Hannah_xx
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I can’t believe I’m writing this. How things can change over night.
We took Opal to an emergency exotic vets down in Melbourne yesterday as she had be showing some strange symptoms over the past day. She stayed overnight and had an ultrasound which showed she had thick sludgy bladder. I was quite relieved by this as I knew there was a good chance she can have treatment and be okay.
However when I phoned the vet this morning my heart sank. Opal was showing some worrying neurological signs. She didn’t seem to have much vision at all. And her heart rate kept jumping from 120 to over 400! And her blood pressure kept spiking too. Her walk was a bit wobbly and her eyes were periodically protruding. With all these signs And more the vet was quite certain that Opal had a rare (mostly under researched) tumour just above her kidneys. Now this type of tumour had a special name that I have no idea what the vet said. Most of today was a blur. Basically this tumour puts huge pressure on her body causing her heart rate and blood pressure to randomly spike. And is giving her awful headaches.
As Opal still hadn’t eaten without syringe food and still had pooped in almost 2 days.. and when I visited her this arvo she was so spaced (not because of pain relief) out and wasn’t the Opal I knew. She had no flight in her. She was almost vacant.
I choose to have her PTS.
It never gets easier. It hurt like hell.
Opal came into my life in May 2019 along with her ‘little sister’ Olive. I rescued the two girls from an awful hell hole. They had been kept along with 40+ other pigs in a small bird avairy, fed on nothing but carrots and any seeds that they birds dropped. They both had mites so bad half of there fur was missing, they were skinny and terrified.
They were my first piggles living in Australia and I jumped at the chance to give them the best life possible. After a month or so they were starting to look much healthier and happy. They had all the hay they could want and a stress free environment. In December I introduced a new pig to the pair, Big Rex Mary. After a little mean introduction they all got along perfectly and Mary really helped the girls come out their shell. Soon later we rescued another what we thought we was collecting-female- turned out to be male. Spike! Spike lived along side the girls while he was de-sexed and 6 weeks de-spermed. When they all finally met it was like it was meant to be. My foursome where so happy together. The all had different personalities that bounced each other along. The little girls didn’t enjoy many cuddles so I mostly just enjoyed making them happy.
After the devastation of losing Spike, we eventually found Patrick. A new husboar for Mary and the girls. We was very lucky once again they all got along.
During the next year or so after a cage upgrade I tried introducing another female, Wilma. Mary hated Wilma with a passion, they were too similar to be compatible. So Wilma lived next door to them while she was in palative care with lymphoma.
A while after Patrick passed away we added 3rd husboar Newton, again a success!
I then brought Lottie home, Olive..the smallest pig.. took an instant dislike to her. After many attempts it didn’t work. So Lottie got her own home and her own friend, Emily.
During all these pig changes, over the space of a few years Opal never caused much fuss with anyone. She was however boss of her little sister Olive. She was very tough on her! But they also relied on each other for comfort in times of stress.
Not long after a house move the foursome lost their boss pig. Mary left the group to be in piggy heaven. It was a huge loss for me and the girls.
Opal stepped up to be No.1 Pigewife.
We also tried introducing Maude, but no one took to her, even Opal chased the poor old lady around! Maude got her own cage and own husboar.
As you can read, Opal has been there from the Australian start. She’s seen many changes both piggy and other animals coming and going ( birds, wildlife, new dog etc). She lived a full and joyful life, always looking beautiful with her stunning eyes and her unforgettable pink smile.
Olive is going to miss her big sister ever so much, But she’s going to look after Newton and try and keep up with Opals duties.
I’m devastated to loose you Opal. I’m so so sorry I had to do this to you.
Sleep well princess, say hello to Mary for me x
Day 1
All healed up..
1 st herd. Spike, Olive, Opal Mary.
Herd #2- featuring Patrick.
And Opal in all her cuteness..
I can’t believe she’s actually gone?
