Any suggestions for Stella - 7 years old and numerous health problems.

[paulag]

Stella was one of a pair of preloved guinea pigs I took on nearly two years ago and is 7 years old. Sadly we lost her sister over the summer but she is living contentedly with Marmaduke and Priscilla.

Shes been on furosemide for possible heart failure for 18 months, has a tumour under her front leg that stopped growing a year or so back. Recently she has got very thin, going down from 1100g to about 850 over the last 6 months or so - we've reduced the furosemide to allow for this. I no longer limit their pellets (Marmaduke is happy) and feed her some additional bits. But to be honest, with the exception of veggies, she normally just munches on the nice meadow hay we give them in preference. She eats fine and poodles around the cage but I don't think she's as vocal as she was. I won't syringe feed an elderly piggie who is eating fine.

She had been barbering a little and so with vetinary advice she's also on metacam. But the last couple of days her fur has become thin on her tummy and back leg. I've given her a bath this morning which I hate doing with one so elderly to see if it soothes the skin. But it doesn't look sore or inflamed.

Shes also had weepy eyes treated with antibiotic drops and now moisturizing drops as I don't think it's an infection.

I think she's probably in pain despite the metacam. But she's pooling around, eating and interacting with the others. We're off to the vets later. We're obviously coming to the end of her life and should she stop eating or doing normal things I will let her go but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for helping her

Paula

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Sorry i really wish i could help, she sounds like she is in good hands! I think its just following vets advice, keeping her warm and comfortable, treating her to whatever she wants to be treated to and lots of cuddles.

Gave you offered her porridge? Have heard it is very popular with piggies and high in calories, mix some oats with warm water and offer this if she likes it.

Big hugs x

 

[paulag]

Thank you. Yes it's oats that I supplement with - but she tends to sniff them, wander off and eat hay while Priscilla snaffles them. I forgot to mention we have an additional heater with them that doesn't let the temperature drop below about 20 degrees in there overnight at the moment. They are on fleece and hay.

Worried the vet might say its time to call it a day - been with him for 15 years and always trust his advice on euthanasia. Although because I've had so many elderly small and furries over the years I'm usually pretty pragmatic and won't let them suffer if I can avoid it. It's just that she still eating and pootling about that makes it hard.

Paula

 

[paulag]

She's definately eating pellets though - just went in to give them some apple and she'd tortoised her box over the pellet bowl. Breakfast in bed.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Just remembered readigrass is also quite high in Calories and i have never heard of a piggy who doesn't like it!

You sound like you have a fab vet, but i would only ever PTS if the piggy was physically in pain or suffering, whilst she is happily eating etc i would allow her to carry on, which is what you are planning, and i am sure your vet would agree.

x

 

[paulag]

I'll see if I can pick some up today. I just gave them some of the chinchilla's posh western Timothy hay and there is happy munching going on - she's picking out the seed heads which are quite calorific. Not happy with her breathing when she eats either. We shall see what the vet says.

 

[paulag]

Saw a new young vet today. She's of the same opinion as me. It's probably barbering and she can't rule out pain, but there's not a lot we can do past the metacam and keeping a close eye on her. She seems a little perkier since her bath this morning so maybe she was itchy. Will keep the room warm and a close eye on her over the weekend.