My little girl, little Miss Ariel needs surgery please help if able.

storm_warrior2

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My little girl has not been herself the past day or so, and she had stopped eating or barely eating and not as lively as usual so we took her to the vet out of caution. He discovered that it is a bladder stone that is too large for her to pass naturally And now she needs surgery. The bill comes to over $1700 but he believes that if she gets it that she will have a very long and happy life because she is still young and doing well otherwise outside of a uti we are getting treated right now. She’s a very sweet and loving piggy who we saved from an owner who didn’t know how to care for her. She’s been a sweet piggy ever since she came here two years ago and should have many more.

It is heartbreaking to sit here or not know what I can do to help my pretty little girl who deserves that she has to have a very long life and I’m hoping that some people here have it in their heart to help me take care of her. All money will go to her x-rays and surgery along with any extra going to bills and medicine that she needs 100% to take care of her along with updates on her health and how she’s doing.
 
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I'm so sorry 💔 She's a gorgeous little piggy and she deserves to be happy and comfortable. I've given what I can, I hope you reach your goal soon 🩷
 
I'm so sorry 💔 She's a gorgeous little piggy and she deserves to be happy and comfortable. I've given what I can, I hope you reach your goal soon 🩷
I cannot thank you enough along with everyone who is willing to help I'm forever grateful
 
I’m so sorry your piggy is unwell. I hope you can get her the treatment she needs

However it is against the forum terms and conditions, which you agreed to when you opened your account, to ask for money towards vet fees. (Section 4 - Terms of Service And Forum Rules). Therefore your link has been removed
 
I’m so sorry your piggy is unwell. I hope you can get her the treatment she needs

However it is against the forum terms and conditions, which you agreed to when you opened your account, to ask for money towards vet fees. (Section 4 - Terms of Service And Forum Rules). Therefore your link has been removed
I'm sorry for responding to it instead of reporting. I forgot that rule, that's my bad. I'm going to keep the Forum Rules page open so I can check it regularly instead of relying on my poor memory.
 
Hi, do discuss with your vet the possibility of a payment plan. Many vets will understand and meet you in the middle.
 
I posted yesterday about my sweet girl who had come down with Bladder stones in hopes that she would be able to get the surgery that she needed. Sadly by the end of last night we worried that she would not make it to morning after checking on her and seeing how she had gone downhill since the vet. When we woke this morning she had passed away during the night joining her brothers coco and sonic, and her sister buttons across the rainbow bridge. I have immediatly returned the donations through gofundme to the kind souls who were willing to help who should get them between the next 3-7 business days according to the site.

I am eternally thankful to all of you.

Little Miss Ariel was a sweet little one who came to us different then any of our other guinea pigs, as my mom found the owner saying that their were flies all over her cage and she could not take care of her, or get rid of the flies. That she was taking her to the pound, we had lost coco only a few days before when he had phemonia, and had not been looking for another piggy so soon but my mom stepped in, and accepted our sweet little girl before she ever went to the pound, she came here in a large sock like bed that she always slept in unless it was her fake tree hidey along with her cage and everything else that her owner had for her.

My mom spent 3-4 hours cleaning the decent cage she was in as it likely had never been cleaned, our little one adjusted quickly to the home, and was always very sweet having a personality all of her own and loved her food and always came running when it was dinner time. She was never hand shy and enjoyed being pet and would come when you called her name happily, she enjoyed a few pets and then when she had enough would go on her way.

Losing her and sonic in the last month have been rough, as both were still young and wed hoped to have many more years with both but they are no longer sick or in any discomfort. Joining Coco and Buttons who passed before them. They are survived by their little family Cali, Dil, Cookie, and Snow who are getting extra love today.
 
I’m sorry you lost Little Miss Ariel. It sounds like she was lucky to be taken in by you and given another chance. Sleep tight pain free little one ❤️🌈
 
I posted yesterday about my sweet girl who had come down with Bladder stones in hopes that she would be able to get the surgery that she needed. Sadly by the end of last night we worried that she would not make it to morning after checking on her and seeing how she had gone downhill since the vet. When we woke this morning she had passed away during the night joining her brothers coco and sonic, and her sister buttons across the rainbow bridge. I have immediatly returned the donations through gofundme to the kind souls who were willing to help who should get them between the next 3-7 business days according to the site.

I am eternally thankful to all of you.

Little Miss Ariel was a sweet little one who came to us different then any of our other guinea pigs, as my mom found the owner saying that their were flies all over her cage and she could not take care of her, or get rid of the flies. That she was taking her to the pound, we had lost coco only a few days before when he had phemonia, and had not been looking for another piggy so soon but my mom stepped in, and accepted our sweet little girl before she ever went to the pound, she came here in a large sock like bed that she always slept in unless it was her fake tree hidey along with her cage and everything else that her owner had for her.

