Lymphoma

[Kay701]

Hi everyone. My beautiful piggy Waffle has been very up and down over the last 6 months with various seemingly unrelated health problems. In the last week she's declined rapidly and a specialist has tentatively diagnosed her with lymphoma. She has swelled nodes/lumps all over her face and neck, she's losing weight rapidly despite syringe feeding. She was on long term pain relief anyway for sterile cystitis but has withdrawn herself from her sister and is showing signs of pain, spending most of the day hunched up in a corner. She is struggling to eat and losing weight rapidly despite syringe feeding, which she doesn't have much interest in anymore. However she is showing little bursts of energy where she will wheek at me, play around in her favourite places, eat a bit of hay and slowly munch her favourite vegetables. Right now she's rustling around in a paper bag

I know this is the end of her life. The decision now is that she's going in to the vets today for testing to confirm lymphoma, which could take up to a week to process. The best case scenario is she gets a diagnosis, is given some palliative care, and experiences a few happy normal days or week before being put to sleep. That's what I want for her, I hate seeing her like this and I don't want her to go this way. However I don't know if she'll make it until the results come, and the syringe feeding is distressing her. But I don't want to make the call now and euthanise her if there's a chance of treatment and her ending feeling happier, and I think I'll regret it if we don't get her tested and see what the options really are. I don't want to put her to sleep now if there's a chance of it being under better circumstances for her. I just don't know how she'll cope for the next week.

Any advice or similar experiences are welcome. Also advice about the kindest way to euthanise her for both her and her sister when the time comes. (e.g. should I ask them to come down it at home, with an injection, and then show Honey the body?) I'm going between hysterical crying and feeling numb. She's only three. I love her so much.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you are in such a difficult situation.
You clearly love Waffle very much.
Having had terminally ill piggies I have opted for no further treatment or investigation but ensured that the piggy has plenty of painkiller to keep them comfortable.
I have syringe fed beyond what is wanted but have left a dish of the Critical Care in the cage.
I have ensured plenty of favourites food is available and tried to make the last days as happy as possible.
My preference was to allow a peaceful death at home but pts if it was obvious the piggy was suffering.
It’s a difficult decision to make but go with your heart.

Remember that you are already grieving so be gentle with yourself.
Holding you in my heart

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone. My beautiful piggy Waffle has been very up and down over the last 6 months with various seemingly unrelated health problems. In the last week she's declined rapidly and a specialist has tentatively diagnosed her with lymphoma. She has swelled nodes/lumps all over her face and neck, she's losing weight rapidly despite syringe feeding. She was on long term pain relief anyway for sterile cystitis but has withdrawn herself from her sister and is showing signs of pain, spending most of the day hunched up in a corner. She is struggling to eat and losing weight rapidly despite syringe feeding, which she doesn't have much interest in anymore. However she is showing little bursts of energy where she will wheek at me, play around in her favourite places, eat a bit of hay and slowly munch her favourite vegetables. Right now she's rustling around in a paper bag

I know this is the end of her life. The decision now is that she's going in to the vets today for testing to confirm lymphoma, which could take up to a week to process. The best case scenario is she gets a diagnosis, is given some palliative care, and experiences a few happy normal days or week before being put to sleep. That's what I want for her, I hate seeing her like this and I don't want her to go this way. However I don't know if she'll make it until the results come, and the syringe feeding is distressing her. But I don't want to make the call now and euthanise her if there's a chance of treatment and her ending feeling happier, and I think I'll regret it if we don't get her tested and see what the options really are. I don't want to put her to sleep now if there's a chance of it being under better circumstances for her. I just don't know how she'll cope for the next week.

Any advice or similar experiences are welcome. Also advice about the kindest way to euthanise her for both her and her sister when the time comes. (e.g. should I ask them to come down it at home, with an injection, and then show Honey the body?) I'm going between hysterical crying and feeling numb. She's only three. I love her so much.

Thank you in advance.

Hi

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry that you are finding yourself in that situation. Personally, if she is no longer interested in life, I would consider letting her go sooner rather than later. Lymphoma in its most aggressive form is sadly extremely painful and that your time plan is not going to work out as you wish.

Vets are these days much more open for euthanising requests but what they can or will do varies wildly from clinic to clinic so the best way would be to give the clinic a call tomorrow as to what they offer or bring her in as an emergency if she continues to deteriorate very quickly.

My thoughts are with you and your poorly little one.

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you are in such a difficult situation.
You clearly love Waffle very much.
Having had terminally ill piggies I have opted for no further treatment or investigation but ensured that the piggy has plenty of painkiller to keep them comfortable.
I have syringe fed beyond what is wanted but have left a dish of the Critical Care in the cage.
I have ensured plenty of favourites food is available and tried to make the last days as happy as possible.
My preference was to allow a peaceful death at home but pts if it was obvious the piggy was suffering.
It’s a difficult decision to make but go with your heart.

Remember that you are already grieving so be gentle with yourself.
Holding you in my heart

Sorry - should have read ‘ I have not syringe fed ……’
Tired brain

 

[Eriathwen]

In my personal experience all but one of my lymphoma piggies have made the decision for me, and very quickly too. Usually within a week of diagnosis but sometimes as quickly as the next day. The only outlier was Paddington, a very large blind boar I had who lasted a year post diagnosis however he showed zero symptoms until it sadly spread to, and ruptured, his bladder, requiring euthanasia very quickly rather than the diagnostics we had him booked in for.

I hope you both are able to get some good quality time together in the next few days, I'm sorry you're going through this.

 

[Kay701]

Thank you everyone it's so confusing to be honest, her weight is continuing to decline, we've had samples sent off for tests, but her mood has seemed a lot better today and yesterday afternoon. She's making happy noises, she isn't hunched up, she's enjoying food (pellets, hay, veggies, she still doesn't want syringe feed but I'm doing things like putting some on her lettuce to get more into her) although she eats so slowly, and she's occasionally running around and having a little interaction with Honey. She's now on antibiotics in case it's an infection rather than lymphoma, although the vet was clear that he thinks it's unlikely. It's so hard, I think we'll just have to take it day by day. As long as she's seeming happy, I don't want to euthanise her. She's clearly not given up on life herself yet. It's so hard

 

[Merab]

Hugs
A day at a time is best.
As long as Waffle is free of pain and happy in herself then give her happy days.
Go with your heart - you will make the right decision
More hugs

 

[Posyrose]

I had a lymphoma pig last year. He was diagnosed and put on a range of medication. He perked up and had a good two weeks where we made the most of the time and he seemed quite happy. One day I went to the vet's for a check up and pts if needed, the vet said he wouldn't want to pts as he was doing well, but he died that evening. I'll always be grateful for the extra time the meds gave him.

It's so hard, but as long as she's happy cherish her everyday. You'll know when she's had enough.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I can only echo what the others have said. Cherish every extra day and make it special in a little way. The end could come very quickly and suddenly.

My thoughts are with you in this difficult time.