LeahsPiggies
Teenage Guinea Pig
Hi everyone. Recently, my dearly missed piggie, Poppy has been on my mind. I soon realised that I wasn't a member on here back then - and she was such a beautiful, lovely guinea-pig. I thought I would share her story with you followed by some photo's.
On the 7th of October in 2011, we went to Pets at Home to buy our dog some eye drops. As always, I went to look at all of the animals whilst my parents did the 'shopping' .. I went to look at the guinea pigs, and inside a wooden house was my girl, her glowing red eyes staring at me, her little piggie lips poking out. I'd always wanted an Abysinian guinea pig, my dad lifted the house so I good look at her properly - it was love at first sight.
When it was time to leave, I couldn't bring myself to leave her there. My mum could tell that I wanted her, so she let me bring her home. From that day forward, my life was changed forever. The impact still lives with me, and always will.
We got her home, so tiny and fragile, an amazing personality. Not like any of my other guinea's, a complete different temperament, she wasn't a bit fearful, she had her full faith in me, and I knew our bond was going to grow strong. I would bring her into my room every night to watch TV, eat veggies, take photoshoots, and she would always fall asleep on my bed. But her favourite all time thing to do was run up my chest and sit on my shoulder, she would stay there for hours!
A few weeks went by and I started to notice she was slightly snuffly. I didn't think too much of it as I wasn't particularly piggie savvy back then, but it gradually got worse so we took her off to the vet, who prescribed antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory (baytril and metacam). These didn't take much affect although helped her symptoms.
We took her back to the vet numerous times, she was on several different antibiotics, was injected, still nothing. We took her to a different vet - they all said the same. They said its just how she is. That's not a life I wanted for my girl, but they told us to leave her be and bring her back if she deteriorates.
Months went by, she had good days and bad days. Seeing as her unknown illness wasn't contagious we decided to get her a friend - Pixie. A gorgeous alpaca sow. They took to each other from the word go and it definitely helped her get through.
I used to make her special dinners to make eating fun, I would chop grass and veggies, offer different types of foods and mix it all up for her. I would syringe feed various things to help her maintain weight and I tried to make sure she had a good life.
A few more months went by, and she was still the same. We took her back to the vet who once again said the same thing. They said at that stage they wouldn't consider ending her suffering, they said she was fine. Alert, bright eyed, cheeky. Sure, she was, but nobody knew her like me. I watched them inject drugs into her, she was squeaking away. So helpless.
The biggest regret of my life is not having her put to sleep. I kept telling myself she was ok. I mean, she was, some days she was like a healthy piggie! Unfortunately I wasn't aware of exotic vets back then, but we live and learn.
Through all the nursing, we became the best of friends. I love all of my guinea pigs - but the love I had for her was different.
She lived 1 year and 2 months. The Christmas day of 2012 she was fine. Her and Pixie shared a huge carrot as a treat, I took photo's of them etc. On the 27th of December she was snorting quite a lot, sat in a corner and her ears were slightly blue. She did this a lot, so I thought it was just one of her bad days. I fed her a treat and she ate it.. on the 28th of December we went out shopping to spend Christmas money. We returned late that night and I went out to feed them, and I found her. I never want to experience anything like it again. She was lay lifeless in her hutch.
Just typing this now I feel such a sense of guilt. Did she die in pain, how long was she dead for, why wasn't I with her?
Reminiscing.. she used to adore playing on the grass. She was a friend to everyone, like a little puppy. She didn't have a bad bone in her body - why her? Obviously God needed another piggie Angel and he took her on her way. I think about her almost daily, she's one piggie I'll never forget and I hope she is looking down on me.
To Poppy - I'm so sorry sweetie. You were my world, I never wanted to see you suffer, I hope you're having fun at the bridge and one day we will be reunited♡ Pixie is in a nice new home now, with a neutered male piggie and she is very happy and misses you too. Sweet dreams my baby girl x
'You were only in my life a short while, but you've left your pawprints in my heart forever'
There is so much more I could say about her, she was priceless. Her photo is in a frame on my windowsill
Wasn't she beautiful?
