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Please Help! They Vets Think I Shoud Put Her To Sleep!

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natw1181

Junior Guinea Pig
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My little girl toffee who is 4years has been at the vets since Sunday! Friday last week i noticed she had stopped eating, so i was syringe feeding her and planned to take her with her mum to get her teeth done, as i figured that must be the problem. I never left it more than 4 hours without feeding her, but when i woke up Sunday, she was very bloated and kept putting her head down on one side. Her sister who passed 6 months ago did this, but when they xrayed her they said her stomach was already dead from intestinal twist, so had to be put to sleep. So anyway took her straight to emergency vet, who said they would try there best. They manged to get rid of the bloat 3 times and xrays are fine. But they've kept her in to feed her round the clock and give her some injections. They seemed suprised that she made it through the night. They checked her teeth and said they were fine, so the gi statis was the primary problem. The next day they rang to say she still wasnt eating and wasnt pooing since flushing her intestines i think, hard to take much in. They thought it was time to give up! So i went to see her, i was scared she had given up as she thought id left her. She came straight to me and in minutes, wanted me to put her down so she could have a poo! So asked vets if they could keep trying to make her better, as they said she needed to stay there still for meds. Shes barley eating and the vets still think i should give up. What do i do? I believe if she was at home with her mum she would fight this, shes over the worst isn't she? I know shes a fighter, as has been through hell with a cheek abscess a few years ago and kept losing her front teeth, but she never gave up. Am i been cruel? Do i let her go? Or should i just bring her home and hand feed her til shes better? Really dont want to lose her but dont want her to be in pain. Please help? Thankyou.
 
It's a difficult situation, but well done for getting her treated so quickly. You have undoubtedly saved her life once already.

If you feel she is still willing to fight then maybe bring her home and keep up with feeding around the clock until her will to eat returns.
Plus if she is at home you can tempt her with special foods that you know she loves.
I would go and speak to the vet (take a pen and piece of paper) and ask exactly what meds she is on and what each one is for.
I am sure there is no reason she couldn't continue having her meds at home orally. And there is no reason for her to be in pain - there re lots of good pain killers you can administer at home.

Good luck with her and fingers crossed she comes home and does well.
 
The choice is totally up to you as only you know your piggy.

I've noticed that my pigs tend to have more of a fight in them when they're in familiar surroundings.

If you have the time and capacity to aggressively handfeed for as long as it takes then ask to bring her home to give it one last try.
 
Agree with the posters above. If u think she has a chance of fighting through it better if she's at home then I would give it a go.
As long as she's not suffering or in pain, you still have the option of feeding her around the clock to keep the food &water going in for the poops to be coming out, there's a better chance that her gut will recover.
If u have a vibrating pad at home that will help disperse any gas bubbles if its gas bloat.
Also if you have any babies gripe water that will help too.
Ask the vet if u can give her meds at home instead of at the surgery.

But if she's really shutting down &not happy (you will know when she's had enough, you can just tell) or suffering/in pain even with painkillers then you will know its time to let her go.

You know your guinea best &good luck with your decision, its never an easy one to make.
Xx
 
Hey,
I just wanted to say that I feel your pain. I've been in a very similar situation twice myself. it's a constant battle of trying to get them better but worrying about whether they have an appropriate quality of life. I will say this though, that you will know when the time is right as you know your pet. And whatever decision you do make it will be made with love and your piggy's best interest at heart.
 
Thankyou all, i suppose i aleady knew what i was going to do, just wanted to check with other pig lovers as my family think I'm nuts lol! Were going to fight until she can't fight no more!
 
Thankyou all, i suppose i aleady knew what i was going to do, just wanted to check with other pig lovers as my family think I'm nuts lol! Were going to fight until she can't fight no more!
:hug:
 
It sounds like your emergency vet may be at least partially knowledgeable if they have been treating her but another option would be a second opinion from a specialist piggy vet. I think, like you, I would go for bringing her home and continue providing care until she doesn't want to carry on. I certainly noticed Isobel would barely eat without Daisy by her side so home comforts may be very useful
 
I think you should bring her home, where she knows her surroundings. You will know when it's time to let her go, don't let them give you Baytrill, as that takes there appetite away. She should be on pain meds. Tell the vet you want some. Regarding the meds see if you can give it orally, if not you can do injections, my hubby was quite happy with doing that, so don't let the vet say that's a big issue all the while you can give her quality of life, go for it.
Are you at home during the day?
 
I'm so sorry, its just been really crazy! Well got her home and she seemed better but 24hours later,i noticed she hadnt had a poo. So next day were back at vets! He listened to her stomach and said he thought it might be dead, but he gave her some more injections and told me to book her in for next day to basically put her to sleep. Still not giving up, remembered them saying the gas made there insides sticky. So for hours decided to rub her belly rather firmly knowing it was her last chance. By 2am had to put her home, still with no poo's. So was making alot of noise which was breaking my heart, knowing i couldnt help her. So just gave her some metacam and then slept downstairs as it was killing me! By morning my boyfriend told me she was still alive, so ran upstairs to give her a cuddle to find she had pooped! Was over the moon! Vets well surprised! Lol. But last week she started sneezing out mucus, so now on antibiotics. But vet said she had a huge ovarian cyst, so booked her in and she had it drained 2days ago. Shes now doing ok, but they only got 10ml from it, so now i dont know whats wrong, so thinking blood test, though so skint its not funny, but cant loose her now!xx
 
Oh I'm sorry poor piggy but she definitely sounds like a fighter! I hope that she can be fixed.
 
Good luck to you and Toffee! She sounds like a real fighter, keep feeding and massaging her and give her loads of love and cuddles! Loads of vibes to you both x
 
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