My mom spent 3-4 hours cleaning the decent cage she was in as it likely had never been cleaned, our little one adjusted quickly to the home, and was always very sweet having a personality all of her own and loved her food and always came running when it was dinner time. She was never hand shy and enjoyed being pet and would come when you called her name happily, she enjoyed a few pets and then when she had enough would go on her way.

Losing her and sonic in the last month have been rough, as both were still young and wed hoped to have many more years with both but they are no longer sick or in any discomfort. Joining Coco and Buttons who passed before them. They are survived by their little family Cali, Dil, Cookie, and Snow who are getting extra love today.
I'm so so sorry for your loss, I can't imagine how heartbroken you are right now. Ariel sounds like she was such a sweet, strong little girl and at least she's out of pain now, popcorning over the Rainbow Bridge with your other little piggies. You and your mom must have given her such a happy life and given her so much love and care. Rest now, little Ariel ❤️
 
I posted yesterday about my sweet girl who had come down with Bladder stones in hopes that she would be able to get the surgery that she needed. Sadly by the end of last night we worried that she would not make it to morning after checking on her and seeing how she had gone downhill since the vet. When we woke this morning she had passed away during the night joining her brothers coco and sonic, and her sister buttons across the rainbow bridge. I have immediatly returned the donations through gofundme to the kind souls who were willing to help who should get them between the next 3-7 business days according to the site.

I am eternally thankful to all of you.

Little Miss Ariel was a sweet little one who came to us different then any of our other guinea pigs, as my mom found the owner saying that their were flies all over her cage and she could not take care of her, or get rid of the flies. That she was taking her to the pound, we had lost coco only a few days before when he had phemonia, and had not been looking for another piggy so soon but my mom stepped in, and accepted our sweet little girl before she ever went to the pound, she came here in a large sock like bed that she always slept in unless it was her fake tree hidey along with her cage and everything else that her owner had for her.

My mom spent 3-4 hours cleaning the decent cage she was in as it likely had never been cleaned, our little one adjusted quickly to the home, and was always very sweet having a personality all of her own and loved her food and always came running when it was dinner time. She was never hand shy and enjoyed being pet and would come when you called her name happily, she enjoyed a few pets and then when she had enough would go on her way.

Losing her and sonic in the last month have been rough, as both were still young and wed hoped to have many more years with both but they are no longer sick or in any discomfort. Joining Coco and Buttons who passed before them. They are survived by their little family Cali, Dil, Cookie, and Snow who are getting extra love today.

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry that you have lost your precious girl on top of your other recent loss. Operation fees have sadly spiralled out of control. They are also doing that in the UK at the moment.

Please try to take consolation in that she would have likely not recovered from the operation if she was in such a fragile state already. Some large stones can go 'silent' without causing anything much in terms of symptoms for a long time before causing a very sudden and quick decline. I have had one them with a piggy of mine, so I can feel for you. It is not down to bad care.

Please be kind with yourself and give yourself time to process. A double or multiple loss before you have digested the previous one is hard to walk away from because it all comes up at once again. Your shock and traumatic loss coming hrd on the heels of your previous loss means that you have the equivalent of a triple portion on your plate but you can swallow only so much at once.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I would recommend that you review your diet. Please be aware that being just that bit too low outside the soft spot in the diet can also lead to stones as much as being to high; this then usually combines with other contributing factors out of your control, like a genetic disposition, not being a good natural drinker (not much you can do about that) or something going suddenly haywire in the complex calcium absorption process. Unfortunately, diet is our only tool and it is neither quick, not exact nor the most effective. Unfortunately, there is no ideal diet that fits everywhere in the world because local conditions play into it. It usually takes several weeks for any dietary changes to filter through, as well.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (be aware that the UK is mainly a hard water country so we are getting that bit more calcium even with filtered water)
 
I’m so sorry. Popcorn high, pain free over the bridge gorgeous girl. ❤️
 
BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry that you have lost your precious girl on top of your other recent loss. Operation fees have sadly spiralled out of control. They are also doing that in the UK at the moment.

Please try to take consolation in that she would have likely not recovered from the operation if she was in such a fragile state already. Some large stones can go 'silent' without causing anything much in terms of symptoms for a long time before causing a very sudden and quick decline. I have had one them with a piggy of mine, so I can feel for you. It is not down to bad care.

