Should I Put My Guinea Pig Down?

[Same Days]

Hi I'm new here but I've created an account because I'm in a crisis. I'm 16 years old and I've had my Guinea for 4 years. My Guinea pig, Smokey, is a rescue Guinea pig so we have no way of accurately identifying his age however, we had a vet predict his age and he concluded with Smokey being up to 14 years old! This is most likely incorrect, but it's enough to conclude he is very old.

Smokey has recently lost the use of his back legs and constantly drags them everywhere (if he moves). It is painful as he lets out what I can only compare to being loud gasps of air when he is hurt.
In consequence, he eats and drinks less, while also absolutely hating being syringe fed. Nevertheless, he does eat and drink. He will never naturally poo though, I never see regular poo in his cage as it just comes out in clumps due to him rubbing it off [from gaining impaction because of it]. I empty his anus of this poo daily however, he doesn't enjoy it at all. I believe it doesn't come out naturally because he can't use his back legs and has lost muscle use.

He also wees, but he lays in it constantly and it just becomes a mess. He can't move away from it, and he only lays in his den (this made me reposition his food and water so he could access it easily as he will never leave his den). I won't allow it though so I empty his cage 3/4/5 times a day, including once at 2am/3am so he can sleep more comfortable. I can't wake up throughout the night to empty it and so he just has to lay in it until I get up.

I regularly give him salad and all the healthy stuff, he has constant access to hay, food, and water.

It is extremely painful to hear him cry in pain and for him to lose his happiness. He doesn't enjoy being stroked or picked up much at all anymore, and I think he's losing his trust in me due to me regularly cleaning his anus.

We took him to the vet when it started and they said that there's no damaged bone in his legs or irregularities, and that it should get better within a few weeks. It's been 5 weeks now and he has been the same for 2/3 weeks. He originally wouldn't move at all, but now he'll drag himself only to his den/somewhere to hide.

I don't know if it is fair to keep him alive in such a state, he is in pain. But what if he gets better? I can't keep this up for too long as I have school and I'm going to 6th form. Non of my family are willing to do what I do for the Guinea pig. Either way, I don't know if it's right to let him continue like this. Any advice? ~Sorry if any of this is difficult to read or understand~

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Your piggy is in pain, so at least he would need a proper examination what is causing his back leg paralysis and pain (arthritis?) and appropriate medication depending on the findings. Most back leg paralysis will cure itself if it is caused by a sudden drop of calcium, but not if it is caused by arthritis or an internal tumor/growth or swelling.
You definitely need to talk to a vet again and you are perfectly within your rights to talk about pts in this case. If you and your vet come to the conclusion that letting him go is the kindest thing because he has no longer quality of life, then you can do that as the last loving gift for him. A good vet is willing to give you his honest assessment if you ask him to. The ultimate decision is always yours, as the owner.

Until you see the vet and can get a proper examination/diagnosis, you will need to continue giving him good home care with you placing hay, water and food just by his sleeping place, changing his sleeping place twice daily to prevent urine scald and sores, try to offer him mushed up slightly warm pellets from a spoon, so he is as comfy as possible. Remember that up to 80% of his feed intake is hay. If one or two food groups get dropped, that is most often a sign of pain and needs to be taken seriously.

I am sorry for your predicament, as you sound like a caring owner. I just had to let my own oldest piggy at 8 years of age go as an emergency yesterday evening, when she, having lost most of her mobility because of arthritis and being very frail like yours, developed a massive eye infection within hours. Any treatment would not have kicked in quickly enough. She was on constant pain meds and has got the best of care I can give her, so I have supported her will to live for as long as she had an appetite for life (literally!). So I can fully sympathise!

Recommended UK vets locator: Guinea Pig Vet Locator
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Euthanasia - What happens when it's time to say goodbye?

 

[Swissgreys]

I don't have any further practical advice to offer, but I just wanted to say how impressed I was with your maturity and commitment to Smokey.
It sounds as if you are doing everything possible for him, and have his best interests at heart.
He is a very fortunate guinea pig to have you as his owner.

 

[Natwee88]

I can only echo what the others have said but can I suggest that you find a different vet in your area?
I find it shocking that a vet gave you an age estimate of 14 years which, as you said, is incorrect. Most Guinea Pigs live between 6 - 8 years.
I'm so sorry you're having to go through this with your pig it can be so distressing when one of them is ill!

 

[helen105281]

I had a similar situation with my Ellie earlier in the year, we tried to treat with vitamins and pain relief in case of a calcium crash but after a few days we took her back to the vets and they advised us to put PTS as there was no improvement and she was starting to get urine scald. I agree that he needs to see the vet again and discuss PTS if the vet feels it is necessary. I believe that if a pig can't do all things piggy then it is time to make a decision as hard as that decision is.

