I had a piggy once that would start squeaking several minutes before I came home from work, every day, without fail (as reported by Mr. S, who worked a different shift). She knew I would give her a piece of carrot or some fresh clover when I got home.
(We often brought her a pile of fresh hay from Mr. S’s brother’s stash; we’d just dump it on top of her aquarium and let her eat her way out. One day as we carried paper bag full of alfalfa up to our upstairs apartment, the (rather laid-back) landlord who lived below asked us, “What, have you got a horse up there or something?” Hee hee.)
We haven’t had a piggy for many years (we never bothered to name them, just called them “Piggy”), but we still like to sing to the piggies when we’re in the pet store.
Choco reminds me of my first pig, Nuku-Nuku . I used to have to give her haircuts so that she wouldn’t trip on her hair. (She was a rescue pig and didn’t run very much. She did, however, toddle quite a bit once she got used to her surroundings.)
I say hi to the piggers in the pet store as well when I pick up foods for Peebee. There’s one really cute dark/light brown Abyssinian that is so cute, but Peebee does not need a girlfriend at his age.
I had to put Peebee to sleep last night. Went to the vet after getting a call that they needed me to come make a decision about further treatment, and, well, he wasn’t responding to treatment for the kidney infection. He was actually more swollen with edema than when I had brought him in; it was like looking at a sumo wrestler gone horribly, horribly wrong. I sat for over an hour with my puddle of pig, who was happy to munch on greens and cuddle up as if nothing were wrong except him not being able to groom himself properly anymore. The only other option I had was for him to go through a kidney biopsy procedure, which he probably would not have survived as a healthy guinea pig, let alone one whose thyroid was not functioning because of lack of albumin. I couldn’t stay to see him put to sleep, as it was tough enough to be left for over an hour to say goodbye to my little buddy. He’ll be cremated with a group of euthanized animals, as I really don’t have any intentions of trying to find a place to bury or scatter his ashes. He’s in a better place, didn’t suffer, and had a happy, spoiled life for the time that he was with me.
I won’t be getting a guinea pig for a while, as, well, I’m in a transitional stage of my life and don’t want to have the extra worry of moving a guinea pig in addition to the rest of my stuff when I move in with Adam. Additionally, it’ll improve the guinea pig’s ability to adjust to life with me if I don’t move them around so much. Next time around, though, I think I’ll be getting a female. I’ll have to do some more research into the pros vs. cons of each gender so I have a good idea of which will be a better option for me. Maybe a pair of females. ::shrugs:: I’ve got a while before I’d be ready to make that decision.
Sometime today I’ll be settling out my account with the vet, and on Saturday, I will be donating his food (well, what they’ll take of it) to the local Wildlife Rescue Center. Whatever doesn’t get accepted will be taken by whomever the volunteers (who also work at the vet) will take it. I just don’t want the stuff to go to waste.
nashiitashii - I’m sorry for your loss, especially after having your hopes raised like that. Unfortunately, animals will break your heart everytime. But that feeling of loss is only because they gave so much when they were alive.
I am so sorry! I was so hoping Peebee would get better.
Words are leaving my mouth but I jst don’t know what to say…
Nuku-Nuku was a very handsome piggy. Many loving thoughts to you during this time of your loss. Now I have to go to work and I don’t want to.
{{Hugs for you}}
Peebee had a happy life and was happy through the end. No signs of him being in pain at the end, but I wanted to make sure he didn’t get to that point, as he was ballooned up to a point where he couldn’t groom himself. I’m satisfied with the decision that I made, and all the vet techs who I discussed this with told me that, not only was I a good pig mommy, but I was making the best decision in consideration of the circumstances.
I don’t want anyone to be overly sad about this, as I’ve come to terms with it already. When I originally posted, I had thought for most of Tuesday night about what to do if his condition wasn’t treatable or he wasn’t responding to treatment. At that point, I had a very strong feeling he wasn’t going to make it through treatment. It’s sad, but it happens, and it’s not the end of the world. He’s in a happier place, and he’s not lonely. He even made a very positive impression on the vet techs, who’d only seen him three times over the course of his life. I’ve got happy memories and a lot of love to give to any pets I have in the future.
