Considering euthanasia and struggling with the idea

O

Orion

Junior Guinea Pig
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This isn’t the update I wanted to make. This is Hams owner, who I posted about earlier this week. But this isn’t about Ham, it’s about his bar buddy Ed. Ed has always been a quiet, sweet guy. Doesn’t love being held. But always gives kisses. Chews on his bars instead of making sounds (I know, so bad for his teeth, but I could never get him to stop no matter what I tried). Especially in his old age (7), he’s been gentle and quiet. We’ve had a rough few months with him and his brothers health. In and out of the vet constantly. Every time, the dr gives us three options: euthanasia, do one test/med and hope it fixes things, or spend thousands upon thousands doing every little thing because we can never fully pinpoint his symptoms.

Ed has always been a jumper. Meaning, when I try to put him back in his enclosure he tries to leap out of my hands. He managed to earlier this week, and he landed weird. It wasn’t that high of a jump, maybe 5 inches? But like I said, he landed weird. The next day I noticed his toe was way further away from his other ones than usual. I was looking because he made a noise that sounded like pain when I picked him up for his morning meds. I don’t know if it’s broken, but I scheduled a vet appointment because I knew he needed to get looked at and maybe put on some pain meds. I feel unbelievably guilty for it. I try to hold onto him, but he is SO insistent on reaching the ground faster than I can manage to set him down. He’s my baby and it it’s killing me knowing something happened that could have been prevented.

But that’s the least of his problems right now. He was eating less after, which I attributed to pain, but it just kept escalating until last night, when he began refusing critical care too. The only thing I can get him to eat consistently is hay seed heads and carrots. I put critical care on the carrot and have been tricking him into eating it, which is helpful, but he’s not eating nearly enough to sustain himself. I’m calling the vet as soon as they open to see if they have an opening and if not I’m doing an emergency appointment. I stayed up all night monitoring him and feeding him as often as I could and as much as he’d allow. I feel awful. Having elderly guinea pigs is crushing me. I love them so much. Ed is the sweetest boy and I hate to see him not happy. We’re having more bad days than good right now. Same for Ham. It seems to me like they are declining very similarly. I think it’s sweet that it seems they’re going together. But that only makes it more painful for me. I’m trying to hold it together, but these boys are what hold me together. I’m terrified for this appointment because I know that one of these times I’ll have to make a very hard decision.
 
Orion said:
This isn’t the update I wanted to make. This is Hams owner, who I posted about earlier this week. But this isn’t about Ham, it’s about his bar buddy Ed. Ed has always been a quiet, sweet guy. Doesn’t love being held. But always gives kisses. Chews on his bars instead of making sounds (I know, so bad for his teeth, but I could never get him to stop no matter what I tried). Especially in his old age (7), he’s been gentle and quiet. We’ve had a rough few months with him and his brothers health. In and out of the vet constantly. Every time, the dr gives us three options: euthanasia, do one test/med and hope it fixes things, or spend thousands upon thousands doing every little thing because we can never fully pinpoint his symptoms.

Ed has always been a jumper. Meaning, when I try to put him back in his enclosure he tries to leap out of my hands. He managed to earlier this week, and he landed weird. It wasn’t that high of a jump, maybe 5 inches? But like I said, he landed weird. The next day I noticed his toe was way further away from his other ones than usual. I was looking because he made a noise that sounded like pain when I picked him up for his morning meds. I don’t know if it’s broken, but I scheduled a vet appointment because I knew he needed to get looked at and maybe put on some pain meds. I feel unbelievably guilty for it. I try to hold onto him, but he is SO insistent on reaching the ground faster than I can manage to set him down. He’s my baby and it it’s killing me knowing something happened that could have been prevented.

But that’s the least of his problems right now. He was eating less after, which I attributed to pain, but it just kept escalating until last night, when he began refusing critical care too. The only thing I can get him to eat consistently is hay seed heads and carrots. I put critical care on the carrot and have been tricking him into eating it, which is helpful, but he’s not eating nearly enough to sustain himself. I’m calling the vet as soon as they open to see if they have an opening and if not I’m doing an emergency appointment. I stayed up all night monitoring him and feeding him as often as I could and as much as he’d allow. I feel awful. Having elderly guinea pigs is crushing me. I love them so much. Ed is the sweetest boy and I hate to see him not happy. We’re having more bad days than good right now. Same for Ham. It seems to me like they are declining very similarly. I think it’s sweet that it seems they’re going together. But that only makes it more painful for me. I’m trying to hold it together, but these boys are what hold me together. I’m terrified for this appointment because I know that one of these times I’ll have to make a very hard decision.
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BIG HUGS

I am very sorry. You may find that the decision has already been taken out of your hands and that Ed has already started his journey to the Rainbow Bridge with his body closing down.

