helen105281
Senior Guinea Pig
On Monday we had to make the devastating decision to have Amelie (Millie Moo) PTS. She was 6 and a half years old and a heart pig and she had stopped eating for herself over the weekend. We kept her going with syringe food but she has always hated being syringe fed (unless it was as a treat) and we always said when the time came we would not use it to keep her alive. Each of our pigs are different and we would make the decision based on each one’s behaviour. Though she had not dropped weight she was skin and bone and the vet agreed that old age was catching up with her and it would be kindest to let her go. It was the most difficult decision I think we have ever made as at the vets the adrenaline kicked in and she was really lively, even though just half hour earlier she was fluffed up, in a corner and turning her nose up at everything we offered her. Someone once told me better a week too early than a second too late and we used that as our guide for Moo.
I am absolutely heartbroken, she was my favourite (I know we shouldn’t have them) and over the last 6 and a half years I learnt to read her really well and knew when she was poorly. She had had an issue with small ovarian cysts that would pop every so often and leave her feeling awful for a few hours. Afterwards she would bounce back as if nothing had happened but I always knew when she was having one of her turns. She wasn’t a cuddly pig (apart from the last few days) and would prefer to climb up me for food. One time though I was upset for some reason and crying and all of a sudden I felt a paw on my foot, looked down and there she was looking up at me, and for this reason I have her pawprint tattooed on my foot. It looks like a splodge really but it was her exact print when we dunked her paw in beetroot juice.
Moo arrived with her sister Jessica in July 2010 and joined our original piggies Gert and Johnny. When Gert passed away Moo took over as top sow and you could tell she had learnt from the best. As the herd grew she stepped in to split up chattering pigs and looked after those that needed looking after like Katie the skinny. This last year she had taken a step back and let Fuzzy take over but she was so well respected amongst her little group.
I have so many wonderful memories of Moo that it is difficult to put them all in one tribute. One thing though, we always knew she was special as we gave her the name we would have named a daughter if we had wanted children.
Sweet dreams beautiful Moo, we were honoured to live with you. Love you always.
I am at work, so will add more photos in the next few days but this will always be my favourite.

I am absolutely heartbroken, she was my favourite (I know we shouldn’t have them) and over the last 6 and a half years I learnt to read her really well and knew when she was poorly. She had had an issue with small ovarian cysts that would pop every so often and leave her feeling awful for a few hours. Afterwards she would bounce back as if nothing had happened but I always knew when she was having one of her turns. She wasn’t a cuddly pig (apart from the last few days) and would prefer to climb up me for food. One time though I was upset for some reason and crying and all of a sudden I felt a paw on my foot, looked down and there she was looking up at me, and for this reason I have her pawprint tattooed on my foot. It looks like a splodge really but it was her exact print when we dunked her paw in beetroot juice.
Moo arrived with her sister Jessica in July 2010 and joined our original piggies Gert and Johnny. When Gert passed away Moo took over as top sow and you could tell she had learnt from the best. As the herd grew she stepped in to split up chattering pigs and looked after those that needed looking after like Katie the skinny. This last year she had taken a step back and let Fuzzy take over but she was so well respected amongst her little group.
I have so many wonderful memories of Moo that it is difficult to put them all in one tribute. One thing though, we always knew she was special as we gave her the name we would have named a daughter if we had wanted children.
Sweet dreams beautiful Moo, we were honoured to live with you. Love you always.
I am at work, so will add more photos in the next few days but this will always be my favourite.


. She was clearly loved very much and that makes losing them even harder. Popcorn free little one xx.