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Does My Piggy Need Putting Down For Impaction?

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JanF

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Hi, I have an elderly male piggy (7 years old) suffering with impaction.
My family members insist he needs to be put down (they do not have experience with piggies and don't like them very much). I'm cleaning him out reguraly and he doesn't seem to mind that. He eats as much as always and his condition is not limiting him, he's as lively as ever. Yet my family thinks it's gross to empty him out manually and want me to have him put down. So, should I give in and have him put down?
 
Oh my goodness, I have never heard of anyone putting a guinea pig down because of impaction. Its not the nicest thing to deal with, but I didnt think it warranted a death sentance for the guinea pig.
Is he is any immediate danger of being put to sleep by your family?

Are you in the UK - if so, which county? If your family do not want to keep him then perhaps you could find him a retirement home in a good rescue.
 
If he still has a good quality of life, is not in pain or suffering then god no, poor old man! Some peoples attitude astound me!
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. Elderly boars are prone to impaction but this does not mean they need to die! He will just need daily removing of his poops.
 
It sounds like you are looking after your boar very well. With your care , he is still having a good quality life.

Welcome to the forum.
 
Hi and welcome. You seem to be caring for this older chap and def you can do it from your proactive ways of doing this. Yes it's not a pleasant job but as you state he seems well and lively! Piggies should only be put to sleep if they are in a great deal of pain from something serious they cannot recover from...otherwise hooman love, attention and some prescibed medication does wonders! I bet he's glad he's got you!
 
I'm sure your vet would not want to put him to sleep if he has a good quality of life, even if your family asked him to.
 
Hi and thanks for all your comments.
I tried got know how many times to explain to my family that my piggy is just fine for his age. I tried to explain to my family that impaction is quite commom and normal in older boars but if it's kept under control, it doesn't harm the piggy at all. I showed them lots of articles about it but they just don't want to know. It's very difficult to deal with them, they keep bringing it up all the time and I really don't know how to make them understand... I know that I will have to put him to sleep eventually, he's quite old and will probably develop some more serious illness in the future but I don't want to end his life just because he's got trouble pooping... I just wish my family accepted that and stopped pressuring me into killing him without a good reason. Can anyone think of anything that could help me change their minds?
 
You could show them this post and everyone's replies or even ask your vet to speak to them. If he's any good he won't want to put a healthy animal to sleep. I also think he need to see a pic of this old gent (hint hint)
 
Ask them to read these threads of all of us siding with you that his quality of life is fine! Tell them that since you are caring for him anyway that they don't have to worry about anything and you will deal with it/him.
 
I'm sorry, it sounds like you are having a hard time with your family. The only other thing I can think of is to get your vet to have a phone conversation with them about it to reassure them that he is OK.

Is it really about something else, do they not want you to have a guinea pig and is this just an excuse?
If you are pressurised into having him put to sleep please do consider my suggestion of looking for a retirement rescue home for him, if you are in the UK this is more likely than if you are in the US though I am afraid.
 
Are you happy to add your location to you profile ? - country and county would be useful. This will help us with our advice
 
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Perhaps I should had mentioned it before but I have 1 other (healthy)piggy so I don't think having a piggy is the problem here. I think their main problem is the fact that this piggy has got a problem that thay consider to be too gross to deal with (even though they are not the ones dealing with it). They just don't consider animals to be members of a family. They would prefer to have a quick fix and be done with it... They don't have the patience or love needed to look after a piggy with some issues. And my argument that putting this piggy down would upset the remaining one was dismissed straight away - apparently piggies are stupid and he wouldn't notice that his friend was gone... I mean - are they for real? Piggies have feelings and emotions just like everybody else...
 
They are completely wrong about the other piggie not noticing.
My Ripple is grieving for the loss of her friend two weeks ago, she has been so sad and has been reluctant to eat, I thought she was going into G I Stasis last week and had to syringe feed her, I have been doing a lot of hand feeding and even taking her to work with me. I'm still very worried about her - she needs a friend as soon as possible. All she does now is sit in her hidey, its heartbreaking.
 
JanF said:
Perhaps I should had mentioned it before but I have 1 other (healthy)piggy so I don't think having a piggy is the problem here. I think their main problem is the fact that this piggy has got a problem that thay consider to be too gross to deal with (even though they are not the ones dealing with it). They just don't consider animals to be members of a family. They would prefer to have a quick fix and be done with it... They don't have the patience or love needed to look after a piggy with some issues. And my argument that putting this piggy down would upset the remaining one was dismissed straight away - apparently piggies are stupid and he wouldn't notice that his friend was gone... I mean - are they for real? Piggies have feelings and emotions just like everybody else...
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It is very sad to put an animal to sleep just for being elderly. They will be old one day and may need care too. You are right to say your other piggy would miss him. Piggies grieve just like we do. I am sorry your family do not understand but you are doing the right thing by your piggy and clearly love him very much.
 
This is difficult for us to answer as we don't know how old you are and what your relationship is with your family. You clearly have a good understanding of guinea pig care. It's a pity you haven't reached an agreement with your family yet.
 
Well, my piggies are my babies :) I love them to bits, unfortunatelly my family were never interested in them but they tolerated them until this impaction problem started... It all went downhill from there... I really can't wait for the day I move out. I'm hoping it will be soon because then I won't have to deal with their stupid comments...
 
Some people just don't understand . My OH doesn't "get" why I have taken to my three guinea pigs but he puts up with it nowadays.
 
It might be a good idea to look at the forum rescue locator to see if there are any good ones near you and talk to them about your situation - they may be able to help you by either talking to your parents or if you are forced into putting him down perhaps taking him in as a long term foster pig.
 
I agree with all the other posters... he has a manageable age-related problem, you are managing it well, his quality of life is good, so why would he need to be put down? It is frustrating when people don't understand. My husband is not an animal person and has no idea why I pay for one of my pigs to be on long-term antibiotic therapy, but luckily he doesn't argue it with me at all! I hope that the ultimate decision is yours, because you seem to be the one managing the situation just fine and I'm sure your piggie would prefer your solution to your parents'!
 
On my you poor thing having to deal with this situation. We have had many piggies and sad as it is lots of males suffer the indignity and discomfort of this but it really is just part of their own peculiar little piggy problems. To answer the question no a guinea pig shouldn't be put to sleep for this easily treatable condition. I wonder whether your parents are worried that this condition will turn into a major problem requiring extensive vet bills and major suffering and that is why they are keen to look at putting down. If that is the case please reassure them that is very common and many elderly boars get it and live long happy healthy lives. I'd also like to say well done as 7 is a good age for a piggy so you are definitely doing something right.
 
Good for you for looking after your guinea pig so well.It must be really hard for you getting no support from your family but you just carry on doing the great job you are.
 
I'm so sorry! I don't think that poor old chap need to be PTS. It's a common problem, sure it's gross but I think it's worth 100% to make your piggie happy.
My family is not animal people either and unfortunately most people are not animal mad like this community. I hope all goes well. Hugs x
 
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