On the 7th of October in 2011, we went to Pets at Home to buy our dog some eye drops. As always, I went to look at all of the animals whilst my parents did the 'shopping' .. I went to look at the guinea pigs, and inside a wooden house was my girl, her glowing red eyes staring at me, her little piggie lips poking out. I'd always wanted an Abysinian guinea pig, my dad lifted the house so I good look at her properly - it was love at first sight.
When it was time to leave, I couldn't bring myself to leave her there. My mum could tell that I wanted her, so she let me bring her home. From that day forward, my life was changed forever. The impact still lives with me, and always will.
We got her home, so tiny and fragile, an amazing personality. Not like any of my other guinea's, a complete different temperament, she wasn't a bit fearful, she had her full faith in me, and I knew our bond was going to grow strong. I would bring her into my room every night to watch TV, eat veggies, take photoshoots, and she would always fall asleep on my bed. But her favourite all time thing to do was run up my chest and sit on my shoulder, she would stay there for hours!
A few weeks went by and I started to notice she was slightly snuffly. I didn't think too much of it as I wasn't particularly piggie savvy back then, but it gradually got worse so we took her off to the vet, who prescribed antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory (baytril and metacam). These didn't take much affect although helped her symptoms.
We took her back to the vet numerous times, she was on several different antibiotics, was injected, still nothing. We took her to a different vet - they all said the same. They said its just how she is. That's not a life I wanted for my girl, but they told us to leave her be and bring her back if she deteriorates.
Months went by, she had good days and bad days. Seeing as her unknown illness wasn't contagious we decided to get her a friend - Pixie. A gorgeous alpaca sow. They took to each other from the word go and it definitely helped her get through.
I used to make her special dinners to make eating fun, I would chop grass and veggies, offer different types of foods and mix it all up for her. I would syringe feed various things to help her maintain weight and I tried to make sure she had a good life.
A few more months went by, and she was still the same. We took her back to the vet who once again said the same thing. They said at that stage they wouldn't consider ending her suffering, they said she was fine. Alert, bright eyed, cheeky. Sure, she was, but nobody knew her like me. I watched them inject drugs into her, she was squeaking away. So helpless.
The biggest regret of my life is not having her put to sleep. I kept telling myself she was ok. I mean, she was, some days she was like a healthy piggie! Unfortunately I wasn't aware of exotic vets back then, but we live and learn.
Through all the nursing, we became the best of friends. I love all of my guinea pigs - but the love I had for her was different.
She lived 1 year and 2 months. The Christmas day of 2012 she was fine. Her and Pixie shared a huge carrot as a treat, I took photo's of them etc. On the 27th of December she was snorting quite a lot, sat in a corner and her ears were slightly blue. She did this a lot, so I thought it was just one of her bad days. I fed her a treat and she ate it.. on the 28th of December we went out shopping to spend Christmas money. We returned late that night and I went out to feed them, and I found her. I never want to experience anything like it again. She was lay lifeless in her hutch.
Just typing this now I feel such a sense of guilt. Did she die in pain, how long was she dead for, why wasn't I with her?
Reminiscing.. she used to adore playing on the grass. She was a friend to everyone, like a little puppy. She didn't have a bad bone in her body - why her? Obviously God needed another piggie Angel and he took her on her way. I think about her almost daily, she's one piggie I'll never forget and I hope she is looking down on me.
To Poppy - I'm so sorry sweetie. You were my world, I never wanted to see you suffer, I hope you're having fun at the bridge and one day we will be reunited♡ Pixie is in a nice new home now, with a neutered male piggie and she is very happy and misses you too. Sweet dreams my baby girl x
'You were only in my life a short while, but you've left your pawprints in my heart forever'
There is so much more I could say about her, she was priceless. Her photo is in a frame on my windowsill
Wasn't she beautiful?
