Lethargic, really worried.

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Cissy has suddenly gone down hill today and I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I phoned the emergency vet who recommended I continue syringe feeding her and give metacam and antibiotics so I have. They said to book an appointment for the morning and see her through the night but I’m so worried.

She’s so lethargic, she hasn’t passed poo or wee as far as I’m aware. I’ve been trying to keep her fluid and food up...

Can anyone help with advise on how to keep her going til the morning? Having 3 sick pigs makes me wonder what the hell I’m doing wrong

 

[Wiebke]

Cissy has suddenly gone down hill today and I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I phoned the emergency vet who recommended I continue syringe feeding her and give metacam and antibiotics so I have. They said to book an appointment for the morning and see her through the night but I’m so worried.

She’s so lethargic, she hasn’t passed poo or wee as far as I’m aware. I’ve been trying to keep her fluid and food up...

Can anyone help with advise on how to keep her going til the morning? Having 3 sick pigs makes me wonder what the hell I’m doing wrong

Hi!

HUGS

I am very sorry; it can well be that she has gone into organ failure. I know from my own experiences with these things happening on a weekend or bank holiday evening how desperate you must be feeling.

Please read our new Bridging Care guide; it contains all our advice, including what you can do for a dying piggy in the last chapter: Emergency and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

 

[VickiA]

So sorry to hear Cissy has gone down hill. Can’t really offer any advice but just wanted to offer support.. But please don’t doubt yourself. We all go through rough patches with our piggies. Just hang in there.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thank you, yes I’ve had a good read through that. I just don’t understand why she’s suddenly gone down hill, she can still walk but just doesn’t seem to have any energy

Is there anything I can do for her? She was fine and suddenly just not... She hasn’t removed herself from the group or anything either.

 

[PigglePuggle]

So sorry to hear this, cant offer any advice but sending support and healing wheeks! Piggies generally like to pick weekends to give us a health scare, our Puggle decided 4pm saturday or sunday as the vet closed was the best time to develop recurring acute bloat symptoms 6 times in 9 weeks, hopefully you can keep her going until morning with syringe feed then the vet can get some subcutaneous fluids and a gut stimulant into her and give you a proper prognosis! But you are clearly doing everything can for her and she probably knows that whatever happens x

 

[Eriathwen]

I can totally empathise with the 'what the hell am I doing wrong' feeling. I have everything crossed for you and her that she will be ok until she can be seen by a vet, it seems you're doing everything that can possibly be done at home at this point so hopefully she begins passing waste again soon and perks up!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, yes I’ve had a good read through that. I just don’t understand why she’s suddenly gone down hill, she can still walk but just doesn’t seem to have any energy

Is there anything I can do for her? She was fine and suddenly just not... She hasn’t removed herself from the group or anything either.

No, just keep her as comfy and warm (but not hot) as you can. Piggies can go downhill all of a sudden without any obvious cause. It is very upsetting but there is very little you can do. I've been there often enough over the years; some deaths or illnesses I have eventually been able to puzzle out years later, some are still a mystery.

Not your fault at all. We so easily forget what small bodies piggies with their huge personalities have! When it comes to illness, their fast metabolism can unfortunately also mean that what goes wrong appears very quickly and is on fast forward. I have a piggy that went downhill without even Simon finding anything major wrong with her on the day before...

 

[Merab]

Can’t add advice but wanted you to know that so am holding you in my thoughts and in my heart.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thank you all so much, it’s breaking my heart but I think you might be right. Just trying to keep it together. If it is her last night, do you think she’d rather spend it with me or her family? I just want to do right by her

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you all so much, it’s breaking my heart but I think you might be right. Just trying to keep it together. If it is her last night, do you think she’d rather spend it with me or her family? I just want to do right by her

Please leave her with her family in her familiar surroundings as much as possible unless she has removed herself from them.
It is tough, especially when it is the first time; and it can be a very lonely place in the middle of the night when you are very tired.

You will find the necessary advice in the link I have given you.

 

[piggieminder]

Sending you hugs. I am so sorry you are going through this, it's so hard when it happens all at once. As the vet said to me it's not your fault it's coincidence and very bad luck. I hope you have some better news in the morning. Xx

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thanks for your support everyone, she has now passed away. I’m absolutely crushed, but at least she was warm and cosy with everyone who loved her. It’ll haunt me forever that I couldn’t help her and don’t know why this happened. I just hope the other pigs are okay.

 

[piggieminder]

I am so sorry.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your support everyone, she has now passed away. I’m absolutely crushed, but at least she was warm and cosy with everyone who loved her. It’ll haunt me forever that I couldn’t help her and don’t know why this happened. I just hope the other pigs are okay.

BIG HUGS

Take consolation that thanks to you she had the gentlest and kindest of passings she could wish for, as these things go. It is much harder for you to watch and feel helpless; especially if you have never sat with a dying piggy before.

Also do not feel guilty - you haven't failed her in any way, or would a vet have been able to save her (believe me, I have done it any way you can and still ended up with the same result). Sudden acute heart failure can happen at any age, right out of the blue. Any piggy with a gentic defect is basically living with a ticking bomb in its body that can go off any moment, but generally at the most awkward time. I've lost several piggies that way. They died either at the vets or a few hours after racing them to the vets as an emergency... At least yours hasn't had to go through any stress and upset without changing the outcome in any way.

Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thank you for your kind words. If I’m honest with myself I don’t think there could have been anything a vet could do, but there will always be that doubt. I’m glad that she was able to pass at home without being poked and prodded. The pigs haven’t really gone near her, nor have they eaten their food. I’ve just placed her in with Tonks who’s just a bit freaked out. I suppose I’ll take her out soon.

It breaks my heart to place her inside a box til tomorrow. I’m devasted for both myself and the herd. After all, I may have lost a daughter but they’ve lost a sister and a leader

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your kind words. If I’m honest with myself I don’t think there could have been anything a vet could do, but there will always be that doubt. I’m glad that she was able to pass at home without being poked and prodded. The pigs haven’t really gone near her, nor have they eaten their food. I’ve just placed her in with Tonks who’s just a bit freaked out. I suppose I’ll take her out soon.

It breaks my heart to place her inside a box til tomorrow. I’m devasted for both myself and the herd. After all, I may have lost a daughter but they’ve lost a sister and a leader

Believe me from my experience, there is nothing a vet could have changed. Once a piggy goes into organ failure it is a runaway train.

You have given her a life filled with love and a group she was happy and secure in; she couldn't have had a better life. Guinea pigs don't measure their life as to how long it is; they measure it as to whether each day they live is a good day.

Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

I find the burial always the lowest point. It is such a final moment...
Be kind to yourself and give you time to grieve and to digest it all!

 

[DMS260820]

Thanks for your support everyone, she has now passed away. I’m absolutely crushed, but at least she was warm and cosy with everyone who loved her. It’ll haunt me forever that I couldn’t help her and don’t know why this happened. I just hope the other pigs are okay.

I'm really sorry to hear this sad news. Take care . You did good

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Believe me from my experience, there is nothing a vet could have changed. Once a piggy goes into organ failure it is a runaway train.

You have given her a life filled with love and a group she was happy and secure in; she couldn't have had a better life. Guinea pigs don't measure their life as to how long it is; they measure it as to whether each day they live is a good day.

Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

I find the burial always the lowest point. It is such a final moment...
Be kind to yourself and give you time to grieve and to digest it all!

Thank you, yes I’m not looking forward to the final farewell tomorrow. I keep checking the carrier to see if she’s okay, I don’t know why.

Sorry I’m just rambling now, I just don’t know what to do with myself. Carry on I suppose, still have lady Tonks to nurse back to health and Iggy to sort out. It just seems harder now which is awful of me.

 

[Eriathwen]

I'm so sorry for your loss
When Treacle passed it was about 3am, I had alarms set all through the night..I couldn't bring myself to turn them off and go to sleep, I still went up every so often to check on her and Ebony. It is such a difficult time looking after poorly piggies, especially when there is more than one. Losing one makes everything you need to do for the others so much harder.
You did an amazing job and she was able to pass peacefully and with her friends which is the best they can hope for, she will have known how loved she is.
Sending virtual hugs and love.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I'm so sorry for your loss
When Treacle passed it was about 3am, I had alarms set all through the night..I couldn't bring myself to turn them off and go to sleep, I still went up every so often to check on her and Ebony. It is such a difficult time looking after poorly piggies, especially when there is more than one. Losing one makes everything you need to do for the others so much harder.
You did an amazing job and she was able to pass peacefully and with her friends which is the best they can hope for, she will have known how loved she is.
Sending virtual hugs and love.

Thank you. I think I feel the same, I really don’t want to go to sleep and cement this day into fact... even though I know it makes no difference. I just can’t help but feel sad that I have spent the last few weeks so focused on Tonks and Iggy that I didn’t give Cissy enough cuddles. I’d give every penny I have for her to come back to me... but I’m sure everyone has been there too.

 

[Eriathwen]

Thank you. I think I feel the same, I really don’t want to go to sleep and cement this day into fact... even though I know it makes no difference. I just can’t help but feel sad that I have spent the last few weeks so focused on Tonks and Iggy that I didn’t give Cissy enough cuddles. I’d give every penny I have for her to come back to me... but I’m sure everyone has been there too.

I find the most difficult part, other than the burial/cremation, is always the first time you wake up after when reality sets in, when you remember. I assume it's quite natural to delay that part. I know what you mean about giving everything to have them back, it's such a desperate sadness and I'm so sorry you're having to go through it. There's never enough cuddles when they've gone..even if you had held her every hour of every day, it's not enough when it's over. Be gentle with yourself, you gave her all you could and she had all her friends to happily spend time with while you were helping Tonks and Iggy.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I find the most difficult part, other than the burial/cremation, is always the first time you wake up after when reality sets in, when you remember. I assume it's quite natural to delay that part. I know what you mean about giving everything to have them back, it's such a desperate sadness and I'm so sorry you're having to go through it. There's never enough cuddles when they've gone..even if you had held her every hour of every day, it's not enough when it's over. Be gentle with yourself, you gave her all you could and she had all her friends to happily spend time with while you were helping Tonks and Iggy.

That’s exactly it, I don’t want to wake up in a world where she’s not there. I know that part of having furbabies is that they’ll leave one day but I just feel like a silly child right now, it’s so unfair. She was the most gentle pig you’ll ever meet and the world is a lot darker without her kind, twinkling eyes smiling at you and her inquisitive little nose searching out her next snack.

 

[YvonneBlue]

So sorry to read this sad news.
RIP little one.

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss xx