PTS and advice thereafter

[BrandonB]

Good day all

Ive used this site many a times for advice for our piggies. Unfortunately, our 6.5yr old sow Lily has a major infection. Due to her age and risks we've decided to PTS in a few days. Weve got pain meds and antibiotics so it gives us and her cage mate Rosie time to say goodbye.

I was wondering if anyone here has some more experience with death and how to handle it for a cage mate

1. I know they need tome to say goodbye, is it okay for us to take Rosie with us to say goodbye to Lily after she passes, or do we need to bring Lilys body back home to say goodbye there?

2. How long should we leave rosie with lilys body to say goodbye?

3. Rosie was our 3rd, but we cant continue care for anymore. How long should we wait before rehoming Rosie with a shelter/rescue/foster, etc.?

Thank you for any advice you can provide. She lived a happy life we think but she'll be able to go see her mate George again soon

 

[RescueBoyMum]

Hi, sorry to hear that Lily isn’t well.

Just sharing from personal experience of your first 2 points. Yes you can take Rosie with you. I have done this a few times and kept the friend in the carrier until it was time. Usually they know that their friend is unwell and don’t take long to understand they are gone. The vets have been good about giving me the time I need before leaving as well.

So I would say take them both with you and let Rosie say goodbye. You could always bring Lily home for a while if you felt that would help all of you. Hope that helps.

 

[BrandonB]

Hi, sorry to hear that Lily isn’t well.

Just sharing from personal experience of your first 2 points. Yes you can take Rosie with you. I have done this a few times and kept the friend in the carrier until it was time. Usually they know that their friend is unwell and don’t take long to understand they are gone. The vets have been good about giving me the time I need before leaving as well.

So I would say take them both with you and let Rosie say goodbye. You could always bring Lily home for a while if you felt that would help all of you. Hope that helps.

Thank you for the advice and condolences, I appreciate it

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

I'm sorry to hear that Lily is so unwell. By deciding on pts, you are giving her a last gift of love.

For point 2, generally Rosie should show you when she's had enough time by turning away, or going away or otherwise beginning to show disinterest.

For point 3, depending on how old Lily is, are there any rescues near you at all who might allow you to foster a guinea for the rest of Lily's life and then take the foster guinea back straight after Lily passes? I don't know if that's done in Canada. It's become quite common in Germany.

 

[BrandonB]

I'm sorry to hear that Lily is so unwell. By deciding on pts, you are giving her a last gift of love.

For point 2, generally Rosie should show you when she's had enough time by turning away, or going away or otherwise beginning to show disinterest.

For point 3, depending on how old Lily is, are there any rescues near you at all who might allow you to foster a guinea for the rest of Lily's life and then take the foster guinea back straight after Lily passes? I don't know if that's done in Canada. It's become quite common in Germany.

Thank you for that.

Unfortunately shes being put down on Tuesday so not enough time for that idea. Just wondering how long of a rest Rosie woud need before being ready to go to a new home with a new environment and new piggies

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

For point 3, depending on how old Lily is, are there any rescues near you at all who might allow you to foster a guinea for the rest of Lily's life and then take the foster guinea back straight after Lily passes? I don't know if that's done in Canada. It's become quite common in Germany.

Sorry earliesh morning here and I didn't really sleep last night, and now notice the para I quote is full of a certain mistake.

I mean of course depending on how old Rosie is, you could maybe foster another guinea till Rosie passes. If Rosie is only three and you want to discontine keeping guineas as of very soon, then fostering wouldn't make any sense. However, if Rosie is a similar age to Lily, it might be an option for you. If the concept exists in Canada, which I don't know.
@BrandonB

 

[BrandonB]

Sorry earliesh morning here and I didn't really sleep last night, and now notice the para I quote is full of a certain mistake.

I mean of course depending on how old Rosie is, you could maybe foster another guinea till Rosie passes. If Rosie is only three and you want to discontine keeping guineas as of very soon, then fostering wouldn't make any sense. However, if Rosie is a similar age to Lily, it might be an option for you. If the concept exists in Canada, which I don't know.
@BrandonB

Shes our 3rd and not wanting to continue. Were going to rehome her, just dont know if we should keep her at home for a certain period to adjust to Lilys passing while in a familiar space, or to just rehome her ASAP

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry to hear this

I don’t think there is going to be any right answer here.
Both changes are going to be an adjustment for her, it really is whether you feel she would cope better getting it all done in one go or whether she needs time between losing Lily and moving home.

Have you been in touch with rescue centres about how soon they can take her? I know in the UK there are waiting lists for taking in animals - sometimes weeks, sometimes even longer, it all depends how much space they have available for new intakes

 

[BrandonB]

I’m so sorry to hear this

I don’t think there is going to be any right answer here.
Both changes are going to be an adjustment for her, it really is whether you feel she would cope better getting it all done in one go or whether she needs time between losing Lily and moving home.

Have you been in touch with rescue centres about how soon they can take her? I know in the UK there are waiting lists for taking in animals - sometimes weeks, sometimes even longer, it all depends how much space they have available for new intakes

Yeah, i definitely see merit either way, just seeing if anyone online has any experience with similar to give good advice

Definitely looking into that tomorrow, I know theres a few plus theres always private sale/rehoming too(obviously they'd need to be vetted tho)

 

[Merab]

There’s nothing I can add to the advice you’ve been given.
You are in a difficult situation whatever decision you make.
So sorry- holding you in my heart