Marsha's Last Days

[JanJam]

I just want to post here (Mods if I'm in the wrong place feel free to move) because it looks very much like we will soon lose Marsha.

She was at the vet last week, got her teeth checked (no problems) but she has been steadily losing weight despite eating heartily and pooping OK. She has lost 40g over the past 4 days.

She is still showing an interest in her surroundings, she can still wander about OK (with a slight stiffness, but no obvious pain, she doesn't protest when picked up) and run away from me!

She is about 6 years and 7 months old. We got her from a pet shop before we knew better (now I don't buy anything from stores which sell animals) and she's been the Queen Piggie all that time. She's been a benevolent ruler, resolving disputes with a high chin and only smacked the others on the backside a few times.

She is the last of our original clan. We first got Marsha and Amber (RIP since Feb 4th 2008) then we added Daisy (RIP since 31st March 2005) and Doris (RIP since Nov 30th 2007). Sophie (RIP since March 11th 2008) came along in December 2004, she was rescued by a friend and we took her in. I'm sorry to say Amber, Daisy and Doris we got from a pet store, but this was before we knew better.

Marsha is now living with Lola, Dora and Poppy, who we adopted from a local rescue. She seems happy enough with them. Poppy is only 5 months old and seems to look up to Marsha. I often find Poppy trying to be Queen Pig, copying what Marsha does. I find them cuddled up together a lot too.

I realise we cannot hold on to Marsha forever, much as we would like to. All life has to pass, and it's important to remember to smile because it happened rather than cry because it's over. I don't know what else we can do. The vet did say it could be cancer or her kidneys, but a transplant isn't possible and to be honest I don't think I would subject her to an operation at her age. And to keep her alive ... would that be for her benefit or ours? I'm not planning on going for the final injection for her, don't worry, not unless there is no other alternative. She is still eating and showing interest in her surroundings, that time has not yet come.

I just wanted to post here to keep a record .. I'm not here for tons of comments, just wanted to share with people who understand. Work are sympathetic (they do let me work from home if the piggies need care) but I do tend to put on a brave face there. But I know her time is going to come soon, there is soon going to be another rose bush in the garden .. and it hurts. Losing Marsha will be so tough. Losing them all is tough, but Marsha is our first ever guinea pig.

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[bamby71994]

I'm sorry for you! How old is the cute little girl??

[Haley0489]

She is about 6 years and 7 months old.

I'm so sorry to hear this JanJam. I'm sure she appreciates all the years of great care and love you've given her. You and Marsha will be in my thoughts!

[JanJam]

Thank you - I should add that I have been giving her Critical Care, 10ml at a time, 40-50ml per day for the past 2 days.
She now weighs 665g

If there is anything anyone else can think of that i can try please let me know - I realise I can't hold on to her forever, but I'd hate it if I missed anything. I'll post over on GL as well.

[OSUCavies]

I know how hard this must be for you.


I have a 3 year old girl that was my very first guinea pig ever (before I added the other three) and I just love her. I try not to give her "special" attention, but she is the most social out of the bunch and the friendliest and loves to cuddle, so of course she does get held more than the others.


I know she is only 3 but sometimes worried she might just pass one night or I have missed something too that could possibly hurt her.

Perhaps there is something you can find that is wrong that a vet can help you with or maybe it is just her time to go...as hard as that is to accept.

I truly hope you find help for her and if you cannot, just know you gave her the best life and she knows she was loved.

In the mean time, try to celebrate the life she has left and not worry yourself over tomorrow. Live for today.

Good luck, dear.

[Cavy Carnage]

I am so sorry for what you are going through. Now I believe people should do what they believe in their heart not what they think they should do. I will tell you what I would do but do what you feel is right. I would find another vet, even if your vet is great another vet may find something missed. Also this may be a long shot but a few years ago I sadly lost a guinea pig that was about 4/5 and steadily slowly going down hill with similar symptoms as yours has. He still ate and pooped but was losing weight. We went back and forth to the vet (sadly not specialised in guinea pigs but none were for 4 hour drive), he was great, anything he didn't know he looked up, rang around about etc. He did alot of reading up but in the end he died. After his death it was confirmed it was worms, now this may be a common thing but I think many people overlook it. You could maybe get her wormed? Its a small injection I think twice, I really don't think at this stage it could make things worse but it is only a suggestion and I am in no way an expert etc in piggy health.

[JanJam]

Thank you all. I'm not ready to give up yet! I'm going to ring another local vet today, the one the local rescue (where we got Lola, Dora and Poppy) use. See if I can get her in at the earliest opportunity.

