h_and_piggies
Teenage Guinea Pig
Hello All,
As they say, long time reader, first time poster. This forum has been a great help to me, and I wish my post was under more favourable conditions. Today, I said goodbye to Ben. He was 5, but only just. I wish I had more time, but don’t we all.
He’d had a rough few months of this year with various illnesses. He was up, then down, then up, then down, then up and then finally down. He’d had 2 surgeries in as many months. The vet said he was really fighting, and he really did. But I think every illness takes it’s toll, and this time he just couldn’t pull back. Yesterday, I could tell he knew he couldn’t fight. I had our evening cuddles, and he was looking at me and I knew he was telling me his goodbyes. I kept hope, he’d had so many miracles I just hoped for one more. But after I took him home from an emergency visit to the vets, and he just lay down very still, I knew that it wasn’t going to be long. I’m glad I held him, and he had his brother by his side, as he gently slipped away. He looked so peaceful, like the past 3 months of pain and struggle had never happened.
I never meant to get guinea pigs. But I saw a story about 3 baby guinea pigs who’d been abandoned and found in someone’s garden, and I knew I had to take them all home. So I adopted them from the rescue. I spoiled them so much. So much cuddles, so many toys, all the kind words I could give.
Ben was a character. He was a typical abby, so curious, he just had to find out. Which made him naughty. He’d always find a way to get behind the furniture he wasn’t meant to get behind. He always had to make friends with people who would visit my house. I used to have to feed him before I’d get my weekly shop delivered, else he’d start begging the delivery driver for food! He was so vocal, a little chatter box. I have some videos of all the sounds he used to make. He loved a chin tickle and he’d really lift his chin up high to make sure he’d get the maximum fuss.
I just wish his last few months hadn’t been filled with illness. I would have to clean out his surgery wound, and I know he didn’t like it, and it caused him pain. I just wish he knew that it was me trying to help him. I keep looking back and thinking if there was anything I could have done differently, and if he’d still be here. I think that’s what is the worst part of losing a piggy to illness.
Ben was probably one of the happiest creatures on this planet. He really loved life. Every day he was just so happy to be here. On a rough day, I’d just look at how happy he was, and he made me happy as well. If I could have replicated and bottled some of what he had and sold it, boy would we have been rich!
He was so important to me, and to his brothers. We’ll all miss him. Billy stayed by his side for so long after he passed, but I let him stay until he was ready to say goodbye. I guess this post is me also saying my goodbye. To let other people know about my awesome little guy called Ben, and hope that maybe by reading his story, they’ll see how loved he was, and maybe even love him a little bit back.
As they say, long time reader, first time poster. This forum has been a great help to me, and I wish my post was under more favourable conditions. Today, I said goodbye to Ben. He was 5, but only just. I wish I had more time, but don’t we all.
He’d had a rough few months of this year with various illnesses. He was up, then down, then up, then down, then up and then finally down. He’d had 2 surgeries in as many months. The vet said he was really fighting, and he really did. But I think every illness takes it’s toll, and this time he just couldn’t pull back. Yesterday, I could tell he knew he couldn’t fight. I had our evening cuddles, and he was looking at me and I knew he was telling me his goodbyes. I kept hope, he’d had so many miracles I just hoped for one more. But after I took him home from an emergency visit to the vets, and he just lay down very still, I knew that it wasn’t going to be long. I’m glad I held him, and he had his brother by his side, as he gently slipped away. He looked so peaceful, like the past 3 months of pain and struggle had never happened.
I never meant to get guinea pigs. But I saw a story about 3 baby guinea pigs who’d been abandoned and found in someone’s garden, and I knew I had to take them all home. So I adopted them from the rescue. I spoiled them so much. So much cuddles, so many toys, all the kind words I could give.
Ben was a character. He was a typical abby, so curious, he just had to find out. Which made him naughty. He’d always find a way to get behind the furniture he wasn’t meant to get behind. He always had to make friends with people who would visit my house. I used to have to feed him before I’d get my weekly shop delivered, else he’d start begging the delivery driver for food! He was so vocal, a little chatter box. I have some videos of all the sounds he used to make. He loved a chin tickle and he’d really lift his chin up high to make sure he’d get the maximum fuss.
I just wish his last few months hadn’t been filled with illness. I would have to clean out his surgery wound, and I know he didn’t like it, and it caused him pain. I just wish he knew that it was me trying to help him. I keep looking back and thinking if there was anything I could have done differently, and if he’d still be here. I think that’s what is the worst part of losing a piggy to illness.
Ben was probably one of the happiest creatures on this planet. He really loved life. Every day he was just so happy to be here. On a rough day, I’d just look at how happy he was, and he made me happy as well. If I could have replicated and bottled some of what he had and sold it, boy would we have been rich!
He was so important to me, and to his brothers. We’ll all miss him. Billy stayed by his side for so long after he passed, but I let him stay until he was ready to say goodbye. I guess this post is me also saying my goodbye. To let other people know about my awesome little guy called Ben, and hope that maybe by reading his story, they’ll see how loved he was, and maybe even love him a little bit back.
He would have known how loved he was.
