Two Poorly Pigs

[JoannaMarie]

I am really struggling at the moment with anxiety over my two boars. Alan (long haired) is nearly 7 and has suffered with interstitial cystitis for several years. He started crying when he wees again and last Saturday we found out he has bladder stones. My last pig died from bladder stones and I am devastated. We are lucky enough to live in the east Midlands so I took them to see the wonderful and kind Guinea Pig Vet Ellie Whitehead at Derwent Valley. Alan is on high dose of pain killers with the hope he may pass them naturally.

My other pig Monty is 5 and he has arthritis in his knees. Ellie prescribed him strong pain killers but he is still not able to walk.

So I feel like I'm in a place where I might lose both of them in a short space of time. The quality of their life is paramount to me. I wouldn't want Alan to have an operation at his age, he is a tiny pig anyway (always only been between 850-900g) and I think it would be very stressful for him.

Monty is still enjoying his food and seems happy enough. He has always been quite a lazy pig anyway so I don't think not walking bothers him too much, he enjoys getting all his food bought to him, but I find it very difficult to see him struggling and I wonder how do you know it is the right time to let them go? I am trying to keep him as clean and dry as possible, changing towels and fleeces every day. He is always begging for food and his face lights up when I give him his favourite veggies or his fancy burgess feeding hay.

I just don't know how I am going to deal with losing one of them, let alone if they both pass away within a short space of time. I love them both so much.

 

[Hope4gem]

It sounds like you love your piggies very much. They are lucky to have you. As hard as it is, do your best to keep taking it one day (or even just one minute) at a time. I'm sure you will continue to make the best decisions that you can for them.

 

[weepweeps]

Your boys are gorgeous. And you’ve taken amazing care of them. They have reached great ages to prove that. There are some information guides you can read that talk sensitively about when is the right time to let them go. Have a read of them and you might find you’re not there yet and have many more days, weeks or months with them. Take care of yourself.

 

[Wiebke]

I am really struggling at the moment with anxiety over my two boars. Alan (long haired) is nearly 7 and has suffered with interstitial cystitis for several years. He started crying when he wees again and last Saturday we found out he has bladder stones. My last pig died from bladder stones and I am devastated. We are lucky enough to live in the east Midlands so I took them to see the wonderful and kind Guinea Pig Vet Ellie Whitehead at Derwent Valley. Alan is on high dose of pain killers with the hope he may pass them naturally.

My other pig Monty is 5 and he has arthritis in his knees. Ellie prescribed him strong pain killers but he is still not able to walk.

So I feel like I'm in a place where I might lose both of them in a short space of time. The quality of their life is paramount to me. I wouldn't want Alan to have an operation at his age, he is a tiny pig anyway (always only been between 850-900g) and I think it would be very stressful for him.

Monty is still enjoying his food and seems happy enough. He has always been quite a lazy pig anyway so I don't think not walking bothers him too much, he enjoys getting all his food bought to him, but I find it very difficult to see him struggling and I wonder how do you know it is the right time to let them go? I am trying to keep him as clean and dry as possible, changing towels and fleeces every day. He is always begging for food and his face lights up when I give him his favourite veggies or his fancy burgess feeding hay.

I just don't know how I am going to deal with losing one of them, let alone if they both pass away within a short space of time. I love them both so much.

Hi!

I am very sorry about the bladder stones. 7 years is a great age, however, and at the upper end of the average life span so be proud of having got him there; whatever happens! I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Try the same glucosamine supplement for the arthritic knees in addition to the athritis as you have it handy or get a specific glucosamine supplement (Oxbow joint care) in addition to the painkiller/anti-inflammatory you have been prescribed. Keep in mind the glucosamine is classed a food supplement and not as medication so your vet will not necessarily prescribe it.
It may however help with improving the mobility over the coming weeks. My 7 years old Morwenna is also increasingly having stiff back legs, and so is my Pioden, who is facing up to 8 years of life.
You may find this guide link here helpful if mobility is becoming more of an issue, not just with moving around but also with piggy washes and self-care:
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

