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How's Ivy Katherine?

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Oh hi, thanks for asking about her. Ivy is still not eating properly, although she has gone up and down a lot - but I suppose the general trend is down? One night, I think it might have been Friday, Debbie stayed up literally all night syringe feeding Ivy. She was very worried indeed about her. If she hadn't done this, Ivy probably wouldn't be here. All weekend I've been wondering whether we might get a phone call saying that Ivy has gone. Debbie gave us an update this morning to say that she'd managed to give her 20ml of food, which I think must be the most she's taken at one go for some time, athough she was very quiet, and not eating for herself.

Simon still can't find anything wrong with Ivy, so it is just baffling. I think they're giving her treatment for a fungal throat infection, just in case that is the reason for her not eating much.

Debbie says she's never known a case like Ivy's. She keeps hanging on, but doesn't get better. Sometimes you think she might be turning a corner, and getting back to normal, and then she just stops eating again. Well, that is Ivy - unique in every way! It is a very frustrating situation, and Debbie deserves a medal for coping with her. I think she is a guinea pig ministering angel! If she sees this thread, she'll be able to tell you more than I have.
 
Love and continued vibes to beautiful Ivy, I really hope she turns the corner x x
 
Been following Ivy updates on facebook. Poor love bless her...you all must be so worried.
Sounds like Debbie is doing a wonderful job as always. Really hope Ivy improves soon x
 
Thanks folks. I still hope she will get better, but I must admit that I wake up in the night and wonder whether I'll ever see her again. (Although if she doesn't make it, at least I'll have the comfort of knowing that everything possible was done for her.) Love that guinea pig so much, she's just one of the extra special ones!

Feeling so sorry for Flora who's on her own since Ivy went to stay with Debbie. We tried pairing her with Cupcake, who was also on her own after we lost Angelina - while they were fine on the floor, when put into a (cleaned) cage together Flora chattered her teeth at Cupcake, and terrified the life out of her. We made two attempts, but it just didn't seem fair on Cupcake, who is very gentle and timid. So off to Windwhistle Warren again, and now Cupcake has a lovely new friend called Queenie! Actually, these two had met before, although Cupcake was only a baby at the time. I think they may have remembered each other. Queenie is a real chunky monkey, couldn't quite believe it when we weighed her, never had such a big girl before! She's also ginger! (With a tiny bit of white in her crest!) They're very happy together.

The piggies seem to like to communicate through the bars of their cages, but when we thought we would try them all on the floor, Flora got very aggressive with Queenie, worryingly so, so we didn't risk things and put her back in her cage. Poor Flora, it's such a shame that she behaves like that. I wonder whether she ever thinks about Ivy.
 
BonBon did become a bit grumpy and bad tempered for a week or two with Truffles when Humbug passed away, but she did come round. Guess with some piggies it can take longer for them to accept another. x
 
We're all very worried about Ivy again. It doesn't sound good at all. Feeling so sad....
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Oh no I am sorry to hear that :( She is in the best hands possible with Simon & Debbie. Hope you are ok x
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Thankyou. Ivy has been very reluctant to take any food, and Debbie is concerned that she is dehydrated, so I believe she is taking her to Simon to get some fluids in her. I think it was 14th March when Ivy stopped eating normally, and she's been with Debbie for about 4 weeks, so this has gone on and on. It must be very upsetting for Debbie as well, as she has tried so hard with Ivy. But what can you do when there's no actual illness or condition to treat? Or at least, not one that can be discovered. I wish I could cuddle Ivy again, but it is such a long way.
 
Oh no! I am sorry to hear Ivy has gone downhill. I really hope she can improve. My thoughts are with you.
 
Debbie really has done all she can for Ivy, but it is now a question whether continually syringe feeding her is just delaying the inevitable. There is an infinitessimally small chance that bringing her home to her familiar surroundings and friend may perk her up, but the soonest we can go and get her is Thursday evening. If she lasts that long. But we may just be bringing her home to die, that is the reality. However, we would like to see her and have the chance to say goodbye, if that's all it is. It's just not fair to expect Debbie to carry on like this any longer, she's done a wonderful job, but she has so much on her plate, and after 4 weeks, and investing a lot in Ivy, (and I dread to think how much sleep she may have missed on her account) there is no improvement, really she has got worse. There's no point trying to prolong Ivy's life just for the sake of it. She's been given every chance, but I guess we'll never know what was wrong with her.
 
