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Urgent Advise Needed With Difficult Choice

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Harli.21

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Hi

I need some urgent advise please. My 4 year old very much loved female Guinea pig had a large ovarian cyst removed on Tuesday. There were complications during surgery and she lost a lot of blood. Last night she was 'flat', cold, not eating and was refusing syringe feeds. The vet had her on a heat pad and injected glucose to keep her levels up. She survived the night and was reported to be much brighter this morning. I was called this afternoon to say her wound was oozing blood and she needed another surgery. Thankfully the oozing stopped and no surgery was needed. I just called and was told she's cold again so is back on the heat pad, she's still getting glucose injections and she's taking a few syringe feeds but not all. I am very against animals suffering and my question is whether it is worth carrying on with this regime if she's showing no improvement, the nurse said she had shown a little but was still very sick. I don't care about the cost it's her welfare. Can people let me know what they would do please.

Thank you
 
Harli.21 said:
Hi

I need some urgent advise please. My 4 year old very much loved female Guinea pig had a large ovarian cyst removed on Tuesday. There were complications during surgery and she lost a lot of blood. Last night she was 'flat', cold, not eating and was refusing syringe feeds. The vet had her on a heat pad and injected glucose to keep her levels up. She survived the night and was reported to be much brighter this morning. I was called this afternoon to say her wound was oozing blood and she needed another surgery. Thankfully the oozing stopped and no surgery was needed. I just called and was told she's cold again so is back on the heat pad, she's still getting glucose injections and she's taking a few syringe feeds but not all. I am very against animals suffering and my question is whether it is worth carrying on with this regime if she's showing no improvement, the nurse said she had shown a little but was still very sick. I don't care about the cost it's her welfare. Can people let me know what they would do please.

Thank you
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BIG HUGS!

I am so very sorry that it all has gone so pear-shaped!

It is very much on a knife's edge and she may not survive the night anyway. There is no right or wrong in these situations - we all feel slightly different. As long as your decision is made with her wellbeing and comfort first and foremost in mind, you are not failing her, whichever way you decide.
 
Thank you. I just feel so bad she's going through all this, she's the sweetest little white girl with cute sticking up ears and she sings. Her cage sister is with her which is some comfort. The vet assured me this was a simple op and it's turned out not to be.
 
Harli.21 said:
Thank you. I just feel so bad she's going through all this, she's the sweetest little white girl with cute sticking up ears and she sings. Her cage sister is with her which is some comfort. The vet assured me this was a simple op and it's turned out not to be.
Click to expand...

It is a fairly major operation that can sadly sometimes go wrong. Any operation that fails is such a shock to the system. You can always only do your best and make your decisions based on the information you have at the time. If her cysts were bad, then she needed the op.
 
The vet just called to say she's back in with her cage sister Daisy as she's warmed up now. Daisy was so pleased to see her apparently and snuggled up to her straight away. They will continue with syringe feeds and glucose overnight and just wait and see. The vet said Daisy has not touched her veggies all day but as soon as Piglet was back with her she ate them, hearing that almost made me cry Daisy loves her so much.
 
How wonderful that she has a friend with her.
And it certainly sounds like you have done everything possible to help her, and she is in good hands, as well as clearly being a much adored piggie.
Fingers crossed this is the turning point and things continue to improve from here on.
 
image.webp Thank you. Piglet, the sick piggie, wasn't well enough to be with Daisy last night. I'm hoping the fact she can be with her tonight perks her up a bit. The vet is very good, they are syringe feeding critical care and puréed Apple. She's got a little body bandage over her incision to protect it as they think the oozing was just a pocket of blood that was disturbed when the nurse lifted her out for a feed. The vet said right now it could go either way, I'm hoping Daisy can work a little miracle, she's a lovely old lady, Piglet often sleeps with her head on Daisy's back. I've added a photo of my girls
 
Hopefully, having her mate with her will swing it for Piglet. Glad that your vet doesn't think that is a ruptured wound or open blood vessel!

Fingers very firmly crossed!
 
Keeping everything crossed for Piglet. She's gorgeous, I have such a soft spot for PEWs.
 
Everything crossed here for your little girl. It sounds like they have a lovely bond x
 
Glad things are looking more positive for her, the fact that they have such a strong bond & are now back together is a good sign, snuggling up with her buddy will also help to improve her temperature, which in turn should improve her circulation &help to heal the wound with a good blood flow.

the vets are syringe feeding, so that is a weight off of your mind, make her stronger & should help to stabilise her digestive system

i have found with all of mine that i have needed to make 'the decision', they have usually made up my mind for me if i am a little unsure.
if her quality of life is no more & she is telling you she has had enough - this is the time we have to be strong for them & let go, so that they can be pain free & suffer no more.

if you are having doubts & you are not sure, just give her that little bit longer as she will let you know if & when the time is right.

hopefully she is on painkillers to make her more comfortable (also if she is in pain she will be more reluctant to eat).

