How do you... deal with a terminal diagnosis?

[Crystella]

How do you carry on when you get told that one of your guinea pigs, its a case of when, not if they will end up being put to sleep due to what's wrong with them? I feel guilty, lost and unsure of what I'm doing now, even tho there is nothing I could have done to stop it from happening.

 

[Claire W]

I’m very sorry Having any animal put to sleep is horrible but it is the last act of kindness and love that we can give them x

 

[Wiebke]

How do you carry on when you get told that one of your guinea pigs, its a case of when, not if they will end up being put to sleep due to what's wrong with them? I feel guilty, lost and unsure of what I'm doing now, even tho there is nothing I could have done to stop it from happening.

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry that you have had bad news. Please be aware that your grieving process has just started and that this worst low apart from the loss itself whenever that comes.

Treat every day you still have left as a very precious gift. You can pack a life time of love into the shortest space of time. Make this time count by filling it to the rafters with special memories, so when the time comes, you will be still very sad but you won't feel guilty or like you have failed your little on in any way.

Please take the time to read the guides in this link here. You will hopefully find them very helpful because they talk you through the whole experience in a practical but sensitive way: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

Wishing you all the best. Please concentrate on what you can do in the remaining time. The dreaded end will come anyway sooner than you'd like. But what you do in the coming days will make a huge difference in how you are going to experience and digest your loss.

 

[Merab]

I would echo what @Wiebke has said.
The grieving has started.
I received a terminal diagnosis for my Jemimah earlier this year - we were still in lockdown.
She died in June.
I focussed on giving her the best possible life for as long as she had.
Lots of photos were taken and memories created.
She did get some extra treats and bits that are normally rationed, like apple or carrot, because it wouldn’t really make a difference.
The initial shock of the diagnosis will ease.
Forum support is also a wonderful help.

Holding you in my heart

 

[Free Ranger]

I am so sorry for you.

I recently lost my lovely girl who stopped eating and we couldn't find out why. It took us a month to try everything we thought might help and in the end we still don't really know but she seemed to have increasing difficulty swallowing. Our dilemma was that for much of this time she seemed lively and fine in herself so every day was an rollercoaster of hope and despair. There were obviously hours of syringe feeding, and what this meant was that we spent a lot more time together than we normally would have sitting in the garden enjoying the late September sun or on rainy days with old films. I kept telling her, "if these are the last days, they're not bad days are they...?" and wondering whether I should (and how I could) make the final decision, but in the end she went downhill quite quickly and I knew that was it. I was lucky to have a very sensitive vet who had seen us both through the whole process and they assured me that they were there 24/7 so I didn't have to worry about covid planning and I could just focus on our situation which took a huge weight off. That was invaluable.

I think you just go day by day addressing their needs: are they comfortable and warm enough, are they in pain, is their breathing OK, are they able to eat/drink, are they pooping OK, are their companions handling the situation etc. My girl was fed at the times her cage-mate fed so they could lie together afterwards with full bellies and this was important to both of them as he was very unsure about the situation if she didn't eat too. It can really take a toll on you though, so now is the time to be brave but to look after yourself as your grieving process begins. I was looking to a future without her and breaking my heart but consoled myself that she probably wasn't thinking about that at all as long as she was comfortable now. We live so much longer than them that we have more perspective on things. We all go on the same journey really, it's just some of us arrive a little later than others.

The forum is always here for you, it was a great help for us

 

[Betsy]

The one thing to do is remember that your piggy doesn't know there is anything wrong. He/she will keep doing bimbly piggy stuff as long as they are able to. Guinea pigs live for today so give your piggy lots of last happy days and when the time comes to help them over the Rainbow Bridge, you will know that you filled the last days with lots of love.

 

[teddymouse]

Our thoughts are with you at these hard times, Like Wiebke say spent this precious time making more memories. When time comes, yes it will hurt,but you will remember the good times as the time moves on. Xx

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry you have had such a sad diagnosis for your little piggie. Make plenty of special memories now and enjoy each other’s company. Sending you hugs too I know this is a very hard time for you

 

[Flutterby]

Sending huge hugs xx