Please be kind with yourself and give yourself time to process. A double or multiple loss before you have digested the previous one is hard to walk away from because it all comes up at once again. Your shock and traumatic loss coming hrd on the heels of your previous loss means that you have the equivalent of a triple portion on your plate but you can swallow only so much at once.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I would recommend that you review your diet. Please be aware that being just that bit too low outside the soft spot in the diet can also lead to stones as much as being to high; this then usually combines with other contributing factors out of your control, like a genetic disposition, not being a good natural drinker (not much you can do about that) or something going suddenly haywire in the complex calcium absorption process. Unfortunately, diet is our only tool and it is neither quick, not exact nor the most effective. Unfortunately, there is no ideal diet that fits everywhere in the world because local conditions play into it. It usually takes several weeks for any dietary changes to filter through, as well.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (be aware that the UK is mainly a hard water country so we are getting that bit more calcium even with filtered water)
Thank you for the advice we feed the piggy’s quite well diet wise she was always a heavy drinker that slowing down and her barely eating overnight sent up the red flags.
Kale
Romaine fresh not bagged
Strawberries
Cilantro
Blueberries or blackberries
Oranges very rarely
Cucumber no seeds
Red Apple
Spring mix
Spinach
It’s mixed depending on breakfast or dinner time or availability on speciality stuff depending if we have it or just trying different things for them to enjoy. Always have hay and pellets etc.
 
Thank you everyone for th3 kind words todays been rough I keep walking by the cage waiting for her to come out from her favorite plastic tree hide spot. To in barely over a month hurts, esp as both were amazing piggy’s a sweet little girl and a little gentleman who made our days better now not here.
 
BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry that you have lost your precious girl on top of your other recent loss. Operation fees have sadly spiralled out of control. They are also doing that in the UK at the moment.

Please try to take consolation in that she would have likely not recovered from the operation if she was in such a fragile state already. Some large stones can go 'silent' without causing anything much in terms of symptoms for a long time before causing a very sudden and quick decline. I have had one them with a piggy of mine, so I can feel for you. It is not down to bad care.

Please be kind with yourself and give yourself time to process. A double or multiple loss before you have digested the previous one is hard to walk away from because it all comes up at once again. Your shock and traumatic loss coming hrd on the heels of your previous loss means that you have the equivalent of a triple portion on your plate but you can swallow only so much at once.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I would recommend that you review your diet. Please be aware that being just that bit too low outside the soft spot in the diet can also lead to stones as much as being to high; this then usually combines with other contributing factors out of your control, like a genetic disposition, not being a good natural drinker (not much you can do about that) or something going suddenly haywire in the complex calcium absorption process. Unfortunately, diet is our only tool and it is neither quick, not exact nor the most effective. Unfortunately, there is no ideal diet that fits everywhere in the world because local conditions play into it. It usually takes several weeks for any dietary changes to filter through, as well.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (be aware that the UK is mainly a hard water country so we are getting that bit more calcium even with filtered water)
Just thinking it over on her the past 2 days shed had seemed her normal self yesterday was the big drop, before then she still came running for her food etc. we’d noticed the food first shed nibble not finish then see her eating pellets soon after we assumed she was being picky. The water was the big red flag. It wasn’t till yesterday she didn’t come out running when it was time to eat and we realized she was not herself, really you could sit right by the cage she would come out quickly, but even that would not work. We got her to the vet, but she just went downhill so quickly afterwards I don’t know I really don’t….and it kills me to lose two so close now.

The vet had seemed confident she’d be good with surgery ide like to hope he’d have spoken up if she’d been to weak to survive it. She went downhill so quickly after, I just don’t know and I’m hurting.
 
I lost my big strong healthy boar Percy to a bladder stone about two years ago. Unfortunately the anaesthetic was just too much for him. You just don’t know how they will react to surgery. I’m so sorry.
 
Thank you for the advice we feed the piggy’s quite well diet wise she was always a heavy drinker that slowing down and her barely eating overnight sent up the red flags.
Kale
Romaine fresh not bagged
Strawberries
Cilantro
Blueberries or blackberries
Oranges very rarely
Cucumber no seeds
Red Apple
Spring mix
Spinach
It’s mixed depending on breakfast or dinner time or availability on speciality stuff depending if we have it or just trying different things for them to enjoy. Always have hay and pellets etc.

I would just comment that kale, spring mix, spinach are high calcium/oxalates and should not be fed much or regularly due to the risks of bladder stone formation associated.
Pellets (and unfiltered drinking water in hard water areas) the main contributor of calcium into the diet.
Fruit should only be a very rare treat or not fed at all.
 
