• DONATIONS NOW OPEN! TGPF relies on donations to run. If you'd like to donate towards running costs you can find out more HERE
  • Fresh grass and lawn tips to avoid springtime deaths Click here for details

Sleep tight my sweet Sierra

anyar.dris

Forum Buddy
Joined
May 31, 2014
Messages
5,687
Reaction score
23,144
Points
1,925
Location
North Wales, UK
Last night, we had to say goodbye to our sweet Sierra boo. Looked like she suffered from renal failure Wednesday night when she stopped producing wee. Thursday last week, we had an appointment with Ellie Whitehead at Matlock for a follow up checkup regarding her bladder issues. Ellie said that Sierra's bladder was not inflamed anymore and was a lot smaller than the previous checkup, albeit still tender. No blood in urine too and no sludge or anything at all. But we had to have her wee cultured because it started to smell last week. On Wednesday afternoon, Ellie phoned us to confirm there were 2 types of bacteria/infections and would send us the antibiotics via post to treat it. But unfortunately, we didn't even managed to start treatment because Sierra stopped weeing that night.

Yesterday morning we had to rush her to the vet in Ruthin to be seen. The vet there told us the same thing that Ellie told us last week that she couldn't feel an inflamed bladder and that it was tender when she felt it. But she said that the kidney felt a bit swollen or that there was something around it feeling hard. We told her that Sierra had 2 big ovarian cysts so it might be something she was feeling. Anyway, she injected Baytril for the infection and told us see if anything would change during the day. Sierra was pooping fine as well even though it was a bit soft. Unfortunately, no changes during the day and we had to take her back to the vets in the afternoon. She was given subcutaneous fluids to see if that would force the kidneys to produce/pass wee. 30 mins after that, Sierra had pee 2x and we thought it was going to start to turn her condition around. Sadly, it didn't. She stopped weeing again and was already refusing to swallow food. She had a bit of small strip of spring greens that she grabbed from hubby's hand but she just couldn't swallow it anymore. So we took her last night at 9pm to the vets to be put to sleep. We can see she was going away sooner than we have wanted but it was just the kindest thing to do even if it breaks our hearts.

I don't know if being on the high dosage of Loxicom and Gabapentin had contributed to it (she had high dose from the start, mid July when the bladder issues started), but when the vet told us her bladder was not inflamed anymore last week, then we believed those meds helped in treating the bladder issue. Hubby is thinking that her getting 2 infections and not having enough time to treat it with medication had more been the cause, or there had been other kidney issues that we didn't catch eventually. Anyway, all these is just our hunch now.

We adopted Sierra from Hartwells Homeless Small Animals & Wildlife Sanctuary in Northampton on July 2018. She was only around 4-5 weeks old that time, so we had her as a baby. She was full of life and was the sweetest piggy ever. She was also our biggest piggy ever (she was 1650g before she started having problems) and loved all the hay we give to her. She loved chin rubs and cheek rubs and would stay seated on the weighing scale for a long time if I give her loads of chin rubs. She was also so laid back and had always been very accepting of new piggies. But Rocky was her most favourite companion. They both were like twins and almost acted the same way, and were inseparable. Wherever Rocky is, expect that Sierra is there sitting or sleeping next to him. I guess she was missing Rocky since he passed away and Rocky must have been calling for her sooner than we would've wanted (Rocky passed away only 3 months ago). We burried her next to Rocky (and Prince who was her first fave boy) so they can be together finally. I'm going to miss her so much. 😭💔

Here are just some of my favourite photos of Sierra. ❤ We love you our little fat cheeks/chipmunk/sausage. We are going to miss you terribly. 3 years and 4 months of having you is not enough but we loved every second of it. ❤

IMG_20180719_130510_516.jpgIMG_20180729_174133_611.jpgIMG_20190614_184351_903.jpgIMG_20191114_222005_712.jpgIMG_20200411_114657_830.jpgIMG_20200420_121429_937.jpgIMG_20200929_130235_542.jpgIMG_20201027_135643_758.jpgIMG_20210129_181359_933.jpgIMG_20210213_132500_529.jpg
 
Last edited:
BIG HUGS

I am so sorry that you have lost your beautiful Sierra.

We forget all too easily that our piggies with their huge personalities are just small animals and that their body can come more quickly to the point where it all gets a bit too much. Please try not to fall too far into the guilt/failure trap; you have definitely done everything possible and then some for Sierra and got pretty far against the odds.

Be sad but please do not feel bad!

Sierra will always have her very own special place in your heart, your life and your memories. That bond will always remain yours.
 
So so sorry to hear of your loss. Sierra was truly beautiful and very very loved! What a wonderful life she had with you guys.

Thinking of you all and sending lots of love at this difficult time 💕

Enjoy the bridge beautiful girl 🌈
 
What a beautiful tribute to Sierra, I’m so so sorry you lost her, sending hugs :hug:I know Sierra has had problems this last few months but she had a very happy and loved life too x
Sleep tight little lady, happy with your favourite boys 🌈
 
My heart sank when I saw Sierra’s name here.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
That is a lovely tribute to your beautiful girl.
She will leave a big hole in your heart and be sadly missed on the forum.
Holding you in my heart ❤️
 
I’m so sorry to read that Sierra has joined the ever growing herd of Forum beauties at the Rainbow Bridge. What a shock for you. You did everything you could have done for your beautiful girl. She was so loved and treasured. Big hugs x. Sleep tight, Sierra.
 
I'm so sorry you had to say goodbye to your beautiful Sierra 😔
She had an incredible life with you and her boys, full of love and cuddles, and I'm sure she knew how much she was loved.
Sleep tight gorgeous girl 💕🌈
 
I’m so so sorry that you’ve lost your beautiful Sierra. She had an amazing life with you and knew how loved she was xx
 
So sad, she was a lovely piggy and you clearly had a very special bond. I’m really sorry to hear this, take care of yourselves as you grieve.
 
Thank you everyone for all your sweet words. ❤️

I kept on mistaking calling Vegas and Bryce with Sierra's name today (as what always happen to me everytime a piggy would pass away). It would take some days of getting used to not talking to her daily. 💔 But I'm sure she is already popcorning over the rainbow bridge seeing Cookie, Prince and Rocky again. She lost 3 companions during her 3 years of being with us so I can imagine how happy she would be seeing them again.
 
Last edited:
I’m so sorry you have lost Sierra. She was a beauty and had a great life with you. You did everything you could for her. Popcorn over the bridge with your old buddies. They have been waiting for you. ❤️
 
I’m so sorry you had to say goodbye to your beautiful little lady, she was such a special piglet and has been such a fighter bless her ❤️ She was in the best home with you. And was such a stunner, what lovely pics of her. Big hugs x
Have fun back with your gorgeous mates at the Bridge Sierra ❤️❤️ xx
 
Back
Top