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Fred - Painful Decisions

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flintstones

flintstones

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My little Fred was my first ever Guinea pigs, I got him in September 2009 he has seen off three companions and is now on his own although he does have neighbours.

Unfortunately Fred is now nearing the end late last week he began having difficulty with his back leg. He struggles to move it and tiptoes initially I put it down to arthritis as the joint seemed to ease throughout the day. He was still up for vegetables and pottering about as normal.

Given the severity of the limp, I decided a vet appointment was needed.

We had Xrays done today and unfortunately it's very bad news his right knee was not seen on Xrays due to the condition. The vet is fairly certain he has bone cancer and palliative care is the way forward.

My concern is I'm due to go on Holiday, a week on Friday there's no telling how this illness will spread and what condition Fred will be in but I wonder if I'm best booking him in to let him go sooner rather than later? Fred is going for a check up on Tuesday, so it's definitely something I can discuss with the vet.

Does anyone have any experience with this illness?
 
I don't have experience with bone cancer unfortunately. I'm so sorry that it was bad news at the vets. If he was mine I would let him go sooner as like you say anything could happen while you are away. I know others may disagree but I always think better a day too early than a second too late.
 
helen105281 said:
I don't have experience with bone cancer unfortunately. I'm so sorry that it was bad news at the vets. If he was mine I would let him go sooner as like you say anything could happen while you are away. I know others may disagree but I always think better a day too early than a second too late.
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I absolutely agree with you.
 
flintstones said:
My little Fred was my first ever Guinea pigs, I got him in September 2009 he has seen off three companions and is now on his own although he does have neighbours.

Unfortunately Fred is now nearing the end late last week he began having difficulty with his back leg. He struggles to move it and tiptoes initially I put it down to arthritis as the joint seemed to ease throughout the day. He was still up for vegetables and pottering about as normal.

Given the severity of the limp, I decided a vet appointment was needed.

We had Xrays done today and unfortunately it's very bad news his right knee was not seen on Xrays due to the condition. The vet is fairly certain he has bone cancer and palliative care is the way forward.

My concern is I'm due to go on Holiday, a week on Friday there's no telling how this illness will spread and what condition Fred will be in but I wonder if I'm best booking him in to let him go sooner rather than later? Fred is going for a check up on Tuesday, so it's definitely something I can discuss with the vet.

Does anyone have any experience with this illness?
Click to expand...

I am very sorry for the bad news. It is not the way you want your old man to go; especially not after his long life. I still remember when you got Fred!

My dad died from bone cancer. It is very painful, especially the spikes. There is usually the question how quickly it goes into the lymph nodes and which major organ it spreads to first. With my dad, it unfortunately stuck to the bones - all of them in the end. :(

It is always so difficult to make a decision where you have to judge the timing and have to schedule around major things in your life because you inevitably have a bad conscience when trying to balance out conflicting demands.

All I can say is that on Fred's side of things, it is very much a question how much you want to put him through. You certainly don't have to feel guilty if you want to let him go sooner rather than later. It is one of the nastiest things you can get. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. If it had been me, I wouldn't have brought Fred home. :(
 
Hi, so sorry to hear about Fred - I remember past posts about him. Yes I have been through a bone sarcoma with one of mine - in his hip/pelvis. This is the thread that related to that
Barney Bubbles - Lots Of Things Going Bit Wrong
Hope that worked.
In Barney Bs case he did potter on for a few weeks and his last weeks were actually peaceful and nice in the end. But weirdly like you, we were going away in August and I let him go before that - working with the vet. He was struggling to move his back legs properly in the last week and although he could get to his food and water, it was getting hard work and the vet thought let's stop now before it gets to the awful bit. The vet said he must have been in pain but he was on a lot of metacam with tramadol as back up but he did not really show signs of that. Eating grass and mint up to the last minute!
But really awful decision - very much feel for you. Cuddles for Fredx
 
I agree with others who have said it might be kinder to let him go before you go on holiday.
I had a dog with osteosarcoma and although he was fine within himself, I only took him home for a couple of days after diagnosis to spoil him completely, and then let him go. He definitely went earlier than he could have, but it was calm, and I know hat he didn't suffer.
Just remember that Fred is not measuring the greatness of his life by how many days he lives.
He has a wonderful home with you, and has been truly been loved.
 
