Caramel has a lump :(

[Emmamarie123]

During my weekly check up i noticed caramel has been losing weight. Nothing major maybe 20g a week or less. I checked her over thoroughly and found two lumps. One I was certain was a cyst- which it was and was drained by the vets. The other seems sinister. The vets have suggested taking a sample from the lump or waiting to see if it gets bigger.
I will be getting the sample but not till next week. I have been weighing every other day and she is still losing weight. Normally she is between 850-870g but is now weighing in at 779g. She is getting critical care along with Alaska.

I can’t believe this is happening to be honest.

 

[Merab]

So sorry this is happening.
When, next week, are you getting the sample taken.

You may want to try some oats with grated sweet potato to tempt her.
@PigglePuggle recommended them and I gave some to my little Micah when he needed to put on weight post surgery. He loved them. He also loved a bit of banana mashed into his critical care. These helped him to gain weight.

Hope Caramel is OK. Will be holding you in my thoughts

 

[Emmamarie123]

There is a large lump under her chin by her throat. I just felt it it feels like a golf ball. The lump we are taking a sample of is on her side. I am utterly heartbroken

 

[Betsy]

Hoping it's nothing to ominous hugs

 

[Emmamarie123]

Update.. it’s not good. I can’t write all about it right now but basically we are going to give her all the love and hugs with the time she has left. She gained 6g in weight today rather than a loss so I’m taking it as a sign she is a fighter. She has all her favourites and extra pellets.

 

[rhymer]

So sorry you are going through this.
Holding you and Caramel in my thuoghts.xx

 

[Merab]

So sorry to hear this news.
Holding you in my heart

 

[Emmamarie123]

Just took Caramel to have a sample taken from the lumps and the large lump under her chin is an abscess! Never been so happy to see puss in my life lol

 

[Abi_nurse]

An abscess on her chin isn’t the best place to have one. Have you discussed with your vet about surgical removal of this? They are often associated with the tooth roots and need extensive work. Please have a chat with your vet about considering having an X-ray or even better a CT scan to see where the abscess communicates with. I hope you can get her sorted, sadly antibiotics alone rarely work in these cases. Sorry to bring the bearer of other not so good news.

x

 

[Merab]

Poor Caramel.
That must have been so painful.
Hope it can be successfully and completely dealt with

 

[Emmamarie123]

Definitely, but she seems brighter having all that out! The lump is tiny now compared to before. The wound is open so I can flush it and she has pain killers. Just so glad it wasn’t cancer that had spread. Even though the lump on her tummy might be cancer at least it’s only tiny. Going back in two days to have a look at the wound again.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Fingers crossed for your gorgeous Caramel x hope she makes a full recovery!

 

[rhymer]

Sending hugs.
Hope she is feeling better soon and makes a full recovery.xx

 

[Emmamarie123]

Hi everyone Caramel has maintained her weight since the draining which is good but she is having soft poops. Her feet had some poop on so gave them a wipe down but I think it could be the meds. Speaking to the vet today about it.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Bless her, my late Donald had an abscess under his chin, in fact when they operated they found two abscesses and a fatty lump, luckily all tiny. He had x-rays and luckily it wasn't linked to his teeth at all. He made a quick and healthy recovery after that but it was worrying all the same. I hope the biopsy comes back to show nothing sinister with her other lump

 

[Emmamarie123]

My beautiful Caramel was put to sleep today. After strong medication and lancing we made the decision to have surgery where the abscess was found to have tangled into bone. We made the decision to let her sleep peacefully rather than wake her up from surgery and put her through more pain.
I am heartbroken. I have her quarantine cage all set up for after I was meant to bring her home from surgery but I can’t put it away yet. I feel utterly devastated

 

[Gem789]

I'm so sorry sending huge hugs xx

 

[Lady Kelly]

So sorry for your loss but you did the right thing by Caramel and didn't let her suffer so I hope that knowledge brings you some comfort

 

[rhymer]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Caramel is out of pain now and popcorning free at the rainbow bridge.
Sending you massive hugs.xx

 

[Wiebke]

My beautiful Caramel was put to sleep today. After strong medication and lancing we made the decision to have surgery where the abscess was found to have tangled into bone. We made the decision to let her sleep peacefully rather than wake her up from surgery and put her through more pain.
I am heartbroken. I have her quarantine cage all set up for after I was meant to bring her home from surgery but I can’t put it away yet. I feel utterly devastated

BIG HUGS

I am so sorry that you have had to make that decision!

If it is of any consolation to you, I would have made the same decision - abscesses that have penetrated into bone are notoriously hard to get on top of.

You can unfortunately never choose what from and when your piggies die; that is out of your hands. But then guinea pigs don't have a concept for how long they expect to live. What they measure a good life by are whether their day has been a happy one or not. And you have definitely not failed in that or failed in sparing him pain and discomfort and a never ending battle for how long he would have had to live had he been brought round. When your decision is based on you shouldering the pain of letting him go rather than see him suffering, then your heart is in the right place even though it is going to take some time to make peace with that.

You may find these guides here helpful in the coming days and weeks:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[Hholmes]

My beautiful Caramel was put to sleep today. After strong medication and lancing we made the decision to have surgery where the abscess was found to have tangled into bone. We made the decision to let her sleep peacefully rather than wake her up from surgery and put her through more pain.
I am heartbroken. I have her quarantine cage all set up for after I was meant to bring her home from surgery but I can’t put it away yet. I feel utterly devastated

So sorry for your loss. Sleep peacefully Caramel xx

 

[Betsy]

Guinea pigs live for today. All you can give them is lots of happy todays if a guinea pig wakes up the next day he/she is happy. You gave Caramel lots of happy todays and that is all a guinea pig can wish for. Caramel is now at the Rainbow Bridge playing zoomies and popcorning away with his new friends.

 

[Merab]

So sorry you had to make such a heartbreaking decision.

 

[Siikibam]

So sorry for your loss. You gave her lots of love and care, that’s not measurable