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Entire Nail Is Gone

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CarnivalPiggy

CarnivalPiggy

Adult Guinea Pig
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I went to pick up Ginny as he looked out of it, and found on his right back foot his last nail is completely gone except a tiny tiny stub on the bottom. I'm not sure how long ago this happened or why. My mums about to ring the vets now, should I wash the blood of to see better or would that make it worse? Should I still give him his daily meds or wait? He's dropped down to 650g. Rather panicked as he seems withdrawn, most likely pain
 
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CarnivalPiggy said:
I went to pick up Ginny as he looked out of it, and found on his right back foot his last nail is completely gone except a tiny tiny stub on the bottom. I'm not sure how long ago this happened or why. My mums about to ring the vets now, should I wash the blood of to see better or would that make it worse? Should I still give him his daily meds or wait? Rather panicked as he seems withdrawn, most likely pain
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He is feeling a bit sore, but it happens. Wait until the blood has dried before carefully wiping it off and disinfecting with a mild disinfectant. The nail may eventually grow back (often much thicker) or not depending on how badly the quick and the nail bed have been affected, but in the longer term, your piggies' overall mobility is not affected.
My Morwenna has been doing perfectly fine without a nail on one of her back toes for the last three years.

Please give him his meds as usual.
 
Thank you, however I think he's slipping from me. He can barely stand up without falling or stumbling and all he seems to want to do is lay in my arm. I thought he was dead for a moment. He's dropped to 650g. I'm not sure if I should go to the vet or let him go naturally, I don't want to rush him into a clinical setting to go but I don't know how long he'll last. He's asleep in my arm as I type, For a few seconds his stomach showed signs to breathe heavily but now he seems to have slowed down.I never would have said this without reason as I fight for him but this time I don't know. I'm in absolute tears and don't know what to do
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
Thank you, however I think he's slipping from me. He can barely stand up without falling or stumbling and all he seems to want to do is lay in my arm. I thought he was dead for a moment. He's dropped to 650g. I'm not sure if I should go to the vet or let him go naturally, I don't want to rush him into a clinical setting to go but I don't know how long he'll last. He's asleep in my arm as I type, For a few seconds his stomach showed signs to breathe heavily but now he seems to have slowed down.I never would have said this without reason as I fight for him but this time I don't know. I'm in absolute tears and don't know what to do
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HUGS!

It sounds like he is going into organ failure and that is heart has started to pack in; it is more likely that he has lost his nail because he was having an episode and not the other way round. Just be there for him and any companions; let them be with him if they are still together. Keep him cosy, warm and as quiet as you can, but not hot. If you have got snugglesafes, warm one up for half the maximum time; re-heat when it has gone cold or replace with another snugglesafe of the same warmth; make sure that he can wiggle off he feels to hot. There is only so much you can do at this stage.

Be strong for him, and make his passing easy on him. If you feel that he is in acute discomfort for longer than 15-30 minutes, please consider pts, otherwise just let him slip away in his usual surroundings. There is usually a phase just before the end when the body is breaking down and a piggy is thankfully mostly out of it already where oxygen deprivation can cause kicking and discomfort; it is often called 'running to the Rainbow Bridge'.
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
Thank you, however I think he's slipping from me. He can barely stand up without falling or stumbling and all he seems to want to do is lay in my arm. I thought he was dead for a moment. He's dropped to 650g. I'm not sure if I should go to the vet or let him go naturally, I don't want to rush him into a clinical setting to go but I don't know how long he'll last. He's asleep in my arm as I type, For a few seconds his stomach showed signs to breathe heavily but now he seems to have slowed down.I never would have said this without reason as I fight for him but this time I don't know. I'm in absolute tears and don't know what to do
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I'm no expert but you doing really well. be their for him. be BRAVE.
 
Thank you x I've had him for so long I don't know how to deal with this. He's lying on my chest now on his side and doesn't appear to be in any discomfort, he tried cleaning his nose which I know can be a sign to wanna live before I moved him onto my chest and I've no clue, right now he's just laying. If he's still lying like this but with no obvious discomfort in a hour what should I do?
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
Thank you x I've had him for so long I don't know how to deal with this. He's lying on my chest now on his side and doesn't appear to be in any discomfort, he tried cleaning his nose which I know can be a sign to wanna live before I moved him onto my chest and I've no clue, right now he's just laying. If he's still lying like this but with no obvious discomfort in a hour what should I do?
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As long as he is not in any discomfort, let him be. Dying can take more than one day; it very much depends on how strong his organs are and how quickly and which order they close down. there are no hard and fast rules; you have to play it by ear. If he feels happy lying on you, then let him as long as you can stand it. If he is very keen on staying with you, fashion a sling for him to lie in against your body.

