Oh- I have to take our guineapig to be put to sleep in the morning

[northernrefugee39]

She's our favourite, and is very old for a g pig. About 7 I think.
She's had an operation on a rotten tooth which became an abcess, and it just won't heal. The vet said it has gone into the bone, and she can't eat properly.
I had her on my lap, giving her all her faviurite stuff, squishing it very small , but although she was really interested, she can't get it in or down.
she's lost alot of weight, and they can't do any more for her.
She's such a fighter, nad still responive and gutsy- pushing away avocado in favour of spinach when she was on my lap.

I know they're just little rodents, but she has such charatcer

It's the kindest thing to do but is really sad.

We're hand feeding her twice a day, but she isn't really putting on weight, so I feel very mixed about what to do; still lively and running out of hutch when we come, but very small and thin....and i don't think she's managing much but a little grass on her own.
Thanks for advice about masshed up stuff- we're doing it with gerty guinea but she doesn't like it that much....

I did syringe feed a rabbit with vegetable based baby cereal once, many moons ago when I was a vet nurse. Might be worth a try?
Good luck - you're doing well. Have you weighed her? Sometimes it's hard to see a difference when you're looking at an animal every day.

I hope she continues to improve. Its horrible when pets get ill, thats what puts me off getting anymore.
I do part own 2 guinea pigs (they are class pets) and I am very attached to them. They know my voice and squeak whenever they hear me!

Whatever choice you make, you know its for the best.

I recently had to make the decision to have my 14 year old dog put to sleep. We had him for 13 years and it was a difficult decision. I do regret it though as I knew I didn't want him to suffer. Same way that you don't want your guinea pig to suffer.

Just seen this now, how is she?
I like the baby food idea, i used to give it to my elderly cat, the chicken based one-she'd lick it off my finger.
You could try a veg/cereal one, but one without dairy.

i agree, it is such a hard time, when they are old and poorly and you don't know what to do for the best.

northernrefugee - how is your old lady g'pig now? I hope she is still enjoying life - I am lucky, in that I never had to make a decision like that, all 7 of mine decided for themselves. She sounds like a grande dame.

I love g'pigs, they are fab. Am looking forward to when I can get DS his first one (he's only 9.5mo so a bit early plus we're emigrating next year so don't want to do it before then)

bella and tibni- thanks for your advice- we've been trying her with a sort of fruit/veggie smoothie in a syringe every evening; she also takes small ammounts of grass and pieces of red pepper and cucumber seem to go down well, although she can only ake a tiny bit at a time.
Kid- so sorry about your dog- yes it is total agony, however good a life you've given them....
lovesdogs and thumbwitch- thanks for your messages. She's the same really, hasn't lost any more weight, but not putting any on.
Just keeping going, but the main thing is she doesn't seem unduly distressed, and still squeaks and runs around....

I meant I don't regret my decision as I know it was the right decision given the circumstances.

I read that guinea pigs love parsley, if your one loves it too maybe you can give her that?

Glad your wee piggy is still with you, northern.

Just remembered on reading about the syringe that we were advised by the vet to try giving the gp some Malt Extract as it is full of vitamins and calorie rich. Also like a wee spoonful myself!

We went on feeding her by hand untill last night; she was still thin, but lively, ate some food, fedd herself some grass, and we gave her some baby food.
This morning my eldest dd found her outside the hutch and not wanting to move. We had to take her to the vet.
She had lost the fight in her, and couldn't go on.
Dd distraught and sobbing for ages.
Ahh, she had a great and long life.
We worked out she was 6.

Thanks ruby
Yes- I kept telling my dd waht a wonderful life she had.
Her twin sister is still incredibly healthy too...we have seven guineas now....but this one was very special.

Sorry to hear she didn't make it but you really did do your best. Like you told your DD, she had a great life and you did all you could for her.

Sorry to hear your news.

You did everything you could and gave her a good life. Many guinea pigs get little love and affection. If you hadn't cared for your guinea then it wouldn't hurt so much.

Take care and love you your dd.

So sorry to hear that, but at least you know she was incredibly well loved & cared for.

sorry to hear about ur guinea piggie and don't have one right now but did as a teenager and sobbed for days when it died u doing the best no matter how rotten u feel

Thankyou everyone. dd recovered, went to the pet shop and started asking for more... I said a firm no.... ( we have 7 other "lonely" ugly ones rescued from pet shops...these weren't lonely or ugly...)

covey of cavies

rabble of rabbits

my dd's genuinely call them a flock
I s'pose they do look like a liitle flock of sheep grazing accross the grass...