We took Opal to an emergency exotic vets down in Melbourne yesterday as she had be showing some strange symptoms over the past day. She stayed overnight and had an ultrasound which showed she had thick sludgy bladder. I was quite relieved by this as I knew there was a good chance she can have treatment and be okay.
However when I phoned the vet this morning my heart sank. Opal was showing some worrying neurological signs. She didn’t seem to have much vision at all. And her heart rate kept jumping from 120 to over 400! And her blood pressure kept spiking too. Her walk was a bit wobbly and her eyes were periodically protruding. With all these signs And more the vet was quite certain that Opal had a rare (mostly under researched) tumour just above her kidneys. Now this type of tumour had a special name that I have no idea what the vet said. Most of today was a blur. Basically this tumour puts huge pressure on her body causing her heart rate and blood pressure to randomly spike. And is giving her awful headaches.
As Opal still hadn’t eaten without syringe food and still had pooped in almost 2 days.. and when I visited her this arvo she was so spaced (not because of pain relief) out and wasn’t the Opal I knew. She had no flight in her. She was almost vacant.
I choose to have her PTS.
It never gets easier. It hurt like hell.
Opal came into my life in May 2019 along with her ‘little sister’ Olive. I rescued the two girls from an awful hell hole. They had been kept along with 40+ other pigs in a small bird avairy, fed on nothing but carrots and any seeds that they birds dropped. They both had mites so bad half of there fur was missing, they were skinny and terrified.
They were my first piggles living in Australia and I jumped at the chance to give them the best life possible. After a month or so they were starting to look much healthier and happy. They had all the hay they could want and a stress free environment. In December I introduced a new pig to the pair, Big Rex Mary. After a little mean introduction they all got along perfectly and Mary really helped the girls come out their shell. Soon later we rescued another what we thought we was collecting-female- turned out to be male. Spike! Spike lived along side the girls while he was de-sexed and 6 weeks de-spermed. When they all finally met it was like it was meant to be. My foursome where so happy together. The all had different personalities that bounced each other along. The little girls didn’t enjoy many cuddles so I mostly just enjoyed making them happy.
After the devastation of losing Spike, we eventually found Patrick. A new husboar for Mary and the girls. We was very lucky once again they all got along.
During the next year or so after a cage upgrade I tried introducing another female, Wilma. Mary hated Wilma with a passion, they were too similar to be compatible. So Wilma lived next door to them while she was in palative care with lymphoma.
A while after Patrick passed away we added 3rd husboar Newton, again a success!
I then brought Lottie home, Olive..the smallest pig.. took an instant dislike to her. After many attempts it didn’t work. So Lottie got her own home and her own friend, Emily.
During all these pig changes, over the space of a few years Opal never caused much fuss with anyone. She was however boss of her little sister Olive. She was very tough on her! But they also relied on each other for comfort in times of stress.
Not long after a house move the foursome lost their boss pig. Mary left the group to be in piggy heaven. It was a huge loss for me and the girls.
Opal stepped up to be No.1 Pigewife.
We also tried introducing Maude, but no one took to her, even Opal chased the poor old lady around! Maude got her own cage and own husboar.
As you can read, Opal has been there from the Australian start. She’s seen many changes both piggy and other animals coming and going ( birds, wildlife, new dog etc). She lived a full and joyful life, always looking beautiful with her stunning eyes and her unforgettable pink smile.
Olive is going to miss her big sister ever so much, But she’s going to look after Newton and try and keep up with Opals duties.
I’m devastated to loose you Opal. I’m so so sorry I had to do this to you.
Sleep well princess, say hello to Mary for me x
Day 1
All healed up..
1 st herd. Spike, Olive, Opal Mary.
Herd #2- featuring Patrick.
And Opal in all her cuteness..
I can’t believe she’s actually gone?
I lost my piggie Gus a week ago today and it hurts so much. Sending hugs to you and your other piggies
.