Just thinking it over on her the past 2 days shed had seemed her normal self yesterday was the big drop, before then she still came running for her food etc. we’d noticed the food first shed nibble not finish then see her eating pellets soon after we assumed she was being picky. The water was the big red flag. It wasn’t till yesterday she didn’t come out running when it was time to eat and we realized she was not herself, really you could sit right by the cage she would come out quickly, but even that would not work. We got her to the vet, but she just went downhill so quickly afterwards I don’t know I really don’t….and it kills me to lose two so close now.

The vet had seemed confident she’d be good with surgery ide like to hope he’d have spoken up if she’d been to weak to survive it. She went downhill so quickly after, I just don’t know and I’m hurting.

BIG HUGS

Strong feelings of failure and guilt are characteristic for the onset of the grieving process since we are wired as humans to reflect everything back onto ourselves. They are however not a sign of you having done anything wrong but of how deeply you care. We all experience them to some degree or other but they tend to be much stronger after a sudden and/or traumatic loss.

Guinea pigs are masters in suppressing pain and illness to an amazing degree. It is all too easy to not pick up on some very subtle hints; and sometimes there aren't any at all until it is too late. It is not your fault and you are not a bad owner. It is one of these things that can happen to any of us; just plain old bad luck.

My Ceri (Welsh for 'Love') was just 520g when she had her emergency operation while I was away in Amsterdam; I hd to give consent to the operation while standing by a canal. The operation was touch and go but she made it through and recovered. That was my 50th birthday... I was very, very lucky that time that a sanctuary owning friend had consented to look after her as a last minute emergency and get her to the vet after the weekend, otherwise I would have lost her.
Ceri had to euthanised 3 months later from a sudden devastating attack of severe bloat; she was just coming up to 5 years. To this day I am wondering whether it was because of how close she had come to dying and whether it had stretched/dmaged her system just too much. :(
I hope that this will help you. There are always what ifs... sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

But this has nothing to do with the love and care you give daily to your guinea pigs and which they are measuring a good life by.

Be kind with yourself. Accept that it is OK to not be OK right now. Seek help if you can find some pet bereavement support; it is unfortunately rather patchy in the USA. Take the time to please read our Grieving Guide. It is sensitive but very practical; it will hopefully help you spot some of the unexpected emotional and mind loops we all can get stuck in.
Here is the link again. Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children


Diet-wise, your diet is too high in calcium and oxalates (kale, spinach and spring mix should be fed only once weekly, one of them) and too high in sugar and fruit acid, too.
You may find our very detailed and comprehensive food guide helpful: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Please do not beat yourself up too much. Pet ownership is a learning process. What counts is not that you stumble; we all do it as adults and we grow as adults by how we deal with our mistakes and not by never setting a foot wrong. What counts is how you get up and what lessons you take away.
You can sadly never pay backward but you can always pay forward and benefit others that come our way. I have lots of regrets, having learned many of my piggy lessons the hard way - sometimes at the price of lives; Ceri is by far not the only one. But I also know that those painful lessons have saved and are still saving hundreds of other piggy lives, including their successors' lives in the Tribe. Ceri was the last of my string of bladder stone piggies that were the result of some diet experimentation when I got the balance exactly wrong for a little while. :(

But I have taken the lesson on my chin and have had about 70 piggies coming into my life since her passing 10 years ago. However, just one more bladder stone since (which was the result of the fresh food shortages at the start of the pandemic when low calcium/oxalates fresh greens were simply not available. I had to make do with what I could get hold of for 27 piggies for a week and rely on my lawn as much as possible).
But that, I feel, is not the worst tribute I could have made to Ceri. I am however still learning and still tweaking my diet as more research into diet brings new insights but mostly makes that minefield even more complex...

Please do not beat yourself up too much. It is in the nature of mistakes that we cannot spot them ahead, only in hindsight. Your diet selection shows clearly that you have attempted a good diet nd that you are clearly caring deeply about your piggies. Unfortunately you seem to not found access to good information; there is generally a too great liking for fruit in the USA, which is not a food group that guinea pigs have evolved on. But how could you have known otherwise until you stumbled into it?

Try and make Miss Ariel proud by doing something constructive and let her be your own inspiration rather than falling apart over your feelings of guilt and tainting your memory of all the happy days you have given her. that would be the saddest thing and the worst tribute you could make her.
 
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BIG HUGS

Strong feelings of failure and guilt are characteristic for the onset of the grieving process since we are wired as humans to reflect everything back onto ourselves. They are however not a sign of you having done anything wrong but of how deeply you care. We all experience them to some degree or other but they tend to be much stronger after a sudden and/or traumatic loss.

