• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Not Good News

Status
Not open for further replies.
mittenpie

mittenpie

Joined
Jan 24, 2009
Messages
83
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Bournemouth
I've not posted here in ages but read threads pretty regularly...hope you're all doing good.

I've just got back from the vet and my guinea pig Winston, (formerly posted about as Baby) has been diagnosed with kidney and bladder stones. The vet cannot operate on him and said the only option is to put him to sleep as he will more than likely be in pain and have renal failure.

He's steadily lost weight since the week before Christmas going from just over 1kg to 760g when he was weighed today. He's been peeing blood and not eating a lot but otherwise seems perfectly happy in himself, wandering about and annoying his boyfriend Billy. I have been doing my absolute best to hand feed him and give him water but feel I have failed him.

I have made an appointment tomorrow for 2.30 to have him PTS. I feel absolutely terrible about it as part of me thinks there must be SOMETHING I can do...
 
so sorry to hear this having gone through exactly what you are going through this october with my guinea pig ruby she has exactly the same sympoms as winston but was first diagnosed with cystitus then the kidney stone and i sadly had to have her pts on the adviceof my vet and we also believed she was quite old as she came to me as an adult guinea pig i know how you are feealing but try to believe you are doing the kindest thing for winston if there is no other hope big big hugs thinking of you be brave
 
I am so upset :(

Yes he has had an x-ray. I took Winston to the vet this morning and they confirmed he has a couple of small stones in his bladder but his kidneys were white from lots of little stones.
 
I realise my response will "rattle a few cages" but I would let him die at home.
Pigs in his condition deteriorate extremely rapidly in the last few hours, eg a weight loss of 4 ounces, 120gm, overnight. I have seen many pigs in this condition, and, to the best of my knowledge and observation, not one has been in either pain or discomfort. This applies both to pigs that I have given pain relief and to those that have not received any medication.
I appreciate that there is the alternative view point, when death is inevitable, why delay it?
You have a difficult decision to make, whatever it is, as long as you can say that it was the right decision for both of you then that is all that matters.

"right decision for both of you "
I daresay that will cause some response!
 
How do I know if he's in pain?

I am so torn as to what to do.

I'm sure he would rather pass away in his little house with his buddy beside him than on a cold vets table after a distressing car journey but can't bear the thought of him suffering...
 
He's sitting in his cage now. But he's had a wander about and eaten some apple, hay and cucumber.

I just told my boyfriend I want to see how he is tomorrow and if he looks OK considering his illness I might not take him to the vets and have been accused of being selfish - he doesn't think it's fair keeping him alive. Really not helping the situation...
 
the main thing is if he is not in pain it would be nicer for you and your guinea pig if he passes away peacefully at home as nature intended but he cant tell you if he is in pain with my guinea pig ruby she totaly gave up eating and drinking and i was suringe feeding her and she was still losing weight i hated making the decision to have her pts but i have a very good vet who i trust who told me due to her age it would not be in her best interest to put her through an op you need to do what you think is best for your piggy
 
you know your baby Winston what ever you decide to do wont be easy the first piggie we lost we took him to a late night vet who couldn't tell is what was wrong with him & said we could leave him there & they'd try & find out what was wrong i had a feeling he wouldn't make it so took him home (as didnt want that call with bad news) he fell in to a deap sleep & passed away with us
what ever you do you will be there for Winston & thats what our babies ask of us xx
 
Sorry to hear about Winston's diagnosis :( I agree with everyone else - you know when your pig's in pain - not eating, not moving v much, change in behaviour in themselves and their interaction with his buddy. Perhaps monitor whether he seems to be uncomfortable when weeing/pooing?
It's totally understandable if you feel that it would be best for Winston to be pts. Sending big hugs as this is an awful thing for anyone to have to go through (been there) x
 
Pigs will go into a coma with their eyes open, and often there are involuntary limb/body movements. This does not mean they are in pain or discomfort.

Some people have a problem with death and prefer it to "happen somewhere else".
The reason given is that it is for the animal's benefit, that is superficially correct, however they "forget" to include that it is for their own benefit as well.
You may find it impossible to accept at the moment but there is a certain satisfaction in sitting with a pig that is about to die. A "good death" can make the death itself easier to accept.
 
