Hi everyone.
Today I lost my beloved 4 year old rescue Guinea pig Snicker's to kidney failure.
I wanted to post about her last 6 months in the hope that it might help someone else identify/cope with kidney failure.
In December 2014 Snicker's weighed a hefty 1200g. So my new year resolution for her was to loose some weight. She gradually lost weight and in February we were all thinking wow doesn't Snicker's look more healthy. She was no more active, just less heavy. By April she was 1000g so I said target reached well done pig. Shortly into May I worried that she was still losing weight yet eating most of the time and aggressively squeaking/chasing me around the living room for food. She was always waiting for me for breakfast and soon became constantly hungry. By the end of May (5 months of gradual weight loss hardly noticeable unless you weigh regularly) she had gone from 1200 to 950g. At the start of June she went to the vets and was sedated for teeth examination and blood work. Her blood test indicated to the Vet that Snicker's had kidney failure and a urine sample confirmed his diagnosis. There is/was nothing we could do for her but syringe feed and love her. Since June she has lost a little weight each week. She was so active, almost hyperactive, until a week ago eating lots and drinking normal. As she deteriorated she didn't want to eat hay or "boring veg" by July. Only wagg, grass, carrot and brocoli. She lost the hair on her tummy. She did messy poos. In her last week she made less effort to source food and knowing what I do now I should have taken her to be put to rest then but I hoped she could keep going and she was enjoying going in the run and was still running around. Last night she was off her food but this morning she ate her brocoli. I left for work at 7 and got home at 11.30 to find she had died in her sleep.
If anyone has a pig who mysteriously drops weight even by a little each week or suddenly starts to really persue food more than normal please go see a Vet as this was our biggest indicator for kidney failure.
It is a terrible thing to experience a loved pet die slowly from a wasting disease and I am devastated. It has helped writing this but I already feel lost without her. My heart goes out to anyone else who suffers such a loss.
Today I lost my beloved 4 year old rescue Guinea pig Snicker's to kidney failure.
I wanted to post about her last 6 months in the hope that it might help someone else identify/cope with kidney failure.
In December 2014 Snicker's weighed a hefty 1200g. So my new year resolution for her was to loose some weight. She gradually lost weight and in February we were all thinking wow doesn't Snicker's look more healthy. She was no more active, just less heavy. By April she was 1000g so I said target reached well done pig. Shortly into May I worried that she was still losing weight yet eating most of the time and aggressively squeaking/chasing me around the living room for food. She was always waiting for me for breakfast and soon became constantly hungry. By the end of May (5 months of gradual weight loss hardly noticeable unless you weigh regularly) she had gone from 1200 to 950g. At the start of June she went to the vets and was sedated for teeth examination and blood work. Her blood test indicated to the Vet that Snicker's had kidney failure and a urine sample confirmed his diagnosis. There is/was nothing we could do for her but syringe feed and love her. Since June she has lost a little weight each week. She was so active, almost hyperactive, until a week ago eating lots and drinking normal. As she deteriorated she didn't want to eat hay or "boring veg" by July. Only wagg, grass, carrot and brocoli. She lost the hair on her tummy. She did messy poos. In her last week she made less effort to source food and knowing what I do now I should have taken her to be put to rest then but I hoped she could keep going and she was enjoying going in the run and was still running around. Last night she was off her food but this morning she ate her brocoli. I left for work at 7 and got home at 11.30 to find she had died in her sleep.
If anyone has a pig who mysteriously drops weight even by a little each week or suddenly starts to really persue food more than normal please go see a Vet as this was our biggest indicator for kidney failure.
It is a terrible thing to experience a loved pet die slowly from a wasting disease and I am devastated. It has helped writing this but I already feel lost without her. My heart goes out to anyone else who suffers such a loss.
