[Gpdd] [Bridge] Felicity

Dr Kay Dudman kay.dudman at londonmet.ac.uk
Fri Nov 11 12:25:53 EST 2005


A week ago I lost my dear, darling little Felicity pig.  I haven't been
able to say anything sooner because I have been so full of tears.  A year
ago she first had trouble with her teeth, and lost a lot of weight (from
3lb down to 2lb), but with dental work and a lot of loving care she built
her weight up again to where she was before, a full 3lb piggy.  She had to
have her molars trimmed several times, but kept eating well, enjoying her
salad food and life in general.

In May this year she had a problem and needed an emergency hysterectomy
as she had developed a pyometrium, but she recovered quickly and well from
that.  I took the week off work to look after her, changing her bedding
every few hours to make sure she was comfortable, but she made such a
swift recovery she seemed not to notice what had happened.

Her teeth still needed to be trimmed, as they always do once they start
giving problems, but then she had a cataract in one of her eyes and the
lens was giving her trouble.  She also started to have foot trouble
again; she had this when her teeth were first troubling her, but by
putting bubble wrap under her bedding, the swelling went away completely
for about 9 months.  Antibiotics didn't seem to clear it when it came
back.  Felicity was always such a happy little pig, in spite of all these
things happening to her.

She enjoyed spending time out in the garden when the weather was right in
the summer, but she then seemed to be getting old.  She started to lose
weight again, but celebrated her third birthday in October.  I continued
to syringe feed her, and she ate her dry mix, but she went off her salad
completely even though I chopped it up into bite-sized pieces for her as I
found she liked this when she first started having problems with her
teeth.

In her last week she really seemed to be getting better, taking more of an
interest in things, and enjoying her cuddles as always.  Last Friday
she looked very sorry for herself in the morning, not wanting to take her
food like she usually did, and the sparkle had somehow left her.  I had
never seen her like this before; we already had an appointment with the
Vet that day for a check-up, and he said he had never seen her in this
condition either, and that she was telling us she had had enough.  It was
with great sadness that I felt he was right...he had helped her with
such kindness so much over the past year, and now it was time for her to
move on.  I stayed with her all the time, and she left gently and
peacefully.  I loved her so much.  I am very lucky with my friends at work
as they have comforted me during this difficult time, and my family has
too.  I know she had a full and happy life, but I miss her so, she was my
happiness pig.  Felicity means happiness, and she certainly had the right
name.

Sorry to have such sad news to tell you all, but I know you will understand.

Kay










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