Katie Krafter
Teenage Guinea Pig
We lost Parkin today. He was a beautiful piggie, ginger and white crested. We got him when he was only three wheeks old, when he was about to be put down. He survived with us, and grew up to be a cheeky pig, who knew his own mind, and had a very decided attitude to life.
He lost his lifelong friend, Stripe, in the spring, and has been losing condition since. We took him to the vet with a respiratory infection three wheeks ago, and he was put on baytril. Two wheeks on, he had largely failed to respond, still exhibiting laboured breathing and deep crackles on both lungs, indicating pneumonia. We gave him two lots of heavy duty antibiotics in quite large doses, nebulised him twice daily and added bisolvon to his food as well. All in all, an aggressive approach, that we hoped would help him to be more comfortable, but today, he was clearly struggling to breathe. He has been lethargic, and this morning, was unwilling to move much, and his little sides were heaving. His appetite was still there, but he had to be tempted with treats to take an interest in food.
We took him to the vet, and she found that his lungs were getting worse not better. Without invasive investigation, we couldn't be sure, but there is a suspicion that there might have been a tumour, so the treatment would have had no effect. His weight had decreased again, and he was too thin and underweight to stand much more.
Parkin had clearly had enough, and is now popcorning free at the Bridge with his best buddy, Stripe.
We're all gutted to lose you, wee man, and will miss your licks, wheeks and sneaky stealing of food. I will miss you climbing all over me in the evening, and snuggling under my chin on my shoulder.
xx
He lost his lifelong friend, Stripe, in the spring, and has been losing condition since. We took him to the vet with a respiratory infection three wheeks ago, and he was put on baytril. Two wheeks on, he had largely failed to respond, still exhibiting laboured breathing and deep crackles on both lungs, indicating pneumonia. We gave him two lots of heavy duty antibiotics in quite large doses, nebulised him twice daily and added bisolvon to his food as well. All in all, an aggressive approach, that we hoped would help him to be more comfortable, but today, he was clearly struggling to breathe. He has been lethargic, and this morning, was unwilling to move much, and his little sides were heaving. His appetite was still there, but he had to be tempted with treats to take an interest in food.
We took him to the vet, and she found that his lungs were getting worse not better. Without invasive investigation, we couldn't be sure, but there is a suspicion that there might have been a tumour, so the treatment would have had no effect. His weight had decreased again, and he was too thin and underweight to stand much more.
Parkin had clearly had enough, and is now popcorning free at the Bridge with his best buddy, Stripe.
We're all gutted to lose you, wee man, and will miss your licks, wheeks and sneaky stealing of food. I will miss you climbing all over me in the evening, and snuggling under my chin on my shoulder.
xx
