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Euthanasia: When is it “time”?

Hamish is still with us and still chirpy. Despite his voracious appetite, he only maintains or gains a little weight with additional syringe feeding.

I feel awful for saying this but, as I have been unwell with a virus and have extreme fatigue, I’m really struggling with doing his full regime every day. I make sure he has his medications and syringe feed him as much as I can but there were a couple of days last week when I struggled with doing the feeding part.

Today, I made the additional bad discovery of a large lump centrally, low down in the front of his neck. I will seek vet advice on this but my initial speculation is a thyroid issue. Could explain the difficulty in maintaining his weight if so.

I don’t want to put Hamish through any additional tests but if it is easily identifiable without then I’m hoping we can add in some suitable medication. 🤞
 
Sending you hugs. It's very draining looking after a piggy like you have been doing when you are well, factor in a virus and the fatigue that brings and you are going to feel awfully low.

Good luck at the vets, I hope the lump is easily remedied. My Peanut had a large lump in a similar place, it turned out to be an abcess.
 
@piggieminder Thank you 😀. It is draining but worth it to see how well he’s doing. I hope it is just a simple lump. Preferably a lump that can just be left but we’ll have to see. 🤞x
 
@furryfriends (TEAS) I didn’t really have any symptoms but my GP said my glands were up and throat red although it didn’t feel sore. Just the constant tiredness side of things really. Only managing to do a few things a day. Booked in for some blood tests on Weds. Perhaps just a case of resting. I really hope you soon feel better!

I certainly think my vet would be open to the thyroid medication if it is that. Worth a go as he seems very happy. X
 
I had a chat with Hamish’s vet yesterday. Obviously, the lump may be a harmless one or an abscess. However, if it is his thyroid that is suspected, she will prescribe some Thyronorm. However, we’ve agreed Hamish shouldn’t be put through invasive tests or an operation. The earliest we can see her is Thursday so I will carry on with his usual regime and then hopefully we’ll get a better idea then of what it might be. Keeping my fingers crossed it’s nothing sinister. 🤞
 
alexr said:
I had a chat with Hamish’s vet yesterday. Obviously, the lump may be a harmless one or an abscess. However, if it is his thyroid that is suspected, she will prescribe some Thyronorm. However, we’ve agreed Hamish shouldn’t be put through invasive tests or an operation. The earliest we can see her is Thursday so I will carry on with his usual regime and then hopefully we’ll get a better idea then of what it might be. Keeping my fingers crossed it’s nothing sinister. 🤞
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Fingers firmly crossed!
 
Unfortunately, upon his first syringe feed of the day, I’ve encountered an added complication. Hamish’s top teeth have snapped off. He underwent a lot of dental work a while ago and his teeth have remained unproblematic for a long time.

I noticed the other day that the top teeth were slightly different lengths. Now they’ve snapped off. I’ll have to increase the syringe feeding and see how he does with eating for himself.

Looks like there are a lot of factors to weigh up: Bad arthritis in back legs, not holding body weight without additional feed, lump on throat and now broken teeth. He is such a trooper but I’m not sure how much more he can take bless him. 😢
 
Ah poor Hamish he does seem to have a lot of problems. See what the vet says on Thursday and be guided by her. Does he still have the fighting spirit and the will to live? Or do you think that he is knocking on the door of the Rainbow Bridge?
 
alexr said:
Unfortunately, upon his first syringe feed of the day, I’ve encountered an added complication. Hamish’s top teeth have snapped off. He underwent a lot of dental work a while ago and his teeth have remained unproblematic for a long time.

I noticed the other day that the top teeth were slightly different lengths. Now they’ve snapped off. I’ll have to increase the syringe feeding and see how he does with eating for himself.

Looks like there are a lot of factors to weigh up: Bad arthritis in back legs, not holding body weight without additional feed, lump on throat and now broken teeth. He is such a trooper but I’m not sure how much more he can take bless him. 😢
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I am very sorry that you are hitting the rat-tail of secondary issues that can build up in a piggy with a major underlying health problem on long term support. :(
 
Betsy said:
Ah poor Hamish he does seem to have a lot of problems. See what the vet says on Thursday and be guided by her. Does he still have the fighting spirit and the will to live? Or do you think that he is knocking on the door of the Rainbow Bridge?
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That is the thing, he definitely has a fighting spirit and is generally determined to enjoy life. He still loves his food and tries to get about the best he can. His favourite thing is spending time in the garden with the other piggies. So, if the new complications can be managed, I am willing to support him as much as possible.
 
