, so whether you let him go sooner or later is up to you.
“Better a day to early than a minute too late”, a sad but lovely quote used as reference by many members on the platform.

It’s not cruel or selfish to not want to let go, especially in a pig acting like themselves.
If I was in your position, I would maybe be looking at sooner rather than later, as he is still on and off with pain.
That is completely my thought, and doesn’t take into account his past or your relationship with him.

I understand the on the fence approach can perhaps seem not that helpful, but unfortunately this decision is one you have to make as his owner and his best friend.

My thoughts are with you x
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

 

[Elephonty]

Thank

I had a guinea pig whose back teeth were all going the wrong way, he had a dental and then 3 weeks later he started to show symptoms of pain and discomfort again.
I put him down when he was still moving around and acting fine (on painkillers and support feed), he was 5 year old though, so I may have done differently if he was younger. I think you need to take into account how the painkiller is helping him.
In my case without the painkiller, my boy would have not been able to do much at all, and this is how I knew when it was time.

It was really tough, I can’t lie it felt like I was putting him down wrongfully, but I did it in his best interest and over time I have came to peace with this.

You are in the gray area, there is not really any right or wrong answer, so whether you let him go sooner or later is up to you.
“Better a day to early than a minute too late”, a sad but lovely quote used as reference by many members on the platform.

It’s not cruel or selfish to not want to let go, especially in a pig acting like themselves.
If I was in your position, I would maybe be looking at sooner rather than later, as he is still on and off with pain.
That is completely my thought, and doesn’t take into account his past or your relationship with him.

I understand the on the fence approach can perhaps seem not that helpful, but unfortunately this decision is one you have to make as his owner and his best friend.

My thoughts are with you x
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Thank you, unfortunately his cagemate had to be PTS due to the same sort of issues so I will do it if it's the best option for woody.

I have booked in with the vets at 8:30 this evening as they had nothing earlier but they said they would call if there's any cancellations.

I am going to discuss his quality of life with them at the appointment as all other medical interventions have been exhausted already

 

[piggl]

Thank

Thank you, unfortunately his cagemate had to be PTS due to the same sort of issues so I will do it if it's the best option for woody.

I have booked in with the vets at 8:30 this evening as they had nothing earlier but they said they would call if there's any cancellations.

I am going to discuss his quality of life with them at the appointment as all other medical interventions have been exhausted already

Good luck at the vets today.

How old is your boy?

 

[Elephonty]

Good luck at the vets today.

How old is your boy?

He is around 3 1/2, his cagemate had to be PTS at 1 .

Unfortunately they both have very bad luck and seem to have gotten the bad genetics around their bladder.

The vets seem to think this is the case as woody has had multiple procedures to clean out his bladder but he occurs more sludge very quickly after .

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

There is never a clear cut decision unless your piggy is clearly in major distress/pain and unable to exhibit normal species behaviour. In your case, it is mostly about a weighing up of his quality of life and his longer term prospects and finding the spot where the two balance each other out - from my own experiences with my Cariad (again a bad genetic breeder background), each procedure will take out more from your boy so his medium to longer term expectations are not good but you are slowly coming up to the stage where those questions have to be asked. This is always a very difficult stage for a loving owner who hurts seeing their piggy in daily discomfort and wants to get it right.
I would recommend that you speak about it with your vet. They can assess Woody's situation much better. But the decision is always yours, and yours alone. You will know in your heart when the time is right Woody and for you. But it will help you to think things through and decide which factors and cut-off lines are the important ones for you. Your vet can take you through your medical options and outlook and also give you their input re. quality of life in the shorter and longer term.

This guide here deals with some of the factors involved in making an end of life decision in terminally ill guinea pigs: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

HUGS

 

[Elephonty]

Hi

There is never a clear cut decision unless your piggy is clearly in major distress/pain and unable to exhibit normal species behaviour. In your case, it is mostly about a weighing up of his quality of life and his longer term prospects and finding the spot where the two balance each other out - from my own experiences with my Cariad (again a bad genetic breeder background), each procedure will take out more from your boy so his medium to longer term expectations are not good but you are slowly coming up to the stage where those questions have to be asked. This is always a very difficult stage for a loving owner who hurts seeing their piggy in daily discomfort and wants to get it right.
I would recommend that you speak about it with your vet. They can assess Woody's situation much better. But the decision is always yours, and yours alone. You will know in your heart when the time is right Woody and for you. But it will help you to think things through and decide which factors and cut-off lines are the important ones for you. Your vet can take you through your medical options and outlook and also give you their input re. quality of life in the shorter and longer term.

This guide here deals with some of the factors involved in making an end of life decision in terminally ill guinea pigs: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

HUGS

I'm definitely going to speak to them about it today, as for medical options I don't think there really is any left for him unfortunately.

It is a very difficult decision as it isn't 24/7 pain it comes and goes and even when it does happen he is eating and popcorning straight after!

I have just given him a slice of cucumber cut up and chucked around the cage and he has sprinted like Usain bolt to go find the pieces and jumped with joy when he found them

I think this is what is making the decision harder but I will definitely discuss all this with the vet later

 

[VickiA]

Thinking of you as you are dealing with this. It never gets any easier.

 

[Merab]

Hope all goes well this evening.
Holding you in my heart

 

[Elephonty]

An update on woody.

He was seen this evening and the vet is confident that his quality of life is good for the moment and has prescribed extra pain meds for when he is squeaking.

As she explained he is bright and alert, he has not lost weight and he is active with a killer appetite.

She also explained that the meds are working as expected but will produce some discomfort when he is passing the excess calcium which is why the extra pain meds were prescribed for when this occurs.

Thank you for all your kind words

 

[Merab]

Glad things went well this evening.
It sounds as if your vet has been able to relieve your concern so I hope you feel a bit more relaxed now.

 

[Jenni85]

An update on woody.

He was seen this evening and the vet is confident that his quality of life is good for the moment and has prescribed extra pain meds for when he is squeaking.

As she explained he is bright and alert, he has not lost weight and he is active with a killer appetite.

She also explained that the meds are working as expected but will produce some discomfort when he is passing the excess calcium which is why the extra pain meds were prescribed for when this occurs.

Thank you for all your kind words

That's great news, you must feel relieved.