Primrose

[Helen82]

My beautiful girl died at 11pm. On Tuesday the vet said her lump had increased and found another lump, so it was probably cancer that was spreading and she may only have weeks left. But she went downhill the past few days; I had booked her in to be PTS today but she didn't make it that far. Although part of me is glad she died at home, I feel so guilty that she might have suffered unduly - at each step I thought she was about to go and it was too late to go to the out of hours vet, but she just kept on and it was terrible to witness. I love her so much and I feel so guilty about being a rubbish owner when my depression has got the better of me (far too much time) and so guilty about all the days I didn't make the most of. And now she's gone. Please forgive me Primrose.

I had her five years and it wasn't enough. I got her from a rescue so I don't know how old she was exactly, possibly 7 and a half, no younger than 6 and a half. She'd been a lot quieter in her last year with a lump and arthritis to contend with. But in her prime she was very noisy and very bossy. This is my favourite photo of her, from 2019.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I am so sorry you lost your beautiful girl, sending big hGus. I think you are a very caring slave and your post shows just how much you loved her. Don’t feel guilty, she died at home surrounded by love and she will have known just how much you cared. I think no matter what we do at the end we always think should I have, could I have? Grief is a very cruel thing but it’s a testament to your love for her that she lived a very long and happy life. Take care x

Sleep tight Primrose

 

[Claire W]

I’m so very sorry for your loss I’m currently going through a similar thing with my Elizabeth. She’s had an inoperable fatty lump on her leg since April. It isn’t cancerous but is now huge and impacting her mobility she’s still bright, happy and healthy but I know the time to say goodbye will come sooner rather than later. I’m heartbroken especially as I’ve recently lost Ella

Please take heart, I am sure Primrose hasn’t suffered and she died at home surrounded by love

Sleep tight Primrose xx

 

[Bertie & Jelly]

I’m so sorry you lost your beautiful Primrose. She was clearly much loved for her five years with you and that is as much as you can do as an owner - love and care. You gave her a good and long life. Sleep tight lovely Primrose

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss of beautiful Primrose.
You gave her a wonderful life and she lived to a good age.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry that your beautiful girl has made her way to the Rainbow Bridge. She has had a wonderful life with you. Please go gently as you grieve - she will leave a Primrose shaped hole in your life. Big hugs.

 

[Helen82]

Thank you @Bill & Ted @Claire W (sending my best wishes to Elizabeth) @Bertie & Jelly @Merab's Slave @VickiA for your lovely replies. I think I want to try and write some more about Primrose but at the moment everything's just too raw. One of the small but devastating things has been taking veggies to Stanley today and realising I've taken enough for two piggies not one, and she's not there.

 

[munchmonster]

What a beautiful photo of your gorgeous Primrose. She had the best life with you and will take that love to the bridge with her. We all understand how devastating grief is, and send hugs to you at this sad time. Keep the happy memories in your heart and she will always be with you.
Run free over the bridge Primrose

 

[weepweeps]

Sleep tight gorgeous Primrose. You had a wonderful life and you passed at home surrounded by love.

Take care

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

I'm very sorry for your loss!
Sleep tight Primrose!

 

[h_and_piggies]

Sorry for your loss. You gave Primrose a wonderful home full of love. She lived to a wonderful age, no doubt due to your love and care. You did everything you could for her. Sleep tight Primrose x

 

[Helen82]

When you see someone every day you don't notice the gradual changes but she had become a slower and quieter old lady. I think I just took it for granted she was there, despite knowing guinea pigs don't live forever and knowing of her ailments. Her death is making me face up to a lot of my own faults, stuff I don't really want to go into here. You were already a special piggie Primrose, but if this is the catalyst for me to try and get my act together then you've helped me so much.

Five years ago I got three guinea pigs from a rescue: Jess, Primrose and Stanley. Primrose had lovely black, white and pale yellow markings; a badger-like face with a lovely pink nose, spotty on her lower back and yellow trousers. Unfortunately Jess had an inoperable tumour and had to be PTS after only having her six weeks. Jess and Primrose used to stand up against the side of the cage and wheek their heads off for food. After Jess died Primrose never stood up against the cage like that again but she was always very vocal and very demanding! In fact I could never really meet Primrose's exacting standards - veggies either weren't good enough or didn't come fast enough. The biggest insight into Primrose's character is that at floor time when she was younger with lots of room to run around in she would shoulder charge me (about a hundred times bigger than her) to get out of her way.

She absolutely hated having her nails trimmed and would do anything to get out of it. If I was able to start cutting, I could only do so much in one go once we started with Primrose's warning system: 1) she'd gently but meaningfully gather a bit of the skin on my wrist between her teeth; 2) a slightly more purposeful nip; if we got to number 3) she'd try and trim my fingernails instead!

Primrose would always look mucky round her mouth after eating veggies - stained green or red depending on what she'd been eating! When I first got her I used to think she was like a little hoover as she would eat up any veg that was going, though she got a lot pickier as she aged. She was always a heavy drinker and would be forever guzzling away at the bottle, letting the water run down the sides of her mouth. After her arthritis she started drinking from a bowl instead - her favourite thing was to have a pile of pellets and a bowl of water next to each other and she would spend ages having a drink than a pellet then a drink then a pellet and bob between the two.

For a quiet life she allowed Stanley to be the boss, and just about put up with his rumblestrutting and daftness. Stanley is a chatterbox but he never wheeks to me, only to Primrose; Primrose would sometimes reply, going through the motions of submission etc, but generally when she wheeked it was to me. Poor Stanley hasn't made a sound since Friday night as he hasn't got Primrose to talk to anymore. We both miss you so much x