How do you cope with discovering your time with your piggie is limited?

Sarah-sore

Sarah-sore

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Please let me know if I posted this in the wrong area.
So, unfortunatey over the weekend I got some really difficult news and I'm having a hard time dealing with it.
If anyone has any experince with being told how much longer their piggie has left to live please let me know how you dealt. I'm torn between wanting to spend as much time as I can with my baby and not wanting to spend anytime with her at all(I know logically this isn't the right situation.) I feel like anytime I try to do anything in my free time I'm letting callie down by not being with her but when I hold her I just get so overwhelmingly sad. I've never had to deal with anything like this before. I think it's even worse because right now shes relatively healthy and I'm going to have to watch her health detiroate.
I haven't even really told anyone either. Only my immediate family because they knew about the vet appoitment. I'm just really upset over this whole thing. On the way home from the vets my dad asked me if it was better not knowing or knowing. It's DEFINITELY better not knowing. At least for me.
 
Hi,
I’m sorry you’ve had such difficult news and I’m not sure if I know the right advise really. Huge hugs to you :wub: xx
Remember Callie doesn’t know how poorly she is & so she’ll be expecting you to be the same. Maybe plan something nice to do with her each day, a treat, a cuddle etc... so you have time together & she gets positive vibes.Also give yourself time to relax/think etc...
You’re a wonderful piggy slave.
If it’s any consolation, my favourite guinea pig died very suddenly, in a pet carrier as I was driving. It was such a shock I found that hard to cope with.
These wonderful little animals certainly test our emotions. :luv:
 
I know exactly how you feel. My vet suspects my neutered boar to have a brain tumour. He is on long term pain killers and quite happy with that, but in my mind is always the thought that he could pass away any time. I don’t think that he has more than around six months left.

I try to behave as normal as possible towards him, while I already plan what to do when he dies because one of his ladies uses to grief extremely and I must have a plan to keep her happy.
 
You have to spend time with her. If she's outdoors move her in with you, cuddle her everyday, give her sufficient floor time and time outside in lovely green grass. LEt her know you love her and she will pass smothered in love and luxury and happiness. Watching her health deteriorate means at least you know what's happening, you don't just wake up one day and she looks very ill. You can sit by her and comfort her and if you think the illness s too great for her you could also see the vets to get her put to sleep. I don't know if this comment has made you feel worse...
 
When you receive news like this you start to grieve so you are feeling all the initial stages of grief, particularly the shock.
What you have been given is time to make good memories with Callie, the cuddles, the funny moments, all these are a gift that will support you when she finally goes over the Rainbow Bridge.
Be gentle with yourself and patient too.
Grief throws all our emotions out and it feels like a rollercoaster.
Holding you in thoughts.
Keep posting here - there are plenty of people who understand what you are going through and we can support you.
 
Hoppity.K said:
Hi,
I’m sorry you’ve had such difficult news and I’m not sure if I know the right advise really. Huge hugs to you :wub: xx
Remember Callie doesn’t know how poorly she is & so she’ll be expecting you to be the same. Maybe plan something nice to do with her each day, a treat, a cuddle etc... so you have time together & she gets positive vibes.Also give yourself time to relax/think etc...
You’re a wonderful piggy slave.
If it’s any consolation, my favourite guinea pig died very suddenly, in a pet carrier as I was driving. It was such a shock I found that hard to cope with.
These wonderful little animals certainly test our emotions. :luv:
Click to expand...

Thank you <3 Everyday Ive taken to giving her a little bit of banana in her critical care. she L O V E S bananas. By the end of the week its about a full banana so i dont over do it with sugar. I have been taking longer to spend with her during cuddle time. instead of half an hour ish I'll have her with me for up to 3 hours. losing these little guys is never easy.

Hetja said:
I know exactly how you feel. My vet suspects my neutered boar to have a brain tumour. He is on long term pain killers and quite happy with that, but in my mind is always the thought that he could pass away any time. I don’t think that he has more than around six months left.

I try to behave as normal as possible towards him, while I already plan what to do when he dies because one of his ladies uses to grief extremely and I must have a plan to keep her happy.
Click to expand...

