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Piggy at the end of her lifespan?

DarrenB98

DarrenB98

New Born Pup
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Location
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Good evening to everyone. I’ve been ghosting this forum for some time over a year now without actually signing up so I’d thought I start with a greeting so hey!

I’ve had my piggy named Oscar for just around 6 years now coming into 2020, she’s had a companion for the first 2 however the other one died to shock. I’ve tried on several occasions to pair her up but she has became incredibly aggressive on each occasion - this resulted in her being a single piggy but in a loving home with a Golden Retriever buddy.

Throughout the time I’ve had her she has gone through 2 instances of semi-severe mange/lice but has remained fully healthy and active apart from that. She had been treated on both occasions via specialist vets.

Only recently (the past day or two) she has been exhibiting symptoms such as:
- loss of apetite
- drowsiness/extreme fatigue
- Aggression but very minimal when attempted to be carried, is okay with being stroked
- unable to open her mouth fully, right side of face and mouth appear to be numb and heavy resulting in her mouth remaining closed alot
- Typical squeeks and noises she makes aren’t as clear

She’s not been as bad as this before, even when she had the mange. I’m unsure if it is due to her age now or if it is an underlining issue. Before I take her to the vet this coming week I was wondering if any experienced piggy carers or fanatics had any insight the could possibly provide me? Any advice or info is appreciated.

Out of the entire world she is the most precious and I will be devastated if this is the end😔
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear of Oscars current difficulties. It is highly unlikely that this is an age issue and if there is difficulty in eating I would personally look to see a vet asap. In the meantime it may be worth mushing up pellets to syringe feed her to make sure she has enough going in
 
Please see a vet. If your piggy is unable to eat properly due to not being able to open her mouth, then this requires veterinary attention quickly. You will need to step in with syringe feeding to keep her system going.
Only a vet is going to be able to diagnose what has happened and how to deal with the issue going forward.

Please have a look at all the links below and call a vet.

Emergency Resources and Critical Illness Care - Contents list and subforum link
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
 
DarrenB98 said:
Good evening to everyone. I’ve been ghosting this forum for some time over a year now without actually signing up so I’d thought I start with a greeting so hey!

I’ve had my piggy named Oscar for just around 6 years now coming into 2020, she’s had a companion for the first 2 however the other one died to shock. I’ve tried on several occasions to pair her up but she has became incredibly aggressive on each occasion - this resulted in her being a single piggy but in a loving home with a Golden Retriever buddy.

Throughout the time I’ve had her she has gone through 2 instances of semi-severe mange/lice but has remained fully healthy and active apart from that. She had been treated on both occasions via specialist vets.

Only recently (the past day or two) she has been exhibiting symptoms such as:
- loss of apetite
- drowsiness/extreme fatigue
- Aggression but very minimal when attempted to be carried, is okay with being stroked
- unable to open her mouth fully, right side of face and mouth appear to be numb and heavy resulting in her mouth remaining closed alot
- Typical squeeks and noises she makes aren’t as clear

She’s not been as bad as this before, even when she had the mange. I’m unsure if it is due to her age now or if it is an underlining issue. Before I take her to the vet this coming week I was wondering if any experienced piggy carers or fanatics had any insight the could possibly provide me? Any advice or info is appreciated.

Out of the entire world she is the most precious and I will be devastated if this is the end😔
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please have oscar checked for overgrowth of the back teeth/dislocated jaw because of overgrowth as soon as possible and in the meantime keep him alive with syringe feed. We can only guess at what is wrong; only a hands-on diagnosis and the appropriate treatment can save his life.

If he can no longer chew and swallow with his tongue trapped by dental spurs, then he will inevitably run out of energy because of lack of food and become lethargic. His gut is also at risk of going into stasis (stopping to work). :(
It is vital that you get food into him until you can have him seen by an ideally dental savvy vet (which are rare) and buy her more time to live.
Please follow the tips in these guides here; if a piggy is apathetic and not eating, you are dealing with an emergency. Your home care is as important as any medical care because the latter cannot kick in if your piggy dies from lack of food.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management (vital for controlling the food intake)

if at all possible, please have her seen at the Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. Simon Maddock is currently the most experienced guinea pig dental vet and sees piggies from all over the country, from as far as Scotland and Cornwall. He does about 15 piggy dentals in a weeks, which is about as much or more than most other vets do in their entire career. Simon has saved many piggy's life that has been given up by their normal vets.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

All the best!

PS: If you can't get to Northampton at all, here is our list of recommended vets: Recommended Guinea Pig Vets
 
I agree with the above, but I just wanted to ask, given the aggression and possible pain being the cause, has she ever been checked for ovarian cysts? This can also cause hair loss, which I know you say was mites/mange but the hair loss can come and go depending on hormone levels and can sometimes appear to be a presentation of mites.
I would be concerned that her current behaviour indicates to a great deal of pain and/or the potential of one of the cysts having ruptured, causing infection if she had one/some. I had a sow behaving very similarly with a massive cyst that had not been picked up on. Unfortunately it ruptured and we lost her :(

Fingers crossed for your girl that it's something easy to treat.
 
Welcome to the forum.
Sorry Oscar is unwell but you have been given good advice.
Please keep us posted
 
Thankyou all for your advice and warm welcoming.

I took her to a specialist first thing this morning and it appeared evident that she was not going to recover.

I agreed on euthanasia to put her to rest peacefully. I will be collecting her ashes sometime in the next week or so.

Enjoy all the apples you can digest across the rainbow bridge sweetie, I miss and love you.
 
I’m so sorry for your loss. Tough decision to make, but sadly we can’t save them all the time.
 
So sorry for your loss but you did the right thing by Oscar and she no longer is suffering
 
DarrenB98 said:
Thankyou all for your advice and warm welcoming.

I took her to a specialist first thing this morning and it appeared evident that she was not going to recover.

I agreed on euthanasia to put her to rest peacefully. I will be collecting her ashes sometime in the next week or so.

Enjoy all the apples you can digest across the rainbow bridge sweetie, I miss and love you.
Click to expand...

I am very sorry but not quite surprised; she sounded pretty far gone with whatever it was already sadly. All you can do is keep your fingers crossed and hope that it turns out to be something that can fixed comparatively easily (usually it isn't). Weekends are always difficult re. quick savvy vet access/emergency ops. :(

It is sadly always a very heart-breaking decision to make but it is also the greatest and most loving gift we can make to a suffering pet in order to spare it any unnecessary suffering. Give yourself time to grieve; it is not a process you can hurry on. And please don't feel like you have let down your girl; you haven't. Soulsearching, feelings of failure and guilt are integral to the onset of the grieving process.

You may find the practical information and advice in these two guides here helpful:
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
I’m so sorry you lost her. It’s so hard to do but she’s at peace now. Hope you’re ok xx RIP little Oscar xx
 
So sorry to read this.
It’s a tough decision to have made but a final gift of love for Oscar.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
 
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