Guinea owners- WWYD??

[Scattymere]

Our lovely pig, who is nearly 5 sadly started dragging her hind legs around her a efw months ago. I read up on forums and people said this can happen, try to gently massage area around legs/give her the osteocare liquid etc and most pigs recover. After a horrific incident where she suddenly came down with fly strike- as I discovered these vile bugs literally crawling out of her body, I managed to get them all out, clean her and I raced her to vet. He examined her and sadly said she was paralysed from back downwards. He basically said to put her down then and there and I was being cruel keeping her alive.

However-I've had pigs for 25 years, and I know my pig- she still (seems) to have lust for life- loving her food, loving being in the run, loving her companion pig too. I bathe her regulary/clean out cage more often/have fly strike spray etc so it is being kept under control (as she is largely incontinent due to this- as in she pops out pellets but cant control when/where she does it).

However: in 1 week we are going on holiday for 10 dayst. I am in real agony over finally bringing her in to be put down or not. As while I'm away a friend of family will feed the pigs- but wont be able to give her level of care/attention she needs and I give her. He would still clean the cage, but three's no way he could bathe her the level I can etc etc. Should I let nature take its cause and just let her live her life- for as long as- to me- she seems to still be enjoying life?

Or am I being cruel and I should put her down?

I know pigs and when they are unwell/unhappy the immediate reaction is they go off their food- but she's not, and is brave little thing but still seems happy.

Could she go to a place to stay? My pigs go and stay with a lady who cares for them. She adores pigs and takes really good care of them.

Mrs ZB- know nowhere like that near us sadly.

Thing us our friend might only need to look after them for 1 week and my brother- who adores them and knows how to look after pigs- the rest of the time. So its really 1 week without the same level of care, but he is a lovely, kind bloke.

Should I listen to vet- am I being cruel not putting her down as I dont know- she could be in agony? But if she was, surely sh'e stop eating/not still love being outside in run etc?

What is it that makes you think she is enjoying life? (A genuine, not a goady question).
We had g pigs for years and had to have one put down. It was terribly sad but if a vet says you are being cruel to keep her alive, I think you need some very strong, sound reasons to ignore that.

I think you should take the advice of the person with 7 yewrs of professional training.................

getoff thanks- as said its mainly-:

she still loves her food- openly squeals/demands food and still wolfs it down/gets excited by it - in past with ill/older guineas- biggest indicator something wasn't well was they go off their food

she loves being in the run- still pulls herself along with her front paws/happily exploring the run/grass/eating it/happily dozing off

She still makes her happy noises/eyes look alert and happy

I just have a feeling, as a guinea pig owner of 25 years. As we know so many vets aren't overly concerned or expert with smaller animals like guinea pigs and make ratherrash,generalizations/prognosis'/treatments plans which have so so often proved to be wrong. I just feel making a decisive to end a creatures life is so massive and I have no real indication she is suffering...?? But thats why I posted here, just wanted more of a consensus, so thanks.

it's tough isn't it? I s
reckon if you weren't going away the issue wouldn't be as pressing because yo'd be able to monitor her day to day.
But as you know with piggies they do Well-To-Dead very quickly. When you know your piggie you can spot the signs in the way that they sit, or that slight snuffliness, runny eyes, the stary coat.
Your Holiday Carer might not pick up on it.

If she gets another bout of flystrike it'd be a vile way to go.
And though she's poohing ok, if she pees down her legs they are going to get sore (and though she might not protest , does she tolerate being bathed so often? )

Y'know better a day too early than a day too late , yes?
I had to have one of my pigs PTS earlier this year, it is hard.

If she's still eating but can't excercise she will get tubby which will impact more on her quality of life.

It sounds like her long term prospect isn't good - would a wait'n'see till next week then take her to the Vet be an option? Providing she's 'ok' in herself?

I'm sorry but I'd go with the advice of the vet, especially as you are about to go away.

It's not easy I know, I was about to head for bed but I am watching a pig who I think is not quite right - he's lying on his side when this is rare for him. It's probably nothing but I'm not convinced, though he's only a very young pig.

Guineas have a habit of being ill just at the wrong time. My DD had to make the decision to pts a much loved piggy whilst I was away. My remaining elderly piggy has a large inoperable lump that looks like it might burst and I'm on holiday from tomorrow. Adult DD in charge again of piggy care. I do hope it goes well for her.

I can understand you not wanting to make a decision just yet. I would just say ask your guinea pig carer not to put sick piggy out in the run. I had a piggy who I was giving one last quality weekend out in the run before booking a pts vet trip. Tragically my ill piggy got a fly strike and spent her last day covered in maggots. Something I will always regret. She was loving life to the end too, put up a real struggle at the vets despite everything that was wrong with her.

Just an update- and thankyou all for yoyr response, our little Squash was put to sleep last night. I got home and 2 evil looking flies were sat on her clearly trying to lay their nasty eggs again, she was smelly and sat in her pile of pellets and I knew then she wasn't getting much from life any longer.

I stayed with her as it happened stroking her and looking into her eyes so she knew I was there. Very sad but I feel it was for the best, the vet definitely thought it was the kindest thing to do. Now I have her pig pal sat out awaiting her return, looking very confused so nothing for it. on Sat I'll be out finding a new pig to bring home as her next companion.

I'm sorry Scatty. Sending you a hug xx

Tough choice but you know its the only choice.

Lots of cuddles to her cagemate.

I just read your post and yesterday had my pig put to sleep as well with very similar issues. She suddenly lost mobility in her back legs. First day it was one leg but the next day she was dragging both of her feet behind her. But she was still alert, wheeking, eating food, etc. So we did an xray and did find narrowing of her spine at one location but it wasn't concrete evidence of what has happened. It seemed more like a trauma. She was put on metacam and antibiotics. No improvement and in fact her left leg was cold to the touch. I massaged her everyday and had to bathe her as well everyday as she ended up so filthy from urine and feces.

At one point I thought she was getting better as she had learnt how to prop her legs under in order to eat. But that one leg was always so cold. And her skin was starting to breakdown due to bathing and urind scald. Then she started peeing blood. I felt it was cruel to keep her alive anymore. Even though she was still alert and eating I knew it would rapidly start to go downhill.

I miss her greatly. I hope its ok to have told her story. It is that your pigs story is just so similar. I'm still in shock that she is gone.