Discuss with your vet their honest opinion on her recovery & quality of life afterward etc.
you know her best & trust me, when the time comes you will know.

Hoping for a full & speedy recovery
good luck, fingers & paws all crossed here for your beautiful piggy(ies).


x
 
Thank you everyone x the support of fellow piggy owners is so very much appreciated. I am not giving up on Piglet, the vet hasn't said things are hopeless yet and I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that spending the night snuggled up with Dalsy has worked a little magic. Piglet and Daisy have an amazing bond, Daisy is 7 years old and Pigelt is her third cage sister. Her first and true sister Rosie died after dental surgery (she just refused to eat and that's why I'm paranoid about Piglet not eating) her second sister Jasmine died of lymphoma. Piglet was the last piggy in the pet shop, rejected because of her red eyes, when I took her home to Daisy it was love at first sight and they have been inseparable ever since. My vet is amazing, they have 24 hour nursing care and Piglet has been looked after by the owner of the practice and his wife who are very experienced vets. I am calling the vet around 9.30, I will keep you updated on progress,
 
The update this morning was Piglet is better today than she was yesterday. She spent the whole night cuddled up to Daisy, the nurse agreed she is much happier when she's with Daisy and she feels Daisy s key to getting Pigelt eating again. She's moving about a little, sleeping a fair bit and taking more syringe feeds, the wound is still OK, no more oozing of blood. The vet will call later with a plan for going forward. I'm being cautiously optimistic that this is good news.
 
I just called the vet for an afternoon update, well the nurse does it now as the vet is happy Piglet is on the mend albeit slowly. So, Piglet is still improving, as they put it she's walked a bit further out of the woods but isn't quite there yet but given the amount of blood loss she's doing well. She is much brighter than yesterday and is taking syringe feeds well. Her blood sugar dropped just a little today so they gave her a glucose injection, she's keeping her temperature stable and her incision is giving no further cause for concern, no oozing or sign of infection. She's with Daisy permanently now and the nurse said they were currently snuggled up together at the back of the little piggy house fast asleep. The nurse said Daisy gets quite upset when Piglet is taken out for a feed and that she is gentle with Piglet so they have no concerns about them staying together and in fact it's helping. Piglet needs to be eating before she can come home but I guess she could start anytime so I'll keep my fingers crossed becuase I'm missing my girls. I bravely asked about the bill and it's nowhere near as bad as I thought considering they are both getting board and lodging and food and Piglet is getting 24 hour nursing. So I'm feeling a little more positive now, I just want her to eat.
 
I adore how much they love each other! To think some people think animals don't have feelings! Get well soon little lady
 
Thank you for your good wishes LorryDriverLuke and everyone else, it really helps to know there are so many people willing Piglet to get better. I thought only I saw it but all the vet nurses have commented on how visible it is that Daisy and Piglet love each other, apparently when Piglet is being fed Daisy stands by the cage door wheeking for her to be put back and refuses to eat her own food until she is. The day nurse today said Piglet looks so much more relaxed when she's with Daisy. I am sure Daisy will pull Piglet through and if she does she's going to be the second most spoiled piggy ever, Piglet of course will have to be the first. I miss my girls so much, I just want them home now, the spare room where they live is too quiet without them.
 
Sending continued healing vibes to piglet x

Thanks for the updates, really hoping for a good outcome for your little fighter x
 
There was no change in Piglet's condition this morning which is better than her getting worse I guess. The nurse said she was pushing the syringe away with her paws today, I'm not sure if that's a bad sign she's not wanting to eat or a good sign she's being feisty and is getting fed up of syringe feeding and might eat soon. The vet nurse said she's taking the feed OK when she does get it In her mouth, body temperature stabilised, wound healing OK, still in with Daisy and blood glucose level so far fine. How long can you syringe feed for?
 
I am very sad to report that Piglet deteriorated badly this afternoon. She refused feeds, was very flat and was in pain. The vet said she suspected peritonitis and there was no more painkillers she could give her. I had to make the hard decision to end her suffering. The vet agreed it was the right decision but I feel totally devastated. RIP my gorgeous girl, I miss you so much xx
 
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