It's so hard to write my third rainbow bridge post in just a few weeks. We have lost our beautiful girl Pol she was not yet 2 years old, life is so cruel sometimes.
Pol joined us from Coseley Guinea Pig Rescue with her friend Maud as companions for our bereaved boar Milo. This was October 2021 and she was just 3 months old. Pol was a feisty girl and was to become top pig much to Mauds annoyance. Pol loved life and popcorned every morning when i put fresh hay into the cage, she was always first up the ramp into the loft when i was cleaning and loved to wheek very loudly at everything. She was also known for nipping everyone, randomly and for no reason. She would sit on your lap quite happily and just when you were not concentrating would give you a good bite, almost as if to say 'why are you not giving me your full attention'. Clipping her nails was not for the faint-hearted. We are missing her very much.
On the Wednesday evening of the week we were to go on holiday i noticed Pol was a bit quiet and not very interested in her veggies, i picked her up and she had a wet and smelly tummy (no bloody urine or other warning signs). I rang the vet and got an appointment for the next morning, hoping that she just had a UTI. Sadly by the morning Pol was refusing to eat and i started syringe feeding her. She was examined by our vet and then had an ultrasound which confirmed that she had pyometra. This infection was going to kill her unless she was spayed. I managed to get Pol an appointment the following day with Ellie Whitehead (the Guinea Pig Vet) who told me she was a very poorly girl and had a 50/50 chance of surviving the spay operation. I decided to give her that chance and she survived the operation and was eating but sadly passed away early the next morning. The infection had left her weak and she just wasn't able to recover but i would do the same again.
During all this i was desperately trying to work out what to do as we were going on holiday and i can't thank @eileen enough for stepping in and picking Pol up from Matlock and caring for her post-op. Not many people would offer to care for a very sick piggy that wasn't theirs and knowing what the outcome might be. Eileen's care and compassion for Pol (and us) was astounding. I know that Pol was loved and comfortable in her last few hours and that makes such a difference to how i feel about losing her. I will always be in Eileen's debt for doing so much for us.
I can also say that the staff at Derwent Valley Vets were Ellie is based were fantastic, so helpful and kind when i rang them explaining the situation. They even contacted Ellie on her day off (against their rules). I am grateful to Ellie for giving Pol a chance.
I'm still feeling a little broken and wondering if i missed something and if that would have made a difference to the outcome. Losing a young piggy suddenly is heartbreaking and not easy to accept.
Pol is now at rest where we will have our wildflower garden next year.
Popcorn free my beautiful, feisty girl. Mavis and Ginger Pig will be waiting for you at the rainbow bridge.
Pol joined us from Coseley Guinea Pig Rescue with her friend Maud as companions for our bereaved boar Milo. This was October 2021 and she was just 3 months old. Pol was a feisty girl and was to become top pig much to Mauds annoyance. Pol loved life and popcorned every morning when i put fresh hay into the cage, she was always first up the ramp into the loft when i was cleaning and loved to wheek very loudly at everything. She was also known for nipping everyone, randomly and for no reason. She would sit on your lap quite happily and just when you were not concentrating would give you a good bite, almost as if to say 'why are you not giving me your full attention'. Clipping her nails was not for the faint-hearted. We are missing her very much.
On the Wednesday evening of the week we were to go on holiday i noticed Pol was a bit quiet and not very interested in her veggies, i picked her up and she had a wet and smelly tummy (no bloody urine or other warning signs). I rang the vet and got an appointment for the next morning, hoping that she just had a UTI. Sadly by the morning Pol was refusing to eat and i started syringe feeding her. She was examined by our vet and then had an ultrasound which confirmed that she had pyometra. This infection was going to kill her unless she was spayed. I managed to get Pol an appointment the following day with Ellie Whitehead (the Guinea Pig Vet) who told me she was a very poorly girl and had a 50/50 chance of surviving the spay operation. I decided to give her that chance and she survived the operation and was eating but sadly passed away early the next morning. The infection had left her weak and she just wasn't able to recover but i would do the same again.
During all this i was desperately trying to work out what to do as we were going on holiday and i can't thank @eileen enough for stepping in and picking Pol up from Matlock and caring for her post-op. Not many people would offer to care for a very sick piggy that wasn't theirs and knowing what the outcome might be. Eileen's care and compassion for Pol (and us) was astounding. I know that Pol was loved and comfortable in her last few hours and that makes such a difference to how i feel about losing her. I will always be in Eileen's debt for doing so much for us.
I can also say that the staff at Derwent Valley Vets were Ellie is based were fantastic, so helpful and kind when i rang them explaining the situation. They even contacted Ellie on her day off (against their rules). I am grateful to Ellie for giving Pol a chance.
I'm still feeling a little broken and wondering if i missed something and if that would have made a difference to the outcome. Losing a young piggy suddenly is heartbreaking and not easy to accept.
Pol is now at rest where we will have our wildflower garden next year.
Popcorn free my beautiful, feisty girl. Mavis and Ginger Pig will be waiting for you at the rainbow bridge.
But her short life would have been filled with love
you gave her the most wonderful life and the best chance 
hugs to you! Popcorn free pol 