Hugs :( it's not an easy decision to make, but it's not like you haven't exhausted all possible methods of getting her better.
Me personally, I think it would be nice to get her home, so she's surrounded by her own family. Who knows, it might even perk her up and give her something to fight for. But, inevitably everything might have got too much for her, and she's started to slip. If you can see her before she passes, I can't believe i'm writing this, as she's still very much with you right now, then that would give you some peace that you were there when she needed you. You also have to remember, just how much further do you want to take this?
I let Treacle and Humbug go before they started suffering. I just don't think the case that I wanted them to live for me, justified dragging things out any longer.
I'd give her until morning, and see where she's at.. hugs again xx
 
I am so sorry you are faced with this, you have done so much for her as have Debbie and Simon. She has been in the best of care and no stone has been left unturned in trying to find out what is wrong and also her treatment with Debbie and Simon - two of the best piggie people in the business, you couldn't do anymore for her.
It is so desperately sad and an awful decision to make, we had to make a similar choice with our first ever piggie Pitch, we syringe fed her solidly for a month and she had root issues that could not be solved so we had to let her go in the end, we just couldn't keep her alive for us.
You will make the right choice for Ivy when the time is right and she is no longer happy, my heart really goes out to you. Love to Ivy and I will continue hoping for a turn in fortunes for her.
Huge hugs you are a wonderful piggy slave remember that and you have done little Ivy proud x x
 
Thankyou so much. Ivy is such a special guinea pig - I don't know why, but it seems that our most special ones never live so long. I don't know whether other people have found that. Dear Ivy - demanding, feisty, stubborn - but incredibly affectionate and cuddly. I wonder whether I'll ever have another piggy that will jump into my arms! Oh dear, I feel as though I'm writing her obituary now and am welling up.

We lost Milly in January, then Angelina in March, and now Ivy's life is very much in question. Still, I know that others on the forum have experienced worse. I guess we'll have to see what the morning brings.
 
HUGS

I am very sorry that Ivy is not getting any better and is constantly up and down! Debbie and Simon have certainly done their best for her. It is very difficult in these circumstances to decide where to draw the line when there is no clear cut case. You will know when the right moment for Ivy and you has come.

I didn't get to see a poorly Ivy when we went to pick up my holiday boarders from Debbie last Saturday (a bit later than planned because of Ivy's emergency vet trip that day), but she was certainly very much in Debbie's thoughts! She has been getting all the care possible from all of you.

PS: I have lost some of my special piggies after a fairly short time. But illness can also forge a very close bond.
 
Debbie reports that Ivy is eating something this morning, but we don't want to get our hopes up, as she has started and stopped eating so many times before. She's going to get Simon to get some more fluids into her this morning, and will give us a further update. It's all very confusing, it's going to be difficult to know what to do. Ivy is a riddle wrapped up in a mystery, wrapped up in an enigma - or however that quote goes!
 
BonBon2010 said:
Is she pining for Angelina by any chance? How close were they @Katherine x
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Ivy and Angelina didn't actually live in the same cage, although they were next door. They didn't see masses of each other, but when they did meet, Ivy seemed very keen on her and they probably would have got on very well if they had lived together. I don't think Ivy is pining for Angelina, as she became ill about 10 days after Ivy first stopped eating. There may well be some sort of psychological problem with Ivy, but working it out is the difficulty.
 
I am keeping my finges firmly crossed for Ivy!

Sometimes, a vet needs to be more a detective than a doctor - and sometimes, there are just not enough cues and information to read the "crime scene", even with the best of research. I still think that that there is a physical reason for her problems, but it is well hidden and not at all obvious. :(
 
Ivy actually had a somewhat better day yesterday, and her weight is up slightly. Not getting too hopeful though, as as you all know, she has gone up and down like anything. Still, it is nice to hear some more encouraging news. She's being looked after and syringe fed at the vets today.
 
Just wanted to let you all know that Ivy is being put to sleep this morning. Sad update from Debbie this morning - Ivy was not taking syringe food at all, it was just dropping out of her mouth, and she was just sitting in the corner of the cage facing the wall. She obviously didn't want to carry on anymore, and we all agreed that the kindest thing to to do was to let her go quickly and peacefully. She has got our hopes up so many times, but there really wasn't any hope anymore.

Thanks all of you for your support through all this.
 
Oh i am so sorry. i was just thinking about Ivy last night and checked facebook to see if there was any update on her.Sounds like Ivy told Debbie (and you) it was her time to go. Sending you lots of hugs and again i am so sorry x
 
I'm devastated but know we made the right decision. Although Ivy wasn't mine I became so bonded to her, especially as she needed such a lot of supportive care. Ivy also had a huge personality for such a tiny piggy. I am going to miss her so much, and I know Katherine and John are going to be heartbroken to have lost their special girl Sending much love to you both x
 
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