This morning she is bright and eating, she has not yt gone to that "puffed up" stage thank goodness! I also just weighed her and she's up to 683g from 665g yesterday! A good sign. She had 50ml of Critical Care yesterday, I will carry on with the syringe feeding too (which she takes relatively OK)

[pigsforlife]

Puffed up generally means the pig is in pain, at least that is what Buttercup was like when she was due for more pain relief after the amputation of her toe. I can only wish you luck as I have no advice to offer. I see that you have posted on GL, this is a good move. They are very medically knowledgeable and hopefully between them and your vet and yourself you are able to work something out to help out Marsha. Good Luck.

[bamby71994]

I don't like these threads because they make me cry. She is pretty old six in a half!

[JanJam]

Bamby don't cry - I have some good news. Marsha's weight has increaed to 692g this morning. She does not look puffed up at all, she's behaving normally, eating and drinking fine.

Pigsforlife - ouch! Toe amputation sounds nasty. I hope Buttercup is fine now.

Marsha is due to see a more cavy savy vet today. I am taking her to the vet which the rescue place we adopted our other 3 piggies use. This vets see piggies and rabbits from about 3 local rescues, so they have had lots of them through their doors. I'm hoping something can be done. I will update later when back from the vets.

[JanJam]

Well ... vet visit OK. The new vet I saw is much more knowledgable, and attends lectures on guinea pigs. There are also at least 3 local rescues who take their piggies and rabbits there too.

So - she had a good look at Marsha's teeth, cleaned out her mouth too so she could see better. There are no teeth problems. One side is slightly longer than the other but no bridging and Marsha can eat with her teeth capably.

The next step they want to do is a urine sample to check proteins, to check kidney function and to check for baldder sludge/stones. Depending on those results the next stage could be a blood test.

The vet recommended I syringe vitamin C direct into Marsha. We discussed using vit C in the water bottles, she (the vet) said it was something that had come up at a recent guinea pig lecture she had attended. The person giving it recommended vitamin C for sick guinea pigs as a must, but both the vet and I are aware that in water bottles it degrades too quickly and also the additives in most vitamin C tablets ... well there is a risk of those too. I am looking out for pure vit C, with no added sweetners, colourings etc.

She watched Marsha walk about too, noticed that she does walk a little stiffly and suggested at some point we may consider Metacam for her.

One funny thing though - I took more Critical Care to feed Marsha as 1. Marsha is keen for it and 2. her weight has increased since I've started her on 50ml per day. As the vet was putting the powder into the container Marsha could smell it and was trying to escape from her carrier to get at it! A good sign of her appetite!

So all in all we shall see. I realise the title of this thread is pessamistic, I am not ready to give up on Marsha yet. She eats and poops normally, her quality of life is not at present degraded. I just hope she can have a little longer and what time she does have left is happy and comfortable.

[Sammy and Peanut]

That's good. I've got my fingers crossed for Marsha. Both of you will be in my thoughts.

[JanJam]

Quick update on Marsha .... I don't think it's her last days AT ALL! She is now up to 711g, a gain of 46g since Thursday. She is keen to eat, looks a little brighter and walks with a bit less stiffness now.

I am still giving her 40-50ml of Critical Care per day, she is VERY keen on that. She also has 125mg of vitamin C syringed directly to her daily.

I know she's not out of the woods yet but the signs are encouraging. I'm so glad, she is our first and is that tiny bit more special.

[Butterscotch2]

Yeah, I am so happy it ay not be her last days! Tell her that I hope she gets well soon.

[Rattie Mom]

Oh I didn't want to come to this thread and feel sad for your dear little Marsha...but I'm so glad I did, because it sounds like your witto old girl hasn't given up any more than you have. Go Marsha!

Do keep us posted on how she's doing.

[JanJam]

Latest news ... Marsha was 727g yesterday evening, I tried cutting right back on the critical care to see if she can maintain but no, this evening she's 720g so it's back to 40-60ml per day.

Does anyone have any tips for syringe feedings, specifically getting the stuff out of the syringe? It's getting really tough! I make it fresh each time, 2 teaspoons of powder to 3 teaspoons of water, I'm worried that any thinner may cause her to have a tummy upset (she has had a dirty bottom, more info on GL). But it's SO HARD to get it out of the syringe. Any tips here appreciated, Marsha is being patient but I'm really trying her patience with this feeding.

Also good news - the stuffness seems to have gone, she's walking normally.

I am still waiting the urine test results, will chase up the vet in the morning.