 

[*kate*]

Did your Vet do Xrays? My Tilly had the exact same symptoms, dragging her legs. She was diagnosed with Osteoporosis, her bones are very thin and glass like.

 

[Same Days]

Hi

Hi and welcome!

Your piggy is in pain, so at least he would need a proper examination what is causing his back leg paralysis and pain (arthritis?) and appropriate medication depending on the findings. Most back leg paralysis will cure itself if it is caused by a sudden drop of calcium, but not if it is caused by arthritis or an internal tumor/growth or swelling.
You definitely need to talk to a vet again and you are perfectly within your rights to talk about pts in this case. If you and your vet come to the conclusion that letting him go is the kindest thing because he has no longer quality of life, then you can do that as the last loving gift for him. A good vet is willing to give you his honest assessment if you ask him to. The ultimate decision is always yours, as the owner.

Until you see the vet and can get a proper examination/diagnosis, you will need to continue giving him good home care with you placing hay, water and food just by his sleeping place, changing his sleeping place twice daily to prevent urine scald and sores, try to offer him mushed up slightly warm pellets from a spoon, so he is as comfy as possible. Remember that up to 80% of his feed intake is hay. If one or two food groups get dropped, that is most often a sign of pain and needs to be taken seriously.

I am sorry for your predicament, as you sound like a caring owner. I just had to let my own oldest piggy at 8 years of age go as an emergency yesterday evening, when she, having lost most of her mobility because of arthritis and being very frail like yours, developed a massive eye infection within hours. Any treatment would not have kicked in quickly enough. She was on constant pain meds and has got the best of care I can give her, so I have supported her will to live for as long as she had an appetite for life (literally!). So I can fully sympathise!

Recommended UK vets locator: Guinea Pig Vet Locator
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Euthanasia - What happens when it's time to say goodbye?

Hi! Thank you for the advice, I have done so and we will be visiting the vet tomorrow however, we have already discussed the symptoms with other veterinarians and all of them have said that it's cruel to keep him alive for longer due to having no quality of life. We have personally decided to put him down. This has been most difficult on me, but seeing him suffer has torn me apart.
My two other Guinea pigs will now have a two floor den though The process of cleaning his cage has been extremely difficult however, I feel ready now. He's a very old Guinea pig, and even if he did get cured, he would develop symptoms over and over again until it's too painful for him to bare. I am tearful, but I know it's what's best. He has lost his happiness, and so it's time.

Thank yo for the quick response! I've done everything I could for this Guinea pig and so, I'm emotionally ready. He'll be with me forever though.

 

[Same Days]

I can only echo what the others have said but can I suggest that you find a different vet in your area?
I find it shocking that a vet gave you an age estimate of 14 years which, as you said, is incorrect. Most Guinea Pigs live between 6 - 8 years.
I'm so sorry you're having to go through this with your pig it can be so distressing when one of them is ill!

The vet I go to is very trustworthy, but the person that told me this was actually a substitute! I'm certain he is at least 10 years old. He had a brother, born together. This brother (Bandit) died from classic old age symptoms. This was 3 years ago. Smokey kept going strong though! The World Record is 14 years old though, so there's always a chance

 

[Wiebke]

The vet I go to is very trustworthy, but the person that told me this was actually a substitute! I'm certain he is at least 10 years old. He had a brother, born together. This brother (Bandit) died from classic old age symptoms. This was 3 years ago. Smokey kept going strong though! The World Record is 14 years old though, so there's always a chance

The world record has just been re-set by an Australian guinea pig at a massive 17 years...

I know how you feel. When not knowing the owner, we have to make sure that we cover all angles, especially as it looked from your report that the vet you were seeing was anything but piggy savvy.

My thoughts are with you and your boy!

 

[VickiA]

The decision to PTS is such a hard decision for anyone to make - young or old alike - and it's the one we all dread having to make. It's the kindest act of love we can do for our pets but it doesn't make it any easier. Thoughts are with you and your piggy.

 

[Swissgreys]

Thinking of you, and for what it's worth I think you have made the right decision for your piggie.

 

[Freela]

I'm sorry you are faced with this decision. I've been there myself and I know that it's such a hard choice to make. Quality of life is so important. I had to have one of my hedgehogs put down at a young age because he had a neurological condition that made him unable to walk steadily, and eventually unable to walk or even stand. I could have fed him and cleaned him and kept him going, but it was so unfair for him, as he couldn't get up on his feet and run around and do any of his natural behaviors. It was so hard, but I knew the kindest thing I could do was to help him go peacefully instead of maintaining him in a life that was only suffering, or letting him pass more slowly on his own. ((HUGS)), and again I'm so sorry.

 

[madguinealady]

Huge hugs.I think you have made the right decision.