At this great age at the upper end of the average life span, a natural death is often pretty quick and fairly straight forward - although it can still be rather physical. It is tough for us when we come up against the much faster metabolism of guinea pigs and when it turns against them. There is nothing you or a vet can do once a major organ packs in.
Be sad and upset but also be proud of having got your boys to such a great age.

Unless Ed is in great pain for any longer than half an hour or the dying process is not moving on, please allow him to make the journey from his familiar surroundings in his own way and time. It is a lot less stressful for him than a rush to the vets.
You may find that the stage at the very end when oxygen deprivation hits the limbs and body can be somewhat distressing for any loving owner who has never witnessed it 'running to the Rainbow Bridge' or falling over but you have to also tell yourself that the oxygen deprivation is equally affecting the brain and that your little one is pretty much out of it by then.

You can find more details and practical advice in the guide below. I am only too well aware that this is absolutely not what you want to see right now - but you can always find the strength to be there for somebody you love, even when you struggle with your own mind and mental strength. In a crunch, your love and sense of responsibility will generally win out. We are here for you to help you with emotional fallout.

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

I hope that this helps you? I am very sorry that it is such a horrible time for you; I truly wish I could have given you better news.
 
Aw I am so sorry 😞 I agree with Wiebke and it sadly seems that Ed is already making his way to the rainbow bridge. But please take heart that he has reached an amazing age and that is down to your good care of both him and Ham ❤️

Please keep him warm and comfortable while he makes his way to the rainbow bridge and leave him B if he doesn’t appear to be in any pain.

(((Hugs))) the dying process isn’t easy for us watching our beloved pets leave this world but being there for him is a one of the greatest gifts you can give x
 
Orion said:
This isn’t the update I wanted to make. This is Hams owner, who I posted about earlier this week. But this isn’t about Ham, it’s about his bar buddy Ed. Ed has always been a quiet, sweet guy. Doesn’t love being held. But always gives kisses. Chews on his bars instead of making sounds (I know, so bad for his teeth, but I could never get him to stop no matter what I tried). Especially in his old age (7), he’s been gentle and quiet. We’ve had a rough few months with him and his brothers health. In and out of the vet constantly. Every time, the dr gives us three options: euthanasia, do one test/med and hope it fixes things, or spend thousands upon thousands doing every little thing because we can never fully pinpoint his symptoms.

Ed has always been a jumper. Meaning, when I try to put him back in his enclosure he tries to leap out of my hands. He managed to earlier this week, and he landed weird. It wasn’t that high of a jump, maybe 5 inches? But like I said, he landed weird. The next day I noticed his toe was way further away from his other ones than usual. I was looking because he made a noise that sounded like pain when I picked him up for his morning meds. I don’t know if it’s broken, but I scheduled a vet appointment because I knew he needed to get looked at and maybe put on some pain meds. I feel unbelievably guilty for it. I try to hold onto him, but he is SO insistent on reaching the ground faster than I can manage to set him down. He’s my baby and it it’s killing me knowing something happened that could have been prevented.

But that’s the least of his problems right now. He was eating less after, which I attributed to pain, but it just kept escalating until last night, when he began refusing critical care too. The only thing I can get him to eat consistently is hay seed heads and carrots. I put critical care on the carrot and have been tricking him into eating it, which is helpful, but he’s not eating nearly enough to sustain himself. I’m calling the vet as soon as they open to see if they have an opening and if not I’m doing an emergency appointment. I stayed up all night monitoring him and feeding him as often as I could and as much as he’d allow. I feel awful. Having elderly guinea pigs is crushing me. I love them so much. Ed is the sweetest boy and I hate to see him not happy. We’re having more bad days than good right now. Same for Ham. It seems to me like they are declining very similarly. I think it’s sweet that it seems they’re going together. But that only makes it more painful for me. I’m trying to hold it together, but these boys are what hold me together. I’m terrified for this appointment because I know that one of these times I’ll have to make a very hard decision.
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Hi

How is Ed and how are you today?

Thinking of you.
 
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