• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Little Starman has been to the vets 😥

Pound Shilling & Pig

Pound Shilling & Pig

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,334
Reaction score
6,527
Points
1,475
Location
shropshire
Some of you may remember when I adopted Little Starman from @Wheekallweek last September as a new buddy for my bereaved piggy King Edward Potato.
He has been doing great and has a really close bond with King Edward but over recent weeks has gradually been dropping a little bit of weight and come back down to his previous lowest recorded weight, so not all together unexpected for a seven year old piggy. Then this Sunday he had lost a further 50g and hasn't been looking quite his usual self, so had a vet appointment booked for today.
I was hoping maybe he just had arthritis or something but the vet could feel an abdominal mass😥 and a scan showed it was one of his kidneys😥 Sadly there is little that can be done other than putting him on a low dose of metacam and monitoring him. Exactly what is causing the abnormality is unknown so I don't know how quickly it will progress. I hope he has many happy times ahead with King Edward but naturally fear the worst and dont want him to suffer😥
In the meantime I will be getting him some blueberries and red grapes as they are supposed to be good for kidneys. They may or may not make any difference but I am hoping he will at least enjoy his special sneaky snacks.
 
Oh I'm so sorry, he's such a little treasure this is so sad 😢 I became rather attached to him as you know @Pound Shilling & Pig. He's a fabulous age though and had been rather neglected before he came to us.
I honestly hope he has many more happy months left, truly I do 🤞😔
I'll do some research and see what else I can find that may help. My sister is a student vet nurse so I'll ask her too.

💔
 
Wheekallweek said:
Oh I'm so sorry, he's such a little treasure this is so sad 😢 I became rather attached to him as you know @Pound Shilling & Pig. He's a fabulous age though and had been rather neglected before he came to us.
I honestly hope he has many more happy months left, truly I do 🤞😔
I'll do some research and see what else I can find that may help. My sister is a student vet nurse so I'll ask her too.

💔
Click to expand...
Thank you. He is indeed a little treasure. He is just such a lovely piggy and has a special place on my heart
 
I’m sending support and hugs to you. A diagnosis like this truly feels like the end of the world and I understand. My buttercup was diagnosed with a uterine mass last year. The vet was very honest about how risky the surgery was. It’s very low down and he said any lower it would be inoperable. He said there was a high chance her not making it through. At this time the mass found was incidental meaning we didn’t mean to find it and she clinically was well in herself and so we chose to monitor her for now. Any changes we know what needs to be done.
But you have to be guided by your vet and of course the piggies. You know your piggies best! You will know if they’re suffering or if they’re comfy and happy. I lost a piggie 2 weeks ago a week after a big operation. It’s made me remember how precious life is and how every day with them should be cherished and made the happiest it can be with them. They’re too special to us 💙 we will always question what the right decision is but at the end of the day we all love our babies and whatever decision we make is out of love!
 
Pound Shilling & Pig said:
Thank you. He is indeed a little treasure. He is just such a lovely piggy and has a special place on my heart
Click to expand...

He will know that and he can be sure that he will have your loving support for as long as he has quality of life and the zest for life.

HUGS
 
Pound Shilling & Pig said:
Some of you may remember when I adopted Little Starman from @Wheekallweek last September as a new buddy for my bereaved piggy King Edward Potato.
He has been doing great and has a really close bond with King Edward but over recent weeks has gradually been dropping a little bit of weight and come back down to his previous lowest recorded weight, so not all together unexpected for a seven year old piggy. Then this Sunday he had lost a further 50g and hasn't been looking quite his usual self, so had a vet appointment booked for today.
I was hoping maybe he just had arthritis or something but the vet could feel an abdominal mass😥 and a scan showed it was one of his kidneys😥 Sadly there is little that can be done other than putting him on a low dose of metacam and monitoring him. Exactly what is causing the abnormality is unknown so I don't know how quickly it will progress. I hope he has many happy times ahead with King Edward but naturally fear the worst and dont want him to suffer😥
In the meantime I will be getting him some blueberries and red grapes as they are supposed to be good for kidneys. They may or may not make any difference but I am hoping he will at least enjoy his special sneaky snacks.
Click to expand...

Oh I’m sorry to hear that. I hope he has many more happy days with you and King Edward.
 
I am so sorry for you and little Starman. I do remember you adopting him, such a lovely old gentleman. I hope you have loads of lovely happy times together and spoil him rotten with lots of blueberries and grapes :hug:
 
So sorry for your news.
A diagnosis like this makes it feel as if the bottom has fallen out of the world.
Remember that start grieving when you receive a terminal diagnosis so be gentle with yourself.
I hope you have many more happy todays and make lots of lovely memories.
Holding you in my heart ♥️
 
I'm sorry to say this is a sad and overdue update. Sorry I have left it so long but I did keep @Wheekallweek updated. I just find it sad posting about the loss of piggies and have lost several of my elderly pigs this year.

He continued to lose weight and had a second vet visit on 8 August where it was agreed to increase his metacam. He enjoyed his grapes and blueberries in the beginning but became less excited by them once the novelty wore off and became more fussy about his veg in general but continued enjoying tucking into fresh grass. I also gave him water in a bowl aswell as in a bottle to try and encourage him to drink more, incase he found that easier to drink from.

Sadly he continued to decline and although still enjoyed his grass and dandelions and cucumber, he ate them slowly. It was like he was winding down. I decided it was time to help him over the bridge and he had an appointment booked for the 16th but he passed away that morning at home. I hope I did right by him. He was such a gentle sole and great friend to King Edward. Sleep tight little man💖
 
I’m sorry little Starman has travelled to RB - altho he was slowing down he did it his way - his life was the best it could be with you and King Edward and he couldn’t have wanted more …… look after yourself and everyone ❤️❤️❤️
 
You absolutely did right by him ❤️
What a special boy he was. I'm so glad he passed at home, comfortable with King Edward by his side.
RIP Starman, over the Rainbow Bridge 🌈❤️
 
I am sorry the handsome Starman had to leave his loving home. You did your best and gave him love right up to the end and he would have known that.
Look after yourself
Popcorn over the bridge Starman 🌈
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top