Wiebke said:
I am very sorry that you are hitting the rat-tail of secondary issues that can build up in a piggy with a major underlying health problem on long term support. :(
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I know, it’s literally like I’m discovering a new thing a day with him currently! 😬 I can’t believe how strong my little old man is. He doesn’t seem to let anything bother him. Not even last night when I had to do a bum bath and very cautious snipping job due to his friend welding his leg to his balls with boar glue. 🤭
 
alexr said:
I know, it’s literally like I’m discovering a new thing a day with him currently! 😬 I can’t believe how strong my little old man is. He doesn’t seem to let anything bother him. Not even last night when I had to do a bum bath and very cautious snipping job due to his friend welding his leg to his balls with boar glue. 🤭
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As long as he has a zest for life and is able to live a normal piggy life, then there is every reason to support him through all his more minor troubles. :tu:
 
alexr said:
Not even last night when I had to do a bum bath and very cautious snipping job due to his friend welding his leg to his balls with boar glue. 🤭
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Yuck! How uncomfortable for him and I hope you had a steady hand!
 
Betsy said:
Yuck! How uncomfortable for him and I hope you had a steady hand!
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Oh yes! Luckily he’s so used to being treated for this, that and the other so he’s very compliant and sat very still so we avoided an unexpected neutering. 😳 Dirty boys!
 
**UPDATE** Thank you for following Hamish’s story. He had his vet appointment today. From feeling the lump, she did not think it was a lipoma or abscess. She suspects it could be his thyroid given his difficulty in maintaining weight. Or apparently the lymph nodes are also in that area. Also she said his heart rate was very fast even allowing for the stress of a vet visit. Apparently this can tie in with a thyroid issue.

Confirming a thyroid issue would involve blood tests under sedation and she didn’t want to stick a needle in the lump as it can cause the thyroid to haemorrhage. So we’ve decided against tests but we’re going to trial Thyronorm to see how he responds. Apparently if it makes him sluggish, we know it’s too high a dose or possibly not his thyroid at all so we’ll have to see how he does.

We also discussed the use of Gabapentin rather than Tramadol but at £150 per bottle, I think we’ll stick to the current regime for now!

Hamish is pleased to be back in the garden with his pals. Fingers crossed the Thyronorm helps.🤞
 
I do hope Hamish goes on okay, such a plucky little piggy.
Goodness, I've got Gabapentin in the piggy box from when Bracken had it in January. I didn't realise it was so expensive, wonder how long it keeps?
 
piggieminder said:
I do hope Hamish goes on okay, such a plucky little piggy.
Goodness, I've got Gabapentin in the piggy box from when Bracken had it in January. I didn't realise it was so expensive, wonder how long it keeps?
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Apparently it’s because it’s a human medicine and it would have to be ordered in especially for Hamish so we’d have to buy the whole bottle. Anyway, he seems to be doing well on the Metacam and Tramadol for now although physio is becoming harder as his left leg keeps locking. Apparently due to fusion with arthritis. So I just have to gauge day by day what he can manage with his exercises.
 
A bit of a new complication. Hamish has been acting really out of character. He’s been really aggressive the last couple of days which is not him at all. He’s also seemed a bit “away with the fairies” when in his cage. I’m not sure if he’s decided he doesn’t want piggy company. He started on Thyronorm a couple of days ago. I chatted to my vet and she said it wouldn’t work that quickly - it takes about a week to kick in apparently. I suppose I should persevere with it but I don’t like this sudden change of character.😢
 
alexr said:
A bit of a new complication. Hamish has been acting really out of character. He’s been really aggressive the last couple of days which is not him at all. He’s also seemed a bit “away with the fairies” when in his cage. I’m not sure if he’s decided he doesn’t want piggy company. He started on Thyronorm a couple of days ago. I chatted to my vet and she said it wouldn’t work that quickly - it takes about a week to kick in apparently. I suppose I should persevere with it but I don’t like this sudden change of character.😢
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Aw, thinking of you and Hamish, maybe he is just having an off day. Such a worry these piggies aren’t they x
 
Bill & Ted said:
Aw, thinking of you and Hamish, maybe he is just having an off day. Such a worry these piggies aren’t they x
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I know. Let’s hope this odd behaviour changes and he goes back to being his lovely gentle self. I don’t know, he gets waited on hand and foot and now he’s turning into a little monster bless him. X
 
His weight is dropping too. I’d managed to get him up to 940g with Critical Care and VetCal Pro. Tonight he weighs 860g. He eats his greens but not much else. I think I’ll have to ramp up the amount of syringe feeding. My Mum is convinced he’s gone downhill since starting the Thyronorm. I’m in half a mind whether to continue with it. In theory though, he should put on weight if it works.
 
Hamish seems to have perked up from his grumpy episode and is quite chirpy again. He’s putting weight back on and I’ve spotted him eating dry food and drinking which I’ve not seen him do for a long time. He’s normally only interested in greens so it’s good to see him showing an interest in other things around his house.
I think I need to give him a bath tomorrow though as I noticed he smells of wee this evening. He also has a small sore on his front leg. I’m not sure if this is the piggy equivalent of a bedsore. When he is resting he doesn’t bother getting up to wee so he gets a bit messy. That aside, I’m pleased with how he’s doing. He’s such a trooper!
 
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