how to know when to say goodbye :(

[Piggiepops]

I recently took my eldest piggy, Simon (don't ask about his name haha) to the vets, probably 6 weeks ago now due to a big lump on his neck. The vet diagnosed it as a probable tumour and said there was not really much he could do because of Simon's age (6 and a half) and the size of the lump meant that if it was cancerous, it had probably already spread. He said that Simon was ok within himself so to just keep an eye on him etc. Well he has been fine, eating normally but today I went out to the hutch and his back legs have completely stopped working and he is struggling to drag himself around bless him I'm going to take him to the vets on thursday and I have a feeling that he will suggest to put Simon to sleep as there really isn't anything that he can do. I know that Simon's quality of life will now slowly deteriorate due to him not being able to walk (I recently lost a piggy that had suffered with back leg paralysis for 6 months and watching her deteriorate was awful).
What would you guys do in this situation? I feel awful even considering having him put down when he is still eating etc he is looking very old these days and I don't want him to suffer for even a minute but putting him down seems extreme (((( help

 

[Bill & Ted]

Oh this is such a dreadful decision to have to make for poor Simon. See what your vet has to say and be lead by him if this feels right for you. I think you’ll know when the time is right for him. So sorry but it is a decision made from love x

 

[Merab]

You are in such a difficult situation.
You love Simon and want to do what is best for him but pts isn’t an easy decision to make.
In the end you need to do what you believe and feel is the best thing for Simon. You will know in your heart what and when.
We are here to support you

 

[Piggiepops]

Oh this is such a dreadful decision to have to make for poor Simon. See what your vet has to say and be lead by him if this feels right for you. I think you’ll know when the time is right for him. So sorry but it is a decision made from love x

thanks for your support it's just so so hard when you have to make that decision for them xx

 

[Piggiepops]

You are in such a difficult situation.
You love Simon and want to do what is best for him but pts isn’t an easy decision to make.
In the end you need to do what you believe and feel is the best thing for Simon. You will know in your heart what and when.
We are here to support you

thank you it really isn't easy I'll just see what the vet says I suppose xx

 

[KathT]

Having to decide it’s time for their forever sleep is one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make - for any animal. Be guided by your vet but don’t shy from the decision if it means saying goodbye - sometimes it’s kinder for them to let them go.

 

[Wiebke]

I recently took my eldest piggy, Simon (don't ask about his name haha) to the vets, probably 6 weeks ago now due to a big lump on his neck. The vet diagnosed it as a probable tumour and said there was not really much he could do because of Simon's age (6 and a half) and the size of the lump meant that if it was cancerous, it had probably already spread. He said that Simon was ok within himself so to just keep an eye on him etc. Well he has been fine, eating normally but today I went out to the hutch and his back legs have completely stopped working and he is struggling to drag himself around bless him I'm going to take him to the vets on thursday and I have a feeling that he will suggest to put Simon to sleep as there really isn't anything that he can do. I know that Simon's quality of life will now slowly deteriorate due to him not being able to walk (I recently lost a piggy that had suffered with back leg paralysis for 6 months and watching her deteriorate was awful).
What would you guys do in this situation? I feel awful even considering having him put down when he is still eating etc he is looking very old these days and I don't want him to suffer for even a minute but putting him down seems extreme (((( help

If you ask your vet for an open-minded conversation to help you weigh up the pros and cons and ask them for their own honest opinion, they will usually do that. In the case of a slow deterioration there is usually a grey zone in which there is no right or wrong where you draw the line as long as your decision is made with your piggies' quality of life upmost in mind and not your own fear of saying goodbye.
Generally you are more likely to draw the line earlier when it is not your first piggies or when you have been through the ups and downs of a prolonged battle/illness than when you are struggling with the concept of having to let go your first beloved piggy and have no idea of how to cope with and go about the loss.
In the end, when you let your piggy go has to feel right for you and has to be a decision you can live with in the long term once your head and your heart come back together. You will always have a phase where you'll feel guilty and question yourself when you pts somewhere in that grey zone and it is not a clear cut race to the emergency vets to have a badly suffering piggy put of their misery as quickly as possible.

Your question shows that you are a very caring and loving owner. I am sure that you'll know in your heart when the right time has come for you.

 

[Piggiepops]

If you ask your vet for an open-minded conversation to help you weigh up the pros and cons and ask them for their own honest opinion, they will usually do that. In the case of a slow deterioration there is usually a grey zone in which there is no right or wrong where you draw the line as long as your decision is made with your piggies' quality of life upmost in mind and not your own fear of saying goodbye.
Generally you are more likely to draw the line earlier when it is not your first piggies or when you have been through the ups and downs of a prolonged battle/illness than when you are struggling with the concept of having to let go your first beloved piggy and have no idea of how to cope with and go about the loss.
In the end, when you let your piggy go has to feel right for you and has to be a decision you can live with in the long term once your head and your heart come back together. You will always have a phase where you'll feel guilty and question yourself when you pts somewhere in that grey zone and it is not a clear cut race to the emergency vets to have a badly suffering piggy put of their misery as quickly as possible.

Your question shows that you are a very caring and loving owner. I am sure that you'll know in your heart when the right time has come for you.

Thank you it's very difficult I'm just going to see how Simon goes over the next few days and see what my vet says. xx