Heartbroken - My poor Rodney has died

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first_time_piggie_mum

first_time_piggie_mum

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Although I have been reading this site for a while, I have never joined but felt that I might get some consolation if I join now.

On Thursday I lost my darling little boy Rodney at 4.5 years old. He had been diagnosed with a bladder stone the week before, and Thursday he was scheduled to have it removed.

So I took him to the vet on Thursday ( a very competent vet) and left him in their capable hands to do the surgery. Right up until Wednesday I was unsure whether to put him through the op, but in the evening he started to pee blood so I knew I had no other option.

The op went ok, the stone was removed and they flushed out his bladder. However, the vet called me to say that he was concerned that Rodney wasnt recovering well from the anaesthetic, he was bleeding quite a lot and that he would keep him in overnight and keep an eye on him. I asked if he thought it was ncessary for me to go and see him just in case things turned bad, and he said it wasnt necessary but that he would call me in case things changed.

10 minutes later he called me back to tell me Rodney had passed away :0

I am totally devastated, I cannot believe my little guy has gone and I dont know what to do with myself. I feel so guilty that I put him through the Op, and that I wasnt there to comfort him in his last moments. Everyone is telling me that he was a very papmered and well loved piggie, but when it comes down to it I wasnt there when he really needed me. He hated going to the vets and his little face looked so scared when I took him in. I hate that the last feelings he had was were of fear and distress :0

Ive cried for 3 days, Ive slept for only 9 hours and eaten nothing since Thrusday. The thought of going to work tomorrow and putting on a brave face fills me with dread.

I have decided to have him cremated and keep his ashes at home. Today the Pets at Peace lady is bringing him here for me to say a proper goodbye before his cremation tomorrow as I didnt say goodbye to him properly on Thursday, which is also killing me.

Rodney was my first GP, and I cannot belive how such a little creature can leave such a massive hole in my life. I live on my own, so he was my constant companion, we spent many many hours playing and he was always there with a wheek and a snuggle no matter what. To know that I am never going to hear him purr, see him run around the lounge and snuggle up with me in front of the TV just isnt worth thinking about.

So, guys help me out here how do I cope with this loss? Why do I feel so bad and guilty about his last hours? Would he have been in pain, would he have been concious? Would he have known what was happening? All these questions......

Thank you
Sue
 
So sorry to hear this. Please don't feel guilty or blame yourself, you put him through the op to try and help him. The other day someone posted here about a pet bereavement service, maybe you could give them a ring and then at least you would be able to speak to someone about how you are feeling.
RIP Rodney sleep well little one x
 
So sorry to hear of your loss. I know exactly how you feel when my Frodo went i was devastated. Having a place near were you can bury them can help. All of mine ar ein the park down the road and i always think of them when i go past.
 
I'm so so sorry hun, you only tried to help him have a better quality of life, you didnt know this would happen. So please dont blame yourself. x
 
I am so so sorry for your loss. I lost my piggie aged 7 only 3 weeks ago & cried solid like you for days. I had to sit with ice cubes on my eyes before I went to work :0

I don't know why they work their way into our hearts so much. They remind me of horses, trusting & innocent & so faithful. I haven't got around to getting another piggie yet as nothing could ever replace her, but I may reconsider in the future. They say time heals, it doesn't really but the pain gets less raw.

I think to contact the bereavement service is a good idea. I may even ring them myself soon as I have serious wobbles here & there :red

RIP Rodney run free at the Bridge with all those other gorgeous piggies.
 
They are members of our family. We love them like our children. How can we not cry and be in pain when we lose them.

I had to take sick leave from work when my cat died. I just couldn't stop crying. Luckily, I have a very kind gp who understood.

Take your time. It was not your fault. I am sorry for your loss.
 
So sorry to hear about Rodney but you had no choice, you followed vets advice and did what appeared best for him. Please dont blame yourself in any way for this.
RIP Rodney you know how much you were loved,
Hugs
xx
 
Thank you

Thanks for your replies, it does help.

I know I shouldnt be blaming myself, but I do I just cant help it at the moment.

I dont remember feeling this bad when my 15 year old cat had to be pts. I was very upset but this feels worse. I think because I thought I was helping him and it ended up killing him 8...

I'm waiting for the pet cremation people to bring him round this afternoon so I can say a proper goodbye before his cremation tomorrow, then he will be back home here with me tomorrow night. This is going to be excruitaingly difficult, but I want to give him a goodbye kiss and cuddle before he goes off to the big field in the sky
 
Hi There,

I'm so sorry for your loss, sometimes we have to make the right decision to help our little friends.

