Am I Doing The Right Thing?!

[Suze5202]

My Coco Pig was diagnosed with incurable lymphoma last month. The poor thing has several lumps in various places on her body but is still eating, drinking, wheeking and doing all the things guinea pigs do best, albeit a bit slower than her cage mates. She’s on pain medication daily and lots of extra love and cuddles from me and her piggy sisters.

But poor Coco now has a URI as well. It started as a raspy wheek and now she has crusty eyes and a snotty nose too. We’ve been back to our (brilliant) Vet today - Tom at Vets4Pets Preston you’re a star - and he’s prescribed antibiotics. I’m just wondering is this just an unfortunate coincidence or is this the beginning of the end? I will do whatever I need to keep her comfy but by the same token I don’t want her to be kept alive because I’m too selfish to let her go. She’s only three but I need to do what’s best for her.

 

[Wiebke]

My Coco Pig was diagnosed with incurable lymphoma last month. The poor thing has several lumps in various places on her body but is still eating, drinking, wheeking and doing all the things guinea pigs do best, albeit a bit slower than her cage mates. She’s on pain medication daily and lots of extra love and cuddles from me and her piggy sisters.

But poor Coco now has a URI as well. It started as a raspy wheek and now she has crusty eyes and a snotty nose too. We’ve been back to our (brilliant) Vet today - Tom at Vets4Pets Preston you’re a star - and he’s prescribed antibiotics. I’m just wondering is this just an unfortunate coincidence or is this the beginning of the end? I will do whatever I need to keep her comfy but by the same token I don’t want her to be kept alive because I’m too selfish to let her go. She’s only three but I need to do what’s best for her.

The two are linked in that the lymphoma is lowering the immune system to allow opportunistic illnesses like URI to pounce and it prevents/slows down any healing process.

I am very sorry about the lymphoma. All you can do is ride the tiger and let your piggy go when it gets too much. it sounds like the lymphoma is well advanced.

Sadly you can never control how soon and what from a piggy is going to do die. After going through a full blown pet bereavement myself with a very special piggy of mine who only lived to a similar age, I now see my piggies as a loan from God. All I can do is my best to give mine happy and fulfilled lives for as long as they have got and feel blessed to have them in my life for the time they have been given.

You are doing that and you have the right attitude. Cherish every day with her for as long as you can and create some precious memories that stay with you forever.

 

[Betsy]

I am a firm believer in the fact that our piggies let us know when they want to go to the Rainbow Bridge. Your guinea pig will tell you when she is ready. You know her best and will know when it's time to help her cross over.

 

[piggieminder]

I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Hugs to you and Coco.
I like @Betsy believe that with the help of your piggie and your vet you will know the time to let her go.

 

[Suze5202]

Thank you everyone. Our Vet is lovely and has been very helpful but other people (who I’m sure are acting with good intentions) are saying I should have her put to sleep. But these are also people who laugh that a grown woman has guinea pigs and thought I should give them up when we rescued our dog a few months ago. They’re not going anywhere, by the way.

But while she’s still eating, bossing the other two round and seems happy enough, I want to keep fighting for her. I know eventually her time will come but I don’t think it’s just yet.

 

[piggieminder]

As many are on this forum I'm a grown woman too. I have had guinea pigs on and of since I was 12, I enjoy them as much now as I did in the beginning. In fact I enjoy them more now I am retired and have more time to and sit and watch. Only this morning I was asked why I spent £900 plus in vets fees in October, 'they're only guinea pigs, you can go down the road and get another one for £30'. People who don't get it, will never get it. This is why I spend so much time on the forum with people who do.

 

[Suze5202]

They call me the mad guinea pig lady at work. I don’t care. I love them, they make me happy (except when they’re demanding veg at 5am) and I think they love me.

 

[Suze5202]

Here’s the lovely Coco by the way.

 

[Betsy]

They call me the mad guinea pig lady at work. I don’t care. I love them, they make me happy (except when they’re demanding veg at 5am) and I think they love me.

Of course they love you! You are the slave who brings them food and stuff. You also provide floor time, cuddles, chats ...

 

[Freela]

Awww, she's lovely. I'm so sorry about the lymphoma diagnosis. The URI is likely related, as lymphoma lowers the immune system. In my eyes, it's all about quality of life- if they are still happy and managing to lead a normal guinea pig life, I would absolutely keep fighting to give them that extra time, and cherish all of it. I know there are a lot of people who just don't understand the point of spending so much time and vet money on guinea pigs- but I firmly believe those people are wrong! LOL! One of my past pigs, Sundae, had a ton of chronic issues over the course of her life and over the years we paid for tons of vet care for her (chronic antibiotics... abscess surgery... dental surgery... lots of stuff!) A lot of people thought I was crazy, but she lived a good life and passed of old age when she was almost 7 years old and she was absolutely worth every cent. She was probably lucky to have us because many people wouldn't have done all that for her... but honestly, we were luckier to have her for so many years! Don't worry, everyone here understands!

