Fluffy.Munsters
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi everyone, I'm reaching out because I'm really worried and heartbroken about my guinea pig’s condition, and I could really use some support or advice.
TL;DR: My guinea pig suddenly became ill a month ago with chin bloating and hair loss (now improving), but after extensive vet visits and tests, he’s now immobile due to suspected circulatory issues—he still eats and drinks, but I’m torn about his quality of life and whether to consider euthanasia.
Up until about a month ago, he was 100% healthy – active, eating well, grooming himself – just a happy piggy, although a little bit fat. Then, almost overnight, things started going downhill. He began bloating under the chin and started losing fur. I’ve taken him to the vet three times already, spent over 600€ so far on various tests (ultrasound, blood samples, skin tests) and medications (antibiotic, diuretics, painkillers). The good news is that the hair loss seems to be improving, and the bloating has reduced. But now there’s a new and very worrying issue: he has completely stopped walking. He doesn’t move his legs at all, and cries out if I touch them. The vet now suspects a circulatory issue, but there’s no clear diagnosis yet.
He’s not in visible pain – he eats, drinks, and lies still calmly – but he doesn’t move at all. I have to reposition him every few hours and clean up his poops because he can’t shift around on his own, and clean him often to prevent him to stay on his pee.
I keep asking myself the same question: is this still a good life for him? I don’t want to rush to put him to sleep if he still has a chance, but at the same time I don’t want him to live a life I'm not sure I'd like to live, like this just because I can’t let go. He's 4.5 years old and I've been taking care of him for 2.5 years. His name is Houdini because the very first day I had him, he escaped not one but two temporary enclosures I've set him for him! I've attached two photos of him, just taken. He now lies like that all the time.
I've been taking care of other 3 piggies (one lives with him) and in the past I've been taken care of other 4, and 2 of them I had to put to sleep because of conditions but those were situations where it was clear that there was nothing better to do than to relieving them. Now... I don't know.
Has anyone experienced anything like this with their piggies? I would deeply appreciate any advice, experiences, or just some reassurance during this tough time.
Thank you so much.
TL;DR: My guinea pig suddenly became ill a month ago with chin bloating and hair loss (now improving), but after extensive vet visits and tests, he’s now immobile due to suspected circulatory issues—he still eats and drinks, but I’m torn about his quality of life and whether to consider euthanasia.
Up until about a month ago, he was 100% healthy – active, eating well, grooming himself – just a happy piggy, although a little bit fat. Then, almost overnight, things started going downhill. He began bloating under the chin and started losing fur. I’ve taken him to the vet three times already, spent over 600€ so far on various tests (ultrasound, blood samples, skin tests) and medications (antibiotic, diuretics, painkillers). The good news is that the hair loss seems to be improving, and the bloating has reduced. But now there’s a new and very worrying issue: he has completely stopped walking. He doesn’t move his legs at all, and cries out if I touch them. The vet now suspects a circulatory issue, but there’s no clear diagnosis yet.
He’s not in visible pain – he eats, drinks, and lies still calmly – but he doesn’t move at all. I have to reposition him every few hours and clean up his poops because he can’t shift around on his own, and clean him often to prevent him to stay on his pee.
I keep asking myself the same question: is this still a good life for him? I don’t want to rush to put him to sleep if he still has a chance, but at the same time I don’t want him to live a life I'm not sure I'd like to live, like this just because I can’t let go. He's 4.5 years old and I've been taking care of him for 2.5 years. His name is Houdini because the very first day I had him, he escaped not one but two temporary enclosures I've set him for him! I've attached two photos of him, just taken. He now lies like that all the time.
I've been taking care of other 3 piggies (one lives with him) and in the past I've been taken care of other 4, and 2 of them I had to put to sleep because of conditions but those were situations where it was clear that there was nothing better to do than to relieving them. Now... I don't know.
Has anyone experienced anything like this with their piggies? I would deeply appreciate any advice, experiences, or just some reassurance during this tough time.
Thank you so much.
