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Worried my guinea suffered during pts

miowmix

miowmix

Junior Guinea Pig
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This morning I took my 7 year old pig to be pts - wasn't sure whether to do it or let nature take it's course - there's no doubt he was dying - he wasn't eating or drinking, was mostly just laying down with his head resting on a teddy and couldn't move around anymore. Because of previous unpleasant experiences I decided to take him to the vet, also with it being saturday morning the options would be limited if he needed help the rest of the weekend.

My usual Medivet was shut so I had to go to another Medivet nearby. I was concerned on the phone when the receptionist said 'We don't get many guinea pigs', and I checked that they would give gas first etc and she reassured me they would. The staff were very nice when we got there and I had a long chat with the vet and was reassured by them. I was concerned, because my pig had long term respiratory problems, whether they would be able to breathe in the anaesthetic gas.

My worries I spose are because when my pig was returned, his eyes were wide open, whereas before he was very sleepy. So I'm worried he could've been scared or hurt. Also when I asked the vet how it went, he said it went fine but I thought I could see something in his face that told me it hadn't been as peaceful as it could been.

There's nothing that can be done now, he is gone. But he had long-term respiratory and I was so careful with him his whole life not to get him stressed out to avoid the asthma type attacks he'd sometimes get. I was OK with him going - he was seven after all - but all I wanted was for him to go in peace and comfort.
 
I am hoping people who know more about the euthanasia procedure will be able to help you. I am bumping and also would like to send wishes for comfort. After seven years of loving your pet, saying goodbye was very difficult and sad. But you did the right thing to release him from suffering. Rest easy at the bridge little one 🌈
 
I am so sorry you had to make this heartbreaking decision I have been fortunate to never be in this situation so have no experience but what I can say is regardless of what happened I believe that when he crossed The Rainbow Bridge all he would have felt and taken with him would have been the love you gave him over the 7 years and that he is now in fields of all of his favourite treats happy and pain free 🌈
 
miowmix said:
This morning I took my 7 year old pig to be pts - wasn't sure whether to do it or let nature take it's course - there's no doubt he was dying - he wasn't eating or drinking, was mostly just laying down with his head resting on a teddy and couldn't move around anymore. Because of previous unpleasant experiences I decided to take him to the vet, also with it being saturday morning the options would be limited if he needed help the rest of the weekend.

My usual Medivet was shut so I had to go to another Medivet nearby. I was concerned on the phone when the receptionist said 'We don't get many guinea pigs', and I checked that they would give gas first etc and she reassured me they would. The staff were very nice when we got there and I had a long chat with the vet and was reassured by them. I was concerned, because my pig had long term respiratory problems, whether they would be able to breathe in the anaesthetic gas.

My worries I spose are because when my pig was returned, his eyes were wide open, whereas before he was very sleepy. So I'm worried he could've been scared or hurt. Also when I asked the vet how it went, he said it went fine but I thought I could see something in his face that told me it hadn't been as peaceful as it could been.

There's nothing that can be done now, he is gone. But he had long-term respiratory and I was so careful with him his whole life not to get him stressed out to avoid the asthma type attacks he'd sometimes get. I was OK with him going - he was seven after all - but all I wanted was for him to go in peace and comfort.
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Hi

BIG HUGS

What you are currently experiencing is the big guilt trap at the onset of the grieving process that every caring owner suffers from to some degree or other. As humans, we are wired to reflect everything back onto ourselves in the form of intensive soul-searching/overthinking or strong feelings of failure or guilt. They are not an expression of you having done anything wrong but an expression of how deeply you love and care.
Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

As to the practicalities:
Guinea pigs are prey animals; they don't sleep with closed eyes unless they are very exhausted and feel very safe (which is the exception and not the rule). They usually sleep with their eyes wide open, and they don't fall unconscious or die with their eyes closed.
So please say goodbye to the concept of your little one being fully awake and in horror when dying. It's quite simply not happened like that.

It may have been that your piggy took a bit longer than expected to go under in the little gas box but rest assured that - even in the absolute worst case scenario which is most unlikely to have happened - he was no longer conscious by the time he was given the lethal injection. Vets and vet nurses are very careful about that; they have chosen their profession because they care deeply about animals in the first place.
However, not having been present, I cannot tell whether it went all smoothly with the GA and you are over-reading things or whether there were issues, which can occasionally happen since a gas chamber is not quite as efficient to control as other methods for larger pets so it may haven taken longer than expected.

The lethal injection at the end is literally a matter of a second or two. I have been present throughout a few of them; including in the very old days before sedation became a thing for small pets - which was frankly even tougher to take.

As an owner, you can only ever do your best under the circumstances and with the full responsibility resting on you as only you can sign the consent form. Even when circumstances are pressing, it brings it really home to you.
Keep in mind that the alternative would have been a slower death in real pain and much greater distress - for both of you. There is nothing worse than to be helpless in the face of a beloved one suffering. :(

You have done exactly the right thing as an owner. In that you have not failed your loved one at all: you still have given him the best and quickest send off you could provide to spare him any unnecessary suffering by going through a more drawn out natural death.
He has in any way made a very fast journey to the Rainbow Bridge, carried by the wings of your love, as your most caring and most heartbreaking last gift after a long life, which is a testament of your good care. Try to focus on that picture.

I know that this Rainbow Bridge song is very cheesy; it is however also surprisingly soothing and comforting for all ages as it provides a kind of audible cuddle, which we can all do with at such a time, no matter how old we are or whether we usually are the ones lending a shoulder to cry on to others.
It may also help you soothe your own mind so you can feel sad but hopefully no longer as bad.
Rainbow bridge video I made, I hope it can bring some comfort to others

My thoughts are with you.
 
Signing that piece of paper is the worst. I've had to do it twice out of the 10 guinea pigs I have had the privilege of being the Slave to who are now at the Rainbow Bridge. You know that you have done it to ease their suffering but it does nothing to assuage the guilt of feeling that you have "killed" your beloved pet. You haven't. What you have done is given them your last act of love and helped them on their way to the Rainbow Bridge.
 
I'm so so sorry 😢

Please rest assured your piggy would not have suffered. Piggies don't often close their eyes as they pass away, in fact I don't think we've ever had one that did.

They would have made sure he was fully sedated by the gas before giving him a little injection to send him over the Bridge. He won't have known anything about it, I promise.

You did a great kindness for him, but unfortunately it hits really hard 😔

RIP little one 🌈❤️
 
So sorry that you had to make the decision to let your piggy go.
It’s a tough decision but one we make out of love.
He won’t have suffered. The vets are very good and caring when they have to pts.

When I have had to pts my piggies were returned with open eyes, it’s normal for them.

Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
 
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