My Darling Treacle

LondonLady

LondonLady

Forum Donator 2025/26
Joined
Sep 14, 2020
Messages
530
Reaction score
2,043
Points
825
Location
London, UK
20250930_083453.webp20250930_081934.webp20251005_170126.webp20251018_083500.webp20260226_133100.webp20260522_171412.webp


A week ago today I said goodbye for the last time to my beautiful Treacle.

Treacle came into my life last September. I was doubtful about adopting her at first as she was around five years old and I was really hoping for a younger piggy, but by then Toffee had been on his own for nearly six weeks and needed a new friend.

The lady at the rescue described her as “a sweet, gentle girl” and said that she had had a difficult time, having been adopted by a family who then handed her back after their other guinea pig started bullying her. How could I say no? As soon as I saw her I fell in love with her – her big eyes, her beautiful colouring. And luckily so did Toffee. I dropped him off at the rescue and the next day I had a message saying they had bonded immediately and I could take them both home!

Treacle was very small – 815g when I brought her home, and although she gained weight in her first weeks, she was never any more than 850g. She was also very nervous. As soon as I came into the room she would bolt! Although she gradually became more used to me and would happily eat from my hand, that instinct to run as soon as I approached the cage never left her. However she was happy to let me pick her up and would let me hold her until she decided she’d had enough and give me a sharp nip!

Though small, she was loud! None of my other piggies have been particularly vocal so her loud wheeks surprised me at first and I loved to hear her. She knew when it was dinner time and didn’t hesitate to remind me!

She and Toffee were perfect for each other. I’ve seen Toffee interacting with three lady friends now and although he got on well with first Biscuit and then Spice, it seemed like his relationship with Treacle was on a different level. They chattered constantly, they followed each other round the cage, they cuddled up together at night. It was lovely to see.

Then a couple of weeks ago Treacle suddenly started losing weight. At the vets she was found to have a stone in her urinary tract and then kidney disease. After a week of syringe feeding and going backwards and forwards to the vet, she was still losing weight. On her last day I took her back to the vets and she was cold and the vet said she thought her body was shutting down. I found it hard to believe. They offered to keep her there for observation for a few hours, and when I went back she was obviously very poorly. I desperately wanted to bring her home and look after her but knew in my heart it wouldn’t be right, so I agreed to let her go.

I knew when I adopted you my beautiful girl that I might not have long with you, but eight months seems incredibly short. I’m so sorry there was nothing I could do to make you better.
 
Treacle found the happiest of homes with you and spent the last month's of her life in excellent care and love from you and Toffee. It is so sad that she became ill and left for the rainbow bridge so soon. Snuggle softly at the rainbow bridge lovely Treacle 🌈
 
LondonLady said:
View attachment 285076View attachment 285070View attachment 285071View attachment 285072View attachment 285073View attachment 285074


A week ago today I said goodbye for the last time to my beautiful Treacle.

Treacle came into my life last September. I was doubtful about adopting her at first as she was around five years old and I was really hoping for a younger piggy, but by then Toffee had been on his own for nearly six weeks and needed a new friend.

The lady at the rescue described her as “a sweet, gentle girl” and said that she had had a difficult time, having been adopted by a family who then handed her back after their other guinea pig started bullying her. How could I say no? As soon as I saw her I fell in love with her – her big eyes, her beautiful colouring. And luckily so did Toffee. I dropped him off at the rescue and the next day I had a message saying they had bonded immediately and I could take them both home!

Treacle was very small – 815g when I brought her home, and although she gained weight in her first weeks, she was never any more than 850g. She was also very nervous. As soon as I came into the room she would bolt! Although she gradually became more used to me and would happily eat from my hand, that instinct to run as soon as I approached the cage never left her. However she was happy to let me pick her up and would let me hold her until she decided she’d had enough and give me a sharp nip!

Though small, she was loud! None of my other piggies have been particularly vocal so her loud wheeks surprised me at first and I loved to hear her. She knew when it was dinner time and didn’t hesitate to remind me!

She and Toffee were perfect for each other. I’ve seen Toffee interacting with three lady friends now and although he got on well with first Biscuit and then Spice, it seemed like his relationship with Treacle was on a different level. They chattered constantly, they followed each other round the cage, they cuddled up together at night. It was lovely to see.

Then a couple of weeks ago Treacle suddenly started losing weight. At the vets she was found to have a stone in her urinary tract and then kidney disease. After a week of syringe feeding and going backwards and forwards to the vet, she was still losing weight. On her last day I took her back to the vets and she was cold and the vet said she thought her body was shutting down. I found it hard to believe. They offered to keep her there for observation for a few hours, and when I went back she was obviously very poorly. I desperately wanted to bring her home and look after her but knew in my heart it wouldn’t be right, so I agreed to let her go.

I knew when I adopted you my beautiful girl that I might not have long with you, but eight months seems incredibly short. I’m so sorry there was nothing I could do to make you better.
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

What a beautiful and heart-felt tribute to a clearly much loved little girl who found her Paradise on Earth with Toffee and you.

You have made absolutely the right decision for Treacle to spare her hours of unnecessary suffering as she was already dying. If she developed kidney disease at a comparatively young age, then that would be a genetic disposition and nothing that anybody could do anything about. It would have also made the further production of stones most difficult to control since they would not have been strictly diet related.
Please also do not underrate the impact of the recent heatwave on frail piggies - it can tip the very fragile balance in the old and frail despite your best efforts. I have lost a number of my own oldies or piggies with underlying issues that way even though the piggy room was not hot itself.

It is always brutal when we come face to face with nature and have to admit defeat. :(

Please treasure those 8 magical months with Treacle and focus on how you and Toffee have transformed her life. She may have only had a short time but she has known total happiness - and how many of us can say that? Try and take comfort in that it has been you who has given her Paradise on Earth.

Guinea pigs measure their own lives not in average lifespans but in good todays. You have given her many days of unmitigated bliss which transcend time and transform lives. Because you have given her those, her time with you will always matter and seem longer than it actually is because she has enjoyed every second of her life with you and has truly lived her allotted time and not just existed through it.

Going through that experience myself, I can assure you that it is not about how long you live but how much you really live every moment of your life; it makes all the difference. You have given Treacle a very, very special and precious, life transforming gift - the best gift you can ever make somebody.

Be sad, but please don't feel bad and please don't get hung up over the shortness of time. It counts less in the face of the degree of happiness you have brought into Treacle's life and has completely changed it.

Treasure that time with her as one of your shiniest gems in your own life. You won't find too many of them but they are there to warm the cold fingers of soul on when times are really tough and you want to count the blessings in your life. Treacle's happiness is by no means going to be the least of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top