Had you not made the decision you made, your Rodney would probably have passed and the fact he was bleeding internally says to me he was in pain and the stone was most likely moving. Which could have potentially blocked his urine tube. It's not a nice way to go. :(

In light of the situation, I do think you made the right decision and the best choice for Rodney but I am sorry it could not have been a better outcome.

I know it hurts, but at least you know now he is pain free. The vet would have kept him comfortable and on pain killers.

I'm sure he knows you miss him and it's ok to cry, it helps the heart heal.

x
 
I agree with Flintstones, really you had no choice, you were doing the right thing by helping him, it's not your fault what happened, they are not as robust as cats & dogs are, & the outcome isn't always good when they are so very ill. I've only just started to think maybe it wasn't my fault my sweet Poppy died, she had a gut torsion because of bloat which set in after she had an upset tummy, but I honestly did nothing any different that I had been doing for all her 7 years so why did it suddenly happen? I will never know, but she suffered horribly for 12 hours, it was awful. Rodney passed quickly & hopefully painlessly so he didn't suffer. Many many piggies are treated badly & not well looked after, you gave him everything you could & you shared happy times together, please try to look back on the happy times.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
I agree with Flintstones, really you had no choice, you were doing the right thing by helping him, it's not your fault what happened, they are not as robust as cats & dogs are, & the outcome isn't always good when they are so very ill. I've only just started to think maybe it wasn't my fault my sweet Poppy died, she had a gut torsion because of bloat which set in after she had an upset tummy, but I honestly did nothing any different that I had been doing for all her 7 years so why did it suddenly happen? I will never know, but she suffered horribly for 12 hours, it was awful. Rodney passed quickly & hopefully painlessly so he didn't suffer. Many many piggies are treated badly & not well looked after, you gave him everything you could & you shared happy times together, please try to look back on the happy times.
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Unfortunately things don't always go well, but sadly it's like old people. No one actually dies of old age there is always a cause and it's likely there was a reason your girl bloated.

I know with my Bette it was Diabetes (left untreated) that brought on Kidney Failure. We can't stop Kidney failure if it happens it's fatal but I could have stopped diabetes. Is it my fault she died? No, course it's not I'm not psychic and no one else is for that matter. We can't stop something we don't know about.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it's likely no matter what you did the outcome would have been the same. All we can do is everything in our power to help if it doesn't work. At least you can say you did everything you could - which both of you have.

Yes it's ok to grieve, but don't blame yourself. I'm sure your piggies aren't.

x
 
Rodney

Oh poor thing that sounds awful you must have been out of your mind with worry about her:0 Its horrible to think of them suffering and they cant tell you.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and there are things I know now that I would have done differently, but like you say the outcome would probably have been the same. He was 4.5, he was a happy, contented, well loved and cared for little pig and thats the important thing.

Ive just had a chance to say goodbye to him properly, he looked very peaceful just like he was asleep. Alison @ Pets at Rest is truly wonderful and I know that she has looked after him and will continue to do so until she brings his ashes home to me tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for your support, although my family and friends have been wonderful its comforting to get support from other piggie owners.
 
So sorry for your loss. You were not to blame and did everything possible for your special little boy.

RIP Rodney
x x
 
Sue whee are all so sorry to hear about little Rodney 8...8...8...
RIP Rodney run free at the bridge, popcorn thru the lush green meadows and enjoy munching on the sweet dandelions and clover, you'll be so very sadly missed by your devastated mummy but NEVER forgotten xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))) and lots of loves from Glynis, Velvet and Onyx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Another little star now twinkling in the sky ............. :(


Sue let yourself grieve, i know the pain you're going thru :(
Give yourself time, then one day you'll be able to look at little Rodney's casket and be able to smile and remember the lovely times you spent together.
He was obviously a very well loved boy, the emotions you've expressed were from your heart, thankyou so much for sharing some of his little life with us xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BIG HUGS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
hey hun, I just wanted to say I had the EXACT same scenario with my piggie Dibbs a few years ago, the same thing happened and I blamed myself (like i always do) but really, as attentive owners we do do all we can, but as they cant talk to us we dont always know when or what is wrong.

I'm sorry for your loss, in time it will get easier to think about and you'll remember all the good things, times a healer.

