How much time does she have left?

[nbhalla19]

I have a female guinea pig who is 6 years old. She is on the older side I know. About a month ago I noticed she really wasn't eating much and her weight was dropping a lot. She was drinking water and moving fine though. I took her to the vet. Said she had a URI and she is getting older. Gave me medicine to give her and wanted her to come in back for a recheck every 2 weeks until she's better. So she did get better. She was eating more again and he said to just give the antibiotics once a week and keep watching her. A week or two later though I noticed she was having trouble moving. I took her to the vet again(this was a week ago). Said she was at the final stage of her life unfortunately, she was in the dying stage. Said her feeling/reflexes are going away. He said to just make her comfortable as much as you can. I've been doing that. Her movement has been getting less. A week ago I noticed she wasn't moving much, and it was mainly in her back legs/area. Now, she can't walk, just sits in a curled position. She is eating and drinking water though. But it still seems in her back part. Her front part/face seems fine. Her head she moves normally even when she eats and she can kind of move her front part. Only seems to be in pain if I pick her up/adjust her position. But she is still eating like before and enjoys eating like she did before. It's like she is in a wheelchair or bedridden. Has anyone had a guinea pig with symptoms similar to this? I seems her URI has almost gone away or has gone away based on the vet and how she's been eating fine again. It seems like this is physical that inevitable with old age and all. The vet said how long she has can vary, depends how strong guinea pigs are. Could be days, weeks, or sometimes months. From the way she is it seems like days but could be one or two weeks.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm sorry to hear this.

Is she on pain relief?
If she isn’t then I would highly suggest that you speak to the vet to get her on a good dose of metacam twice a day.

Are you offering her any support feeding with recovery feed or mushed pellets?

I’ve added a guide below which will help you with other ways to keep her comfortable, ensuring she is always kept in dry bedding (you may need to change out pee pads multiple times a day if she isn’t able to move)

Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

 

[CTWC]

Keeping you both in my prayers and thoughts

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my heart

 

[nbhalla19]

I'm sorry to hear this.

Is she on pain relief?
If she isn’t then I would highly suggest that you speak to the vet to get her on a good dose of metacam twice a day.

Are you offering her any support feeding with recovery feed or mushed pellets?

I’ve added a guide below which will help you with other ways to keep her comfortable, ensuring she is always kept in dry bedding (you may need to change out pee pads multiple times a day if she isn’t able to move)

Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Yeah, at first I thought she only had a couple of days left. But she is still here. However she can't move. Her back side is definitely paralyzed. Front side is okay but probably a little. Face is fine though. She basically sits curled up in cage. If she moves a little she can't sit u and starts shaking kind of. I'm wondering if euthanasia is the solution. A little over a week ago she was moving fine. The vet examined her no X-rays but he said something about her reflexes/feeling gone.

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry your girl is poorly. You have to weigh up what is her quality of life is. Only you and your vet will know when it’s time to help her over the bridge. She’s had a long and happy life with you. Sometimes the kindest and the most hardest decision is the right one.

Hopefully the guide listed above will help you with your decision. Sending hugs to you

 

[Freela]

Is she on her pain medication? I'm wondering if she's uncomfortable through her hind end and this is discouraging her from moving. Older pigs can get arthritis and joint/back pain just like humans can. If she's not on any pain meds, I would ask the vet if she can be put on twice daily pain meds (meloxicam is often given, one of my pigs was on tramadol for pain.) She may behave more normally if she's more comfortable.

If she is on adequate pain meds or you try them and she doesn't respond, it may be time to think about helping her to pass peacefully. If she's no longer able to do the things that pigs take for granted, it may be kinder to help her pass away. It's always a really hard decision, but you've given her a long, happy life.

I would definitely ask for pain meds first. All the best!

 

[nbhalla19]

What color does guinea pig urine make pee pads usually? The urine of mine has a light brown color it seems. My mom thought it was more pink but it seems more brown. I read online that due to oxidization the color of the pee pads may be different.

 

[Piggies&buns]

This guide will explain everything to do with pee.

Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones

 

[nbhalla19]

Is she on her pain medication? I'm wondering if she's uncomfortable through her hind end and this is discouraging her from moving. Older pigs can get arthritis and joint/back pain just like humans can. If she's not on any pain meds, I would ask the vet if she can be put on twice daily pain meds (meloxicam is often given, one of my pigs was on tramadol for pain.) She may behave more normally if she's more comfortable.

If she is on adequate pain meds or you try them and she doesn't respond, it may be time to think about helping her to pass peacefully. If she's no longer able to do the things that pigs take for granted, it may be kinder to help her pass away. It's always a really hard decision, but you've given her a long, happy life.

I would definitely ask for pain meds first. All the best don't

I'm sorry to hear this.

Is she on pain relief?
If she isn’t then I would highly suggest that you speak to the vet to get her on a good dose of metacam twice a day.

Are you offering her any support feeding with recovery feed or mushed pellets?

I’ve added a guide below which will help you with other ways to keep her comfortable, ensuring she is always kept in dry bedding (you may need to change out pee pads multiple times a day if she isn’t able to move)

Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

She's not on any. She's still alive. She's eating little but barely moving(only her head really to move). The other day it looked like she was about to go but she didn't. I got pee pads for her. One question about that- what color should the urine make the pads. My mom thought it looked pinkish but to me it seems the color more light brown. Could that be due to the oxidization? If it were blood, would the pee pad just look completely red?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would speak to the vet about the situation re pain relief

Oxidisation is a rusty brown colour.
Blood dries dark brown.

I’ve just seen your created another thread on the same subject so I’m going to merge the two threads

 

[nbhalla19]

I would speak to the vet about the situation re pain relief

Oxidisation is a rusty brown colour.
Blood dries dark brown.

I’ve just seen your created another thread on the same subject so I’m going to merge the two threads

I see it's definitely not dark brown more the rusty brown-which can attribute to my mom thinking it looks little pinkish. Thanks! I'll see about the pain meds, she is still eating and all I'm not sure if she is in any actual pain. The vet was holding her and said she didn't have any reflexes and all. She is obviously not comfortable though I know. I'm not sure if they would really help. At times she shakes around if she isn't sitting properly, I feel she is just losing her movement/senses. I'll see. Thank you!

 

[Truffolo]

The safest thing is to assume that she is not comfortable and to offer pain meds. If it is Metacam, piggies usually take it very readily and enjoy it. It is best to start now as she may be in pain as her condition gets worse. Your vet can advise you, but if she isn't moving around there may very likely be an element of pain.