AbraCassandra
Junior Guinea Pig
My husband and I adopted Kooky and her late sister Ms Piggy from a Petco April 14th 2015. I had recently lost my sweet little syrian hamster named Maple Butter Blondie and I was actually still mourning and not at all ready for a new animal companion...We just wanted to go look at the animals because it was something that made me happy. However, we saw a sign that said "Ask us about our adoptions" and we were curious. They brought out a tiny 2 x 2 foot cardboard box with two young female guinea pigs. They told us no one wanted them because they both had neurological damage from ear infections that went untreated for too long and were unresponsive to voices. (I later found out this was because they were both deaf as well). Kooky had a permanent head tilt and Ms Piggy's head would bob uncontrollably. They told me if no one adopted them soon, they'd be euthanized as they were taking up resources. And that they were free because they couldn't sell "damaged goods" It broke our hearts and we couldn't leave them there. At the time we had NO idea about guinea pig care so we had to take a crash course and the only home I had for them was a 44 gallon tank that used to be Maple's...Oh the pain I went through taking out Maple's things...Having just lost her, for these two girls I hadn't yet bonded with. That killed.
We eventually got them a huge 2 by 8 C&C cage and we quickly fell in love with them...They were so sweet and loving and after realizing they were deaf we put their cage in a place where they could see us coming when we came into the room. They quickly learned our wave to them meant hello or it's time for food. Years filled with love and joy went by.
We lost Ms Piggy Oct 6th 2020 to a very sudden and aggressive cancer. Kooky missed her sister terribly but still had us. My husband is a programmer and I am always on the computer so her and her brother's (who was surrendered to us 3 years ago) cage are next to us all the time in our office. She quickly bonded closer to me and would stay next to me all the time. I'd pet her often throughout the day and give her love and attention.
My husband and I had multiple nick names for our lil Kook...Kookydook (like babadook), lil tank (because she was SO tough) trex (because of how she'd attack her food) And my favorite...Our little Tremor or Graboid. If you ever saw the movie Tremors you'd know the worm creatures would sense vibration and attack...Well...Because Kooky was deaf, her other senses were heightened. My husband and I sleep upstairs and her cage is downstairs and EVERY SINGLE morning when we'd wake up, the second our feet touched the floor she'd start screaming for food lol...She could feel us.
March 5th I noticed her squealing when going to the bathroom. I tried to get a vet appointment with her usual vet and they told me march 7th they'd see her. march 7th came, I asked if I could have a bit more time to get there because I lived over an hour away and there was much traffic that day and they cancelled on me. I finally found someone who would see her on March 11th...It was a long wait and I'm kicking myself for not trying harder even if I had to drive further...They gave me antibiotics and pain meds for her. In the beginning she seemed to be improving and I was so hopeful. She started eating like normal. I thought it would be OK. Yesterday though I noticed she hadn't pooped very much at all so I began syringe feeding again. This morning there was no poo at all from the previous night and I told my husband if she didn't improve today I'd take her to the vet tomorrow...I syringe fed her about 7 mls of critical care and then she didn't let me give anymore...I put her in her cage and kept an eye on her, she didn't squeak in pain once today...At recommendations I put blankets around her to keep her warm. And I did pray. I asked God to take away her pain. To please make it quick and peaceful.
Around 4:30 she laid down in the area where she had been going to the bathroom, I decided to carefully take her out so I could put fresh fleece and blankets in and her body was slack...Her eyes were glazing but she was still alive and still moving her head even though some of her joints were stiffening. I told my husband as I laid her down on clean bedding that it was time to say our goodbyes and we did so. We stroked her and then I covered up like she was covered before I brought her out because that's how she wanted it. Not 10 minutes later she was gone. Not a peep. Very peaceful. My prayer was answered and I am grateful.
I know we did what we could and it was more than a lot would...But I wish I had been able to get her seen sooner. I'm not sure it would have helped. I think this infection was so advanced by the time she showed signs that her little old body might have acted the same...I hope that what we did to help her at least helped her live a few more days so we could give her a few more days of love...And we really did that. I've barely left her side except to sleep this past week and a half. And I made sure she knew I was here the whole time she was passing on. I feel blessed that we got this chance to say goodbye. I know it's not always like that.