I had Dibbs cremated too and he now lives on the fireplace with Charles and my old dog sally. I hope it brings you some comfort to have his ashes nearby x
 
gogoguineas said:
hey hun, I just wanted to say I had the EXACT same scenario with my piggie Dibbs a few years ago, the same thing happened and I blamed myself (like i always do) but really, as attentive owners we do do all we can, but as they cant talk to us we dont always know when or what is wrong.

I'm sorry for your loss, in time it will get easier to think about and you'll remember all the good things, times a healer.

I had Dibbs cremated too and he now lives on the fireplace with Charles and my old dog sally. I hope it brings you some comfort to have his ashes nearby x
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Thank you. I hope so too, he is due home at 6.30pm and I have to say I am quite nervous about how I'm going to feel.

Did you ever find out why Dibbs passed away? I have been trying to read up things on the internet, and I know I'm not going to get the answer but I just wish I knew what really happened it might help me with coming to terms with it

I miss him immensely 8... Its not the same getting up in the morning, or getting home from work. Theres no one here to greet me and the house feels empty.
 
Hi Sue,

sorry to hear of your loss:(

You did as much as you could for him, and unfortunately bladder stones seem to be common, I can understand some of your pain as my gp has been peeing blood again he has been treated for uti before and now again but I am worrying it may be stones, that's the bad thing they don't always cope well with general ans:(


It's heartbreaking when we lose a pet, but take comfort that you had those years and you looked after him the best you could, time is a healer and you will come through it and look back with fond memoriesx
 
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Ashes

Well, my boy is home now.

Feels very surreal looking at a box (which is beautiful I will add) with his name on it, knowing that his ashes are inside.

4 days ago he was muching on his veggies and now hes here like this:{

The lady that handled the cremation said that everyone involved in the process that saw him, commented on how beautiful he was , and he was very beautiful he always will be to me.
 
lily 74 said:
Hi Sue,

sorry to hear of your loss:(

You did as much as you could for him, and unfortunately bladder stones seem to be common, I can understand some of your pain as my gp has been peeing blood again he has been treated for uti before and now again but I am worrying it may be stones, that's the bad thing they don't always cope well with general ans:(


It's heartbreaking when we lose a pet, but take comfort that you had those years and you looked after him the best you could, time is a healer and you will come through it and look back with fond memoriesx
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Oh no Lily :( I hope its not stones. Horrible horrible things!

When is he going to the vets?
 
I lost two of the best pigs i have ever had in June, they were both suffering so had to be put to sleep which devastated us as we had never done it before, it's so hard to deal with it, sadness then guilt then anger ( as i think there are many humans that should die before any guineapigs who have never harmed anyone and are only sweet ) and the guilt to me seems to be the hardest part to deal with as i keep thinking the last things my pigs say is " what's happening daddy take me home for cuddles " but i cant.
Cant add anymore as I'm crying now, sorry not an uplifting post at all.
 
NASH said:
I lost two of the best pigs i have ever had in June, they were both suffering so had to be put to sleep which devastated us as we had never done it before, it's so hard to deal with it, sadness then guilt then anger ( as i think there are many humans that should die before any guineapigs who have never harmed anyone and are only sweet ) and the guilt to me seems to be the hardest part to deal with as i keep thinking the last things my pigs say is " what's happening daddy take me home for cuddles " but i cant.
Cant add anymore as I'm crying now, sorry not an uplifting post at all.
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Sorry to hear about your loss :( These little guys get right inside your heart dont they? I always knew I would be upset when Rodders went, but I never thought it would hurt this much. He was a constant in my life for 4.5 years, he saw me through a very difficult relationship break up, and a very nasty and painful family fall out last year. No matter what happened during the day, he was always there for cuddles and playtime. Not anymore 8...

I am sure we will both feel better over time, and be able to look back at our memories with a smile instead of a tear.
 
I am very sorry for your loss! Rodney will always have a place in your heart.

RIP Rodney - popcorn free
 
I'm really sorry for your loss.

The best way for my husband and I to get over the loss of a dearly loved pet was to give a new loving home to another creature who desperately needs care.
 
In all my life I never met something as faithful as a Guinea pig.

They put up with our moods, our gripes, our joys and our tears.

You should be proud of Rodney. He's a little star to have stood by you through all these things.

I know it's hard to lose one but one day another one will steal your heart, I promise you. My partner was devastated when Pippy died and Merry was left alone. She couldn't see how we could ever find another pig to replace hm.

We didn't replace him but when Merry got so lonely we had to do something. we took him boar dating and he picked Suilevn - he wasn't Pippy but he's wormed his way into our hearts and Merry is besotted with him so our little herd is complete again.

One day your will be too. x
 
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