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Maybe this should be in the 'other pets' section, I wasn't sure, but didn't want to upset people in there so I thought I'd put it in here, even though Jack was not a guinea pig. Jack was my pony, he'd been here with me since 2003 and there haven't been many days in that time that we've been apart. He wasn't an easy pony and it took a long time for us to connect but we did, and we have been doddering along happily together for a long time.
Ponies are not unlike guinea pigs, they both like carrots, and grass, and they both have the kind of digestive systems that can be catastrophic when they go wrong. Sadly this is what happened to Jack on Monday, the vet thought it was a twisted gut and he was in tremendous pain. Despite enough sedation to knock an elephant down, and huge amounts of pain relief, he was getting worse, so we had to let him go.
I'm finding it hard to find the words to express what a shock this has been to me. Jack was the fittest of all the ponies here, he was on no meds, and up until just before his death he was running about as happy as any pony. He was 22 but could have lived another ten years which is what I was hoping for.
In many ways I know I am fortunate. Firstly because I had him for such a long time, secondly because he was taken ill in daylight, if it had happened an hour later I'd not have known anything was wrong until morning and that doesn't bear thinking about. Thirdly I am thankful for the vet who came out and ended his misery. It was her first day working in that practice, and it was a baptism of fire for her, dealing with half a ton of pain-crazed pony. She was very kind, and competent and I hope they keep her.
RIP Jack, there is a huge hole in my life right now and I'm not quite sure what I am going to do about it.
Ponies are not unlike guinea pigs, they both like carrots, and grass, and they both have the kind of digestive systems that can be catastrophic when they go wrong. Sadly this is what happened to Jack on Monday, the vet thought it was a twisted gut and he was in tremendous pain. Despite enough sedation to knock an elephant down, and huge amounts of pain relief, he was getting worse, so we had to let him go.
I'm finding it hard to find the words to express what a shock this has been to me. Jack was the fittest of all the ponies here, he was on no meds, and up until just before his death he was running about as happy as any pony. He was 22 but could have lived another ten years which is what I was hoping for.
In many ways I know I am fortunate. Firstly because I had him for such a long time, secondly because he was taken ill in daylight, if it had happened an hour later I'd not have known anything was wrong until morning and that doesn't bear thinking about. Thirdly I am thankful for the vet who came out and ended his misery. It was her first day working in that practice, and it was a baptism of fire for her, dealing with half a ton of pain-crazed pony. She was very kind, and competent and I hope they keep her.
RIP Jack, there is a huge hole in my life right now and I'm not quite sure what I am going to do about it.
He looked such a handsome chap x
heartbreaking. 
