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Salvador Dali Ongoing Regurgitating/is it time?

rlsf

rlsf

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello beautiful community. My sweet boy Salvador Dali (approx 5.5 years old) had a bout in September of spewing and regurgitating foamy hay that appeared like critical care along with saliva and was limp during this 10-20 minute episode. We rushed him to our vet- ruled out twisted stomach with x-rays and had no definitive answers. Our vet suggested -and we decided to book- an echocardiogram to see if he possibly has heart disease.
He was diagnosed with mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy- this is where the heart thickens and grows rather than walls thinning. Actually, I was told it is much less common for guinea pigs to have the kind he has.

Nonetheless, on Christmas, he had another choking/spewing/regurgitating episode. Since it was Christmas, and I had seen him survive this previously, we acted quickly and did a swooping heimlich to help dislodge anything if something were stuck. He recovered and proceeded to eat hay and his veggie dinner.

He was fine the day after Christmas, then yesterday morning- he had another bout. Then again in afternoon. We rushed him to our vet and had an xray done with contrast to be sent to radiologist.
The moment we got home last night, I fed them their salad, and immediately he had another green foamy spewing choking episode.
Our vet isn’t open today (also is 1-2 hours away depending on traffic) but offered last night to stay open if we wanted to bring him back to be PTS.
We very nearly did, but he turned around and started eating hay and when he perks up he seems okay… we decided as a mommy and daddy we just weren’t ready to rush that decision.
He got through the night, but we know realistically, this is time.
Today he just now had another 20 min episode…Then started eating hay and a tiny bit of critical care. I’m baffled since we aren’t seeing twisted stomach. Perhaps there’s a partial blockage she couldn’t see in the x-ray?

He is on long term meloxicam, gabapentin, furosemide and benazepril, along with probiotic. He gets critical care daily, as his weight has been declining. Obviously, today his weight is incrediblysignificantly lower due to stress of vet visit yesterday and his inability to really hold down food.
Our hearts are absolutely shattered, as we know we most likely must help him cross over. He is my heart pig. My soulmate. My best friend.

I am just at a loss because even my insanely savvy exotic vet hasn’t seen this really happen w guinea pigs, and she is mainly a bunny and guinea pig vet, and an incredibly highly sought after one at that.
Pablo Picasso, his life partner, is going to be destroyed over the loss of his best friend, and we are not adopting more after this. Pablo has dental disease along with recurring bladder stones (survived his recent cystotomy like a champ).

I don’t see a lot of info on guinea pigs having spewing undigested hay/ regurgitation. Has anyone experienced this?

This is a novel, but this is about to be the most awful and heartbreaking decision of our life. We are hoping to get him through the night comfortably so we can take him to our wonderful team of vets where he has been going his whole life of health journey to help carry him over either tomorrow or this week depending. I don’t think we will have radiologists reviews before we need to make this decision.
This will be our first piggy loss, and our hearts are in horrific pain. And our poor Pablo- he is the one who is VERY attached to his brother. Salvador has always been a bit benign to Pablo, but Pablo is extremely dependent.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this.
 
What a difficult time. Sending you support and comfort, very sad.
 
Oh no how awful for you all, how has the night been?
It is a heartbreaking situation to be in I'm sorry I have no advice other than could your vet reach out to others for any additional experience?
Sending you all hugs 💐
 
I’m so sorry. I’ve no experience of this. You have done absolutely everything you can. Sending you hugs at this difficult time. ❤️
 
Update: We are still so puzzled. Salvador had another episode during the 3am hour this morning (I’m in Los Angeles) he is obviously lethargic, but he keeps going around in cycles where he gets perky, eats hay, drinks water, wants his scheduled snacks… licks the wall at 8pm for his 1/2 vitamin c cookie (the cutest darn thing ever)… but then lays around clearly exhausted from heaving and spitting up (we know ilthey can’t throw up so it’s coming out before it makes its way to stomach).
I really don’t want to drag out the inevitable, and if he was in a full hideout suffer it would be a much easier decision, but I really want to wait and see what the radiologist sees from his contrast x-rays. We are also picking up Sucralfate today to see if it can help coat his tummy. My husband seems to think pellets are a strong trigger, so I’ve removed them. His weight has dropped significantly in the past two days, however, I’m hesitant to shove too much critical care down him because if he has a blockage, I don’t want to cause more pain than necessary. This is the most awful confusion. I wish we had answers.
 