Offer him a bit of fresh grass, slightly warm water and syringe feed to take if he wishes to, but do not force him to eat. If he still has the will to live, support and encourage him in that. As long as he is not in pain, keep him at home.
 
You are doing just fine and have had some very good advice from Wiebke.
Just be there with him and as long as he isn't in any distress then you are dong the right thing.
As Wiebke said it can take a while so don't be scared to put him down if you need to.

Huge hugs.
 
Wiebke said:
HUGS!

It sounds like he is going into organ failure and that is heart has started to pack in; it is more likely that he has lost his nail because he was having an episode and not the other way round. Just be there for him and any companions; let them be with him if they are still together. Keep him cosy, warm and as quiet as you can, but not hot. If you have got snugglesafes, warm one up for half the maximum time; re-heat when it has gone cold or replace with another snugglesafe of the same warmth; make sure that he can wiggle off he feels to hot. There is only so much you can do at this stage.

Be strong for him, and make his passing easy on him. If you feel that he is in acute discomfort for longer than 15-30 minutes, please consider pts, otherwise just let him slip away in his usual surroundings. There is usually a phase just before the end when the body is breaking down and a piggy is thankfully mostly out of it already where oxygen deprivation can cause kicking and discomfort; it is often called 'running to the Rainbow Bridge'.
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great info and tho it's painful well done. you are special. Dave and Kath
 
Thank you guys so much x he's laying completely on his side. He's doing nothn H except recoiling every so often, I don't know how else to describe it, I'm really debating taking him to the vets I don't know. Is that normal?
 
It can be a teetering on the edge for a while and it is often a bit of an up and down. Just take your hints from your boy and go along with them. If he rallies round again, then fine; support him in that. Death in itself is not scary and nothing to be afraid.

If you feel that he would rather be alone, then leave him alone, as comfy as you can make him. I usually take my clues from the companions. If a piggy removes itself from company, then I just watch from a distance and check regularly; making sure that it is comfy. If it has a companion guarding it and staying with it, then I include that piggy or leave the dying piggy in the company of its friends. If it is already separated and most relaxed with me, then I carry it around with me.

It is the letting go that is the problematic bit. Concentrate on sending loving thoughts. Hearing is usually the last sense to go, but you can also sent mind pictures. When you feel that he is coming to the end, encourage your piggy to go to the light and reinforce that with a picture of coming out of a tunnel into bright sunshine.

Don't hunker down and be selfish with thoughts about not wanting to lose him and not coping with it. When you are there for HIS needs, you'll find that you can actually cope and that you can do your best to make the end easy on him, whether that is passing at home or at the vets. It is the ultimate gesture of love. ;)

You are doing fine. The first time you come up against it is the most frightening, as we have sadly pushed dying out of our daily lives and have deprived ourselves of coping strategies and learning ways how to handle it.
 
Thank you guys xx I haven't even buried him yet as I cleaned the girls cage out first. I put him in there before after he died, they kept licking him and nosing at him. It hurts to look in the box and see him lying there. He was a very strong and brave boy, kept trying to walk even as he passed and argued with me this morning over syringe feeding. He'll be buried next to Minja, Teddy and Nibble in the back garden under the frog statues. @David Pet Lover I'm sure he'll be reuniting and meeting lots of new pigs on the bridge, being a nosy boy and purring at everyone he meets
image.webp
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
He's gone x
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HUGS

I am very sorry for you! But glad that your beloved boy hasn't suffered long and that his passing has been comparatively easy on him, even if it is has come as a shock to you.

Take good care of yourself in the coming days. It takes time to sink in. As you have had such a close bond and have invested so much in him, it is going to take time to get over it.

You have done what you could, and you have been with him in the end. He could not have asked for more. You have done him proud!
 
What a lovely piggie he was. You been busy and well done. I'm very new to guinea world but with parent like you and the way you delt with a hard and difficult time makes me know I'm in guinea world for a while. Be Strong Head Back And PROUD. You sent GINNY off in a lovin way. x
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
Thank you guys xx I haven't even buried him yet as I cleaned the girls cage out first. I put him in there before after he died, they kept licking him and nosing at him. It hurts to look in the box and see him lying there. He was a very strong and brave boy, kept trying to walk even as he passed and argued with me this morning over syringe feeding. He'll be buried next to Minja, Teddy and Nibble in the back garden under the frog statues. @David Pet Lover I'm sure he'll be reuniting and meeting lots of new pigs on the bridge, being a nosy boy and purring at everyone he meets
View attachment 64228
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I prefer to wait until a body is cold before I bury one of mine. But you are doing great.

This is my goodbye to Nesta; I send off all my piggies with some flowers from my garden - whatever is in bloom at the time and, if I have a choice, something that suits their personality.
IMG_4599_edited-1.webp
 
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