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Poor old lady

I wish someone would invent a machine to tell me what to do and if its time to think about letting go :( I love my girl so, so much and I'm crying just at the thought of her not being here. Today she stopped eating for herself. I managed some syringe food but she didn't want it. She had some sips of water but is usually quite a big drinker. She's lost more weight and sleeps 24/7. She's so stiff despite daily Metacam at 0.5ml of the strong one. She is hunched but not all the time and her hair stands on end in discomfort
Is it her teeth? Is that why she won't eat? They look OK. She's too old and weak for anaesthetic and I fear conscious dental would give her tiny body a heart attack.
She's still huffing despite 2 corsesof different antibiotics and daily antii flammatories. You can hear her sucking air in now. The vet fears its not infection but her tumour growing.
At floor time she tends to sleep.
But her eyes still seem bright. She likes cuddles still and enjoys being carried out into the garden.
I don't know what to do :( I fear I know the answer but that tiny bit of life left in her keeps changing my mind. Does anyone have any advice?
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
I wish someone would invent a machine to tell me what to do and if its time to think about letting go :( I love my girl so, so much and I'm crying just at the thought of her not being here. Today she stopped eating for herself. I managed some syringe food but she didn't want it. She had some sips of water but is usually quite a big drinker. She's lost more weight and sleeps 24/7. She's so stiff despite daily Metacam at 0.5ml of the strong one. She is hunched but not all the time and her hair stands on end in discomfort
Is it her teeth? Is that why she won't eat? They look OK. She's too old and weak for anaesthetic and I fear conscious dental would give her tiny body a heart attack.
She's still huffing despite 2 corsesof different antibiotics and daily antii flammatories. You can hear her sucking air in now. The vet fears its not infection but her tumour growing.
At floor time she tends to sleep.
But her eyes still seem bright. She likes cuddles still and enjoys being carried out into the garden.
I don't know what to do :( I fear I know the answer but that tiny bit of life left in her keeps changing my mind. Does anyone have any advice?
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Hi!

I am very sorry that you haven't been also to get her through this. Letting go is never easy!

My rule of thumb is - if a piggy is visibly in pain and I have exhausted all reasonable options with her quality of life before my own desire to not lose it, then the day the piggy doesn't want to eat is the day to send it to the Rainbow Bridge because that is the tipping point in terms of quality of life and being able to lead a normal life for me.

This link here may perhaps help you; it has a chapter on caring for a terminally ill piggy and letting go: Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children
 
:agr: It is a very hard decision to make but when you do make it it will be made out of love. Only you know when it's time to say goodbye to your beloved piggy. Make the decision you can live with the best. Whenever you decide to send her to the Rainbow Bridge will be the right one. We are here to support you.
 
My sweet girl... There's something about the way she looks at me sometimes, her eyes are still bright and she showed interest in a toy this evening. She ate some tiny pieces of food with lots of encouragement and hand feeding attempts. I've been thinking so hard today. I think I have decided for now to keep up her daily Metacam, syringe feed her what she wants and let her rest here at home where she feels safe. When she deteriorates again I will make the decision :(
 
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Thanks Tim ❤️ She doesn't seem distressed at all, just tired and weak. I think she'd rather just stay in her bed where she's comfortable. ❤️
 
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Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
Thanks Tim ❤ She doesn't seem distressed at all, just tired and weak. I think she'd rather just stay in her bed where she's comfortable. ❤
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Oh bless ❤️ If you think I can help at all, you know where I am 🤗 x
 
Poor beautiful girl. Couple of things, I have an older girl which many times I thought was coming to an end, she has terrible arthritis and cystitis. She sometimes struggles to eat due to the pain. She is on 0.9ml dog metacam twice a day and it has made a massive difference, she is being seen by one of the best exotic vets in the country (john Chitty) and he advises a lot heavier dose of metacam than many do. He does not believe it does them any harm and that their daily quality of life is more important.. in Mischiefs case he is right for sure, she is so so happy, a different animal to what she was.
Regarding the breathing, she may have a dodgy heart at her age, have you asked the vet about frusol (frusemide) this is a heavy diuretic but will relieve fluid in her lungs and heart and can also make a massive difference very quickly, I have extended many a Guineas life with this. Plus heart meds if needed,.but I cannot remember the name of them. If her eyes are bright and she wants to live then It’s worth a try. Pm if you want to.

Xx
 
Guinea Slave said:
Poor beautiful girl. Couple of things, I have an older girl which many times I thought was coming to an end, she has terrible arthritis and cystitis. She sometimes struggles to eat due to the pain. She is on 0.9ml dog metacam twice a day and it has made a massive difference, she is being seen by one of the best exotic vets in the country (john Chitty) and he advises a lot heavier dose of metacam than many do. He does not believe it does them any harm and that their daily quality of life is more important.. in Mischiefs case he is right for sure, she is so so happy, a different animal to what she was.
Regarding the breathing, she may have a dodgy heart at her age, have you asked the vet about frusol (frusemide) this is a heavy diuretic but will relieve fluid in her lungs and heart and can also make a massive difference very quickly, I have extended many a Guineas life with this. Plus heart meds if needed,.but I cannot remember the name of them. If her eyes are bright and she wants to live then It’s worth a try. Pm if you want to.

Xx
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Thanks so much for the tips 🤗 I wondered about fluid too, I'm going to take her to the vet Monday or Tuesday to see if they get offer me some frusemide for her! I will up her metacam too. She quite likes it so I'm sure she won't complain ❤️
 
Guinea Slave said:
Hi Merrypigs, how is she today?
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She's a little better with the extra metacam! Still not eating for her self but she likes snuffling through her hay. She made a right mess overnight and even was strong enough to tip her bed over bless her. She even ran across the carpet yesterday! She's just having a nap after a syringe feed xx
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
She's a little better with the extra metacam! Still not eating for her self but she likes snuffling through her hay. She made a right mess overnight and even was strong enough to tip her bed over bless her. She even ran across the carpet yesterday! She's just having a nap after a syringe feed xx
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Oh bless her 😥 Thinking of you all x
 
Tim said:
Oh bless her 😥 Thinking of you all x
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Thanks Tim! She's an amazing old lady, stubborn and adorable but I think making her comfy is all we can do now. Although, I plan on asking the vet whether she'd benefit from some furosemide? Her feet and ears don't have very good circulation and she's starting to sound quite fluid-y so I wonder if it's her little heart? Apparently something called Spirolactone is better though. I probably got the name wrong oops!
 
Hrllo. Wish I could help with that magic wand and help Toffee..
Like all piggies and especially one you love deeply. . what's right for piggie must come 1st. love tears after.
Sending Toffee lots love me and my girls. x
 
I think this may be our last night with sweet Toffee. She's very sleepy and not supporting herself any more or chewing her syringe feed. Currently she's resting, lying on her mummy. Please send good wishes and prayers to us tonight ❤️
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
I think this may be our last night with sweet Toffee. She's very sleepy and not supporting herself any more or chewing her syringe feed. Currently she's resting, lying on her mummy. Please send good wishes and prayers to us tonight ❤
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Thinking of you both tonight. Sending love and gentle hugs. 💕
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
I think this may be our last night with sweet Toffee. She's very sleepy and not supporting herself any more or chewing her syringe feed. Currently she's resting, lying on her mummy. Please send good wishes and prayers to us tonight ❤
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Sending BIG HUGS to Toffee and you!
 
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