And another immediate thought- am I horrible for holding out until we can get some better idea on his issue? Am I awful for keeping him home and not rushing to euthanize him? I keep hoping there is an answer that will help him heal from this. Like I said, in September it happened once the not again until Christmas? And my poor Pablo, his best buddy… with Pablo having dental disease and now two cystotomies, we aren’t getting more piggies after this. How will he survive alone?
Salvador has had otitis media and I imagine Pablo is a carrier of it at this point, so it would essentially possibly expose another even if I were considering more piggies. We just aren’t continuing after these babies. Ugh. My heart is in shambles.
 
No you are not horrible. You don’t want to rush into an irreversible decision. If he is getting up for veggies and still has a vest for life then take his lead. Just see how things go. Don’t rush.
 
As long as he is eating by himself it is definitely worth holding on. The radiology will hopefully shed some light on things. Could you foster a bulla pig from a rescue if the worst happens and you lose sweet Salvador Dali? Your piggies get such good care, I'm sure they know you are helping them. I hope a solution can be found 🙏
 
Truffolo said:
As long as he is eating by himself it is definitely worth holding on. The radiology will hopefully shed some light on things. Could you foster a bulla pig from a rescue if the worst happens and you lose sweet Salvador Dali? Your piggies get such good care, I'm sure they know you are helping them. I hope a solution can be found 🙏
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He is eating some by himself but certainly not enough to maintain weight needed…but definitely still taking in hay and craving the veggies!
Drinking some on his own as well.
We took the pellets away because it seems it’s quite a strong (at least partial) culprit in triggering these episodes. I put them back in this afternoon and tonight wet down so they’re at least soft.
He isn’t interested in critical care past 2-3 mL at a time only a few times a day. I’m hesitant to force too much down since I don’t want to cause him to heave.
Fortunately, radiology came back seeing no abnormal pooling in esophagus or a reason for his regurgitation. We are waiting to hear back from him on areas our vet drew on x-rays wondering if there could be a mass present. Unfortunately, it provided no clear answers.
Our next step would be another very stressful and VERY expensive vet visit involving a fluoroscopy and/or CT scan- ideally with contrast. We may go for it tomorrow or Wednesday depending on how he seems in the morning.
It is 11pm here, and a good night rest is much needed for the humans.

Re: fostering, my husband very much doesn’t want that. As much as I would like to, we are both not quite capable of detaching and not becoming very much connected to a piggy we would bring in... This journey has been an extremely “special needs” circumstances for both our babies, and this is definitely the final stretch (at least for a while) with little wiglets. That’s so hard to type out loud.
I am far too empathetic to endure more special needs piggies, and with nationwide ending our main insurance plan for the boys, my bank account can no longer endure the price of taking on a new one.
it’s a lot to think about while we wrap our head around the idea of Salvi possibly leaving us soon.
Sorry for the ramble! I’m just getting it alllll out, aren’t I? 🙆🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️
 
Yes, offering support. It's hard. I hope he starts to heal soon. 🙏🐾
 
Evening update on our sweetest boy:
Woke up at 4:20 am for his Sucralfate and 7am for Metoclopramide which he has been receiving 3x daily for a couple of days now. The rest of his regular meds are meloxicam, benazepril and gabapentin, and just two days ago back on his saline with amikacin nebulizer treatments…just in case of aspiration pneumonia etc.
He had held his weight overnight and was so much perkier this morning, begging for his morning joint support supplement by licking the window like usual. ♥️♥️♥️
Was hopping about eating hay and drinking water in a (not completely - but a version of) normal manner …
We decided to let him enjoy his burst of what appeared to be responding to these meds and possible upward trend rather than take him on a 1-2 hour drive to the vet to have the stressful fluoroscopy and or CT scan.
At very least, since these sweet floofs live so strong in the moment- we wanted him to have a day at home or even hours at home feeling happy and pampered.
We just gave the boys their scheduled salad dinner, and sliced Salvador’s into micro pieces and gave him 1/16th of his usual amount… immediately following, regurgitation. He had a minor bout overnight, as well, and one bout that somehow I missed this afternoon- all of which I discovered on mats discretely hidden after it happened. This evenings we just caught happening in the moment.

