velveteenery
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi Guinea Pig Forum folks,
I think my sweet girl Sassafras is making her way to the Rainbow Bridge. I would love some support.
For continuity's sake, here are the previous threads where I posted about her in the past - Here and Here. Sassy has two cagemates, Cinnamon and Rosemary.
Sassy was diagnosed with heart failure and possibly lung cancer a few months ago (I had taken her for a spay, which is when I found out via x rays they took showing some apparent fluid in/near her lungs and an enlarged heart, so we didn't go through w the spay but did the hormone implant instead).
We can't tell if there was a trauma (no injury we are aware of) or a flare-up of arthritis or even metastasized cancer to her bone, but she's struggling to put weight on her right front paw - I noticed this on Tuesday night and then it had worsened substantially by Weds morning. Took her in to see the vet later that morning (this was yesterday), vet sent us home with additional pain med ( ). She also already takes Metacam. The vet noted that her lungs didn't sound great in his exam and confirmed that it seems like she's declining.
Now she is nearly stationary (laying down all the time), but she's still eating. I can't tell if it's just the front paw now - seems there are other tender areas, too? - but she can hardly move. She's not able to clean herself, so I'm trying to change out pee pads frequently and try to keep her dry and clean as much as I can.
I've been offering critical care and also water through syringes, because even though I'm placing her right near her water bottle, I haven't seen her drink from it. She has been taking the CC and some water from the syringe. If she turns her head away from the syringe, I stop giving it.
She's squeaking in pain any time I pick her up or try to reposition her. But as I mentioned, she is still munching her hay, eating her veggies - even trying to move towards the sound of a crinkly bag or when she knows there is food on the way. She also still peeing and pooping. Her weight was even stable from yesterday morning to today!
Vet mentioned we could also try gabapentin, but that it would sedate her more. I would prefer for her to be able to pass at home so that she is with Cinnamon and Rosemary, as long as the pain is not unbearable.
I'm trying to discern how best to care for her. It seems she is making her way to the rainbow bridge but it's hard for me to tell where she's at. I wish she could talk to me and I could talk to her. It's so hard when they can't tell us what exactly is going on.
Anyway, thanks y'all
I think my sweet girl Sassafras is making her way to the Rainbow Bridge. I would love some support.
For continuity's sake, here are the previous threads where I posted about her in the past - Here and Here. Sassy has two cagemates, Cinnamon and Rosemary.
Sassy was diagnosed with heart failure and possibly lung cancer a few months ago (I had taken her for a spay, which is when I found out via x rays they took showing some apparent fluid in/near her lungs and an enlarged heart, so we didn't go through w the spay but did the hormone implant instead).
We can't tell if there was a trauma (no injury we are aware of) or a flare-up of arthritis or even metastasized cancer to her bone, but she's struggling to put weight on her right front paw - I noticed this on Tuesday night and then it had worsened substantially by Weds morning. Took her in to see the vet later that morning (this was yesterday), vet sent us home with additional pain med ( ). She also already takes Metacam. The vet noted that her lungs didn't sound great in his exam and confirmed that it seems like she's declining.
Now she is nearly stationary (laying down all the time), but she's still eating. I can't tell if it's just the front paw now - seems there are other tender areas, too? - but she can hardly move. She's not able to clean herself, so I'm trying to change out pee pads frequently and try to keep her dry and clean as much as I can.
I've been offering critical care and also water through syringes, because even though I'm placing her right near her water bottle, I haven't seen her drink from it. She has been taking the CC and some water from the syringe. If she turns her head away from the syringe, I stop giving it.
She's squeaking in pain any time I pick her up or try to reposition her. But as I mentioned, she is still munching her hay, eating her veggies - even trying to move towards the sound of a crinkly bag or when she knows there is food on the way. She also still peeing and pooping. Her weight was even stable from yesterday morning to today!
Vet mentioned we could also try gabapentin, but that it would sedate her more. I would prefer for her to be able to pass at home so that she is with Cinnamon and Rosemary, as long as the pain is not unbearable.
I'm trying to discern how best to care for her. It seems she is making her way to the rainbow bridge but it's hard for me to tell where she's at. I wish she could talk to me and I could talk to her. It's so hard when they can't tell us what exactly is going on.
Anyway, thanks y'all