It helps to know someone else is going through this, thank you <3. I am sorry youre going through it though. My Callie is the same way. As of right now, for the most part shes happy and carefree but she is on painmeds.
As for Callie, I have no idea how long she has. I was told she should have anywhere from 2 months to 2 years. Unfortunately, I'm also suspecting she has less than 6 months (because of how quick this came on) but I'm trying not to let myself think that way.


MillieT said:
You have to spend time with her. If she's outdoors move her in with you, cuddle her everyday, give her sufficient floor time and time outside in lovely green grass. LEt her know you love her and she will pass smothered in love and luxury and happiness. Watching her health deteriorate means at least you know what's happening, you don't just wake up one day and she looks very ill. You can sit by her and comfort her and if you think the illness s too great for her you could also see the vets to get her put to sleep. I don't know if this comment has made you feel worse...
Click to expand...

Its hard but I am spending time with her. I just wish I didnt feel so sad thats all. I'm also afraid that she'll pick up on my saddness and thats the last thing I want. Thankfully shes an indoor piggie. Its difficult having outdoor piggies in Canada :)

Most of her life shes been a free range piggy running around the living room and dinning room, she only goes back into her cage at nigh when I cant keep an eye on her around the dogs(during the day we can watch the dogs. At night we cant. the dogs mostly stay outside during the day though because of the warmer weather. They hate being indoors now lol.) I will give her a lot more time outside in the grass tho. I'm just scared of ants biting her. Those pesky are all over the place.

Your comment helped! Thank you <3 Sometimes the truth hurts.

Merab's Slave said:
When you receive news like this you start to grieve so you are feeling all the initial stages of grief, particularly the shock.
What you have been given is time to make good memories with Callie, the cuddles, the funny moments, all these are a gift that will support you when she finally goes over the Rainbow Bridge.
Be gentle with yourself and patient too.
Grief throws all our emotions out and it feels like a rollercoaster.
Holding you in thoughts.
Keep posting here - there are plenty of people who understand what you are going through and we can support you.
Click to expand...

Thank you <3 I'm happy to know that this is the start of the stages of grief. I'll be able to understand my feelings better when they come on. As I said before I've never dealt with anything like this. The only human I've ever known to pass was my grandma and her death was so sudden. I've also lost piggies before but most were sudden.
I will keep posting here for sure.
 
Sending you hugs and my very best wishes, this is such a difficult time for you. I hope in a little while you will be able to come to terms with this sad news and feel a little easier with the knowledge.
 
I am sorry, grief is very difficult emotion and complex. You will be starting to grieve now and in some way it will prepare you a little for when she passes. We had a piggy with Lymphoma who we knew would cross over to the rainbow bridge once she was diagnosed. We made sure she was pain free until the end and then helped her across the bridge with the vet PTS. Quality of life is key and just make sure that you make sure each day you have with Callie is full of love (and veggies :) ) Take this time as @Merab's Slave says to build memories of Callie and some good times recently that you can hold onto. Be kind to yourself and take to your family.
 
It depends on the nature of the illness imo. Archie has an inoperable tumour next to his liver and seemed on deaths doorstep when we took him to the vet but he got injected with rinitadine, emiprid and loxicom which is combo we give twice a day now and he is back to normal. So for him, though I was sad he is kind of old anyway so I was expecting something terminal, but I'm not sad cause he's normal at the moment (and very humpy). I just hope that when he dies, it's quick, and not when I'm away in america. I have no idea how long he has left, I honestly thought he would be gone last month but now I have no idea lol. Don t feel too bad, your guinea pig has lived a good life with you, and that's all that one wants for our guineas.
 
I’ve been in this situation several times, now. Just remember that your piggie doesn’t know what you do, so it’s all about giving her the best quality of life while you still have her. Sometimes quality time is more precious than longevity. It is so hard, because you are already starting to grieve before the piggy has left this earth. You are grieving the loss of a future that you had taken for granted. It’s natural to feel very upset and to try to find your own coping strategies. But just remember that the piggy you love is still here and still needs you. Just make this limited time vey precious and enjoy the special moments you create.
 
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