At this stage, we are taking him tomorrow, no questions asked. Likely to let him rest easy and tell him how perfect he has been and what an honor it has been to get to love him as mommy and daddy.
We took some quick family portraits together on our sofa yesterday, and I’m so happy that we did.
Pablo is being the sweetest little brother sitting right next to him for comfort. We know he knows. He is a spunky, BOSSY, and sassy Abyssinian, but somehow also finds this sweet side to comfort Salvador and be by his side. It is the kindest act. Makes me cry.
Send a little loving thought or prayer or whatever it may be out for our sweet baby if you wouldn’t mind. ❤️‍🩹
Thank you, again, for being such an incredibly supportive community.
 
My prayers and thoughts are with you all, what beautiful memories you have made and the love you have showered him with today, and always, will be with you all forever 💙
 
Hi friends- we have someone coming to our house to help our Salvi cross over in 2.5 hours so we can all be home where he feels safest. I plan to hold him in his blanket on our sofa where we spend so much time cuddling daily. Pablo hates being held and is very much a- don’t restrain me or hold me or control me- despises being anywhere but his cage and living room floor (free roam with an elaborate setup on our living room floor)
but should I have him on sofa w us?l while Salvi crosses over? Or just take that time w Salvador and put him back in cage with Pablo after? My heart is in pieces.
 
How heartbreaking I am so sorry but you are making this decision with the deepest of love 💔
 
I'm not sure about Pablo, could he be free roaming in the area? So he can choose if to come over to his brother? I know everyone says they already know and have in some way started saying their goodbyes follow your heart you know your boys best but yes once your beloved boy Salvi has crossed The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 as you say let Pablo spend some time with him
Stay strong for your boys and will pray for you all and keep you in my thoughts 😞🙏
 
CTWC said:
I'm not sure about Pablo, could he be free roaming in the area? So he can choose if to come over to his brother? I know everyone says they already know and have in some way started saying their goodbyes follow your heart you know your boys best but yes once your beloved boy Salvi has crossed The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 as you say let Pablo spend some time with him
Stay strong for your boys and will pray for you all and keep you in my thoughts 😞🙏
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Thank you so much. I want Salvador to be on our sofa (Pablo can’t see him there) because it’s where Salvador feels most safe and peaceful. Suppose I will try bringing Pablo up and if it feels too stressful, my husband can take him down.
Thank you so much for your reply. I’m numb but trying to hold strong for the one who has given me the most joy I’ve ever known. I owe him this honor.
 
I’d spend the time with Salvador making sure he’s comfortable and peaceful. Then pop him in with Pablo afterwards. But that’s just my opinion. Thinking of you and your husband at this sad time. ❤️
 
Fill the time with love and share stories and memories of your joyful moments together take any photos if you want to, this will help keep you calmer and Salvador will feel that from you. We know your heart is in pieces but as you say be strong and help eachother through this then there will be time to grieve. I'll keep checking here when I can but don't feel you need to reply or have to do anything 😥
 
Hello sweet friends.
I know this should also be in the bereavement section now, but I want to continue on this thread since it’s already been created and commented on.

Now that the initial emotions are beginning to settle inside of me, I wanted to come and thank you for supporting me through the most difficult day of my life.

My tiny lion and heart pig, Salvador Dali, passed away on 1/1/26 at 1:28 pm on my heart & in his favorite blanket.

My husband held Pablo on one of our living room chairs positioned right next to my shoulder and next to Salvador, so he could witness/smell/touch and understand what was happening.
We had very gentle, low volume classical music playing with the Yule log on tv and all of our Christmas lights on.
We kept them calm while they inhaled loads of their favorite (and never before tried) veggies while the gentle and oh so kind vet began her work.

He barely noticed the first sedative injection (he needed a second dose to help relax him enough to proceed) and by the time the second relaxation dose was given, he had quite literally zoned out with cilantro falling out of his mouth…An absolute blessing that he was eating with gusto and excitement in his final seconds.

He passed peacefully with his entire family at his side on his safest and most treasured place… My heartbeat.

My heart is in a million trillion pieces, but also whole because it was an honor to have had the opportunity to provide such a peaceful space for him to fall asleep forever.

Once he passed, we placed him back in their home in a bonding scarf I used when he was a baby, and kept him partially exposed for Pablo to groom, smell, process etc.