 

[Suze5202]

Actually, I have a confession. I’ve up loaded a pic of the wrong pig! ‍ But thank you for all your comments. She’s cost me over £300 so far but I genuinely believe she’s worth every penny. She seems to have perked up this morning and though it’s early days, I think there’s still lots of fight left in her.

Coco is pictured below having a mooch round the kitchen

 

[Swissgreys]

They call me the mad guinea pig lady at work. I don’t care. I love them, they make me happy (except when they’re demanding veg at 5am) and I think they love me.

I fully understand people who don't get guinea pigs as pets.
I know I often look at people with expensive designer clothes and think they are totally bonkers for spending a small fortune on a jacket/handbag/pair of shoes.
The sheer pointlessness of it baffles me, and I guess if I feel like that about a Desigul jacket, then some people probably look at me in my slightly ratty fleece jacket with hay and hair all over it and think that if I didn't spend so much time and money on my animals then I could own a 'nice' jacket like them.

But I also think I get a lot more back from my guinea pigs than I can ever imagine receiving from a pair of Prada shoes so for now I'll stick with the piggies

 

[Beans&Toast]

I am a firm believer in the fact that our piggies let us know when they want to go to the Rainbow Bridge. Your guinea pig will tell you when she is ready. You know her best and will know when it's time to help her cross over.

I never understood what people meant when they said things like this until it actually happened with Toast and I fully believe she was trying to communicate with me on her last night that she was ready. They have their ways of letting us know and you just know..

 

[Betsy]

I never understood what people meant when they said things like this until it actually happened with Toast and I fully believe she was trying to communicate with me on her last night that she was ready. They have their ways of letting us know and you just know..

My first hammie the lovely Frankie let me know. He had a massive tumour almost the same size as he was underneath his body so although from the top he looked fine, turn him over and it was another story! He was fine with it for along time then one day he'd just had enough and gave me "that look" and I knew. The next day I had him pts and it broke my heart. I loved that little guy. He was my first ever pet and he was just so special.

 

[Katiedid]

My first hammie the lovely Frankie let me know. He had a massive tumour almost the same size as he was underneath his body so although from the top he looked fine, turn him over and it was another story! He was fine with it for along time then one day he'd just had enough and gave me "that look" and I knew. The next day I had him pts and it broke my heart. I loved that little guy. He was my first ever pet and he was just so special.

Dozy had lymphoma - he let me know. He had been happy until the day before we let him go and then he just got this 'look' haunted and blank and that was it. Time to go.

 

[PerpLexxity]

I'm no pig illness expert but it sounds like

Dozy had lymphoma - he let me know. He had been happy until the day before we let him go and then he just got this 'look' haunted and blank and that was it. Time to go.

Its crazy how you get this connection with your animal and you know when it’s their time. The day my Archie passed (he was a teddy) everybody looked at me like I was crazy when I said it was his time. That day he passed away in my arms... still don’t know what caused his death. I think it was heartbreak; the day before Archie passed, his cage mate died... he was my biggest regret. At the time I was so immature to the thought of small animals and wish I had treated him better with cage cleanings and such... I hate admitting that to myself. Animals are just apart of our lives, but to the animal, we are their life. <3 much love sent to you and your coco, it sounds like she is still full of life.

 

[Suze5202]

I fully understand people who don't get guinea pigs as pets.
I know I often look at people with expensive designer clothes and think they are totally bonkers for spending a small fortune on a jacket/handbag/pair of shoes.
The sheer pointlessness of it baffles me, and I guess if I feel like that about a Desigul jacket, then some people probably look at me in my slightly ratty fleece jacket with hay and hair all over it and think that if I didn't spend so much time and money on my animals then I could own a 'nice' jacket like them.

But I also think I get a lot more back from my guinea pigs than I can ever imagine receiving from a pair of Prada shoes so for now I'll stick with the piggies

My problem is I like the expensive clothing too!

 

[Suze5202]

Hello everyone. Thank you for your kind words and advice. Coco is now on Sulfatrim and has perked up considerably. Her crusty eye has disappeared but she’s still a bit raspy. She’s also been prescribed critical care but would much rather stuff her face with veggies instead. Hetty, however, tries to climb out the cage if she smells it because she wants to eat it all. Nutters...

 

[Suze5202]

Thank you for all your advice. We found Coco passed away in the cage this afternoon. She seemed happy enough yesterday, eating and drinking as normal but looked to be losing weight and the growth under her chin was massive. At least we know she’s not in any more pain.

 

[Swissgreys]

I am so sorry that you lost Coco, but it sounds as if she didn't suffer and her passing was peaceful.
Thinking of you today.

 

[Suze5202]

We had a lovely cuddle last night and she seemed quite happy. The medicine she was on must have been doing it’s job. Hopefully the ending was quick and painless.

 

[Freela]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like she had a wonderful life with you and passed peacefully, if it's any consolation. ((HUGS)) to you and RIP Coco... popcorn free.

 

[Katie1988]

So sorry for your loss.

I can't get my head around why people are not asking for proper treatment for this cancer. It is out there people, you just need to find an exotic vet that has experience with treating guinea-pigs.

Kiwi is nearly 5 weeks post diagnosis and doing great. In no pain as the lumps are not pushing on organs etc.