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Original poster

I think our piggy is on the way out

18 replies

LingDiLong · 01/03/2014 18:59

She has suddenly lost a load of weight and gone very quiet and still today. Her sister is obviously worried and climbing all over her trying to get her to perk up. I think she's about 6 years old. is there anything I should do for her? They are indoors at the moment and the cage is nice and clean with lots of hay. I'm not sure a vet would help at this point, she seems so weak. SadSad

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 01/03/2014 19:39

Hi there, very sorry to hear about your guinea, she does seem to be in a bad way, and as you will know from these threads, they do go down hill very quickly. Her companion will be frantic too, so it was a good idea to bring them both in then you can keep an eye on them. She will need to be warm and comfortable - is she eating and drinking at all? I would be trying to tempt her with something but if she is very ill, she won't be interested. Keep an eye and regular check on her, and give her an igloo or cover to lie under, they like to be peaceful and in the dark.

She is a good age, and I do hope she pulls through, but not eating is not a good sign and it is a bit of a waiting game, Bless her.

YOur other guinea will be frantic and will pine if the worst comes to the worst, so will need lots of attention and interaction with you all.

Will be thinking of her. Hope all goes well, it sounds like you are doing everything you can. XX :(

Original poster
LingDiLong · 01/03/2014 19:52

Thanks guineapiglet, I've syringed a little water in to her mouth and she lapped it up a bit - she had been stretching towards the water bottle but didn't seem to have the strength to drink from it. I've also put some grass in their cage. Now I'm going to leave her be a bit. She's in a dark, quiet room. Would there be any point in me trying to make a paste of her pellets and syringing some into her? I just feel I should be doing something.

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 01/03/2014 20:18

I know how you feel, you just want to help her, and feel so helpless, the problem is if they don't eat they deteriorate quickly, the weight loss you mention is part of this. it is rotten. you could try and tempt her with crushed pellets but, sadly, it sounds like she is giving up :(

just be there with her, stroke her and pop her inside an igloo with lots of hay for comfort, sounds like you are doing all you can for her. make sure her sister is ok and comfy too, it is important that cage mates are part of it so they understand.... try and reassure and don't worry too much. easier said than done, I know :(

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/03/2014 20:24

Hi Ling - very Sad but when guineas make a downturn they don't hang about.
You could mash some pellets with boiled water to soften (make them quite sloppy) and when they've cooled , offer this on a small spoon. She's get some fluid from this too.
You can finely chop some veg ( when our little abby died he would eat grass if we pushed it into his mouth and Critical Care when we syringed it in - messy though)

I think just let her have the quiet familiarity of home. Cuddle her if she wants cuddled. Let her be with her cagemate.
Our GP1 was very protective of GP2 when he was dying. Walking round him and lying next to him. Walking between my DDs hand and GP2 if she tried to stroke him.

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst?

Sad
Methe · 01/03/2014 20:28

All you can do is make sure she's warm, comfortable and safe. I think when any animal is dying, unless their in serious pain, they are better off staying somewhere they are familiar.

We lost our old boy before Christmas and it was hard. Once the end had started though it was only a day or so until the end.

Sorry you're having to go through it. Guineas are such lovely creatures aren't they. They really wheek their way in to our hearts.

Original poster
LingDiLong · 01/03/2014 21:35

Thanks all. I'll try a bit of mashed food before I go to bed. I'm not going to pick her up any more than is necessary, neither piggy has ever really got past the 'tolerating' cuddles stage despite our best efforts. We got them 18 months ago and they'd not been held very much at all with their previous owner. I think she'd be happier left with her sister in a big pile of hay. The grass I gave earlier has gone but I expect that is her extremely greedy big sister!

I am definitely preparing for the worst, I don't think she'll still be with us in the morning Sad. The kids will be gutted Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
LingDiLong · 02/03/2014 08:48

She's still with us! No change in her condition though sadly. I rang out of hours vet and it's £90 for a consultation without even taking into account any treatment. I feel terribly guilty but I just can't afford that much. She did advise pureed veg/baby food instead of mashed pellets so I'll keep going with that and hope she can just cling on until we can see her normal vet tomorrow.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/03/2014 09:10

Ling is she in pain?
If not (and though guinea-pigs do hide things well, you'd know if an animal was in pain) just let her stay quietly in her house with her cagemate.