He remained there for 5 hours while we watched Pablo cuddle with him, attempt to rouse him, leave him and go eat, until we felt he had processed enough.

He is now with a cremation service and we will have him returned home in a few weeks.

My next hurdle and overwhelming gut pain is for Pablo. We are spending all day and evenings in the living room with him keeping his spirits as up as we can. He is alone when we are sleeping, as we do not have space to bring his “mansion” into our room and don’t want to change his familiarity/ home setup. He was lying in all of Salvi’s spots when not burrowed in his usual hay pile corner. I do think he has started to go into Salvi’s spots less and less over last 48 hours.

He is surprisingly doing okay, but of course his light inside is dimmer, and we are not his kind and cannot replace or fill the void that was his brother’s presence and companionship.

He is grieving, but since he is also so deeply bonded w us humans, he has been eating, drinking, sometimes playing w toys and adjusting better than we expected.

We do not want more piggies, and with Pablo being VERY special needs, we are certainly in a very difficult place as I don’t want him to be without his kind, but not entirely sure what his life expectancy will be.
Nearly 5.5 years old and —I think I mentioned this before, Pab has dental disease , IC, and recurring bladder stones. The care he requires is extensive and EXPENSIVE, so rehoming for a better/more fulfilled life with other piggies wouldn’t even be an option… we have insurance and take amazing care of him with all of his vet needs and requirements.

He had his second cystotomy in late October, only a year after his first. I do not believe we would consider a 3rd operation if he gets stones again, as those operations take quite a toll, and as a lone boy grieving loss now, I am very concerned about how his health will handle over the next few weeks/months.

He has been coughing on and off through December, but seems to have sorted his dental throughout the month enough to delay his previously scheduled procedures…however, he has been yawning extensively since Dec 31st… as it’s a sign his teeth need another anesthetized dental trim… currently has anesthetized trim scheduled for 1/14… (we scheduled that appointment before Salvador was in his final stages) however, I don’t even know if his spirit will be strong enough to overcome that much stress in such a short amount of time after Salvi’s passing? Thoughts on this?

I suppose I’m at a stage now where I’m seeking input on how others would proceed in my situation?

Again, I value and appreciate everything you all have suggested and just the kindness of this special piggy community.

You have given me so much strength.

Blessings to you all this new year.
 
I feel blessed that you have chosen to share Salvador's crossing over The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 thank you. It sounds just perfect for him to have been surrounded by such love and security in his final moments here 🌈
Be gentle with yourselves as you grieve and if Pablo is eating/drinking and remaining healthy you have time to consider your options. Salvador will be with you forever never forget that 🌈
 
CTWC said:
I feel blessed that you have chosen to share Salvador's crossing over The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 thank you. It sounds just perfect for him to have been surrounded by such love and security in his final moments here 🌈
Be gentle with yourselves as you grieve and if Pablo is eating/drinking and remaining healthy you have time to consider your options. Salvador will be with you forever never forget that 🌈
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Your messages have been so heartfelt. Thank you for your warmth. 🙏
I find myself erupting in random and abrupt tears that give zero warning, questioning if I gave up to soon, should I have done allll of the tests I had considered?
But if I’m being honest, he had been withdrawn for some time. Mostly slept anymore… he always was a hopper and his body became quite wobbly in these past few months. I think he would’ve held on as long as possible, but it felt like it would’ve been me doing it for me. But maybe I gave up too soon? I don’t know. Hopefully with time, I’ll feel confident in our decision for him.
He truly was one of a kind and I wish everyone here could’ve met him. Absolute love bug with the gentlest soul I’ve ever known. 💔♥️🌈🐾
 
This is such a moving post. I’m so very sorry for your loss of a clearly treasured, adored and integral member of your family.

Although it’s heartbreaking to lose someone you love so much, what you describe above strikes me as the most gentlest of passings, surrounded by love. You took care of every detail for him, even though it was hard for you as humans. You gave him love from the beginning until the end, and that is something to be proud of. Take care as you navigate your grief.
 
I know our thoughts can be our own worst enemy but you certainly didn't give up in any way. You put what was best for your treasured boy first as I said it sounds wrong in a way but it was perfect the alternatives could have been traumatic for you all, this way you were all there with him supporting and loving eachother 💙
 
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