I will share this video from Jan 29th...Of how she'd come out to get love : ) she did this often and I ALWAYS obliged my little old lady. My Graboid.
I know someday I'll look back and not think of sad things. Just like alllllllll my other babies that have left me for the next chapter. But right now it hurts. And will for a bit.
Thank you to all who helped and comforted. We tried.
We eventually got them a huge 2 by 8 C&C cage and we quickly fell in love with them...They were so sweet and loving and after realizing they were deaf we put their cage in a place where they could see us coming when we came into the room. They quickly learned our wave to them meant hello or it's time for food. Years filled with love and joy went by.
We lost Ms Piggy Oct 6th 2020 to a very sudden and aggressive cancer. Kooky missed her sister terribly but still had us. My husband is a programmer and I am always on the computer so her and her brother's (who was surrendered to us 3 years ago) cage are next to us all the time in our office. She quickly bonded closer to me and would stay next to me all the time. I'd pet her often throughout the day and give her love and attention.
My husband and I had multiple nick names for our lil Kook...Kookydook (like babadook), lil tank (because she was SO tough) trex (because of how she'd attack her food) And my favorite...Our little Tremor or Graboid. If you ever saw the movie Tremors you'd know the worm creatures would sense vibration and attack...Well...Because Kooky was deaf, her other senses were heightened. My husband and I sleep upstairs and her cage is downstairs and EVERY SINGLE morning when we'd wake up, the second our feet touched the floor she'd start screaming for food lol...She could feel us.
March 5th I noticed her squealing when going to the bathroom. I tried to get a vet appointment with her usual vet and they told me march 7th they'd see her. march 7th came, I asked if I could have a bit more time to get there because I lived over an hour away and there was much traffic that day and they cancelled on me. I finally found someone who would see her on March 11th...It was a long wait and I'm kicking myself for not trying harder even if I had to drive further...They gave me antibiotics and pain meds for her. In the beginning she seemed to be improving and I was so hopeful. She started eating like normal. I thought it would be OK. Yesterday though I noticed she hadn't pooped very much at all so I began syringe feeding again. This morning there was no poo at all from the previous night and I told my husband if she didn't improve today I'd take her to the vet tomorrow...I syringe fed her about 7 mls of critical care and then she didn't let me give anymore...I put her in her cage and kept an eye on her, she didn't squeak in pain once today...At recommendations I put blankets around her to keep her warm. And I did pray. I asked God to take away her pain. To please make it quick and peaceful.
Around 4:30 she laid down in the area where she had been going to the bathroom, I decided to carefully take her out so I could put fresh fleece and blankets in and her body was slack...Her eyes were glazing but she was still alive and still moving her head even though some of her joints were stiffening. I told my husband as I laid her down on clean bedding that it was time to say our goodbyes and we did so. We stroked her and then I covered up like she was covered before I brought her out because that's how she wanted it. Not 10 minutes later she was gone. Not a peep. Very peaceful. My prayer was answered and I am grateful.
I know we did what we could and it was more than a lot would...But I wish I had been able to get her seen sooner. I'm not sure it would have helped. I think this infection was so advanced by the time she showed signs that her little old body might have acted the same...I hope that what we did to help her at least helped her live a few more days so we could give her a few more days of love...And we really did that. I've barely left her side except to sleep this past week and a half. And I made sure she knew I was here the whole time she was passing on. I feel blessed that we got this chance to say goodbye. I know it's not always like that.
I will share this video from Jan 29th...Of how she'd come out to get love : ) she did this often and I ALWAYS obliged my little old lady. My Graboid.
I know someday I'll look back and not think of sad things. Just like alllllllll my other babies that have left me for the next chapter. But right now it hurts. And will for a bit.
Thank you to all who helped and comforted. We tried.
Thank you for giving Ms Piggy and Kooky a loving home filled with love. Even if you had have had her seen sooner, the outcome would have been the same.
you did so much for her and her sister, they lived to great impressive ages, and they knew they were extremely loved which is all that matters x
