Immobile pig seizuring

[TaraS-D]

My 4 and a half year old Guinea pig suddenly went downhill this morning. We came down to her not being able to move properly and eating slightly.
We took her to the vet and her eyes weren’t responding to light, and she had a slight head tilt. We were prescribed gut medication, lexicom and critical care and I’ve been following the advice of feeding her the cc hourly.
However she doesn’t seem to improving and when she moves it’s like she’s squirming across the ground. She just lays down with her legs sticking out, but the concerning thing is she looks like she’s fitting occasionally. She sticks her head back, shakes and paddles her feet while letting out a weird yelp, once even going onto her back and I had to flip her back over. We can’t put our fingers too close to her head as she sometimes bites us.
She’s also opening her mouth and sort of gasping for air.

Any advice? I'm heartbroken but I think it’s perhaps best we let her go because every hour she seems to be getting worse. Should I book a vet appointment

 

[Wiebke]

My 4 and a half year old Guinea pig suddenly went downhill this morning. We came down to her not being able to move properly and eating slightly.
We took her to the vet and her eyes weren’t responding to light, and she had a slight head tilt. We were prescribed gut medication, lexicom and critical care and I’ve been following the advice of feeding her the cc hourly.
However she doesn’t seem to improving and when she moves it’s like she’s squirming across the ground. She just lays down with her legs sticking out, but the concerning thing is she looks like she’s fitting occasionally. She sticks her head back, shakes and paddles her feet while letting out a weird yelp, once even going onto her back and I had to flip her back over. We can’t put our fingers too close to her head as she sometimes bites us.
She’s also opening her mouth and sort of gasping for air.

Any advice? I'm heartbroken but I think it’s perhaps best we let her go because every hour she seems to be getting worse. Should I book a vet appointment

Hi and welcome

I am so sorry.

It sounds like your piggy is in organ failure but is not having an easy ride. Could you please contact your vets whether you could bring her in for emergency euthanasia if she lives until you can be seen? Sorry that I do not have any better news and advice. It can sometimes happy like that if something in the head/nervous system goes down first.
Please try to keep her upright and her head higher than the body to help easy the breathing and the strain on her heart, even if you have to wrap her in a cosy and prop her up with fleece padding and hold her in your lap whicle she is not i conscious control of her movements anymore as her body is breaking down and is becoming oxygen starved. Keep her warm but not hot for comfort as the blood circulation is no long efficient to warm the body.

Here is more information and practical advice about the natural dying process, what you can do and about euthanasia/putting to sleep:
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

My throughts are with you.

 

[PigglePuggle]

I'm so sorry, as Wiebke says it sounds like she is near the end- what you describe is what happens when the conscious brain is fading away and no longer has control of the body, the legs look to be running- alarming to see, but a natural part of the dying process, and a sign you should ask the vet for some end of life help if you are able to, or if not keep her comfortable and quiet while nature takes its course.
Sending hugs x