Guinea pigs are masters in suppressing pain and illness to an amazing degree. It is all too easy to not pick up on some very subtle hints; and sometimes there aren't any at all until it is too late. It is not your fault and you are not a bad owner. It is one of these things that can happen to any of us; just plain old bad luck.

My Ceri (Welsh for 'Love') was just 520g when she had her emergency operation while I was away in Amsterdam; I hd to give consent to the operation while standing by a canal. The operation was touch and go but she made it through and recovered. That was my 50th birthday... I was very, very lucky that time that a sanctuary owning friend had consented to look after her as a last minute emergency and get her to the vet after the weekend, otherwise I would have lost her.
Ceri had to euthanised 3 months later from a sudden devastating attack of severe bloat; she was just coming up to 5 years. To this day I am wondering whether it was because of how close she had come to dying and whether it had stretched/dmaged her system just too much. :(
I hope that this will help you. There are always what ifs... sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

But this has nothing to do with the love and care you give daily to your guinea pigs and which they are measuring a good life by.

Be kind with yourself. Accept that it is OK to not be OK right now. Seek help if you can find some pet bereavement support; it is unfortunately rather patchy in the USA. Take the time to please read our Grieving Guide. It is sensitive but very practical; it will hopefully help you spot some of the unexpected emotional and mind loops we all can get stuck in.
Here is the link again. Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children


Diet-wise, your diet is too high in calcium and oxalates (kale, spinach and spring mix should be fed only once weekly, one of them) and too high in sugar and fruit acid, too.
You may find our very detailed and comprehensive food guide helpful: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Please do not beat yourself up too much. Pet ownership is a learning process. What counts is not that you stumble; we all do it as adults and we grow as adults by how we deal with our mistakes and not by never setting a foot wrong. What counts is how you get up and what lessons you take away.
You can sadly never pay backward but you can always pay forward and benefit others that come our way. I have lots of regrets, having learned many of my piggy lessons the hard way - sometimes at the price of lives; Ceri is by far not the only one. But I also know that those painful lessons have saved and are still saving hundreds of other piggy lives, including their successors' lives in the Tribe. Ceri was the last of my string of bladder stone piggies that were the result of some diet experimentation when I got the balance exactly wrong for a little while. :(

But I have taken the lesson on my chin and have had about 70 piggies coming into my life since her passing 10 years ago. However, just one more bladder stone since (which was the result of the fresh food shortages at the start of the pandemic when low calcium/oxalates fresh greens were simply not available. I had to make do with what I could get hold of for 27 piggies for a week and rely on my lawn as much as possible).
But that, I feel, is not the worst tribute I could have made to Ceri. I am however still learning and still tweaking my diet as more research into diet brings new insights but mostly makes that minefield even more complex...

Please do not beat yourself up too much. It is in the nature of mistakes that we cannot spot them ahead, only in hindsight. Your diet selection shows clearly that you have attempted a good diet nd that you are clearly caring deeply about your piggies. Unfortunately you seem to not found access to good information; there is generally a too great liking for fruit in the USA, which is not a food group that guinea pigs have evolved on. But how could you have known otherwise until you stumbled into it?

Try and make Miss Ariel proud by doing something constructive and let her be your own inspiration rather than falling apart over your feelings of guilt and tainting your memory of all the happy days you have given her. that would be the saddest thing and the worst tribute you could make her.
 
Spinnich is a rare one for them depending on things usually not sure on the last time now that I think about it
Usually feeding is romaine in evening with half a green grape or small treat foodpiece of apple small kale carrot, at times a cucumber no seed
Morning green leaf carrot a tiny bit of kale Apple piece never to big on the amount

Sometimes rest mixed in or substituted like pepper, tomato, etc.i did save that link so i can look it over thank you always looking for new ideas etc.
 
Spinnich is a rare one for them depending on things usually not sure on the last time now that I think about it
Usually feeding is romaine in evening with half a green grape or small treat foodpiece of apple small kale carrot, at times a cucumber no seed
Morning green leaf carrot a tiny bit of kale Apple piece never to big on the amount

Sometimes rest mixed in or substituted like pepper, tomato, etc.i did save that link so i can look it over thank you always looking for new ideas etc.

The four veggies which can be fed daily are lettuce, cilantro, cucumber and bell pepper. Everything else should be kept limited in moderation and some things such as kale (high calcium), fruit and carrot given no more than once a week (for example one piece of apple as a treat on a Sunday morning, some kale on a Wednesday morning and that’s it - no more of anything in the sugar or calcium category at any other time )
 
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