Unfortunately, when you come to this grand old age with your piggies, it is catching up with them in some way or other - you can never choose when and in which they it gets to your piggies and when and what from they will die. That is entirely out of your control. Please keep in mind that guinea pigs don't have a concept for an average life span; they count their lives in happy todays - which, by the sound of it - you have given them lots of.
It is always a gutting moment when you realise that time with a beloved one may be running out. In fact, your grieving process starts right there and then and it is the second worst time apart from the end itself. The reason why I am bringing this is up is that if you have the boon of time left with your piggies, you can either cherish whatever time is left and make the most of it or you can let it run through your fingers by staring at the inevitable and let your fears rule you. It is always a bitter-sweet time but it is in your control just how bitter or how sweet you make it.
I usually re-set the clock at zero in the kind of situation you are finding yourself and see every single day my oldies are with me as a special boon to cherish and celebrate. It does help me, especially when I have a wodge of oldies and am facing a bit of a stampede to the Rainbow Bridge at some point.
You may find the information in this link here helpful and supportive: Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A helpful and supportive information collection

All the best! I hope that you will still have a decent amount of time left with your two boys!

 

[JoannaMarie]

Hi!

I am very sorry about the bladder stones. 7 years is a great age, however, and at the upper end of the average life span so be proud of having got him there; whatever happens! I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Try the same glucosamine supplement for the arthritic knees in addition to the athritis as you have it handy or get a specific glucosamine supplement (Oxbow joint care) in addition to the painkiller/anti-inflammatory you have been prescribed. Keep in mind the glucosamine is classed a food supplement and not as medication so your vet will not necessarily prescribe it.
It may however help with improving the mobility over the coming weeks. My 7 years old Morwenna is also increasingly having stiff back legs, and so is my Pioden, who is facing up to 8 years of life.
You may find this guide link here helpful if mobility is becoming more of an issue, not just with moving around but also with piggy washes and self-care:
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

Unfortunately, when you come to this grand old age with your piggies, it is catching up with them in some way or other - you can never choose when and in which they it gets to your piggies and when and what from they will die. That is entirely out of your control. Please keep in mind that guinea pigs don't have a concept for an average life span; they count their lives in happy todays - which, by the sound of it - you have given them lots of.
It is always a gutting moment when you realise that time with a beloved one may be running out. In fact, your grieving process starts right there and then and it is the second worst time apart from the end itself. The reason why I am bringing this is up is that if you have the boon of time left with your piggies, you can either cherish whatever time is left and make the most of it or you can let it run through your fingers by staring at the inevitable and let your fears rule you. It is always a bitter-sweet time but it is in your control just how bitter or how sweet you make it.
I usually re-set the clock at zero in the kind of situation you are finding yourself and see every single day my oldies are with me as a special boon to cherish and celebrate. It does help me, especially when I have a wodge of oldies and am facing a bit of a stampede to the Rainbow Bridge at some point.
You may find the information in this link here helpful and supportive: Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A helpful and supportive information collection

All the best! I hope that you will still have a decent amount of time left with your two boys!

Thank you so much, this is so comforting. Over the last couple of weeks I have been doing as you say, spending as much quality time with them and giving them all their favourite treats. Alan is doing really well and is probably the liveliest he's been in years. He gets a scan next week to see if he's managed to get rid of the stones naturally.

Monty is barely able to walk however he is still enjoying food and as I am able to work from home he is also spending a lot of time with me on the sofa during the day whilst I'm working on the laptop. I've moved him onto towels and fleece as he was getting wet on his usual carefresh bedding and I was worried about urine scald. I will try those supplements thank you for the recommendation.

I feel very lucky to have had two pigs for 5+ years, I'm going to cherish the time I have with them ❤

Thank you again for your kind words and advice x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much, this is so comforting. Over the last couple of weeks I have been doing as you say, spending as much quality time with them and giving them all their favourite treats. Alan is doing really well and is probably the liveliest he's been in years. He gets a scan next week to see if he's managed to get rid of the stones naturally.

Monty is barely able to walk however he is still enjoying food and as I am able to work from home he is also spending a lot of time with me on the sofa during the day whilst I'm working on the laptop. I've moved him onto towels and fleece as he was getting wet on his usual carefresh bedding and I was worried about urine scald. I will try those supplements thank you for the recommendation.

I feel very lucky to have had two pigs for 5+ years, I'm going to cherish the time I have with them ❤

Thank you again for your kind words and advice x

All the best! The more you can see this time as special and in a way as timeless, the more you and your piggies will get out of it.

