KatieM
Junior Guinea Pig
Odie, my almost 6 year old pig, died on December 21st. This was my very first time experiencing a piggy death, or watching any of my pets die in such a way. While it was sudden, it wasn’t 100% unexpected. He was given to me by a friend, immediately I recognized that his coat was very course and he was skinny (this was in September). I took him and his brother to the vet, they agreed he was unwell and very skinny but with normal appetite and behavior I decided it would be best to just let him live his life. The morning of the 21st I walked in to give them their water and bam he fell over and had a 1min 30second full body seizure. Completely horrible to watch I felt so helpless. He came out of it and slowly over the next hour was able to get his feet underneath him and ate some lettuce. I called his previous owners over to say goodbye and then took him to the vet. Since he was alert and coming to I asked to have a vet look at him first before putting him to sleep, although I assumed it would be best to put him to sleep. Since it was a Saturday it was an hour long wait, about 45min in he had another seizure. This time he didn’t come out of it, he was in a crate just flopping around and “running” (which I have now read is a sign of imminent death in pigs, I had no idea). Panicked I tried to pick him up and he was freaking out when my hand got near, flopping everywhere. Eventually I was able to pick him up and that’s when he began “screaming” it was like silent wheeks opening and shutting his mouth. I pet him softly and whispered to him, slowly realizing this was him dying. Not long after he died, white goo came out of his eyes.
I’m still in the vets office room completely alone, I get up and open the door to tell them he died. They are of course very apologetic and reassuring me it was his time to go and what not.
But I have struggled the last few days over the guilt in the way it went down. Never would I want one of my animals to pass in that way, in pain and confused and in and out of seizures. If I could go back I would have insisted they either be faster in starting the euthanasia process (while he was still calm and alert) or I wouldn’t have brought him in at all, let him be with his brother in his home….if I was going to have to watch the process anyways.
The moments of his death are engrained in my mind, I didn’t sleep for a few days. I only had him for a short time but he was very loved. I really do hope he was unaware of what was happening and didn’t feel too much pain, the guilt eats me away.
Thank you for letting me share his story, he was more than his death of course but it was not the end I ever wanted for him and not the end I ever want to repeat with one of my pigs.
I’m still in the vets office room completely alone, I get up and open the door to tell them he died. They are of course very apologetic and reassuring me it was his time to go and what not.
But I have struggled the last few days over the guilt in the way it went down. Never would I want one of my animals to pass in that way, in pain and confused and in and out of seizures. If I could go back I would have insisted they either be faster in starting the euthanasia process (while he was still calm and alert) or I wouldn’t have brought him in at all, let him be with his brother in his home….if I was going to have to watch the process anyways.
The moments of his death are engrained in my mind, I didn’t sleep for a few days. I only had him for a short time but he was very loved. I really do hope he was unaware of what was happening and didn’t feel too much pain, the guilt eats me away.
Thank you for letting me share his story, he was more than his death of course but it was not the end I ever wanted for him and not the end I ever want to repeat with one of my pigs.
right before we ring in the New Year.
