My Disabled Piggie Squeaky.

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bristolchick said:
I'm sorry if you don't like this but I personally think this is very cruel. As a responsible pet owner I believe that he should have been PTS. How can he have a good quality of life when the poor thing can't even move?
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I understand perfectly what you are saying. Yet sometimes that is a very tough decision, especially if the animal is otherwise healthy and seems to enjoy life. I kept my Bob dog going for 18 years, but after he had a stroke and finally had to be PTS because he could not stand up even if I held him up (I had been holding him up so he could go to the bathroom), I got to thinking, poor dog couldn't even scratch behind his ears when he itched, and even though I scratched his ears as often as I thought of it, I couldn't tell when he really itched, so maybe it was a bit cruel and self-serving of me to keep him around after he lost the use of his back legs.

But he was still so happy and enjoyed his days, playing ball with me in the house (I would roll it to him and he would catch it while he lay there), and other things. It is not always so cut and dried, especially if they are happy and do not seem to otherwise be suffering.

As a nurses' aide in a hospital, in checking a patient's mental status, I had occasion to ask a man who had had a stroke and could no longer care for himself or even urinate without a catheter if he was glad to be alive. I thought he would be like so many other patients and be all depressed wanting it to be over. But no. He smiled real big and said "Oh yes!" and gave me a big hug from where he was lying in the bed. It is just so hard for us to judge the quality of life for someone or something else even if we personally think it should be over.
 
oh he's just an inspiration!
and absolutely gorgeous too x)x)x)x)
well done for caring for him so so well THANKYOU XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Squeaky both Velvet and Onyx send you some girlie wheeks to keep you all perky ;)xoxoxoxo
 
Awww, so cute
He defiantly looks like a happy pig in the pigtures, *sends e-kisses*
 
awww he's gorgeous! x)
And you are so right, it just shows that if you give them a chance their lives can turn out so differently, if you had had him pts you would never have found out he can still have a decent life. Only you know when the quality of life is slipping away. It's not much different to people who are wheelchair bound! as long as he is not in pain and is otherwise happy then good luck to him and you!
 
Coconut said:
Yep Miss Piggy and Lola are special :). Lola just has a broken front paw (permanently fused that way) so she limps around but doesn't have any problems otherwise. Miss Piggy is the bug and funnily enough sounds similar to Squeaky except she can move her legs, just the way her hips are (I think it's her hips) she can't use them to walk so just drags herself around and has constant chicken legs (like how they are in my profile picture). Her legs can't be folded under her so we just leave them outstretched. I unfortunately haven't found any ways to make walking easier for her :( but i have to say she has lived this way for three years (she was born like it) and although it isn't ideal she is very happy and has found a style of walking that suites her :). What i do find is once she is in a spot she likes she will just sit there for ages and won't move so does sit in her own wee and poo, for this I'll move her every so often, once or twice a day wipe over her belly/ lady bits to make sure it is clean and then cut the hair short so poo doesn't get stuck in it. I also make sure everything is accessible to her: so everything she could need is on the bottom level, food is low and I put her next to the fresh food so she can get some before the rest eat it all. Personally I haven't found a solution for her disability, just ways to make it easier for her :).

I know what you mean, I hate the way her hips are and the trouble it causes but God I wouldn't change that sweet little girl for the whole world. Hope Squeaky feels better soon, hopefully it'll just be a matter of finding something that works for him. You sound like a brilliant owner to him and it's great to hear your not giving up on him. Comfort vibes to squeaky from Miss piggy :(|).
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have you thought of ski's or a sled?
 
Pat Shields said:
I understand perfectly what you are saying. Yet sometimes that is a very tough decision, especially if the animal is otherwise healthy and seems to enjoy life. I kept my Bob dog going for 18 years, but after he had a stroke and finally had to be PTS because he could not stand up even if I held him up (I had been holding him up so he could go to the bathroom), I got to thinking, poor dog couldn't even scratch behind his ears when he itched, and even though I scratched his ears as often as I thought of it, I couldn't tell when he really itched, so maybe it was a bit cruel and self-serving of me to keep him around after he lost the use of his back legs.

But he was still so happy and enjoyed his days, playing ball with me in the house (I would roll it to him and he would catch it while he lay there), and other things. It is not always so cut and dried, especially if they are happy and do not seem to otherwise be suffering.

As a nurses' aide in a hospital, in checking a patient's mental status, I had occasion to ask a man who had had a stroke and could no longer care for himself or even urinate without a catheter if he was glad to be alive. I thought he would be like so many other patients and be all depressed wanting it to be over. But no. He smiled real big and said "Oh yes!" and gave me a big hug from where he was lying in the bed. It is just so hard for us to judge the quality of life for someone or something else even if we personally think it should be over.
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This brings my dilemma with Patrick into light, he cries numerous times a day but yet he's still active, eating and popcorns. Just can't do the toilet without crying I said to the vet today if it wasn't for him being how he was I would Put to Sleep but I can't knowing he's happy.

My dog lost the use of his back end at 8 and yes he did suffer to a degree but with the drugs he was happy however we did decide to put to sleep as it just wasn't fair it haunts even now him playing in the garden with his ball, he might have not been able to chase but I do believe he didn't want to go unfortunately he had a tumor in his spine which was pressuring his nervous system.
 
I had a idea for miss piggy, more a proof of concept idea than a full solution.

take a strong plastic bag, and cut it in half down the sides, then cut down the middle, hopefully ending up with two squares of plastic with a handle :)

http://www.digitalimagelounge.co.uk/images/bib IPOOD1.jpg
like a oversized bib :)

Then hook the handle over her head, use a http://images.51orders.com/szylw/Uploads/Product/40165_110815121236.jpg food clip or similer to make the neckhole the right size for her :).

then carefully trim off the plastic you dont need, but pretty much want to cover whatever drags on the floor :)

might have to tie it up somehow, not too sure how todo that yet :$



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would make it easier for her to slide on carpet, i think :)
 
would be best to not leave her alone while wearing that, worried she might acciedently strangle herself :s, but to test and see if it helps her i think its worth a shot :), to let her try it out while * watch over her :)
 
TiddlesMidnight&Squeaky said:
Hey guys!
Just thought I'd post some photos of my disabled guinea pig Squeaky. He is around 6-7 years old and is the sweetest guinea pig!
He's been through a lot in his life; he had to have staples (a bit like stiches) in his mouth, as he cut himself quite badly on the lip when he was around 2 years old. He has also been operated on to cut his teeth, as they were in pretty bad shape when we got him. He has also been on holiday to Kent twice, and to Wales to see my nan and gramps!
Unfortunately, recently he has lost the use of his back legs and cant walk. He has to have medication twice a day (metacam and osteocare) but is still a happy piggie despite what he's been through!
anyway, I should stop babbling on and show you the photos!

]

How he stands since he lost use of his legs. It looks like he is supporting his weight, but really they are rigid and "locked" in that position :(
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His piggie lips are a bit old and shrivelled, but are still beautiful to me :<>
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Eating some carrot :)
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Have tried to upload some more but dont seem to be working
Hope you guys enjoy!
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Great pics:)
 
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