Knowing that you have made the most of it will help you cope better when the loss comes because you have already done quite a bit of the grieving 'homework' and it will also save you from suffering badly from the usual feelings of guilt/failure/soul-searching at the onset of the grieving process because you know that your boys are as happy as can be and are enjoying their life for as long as possible.

PS: The same also goes with any family - it is always so much easier when there is nothing left that you needed to say or do; for both sides. So it is a good attitude to get into.

 

[JoannaMarie]

All the best! The more you can see this time as special and in a way as timeless, the more you and your piggies will get out of it.

Knowing that you have made the most of it will help you cope better when the loss comes because you have already done quite a bit of the grieving 'homework' and it will also save you from suffering badly from the usual feelings of guilt/failure/soul searching at the onset of the grieving process because you know that your boys are as happy as can be and are enjoying their life for as long as possible.

PS: The same also goes with any family - it is always so much easier when there is nothing left that you needed to say or do; for both sides. So it is a good attitude to get into.

Yes that makes sense, to know that I have done everything to make their days as happy as possible will help when the time comes, and I agree the grieving process happens when they change into elderly pigs and you have to face the fact they won't be here forever. Monty, although not able to walk, is still very much enjoying food and to be honest he has always been a lazy pig so I don't think it bothers him that much he can't get around as much.

Thank you for the links, they are very helpful and informative. I'm going to start bum bathing Monty each day to help prevent urine scold. I've ordered the oxbow joint care tablets so fingers crossed they will help his mobility a bit.

 

[JoannaMarie]

Just by way of an update @Wiebke Monty has deteriorated over the last few weeks and I am starting to feel like it is time, he's showing less and less interest in food. Its very sad but I want to do the right thing for him. I am feeling better prepared than I did and I have had a few weeks of showering him with treats and up until this week he's been quite chirpy and enjoying food.

I do have some good news. The Guinea Pig Vet prescribed a very high dose of metacam (0.8 ml twice daily) along with gabapentin (0.2 ml x twice daily) and this has allowed Alan to pass the bladder stones naturally! He is in great spirits and has put on 100 grams in 3 weeks. I cannot give enough praise to the vet Ellie Whitehead

I have bought some of the joint care tablets but monty won't touch them and I think it's a bit late for them to help him. Alan is having one a day as he has mild arthritis so thank you for the advice, hopefully this will help prevent/slow it down.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the udate!

I am very sorry that Monty is deteriorating but glad that Alan has been able to pass his stones naturally without needing an operation. They were obviously small enough to not getting stuck in the urethra.

Keep on hanging in there for Monty. The saying goodbye and the pain of the loss never any easier as each bond is unique. But you may find that not having any feelings of failure/guilt and actually having already done quite a bit of the grieving 'homework' in the last couple of weeks, you will have a somewhat easier ride after that.
My thoughts are with you.

 

[JoannaMarie]

@weibke Monty has been clinging on, but getting frailer. I have made the decision to have him PTS later this afternoon. He has lost about 200 grams in a couple of weeks, as he is getting more and more picky and has stopped eating hay altogether. I've been having to hand feed him water for several weeks as he won't drink at all, and doesn't have the strength to move himself. He has trouble keeping his head up now. I think I have made the right decision but there will always be a doubt. I have bought him his favourite parsley and coriander and he is enjoying his treats today. I am a mess I feel heart broken.

 

[weepweeps]

Such a hard decision. But you have made it with love and his quality of life at the fore front of your mind. Take care of yourself. Popcorn free of pain Monty over the rainbow bridge.

 

[JoannaMarie]

Such a hard decision. But you have made it with love and his quality of life at the fore front of your mind. Take care of yourself. Popcorn free of pain Monty over the rainbow bridge.

Thank you @weepweeps I don't think I've ever cried as many tears as I have today. It hurts so much to not have him here. He was such a sweet and loving boy. I am still questioning whether I have done the right thing, but he was losing weight at such a quick rate and I didn't want to wait until it got to be an emergency. He was eating coriander in the vets waiting room and he looked so peaceful after. Xx

 

[weepweeps]

The more we love something the more it hurts I believe. Take care.