Guinea-pigs sort of 'switch-off' and go floppy, listless and starey (difficult to describe it but when my GP2 was ill, he just sat there. Not lying on curled up, just his feet neatly tucked in, eyes a bit dull, gently nodding, like he was preparing himself).They just close down.
I took our boy to the specialist guinea-pig vet but there was nothing that he could say "Ah yes, this/that is wrong" and I said I wanted him to die at home (I knew he was dying Sad which he did 7 hours later)

Do I regret taking him to the vet? No, of course not.
I do wish I didn't have to drive him 45 minutes on a boiling hot day.
It didn't alter his outcome.
I wish I'd just trusted my instincts and let him pass peacefully without the journey.

He wasn't in pain, just a bit annoyed at my attempts to feed him Hmm. I only got one dose of antibiotics and probitics into him before he went.

6 is a good age for a guinea-pig.
Keep an eye on her, let her have peace and quiet, and anything she wants to eat.

Original poster
LingDiLong · 02/03/2014 09:18

No, she doesn't seem in pain at all, just kind of floppy and listless as you describe. I think you're right, a trip to the vet will be unpleasant for both of us and I really don't think there is a lot they can do. I shall leave her in peace.

OP posts:
FernieB · 02/03/2014 10:04

Thinking of you and your poor piggie Ling. it does sound like she's on her way out sadly but 6 is a great age for a pig. I hope her friend is coping well and still guzzling as normal. I would carry on as you are doing and keep her warm and snug and peaceful.

Original poster
LingDiLong · 02/03/2014 15:58

Well she's gone, poor little thing Sad. Her sister is looking for her and doesn't seem to be eating much. I'm going to weigh her in a bit and keep a close eye on her. Amazing how such small creatures can become so big a part of a family! Thanks for all the reassuring messages on here.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/03/2014 16:30

Very Sad - hopefully she had an uneventful and quiet passing .
They do take on hugely important roles in the house don't they, mainly because they are such noisy little creatures "You can't ignore us, we'll wheek "

(We left our GP2 in the Pighouse with his brother overnight - he died in the front room - so that he knew we hadn't hidden him)

Your remaining piggie will be a bit 'lost' now so lots of company , maybe a radio left on if she's on her own, and some treats.

I know you only had them 18 months but look on it as a new lease of life that you gave them when you adopted them.When you take on an older animal you are on borrowed time, but it makes the world of difference to them to have a second chance.

Off to The Rainbow Bridge now piggie, there are lots of guineas waiting for you.

guineapiglet · 02/03/2014 19:40

Oh no, so sorry to hear your news, she was obviously very poorly and your saw her though, that's all we can really do for these lovely little creatures. You gave her a good, kind life, and she was well loved, - would echo everything 70 says, make lots of time for remaining girl, let her get used to being lonely girl, she will pine, so lots of cuddles and fun..

70s words about a world of difference are lovely - taking a rescue creature and showing it kindness and love is a wonderful thing to do. :)

Original poster
LingDiLong · 02/03/2014 20:09

Thanks again for your kind words 70s and guineapiglet. She did go quietly and I was kind of relieved for her really. We always knew we wouldn't get too long with them as they were already relatively old when we got them. Hopefully we'll have a bit longer with her big sis. She's eaten some of her favourite spinach leaves tonight and I'm about to weigh her and give her some cuddles.

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 03/03/2014 08:15

let us know how she gets on, hopefully she will be fine and will definitely enjoy all the attention and love.

we will all be thinking of you x

Gileswithachainsaw · 03/03/2014 08:25

Oh sorry to hear about your piggy. They are such sweet little creatures. Sounds like you did everything you could, she was old and it was just her time to go :(

She won't be alone she will have company. She will be ok. Sweet dreams little one.

Sleepingbunnies · 03/03/2014 22:19

It is amazing the space such small creatures leave behind.

I sobbed for a week when our gorgeous girls died murdered by a fucking fox. Hope you and her sister are holding up ok

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/03/2014 22:26

Sleeping we have foxes loitering about already Angry
Not sure when they breed but I'm sure there will be a whole flipping family of them soon.

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