I have been told time and time again that guinea pigs are quickly stressed out by unfamiliar environments; consider how alien and unfamiliar a veterinary surgery is compared to his home and his cage where he feels safe. It's not unfair of you to keep him where he feels safe when he's unwell, and it's not unfair (to him) to keep him where he feels safe to die.

I know you will feel awful when it happens; but like AP says, there is a point, normally when the pig looks like its in the most pain, when it's no longer aware - this is normally when they are dying.

You know your pig. You will know if he is in pain. Trust yourself.
*hugs*
 
I'm so sorry about Winston... Kidney stones should be outlawed! I hope you are able to do what you feel is most right. Sometimes I wish I would fall for an animal that lives a long time, like parrots! I just feel that there's gonna be a lot of sad moments loving guinea pigs...

AP, what are signs of a pig who is in pain - apart from the obvious screaming?
 
Signs of pain are: tooth grinding (not chattering), sitting hunched in the cage with their fur fluffed out (think sonic the hedgehog), they will stop or be reluctant to eat, screaming or whimpering and they may shiver slightly (don't confuse with being cold).

In cases of extreme pain there is an injection that the vet can give which seems to work extremely well.
 
Not a good decision to have to make. So sorry about your little guinea pig. If he were mine, I would be keeping him at home with me, as long as he was not suffering. He doesn't seem to be at the moment, pottering around and eating. Take some advice maybe from experienced folk on here about diet for him that will not irritate his condition. Best of luck with him. x
 
I have been through the same dilemma this morning. My g.pig Mouse has been on antibiotics for the last week for suspected cystitis. She has steadily got worse throughout the week and by this morning was losing quite a lot of blood and looked like she was in pain. She was sitting in the corner of the hutch fluffed up and when I offered her food she took it but very slowly and it looked like it was a real effort for her to eat. So I made the decision to have her put to sleep. I didn't want to watch her die slowly at home when it was obvious to me that she was in pain or discomfort. It is a very tough decision to make. I have had g.pigs pass away in the comfort of thier own home before but they did not appear to be in pain. Whatever you decide you will still question whether you did the right thing. It is only natural to feel like this. Yes, a final trip to the vet to be pts is I'm sure traumatic for the pig and the owner but I believe this is preferable to lingering in possible pain and discomfort which is also traumatic for all involved.
 
I've cancelled the vets appointment which was supposed to be in an hour.

Winston's had a good breakfast this morning and has been drinking. He's sitting nose to nose with Billy at the moment which is rare (they get along but like their own space), it's like Billy understands what's coming. I feel so sad for Billy too, this is the second time he will have lost a friend. Poor piggies...
 
Glad to hear that Winston seems to be doing a little better. Hugs to you both (and Billy too)

Wind1, I'm so sorry to hear that you lost little Mouse, just this morning. :(

My thoughts are with you both xx
 
I think that was a good decision. hope you will stay with us here and keep us updated. We are all rooting for Winston. xxxxx
 
mittenpie said:
I've not posted here in ages but read threads pretty regularly...hope you're all doing good.

I've just got back from the vet and my guinea pig Winston, (formerly posted about as Baby) has been diagnosed with kidney and bladder stones. The vet cannot operate on him and said the only option is to put him to sleep as he will more than likely be in pain and have renal failure.

He's steadily lost weight since the week before Christmas going from just over 1kg to 760g when he was weighed today. He's been peeing blood and not eating a lot but otherwise seems perfectly happy in himself, wandering about and annoying his boyfriend Billy. I have been doing my absolute best to hand feed him and give him water but feel I have failed him.

I have made an appointment tomorrow for 2.30 to have him PTS. I feel absolutely terrible about it as part of me thinks there must be SOMETHING I can do...
Click to expand...
I've never had this problem and i don't want too! I would get an x-ray thing!
 
I am sorry you've had such a sad diagnosis for Winston, mittenpie. For what it's worth, I agree with AP and I think you've done the right thing in letting Winston go when he is ready. If you are unsure if he's in pain, you could always give pain relief to be sure. I am sure that Winston will hugely appreciate staying in the comfort of his own home, with Billy and with you.

All the best. xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top