Biting

[CleoCharity]

Hey all just wanted to give an update. Charity is doing much better. Sunday night we ended up taking her to our vets ER as she had stopped pooping or peeing. They switched her from Tramadol to Gabapentin, which has done absolute wonders for her. She’s started pooping and peeing normally, and is drinking water and eating hay without needing encouragement. She’s not 100% back on her pellets, so we’re supplementing still with critical care which she has stopped fighting. We also scheduled an urgent care appointment for today to meet with someone more specialized/experienced with pigs than the general ER vets, and he noticed during her exam that her bladder area is causing her pain. He said it could be due to infection, stones, or cancer (or some combination). He says that they think she has sludge, so they ordered in a medicine (should be available in the next few days) that will help dissolve the sludge and help with smaller bladder stones. As for the infection, she’s already on antibiotics for her feet. For cancer, our approach at her age is lots of pain meds and pets. With her being so old I was very worried this weekend that we were going to lose her, so seeing her back to her normal curious self is so amazing. We’re going to continue Gabapentin for a while as there’s so many things that are likely causing her pain. We will also keep her on the sludge dissolving drug (I forget the name!). Her feet are also looking much better and the redness/swelling has significantly gone down from the Enroflaxcin.

[Lynx]

I am somewhat skeptical about a sludge dissolving drug. You might want to read over the stones page for more info:
https://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html

If there were an infection and no antibiotics were being administered, it is likely there would be an odor you could smell. An xray would be extremely worthwhile to confirm sludge vs. "suspecting" sludge. I believe increased fluids and movement would help move out sludge. I would also consider shilintong if you get confirmation of sludge.

As far as a UTI, Bactrim seems to be much more effective than enrofloxacin (Baytril) but I'm glad it appears to be helping with her feet.

[CleoCharity]

Hello all, I'm seeking advice on whether keeping Charity alive is the kindest decision. She is 9 years old now and not doing very well. She has severe arthritis, is not eating pellets or drinking, a very painful urinary tract infection, hair loss, and is lethargic. She's been to the vet multiple times in the last few months, most recently because for a day she was dragging her legs behind her instead of walking (this cleared up right before we brought her to the vet, they were unsure and we ended up increasing pain meds). She has very low mobility and her feet are still red and inflamed from not moving around much (we've tried pretty much everything for them at this point). We have been syringe-feeding her multiple times a day, and she still eats veggies and hay. The not drinking is a recent thing in the past few days, so we have been watering down her feedings and giving her more water-heavy veggies. She is on pain meds and antibiotics.

It's so scary to think of euthanasia, and the fact that she still gets excited for veggies and is eating her hay makes me not want to go there, but I'm wondering if keeping her alive is cruel at this point. I really just want what's best for her. In addition, I'm leaving June 21st for a trip and will not be back until July 20th. We have a housesitter who will be staying with her and taking care of her, but it's my fear that she will pass on while I'm away. I also really want to avoid a traumatic and scary death, as this is what happened for Cleo and my guinea pig before them, Ginger, and I want Charity to be able to have a peaceful end surrounded by love. I feel as though it might be better for her to leave a couple of weeks early safe in the arms of someone who loves her than have a medical emergency and die at the vet with a stranger.

[Lynx]

This page might help you:
https://www.guinealynx.info/euthanasia.html

From your description, it sounds like she has lived a long wonderful life. I worry about all the issues she is facing. The lethargy tells me she is likely very near the end. Your vet would be a good person to talk to about this decision. Euthanasia can seem like a very difficult decision, even when it is the kindest.

[mmeadow]

I think giving her the peaceful death, with you there and before any extreme crisis, could be a last loving gift. Nine years is an amazing long life.

A vet, very experienced with guinea pigs, once told me that their drive to eat is so strong, it is not always a reliable gauge of quality of life.