My Tootu is gone

[camende]

Tootu (Tulip) passed away early this morning. She was the absolute
best guinea pig anyone could have. I adopted her April 6, 2007. I just
knew when I saw her little face that she was meant for me. I'm
pretty sure she had no idea she was a guinea pig. She would start
wheeking when I opened the door from the garage as I got home from
work. How she knew it was me, I'll never know. She loved being
picked up by "mommy". In fact, if I didn't pick up up one day, she
would try to climb the cage wheeking at me until I held her. This
last month, I had taken her to the vet 5 times. We were just
starting on the 2nd round of antibiotics this week. Really, the
only symptom she has was that she appeared to be breathing harder
then usual. (she had not lost any weight and she wasn't wheezing) Last night, she did seem worse but I was hoping the
antibiotics would do their thing.

The other 5 piggies are doing fine. It seemed a little quieter then
usual at breakfast time. Tootu was the smallest of the bunch but
she was the loudest when it came to food. But still, the other
girls were eating with gusto. I'm planning on keeping a close eye
on the remaining girls...

Anyway...I just thought I would let everyone know about Tulip...

[twenty909]

I'm so sorry you lost your Tulip. She sounds like a wonderful buddy and friend. I know you will miss her something terribly.

The worst part of loving is losing!

[camende]

Thanks twenty....

I am going to have to get used to quieter feeding times....I was getting breakfast this morning and I didn't hear any wheeking.... When I brought the bowls in, the piggies were all over each other trying to get to the food first, but there was not the usual sounds...

I thought I heard Tootu wheeking a couple times yesterday...I know, it's all in my mind....I expect to hear her when I am at the fridge, so I did...

We buried her yesterday afternoon....I'm going to have a stone made to put over her grave....It's so hard losing losing one. We lost Roxy who was 7+ years in Feb...so, we have lost 2 in such a short period. My hubby doesn't want to adopt any more...he said its too hard losing them...So, the plan is to spoil the remaining 5 piggies....

[twenty909]

I know the loss is really hard. I recently lost my pet dog and I will never get over it.
I got two guinea pigs, as my hubby didn't want another dog and is allergic to cats. I'm new to piggies, and taming them is really a challenge. I hope they start to be happy with us here soon.
We can pet them and feed them treats. We manage to chase them enough to hold them, but they squirm to get off and back to the cage.
I wanted to get more piggies, but the hubby said no more.
Even your other five will not replace your recent losses. Maybe they grieve too. I hope they will start to wheek at you soon.
Making a stone may really help you, so if you feel the need to make one I think you should. I wanted to make a scrapbook for my dog, and when I did it really helped me a lot.
I hope you can soon feel less pain over your terrible loss.

[camende]

I think with piggies, it just takes time. I don't think you train them. However, the best way you get them used to you is hand feeding. If you pick them up, give them something they love to eat...maybe a baby carrot. If you feed them every time you pick them up, they they might start associating being picked up with food...and so, they might actually come running up to you!

[twenty909]

Thanks for that idea. I will try feeding when I pick them up. They sure do like to eat. I hope I don't overdo the carrots though!

[Wheek Weak]

I'm so sorry about Tootu. She sounds like our Otus. He also demands lots of attention and picking up. He also starts wheeking when daddy walks in the door from work.

I know how bad it hurts to lose one of our precious babies. I'm thinking about you and sending you ((hugs)).

Rest well little Tootu.