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Kidney failure 1 year old boar

Cocochanel4

Cocochanel4

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 8, 2018
Messages
34
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16
Points
165
Location
Macclesfield, UK
Hi everyone, after weeks of seeing different vets and running tests, we finally have a diagnosis- Austin has kidney failure. One of his kidneys has shut down, it’s covered in cysts and a mess. Vet isn’t sure how bad the other one is. He’s down to 550g and very weak. What are his chances now that he’s on the right drug? I’m trying to build him up with critical care and he’s eating by himself a bit. X
 
I hope he pulls through hopefully once you have found out the condition of the other kidney, hopefully you can get all the right treatment.
 
Cocochanel4 said:
Hi everyone, after weeks of seeing different vets and running tests, we finally have a diagnosis- Austin has kidney failure. One of his kidneys has shut down, it’s covered in cysts and a mess. Vet isn’t sure how bad the other one is. He’s down to 550g and very weak. What are his chances now that he’s on the right drug? I’m trying to build him up with critical care and he’s eating by himself a bit. X
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Hi!

I am very sorry! Kidney failure is unfortunately one of the more common problems in especially older guinea pigs. There is sadly not a lot you can do and there is not much in terms of medication that works reliably in the medium to long term. medication may be more effective in your case because at that age it is genetic and not degenerative.

Fingers firmly crossed that you have a little longer with your boy! Make the best of the time you have with him. Keep in mind that guinea pigs don't have a concept of longevity, but they know when they are having a happy day and when they are loved!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

I am very sorry! Kidney failure is unfortunately one of the more common problems in especially older guinea pigs. There is sadly not a lot you can do and there is not much in terms of medication that works reliably in the medium to long term. medication may be more effective in your case because at that age it is genetic and not degenerative.

Fingers firmly crossed that you have a little longer with your boy! Make the best of the time you have with him. Keep in mind that guinea pigs don't have a concept of longevity, but they know when they are having a happy day and when they are loved!
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Thanks so much. Such a sad situation. The plan is to try and build him up over the next couple of weeks with critical care and then reassess his quality of life with the vet. He’s eating fresh food at the moment and moving about a bit, but if that stops then he has no quality of life and it’s time to say goodbye. Fingers crossed he responds to the meds x
 
Cocochanel4 said:
Thanks so much. Such a sad situation. The plan is to try and build him up over the next couple of weeks with critical care and then reassess his quality of life with the vet. He’s eating fresh food at the moment and moving about a bit, but if that stops then he has no quality of life and it’s time to say goodbye. Fingers crossed he responds to the meds x
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HUGS!
 
Update - I made the decision to have Austin put to sleep on Sunday night. I still feel awful about it and question if it was the right decision. He dropped to 540g and just seemed so sick - not moving around much, never stretching out/lying down, hardly eating anything, slow chewing, really thirsty, facing into the wall. I was keeping him alive by force feeding critical care and it seemed pointless to keep going as he had no quality of life left. He’d been on the kidney meds since Tuesday but showed no consistent improvement and I just felt he was dying slowly :(
 
Aw, so sorry for your loss, you have made the kindest decision for him. Just remember all the lovely times you had together x sleep tight little Austin x
 
I’m so very sorry :( but you made the right decision.

Eleanor weighed around 750g when her kidney failure was diagnosed and we had her pts which I still regret but she was constantly thirsty, had stopped eating and the sparkle had gone from her eyes :(

It wasn’t until after she died that I realised just how much she was drinking as I had 3 other guinea pigs living with her at the time
 
Claire W said:
I’m so very sorry :( but you made the right decision.

Eleanor weighed around 750g when her kidney failure was diagnosed and we had her pts which I still regret but she was constantly thirsty, had stopped eating and the sparkle had gone from her eyes :(

It wasn’t until after she died that I realised just how much she was drinking as I had 3 other guinea pigs living with her at the time
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Thank you - sorry that you also went through this. Losing them is difficult but we give them the best lives we can. My other three are so full of life and happy x
 
Cocochanel4 said:
Update - I made the decision to have Austin put to sleep on Sunday night. I still feel awful about it and question if it was the right decision. He dropped to 540g and just seemed so sick - not moving around much, never stretching out/lying down, hardly eating anything, slow chewing, really thirsty, facing into the wall. I was keeping him alive by force feeding critical care and it seemed pointless to keep going as he had no quality of life left. He’d been on the kidney meds since Tuesday but showed no consistent improvement and I just felt he was dying slowly :(
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BIG HUGS

You have made absolutely the right decision, but it is going to take some time until your heart has caught up with your head again. We all suffer from feelings of guilt to some degree or other at the onset of the grieving process and mull over what has just happen/question our actions. This stronger after pts, a sudden unexpected death, a long drawn out battle and of course an accident or after making a clearly wrong decision. It only means that you are very loving and responsible owner. ;)

Be kind to yourself in the coming days. The kidney failure is not your fault but a very short genetic straw that Austin has drawn. You have given him a happy and good life and have made the time he had to live worth living and his end as kind as possible. However long or short a life, these are the best and most important gifts you can make a pet of yours. You haven't failed him in any way!

If Austin has a companion, then here is what you can do for them: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
So sorry for your loss. RIP and popcorn free across the rainbow bridge little one.
You absolutely did the right thing, it is the last act of love we can do for our piggy. 💕
 
Wiebke said:
BIG HUGS

You have made absolutely the right decision, but it is going to take some time until your heart has caught up with your head again. We all suffer from feelings of guilt to some degree or other at the onset of the grieving process and mull over what has just happen/question our actions. This stronger after pts, a sudden unexpected death, a long drawn out battle and of course an accident or after making a clearly wrong decision. It only means that you are very loving and responsible owner. ;)

Be kind to yourself in the coming days. The kidney failure is not your fault but a very short genetic straw that Austin has drawn. You have given him a happy and good life and have made the time he had to live worth living and his end as kind as possible. However long or short a life, these are the best and most important gifts you can make a pet of yours. You haven't failed him in any way!

If Austin has a companion, then here is what you can do for them: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
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Thank you so much for your kind words :) it is reassuring to hear that. Austin’s companion Morris is showing absolutely no signs of bereavement - he’s up to his usual mischief and has my 2 girls for company in the “flat” above - but unbeknownst to him he has a speed date session at a local rescue on 23 Feb to choose a new boar friend...
 
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