I agree with everyone. To help you cope after he is gone, have a funeral where you bury him in your own backyard, in a pet cemetery, or in a friend or family member's backyard. Take pictures of him now and display them. Read The Rainbow Bridge poem, you can find it online.
 
I am so very sorry for your sad news :( I too remember when you brought Fred home all those years ago.

But I do agree with the above posters that it is better to let him go a day too early rather than a day too late.

I know it isn't the same thing but when Erika had lymphoma, she went downhill very quickly after diagnosis to the point where she started coughing a lot where the tumours were pushing on her windpipe. That's when I realised that her time was coming.

It was only a week or two before Christmas and I had mixed feelings. One was that I would have liked for her to have just one more Christmas with us, but two, I didn't want Christmas to be tinged with such sadness forever.

It sounds awful but I made a date to say 'goodbye' and what I did was spoil her rotten leading up to that date, letting her eat what she wanted and I took lots of photos and had as many cuddles that I could fit in.

May be she would have lasted a few more days, but those days would have been filled with pain and discomfort for her.

I had a long discussion with my vet before making that final decision and she agreed that the time was right.

I sadly couldn't bare to be with her right at the end but I do know that she went very peacefully and she was ready to go.

But ultimately you know Fred more than any of us so the final decision must be your own. But we will all support you with whatever choice you make xx
 
Jo, I am so sorry. Little Fred what a huge part of the forum he has been. I know you will make the best choice for Fred as you have so always done everything right with all the many pigs you have had.

I am in absolute agreement with Helen with 'better a day too early than a second too late' and have bared that in mind with our piggies who have had cancer in the past. Speak to your vet and find out how effective the palliative care would be and prognosis for the immediate and medium/long term future

Sending you huge hugs mate x
 
Thanks everyone, to be honest when I took him to the vets I didn't expect the prognosis.

It's only now, all these other questions are coming to mind - Typical!
 
I'm sorry Fred is unwell.i had Elsa at the vets 6 weeks ago,i thought it was infection of lymph nodes,the vet stated she had leukemia and had to be PTS there and then .it was a shock as only 2 years of age.i agree with other members comments ,that sooner than too late.Its a very difficult decision.sending hugs to you.
 
So sorry to hear Fred's news, he's had a good, happy and long life with you. If it were me I would go sooner, with you there to be able to say goodbye rather than risk him going while you are away or finding him in a very poor state on your return. Sending you strength at this time, Fred is very much a beloved forum piggy x
 
I am so sorry that you have found this out Jo. What a shock for you. But armed with this knowledge you can make what decision is best for you and Fred.
I am an advocate of better a day too soon than a second too late.
So sorry xx
 
So very sorry to hear this too, the news must have been a shock. I was shocked to get bad news about George recently (a heart tumor) and had to make the difficult decision to pts. Sending hugs to you.
 
I'm so sorry!(っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)i hope he will be better soon!I thought one of my guinea pigs had cancer before but it wasn't...
Make sure you give him lots of hugs and fingers crossed he will be okay✺◟(∗❛ัᴗ❛ั∗)◞✺❤
 
Jo - so sorry to read this - sending you and Fred huge hugs and Bumble kisses xx
 
So sorry to hear about your lovely Fred, I can't add to the thoughtful and compassionate advice given here already. Thinking of you both x
 
Thanks everyone for all your support.

With a heavy heart I made the painful decision to let my little Fred run go.

He will be sadly missed. X
 
I'm sorry, its a horrible position to be in. Hugs for you, Popcorn free Fred, He's with his old friends and pain free xx
 
It's a decision that is never easy to make, but you did the best thing for Fred. He is now free from any pain. RIP little Fred x.
 
Oh I am so sorry, massive hugs! I am sure you gave him the best life & the last goodbye was the very last kindness you could do him. Run free at the Bridge Fred x
 
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