[Gpdd] HEALTH concern for Buffy

[Penny Charlesworth]

Dear Debi,

I am so sorry that you are facing the impending loss of your beloved Buffy. 
You must have cared for her so well for her to have reached such a great 
age.

I lost my Rolo at a similar age earlier this year and towards the end of his 
life he ignored previously loved foods and concentrated on just a few. When 
my piggies reach this age I just want them to be comfortable so I scoured 
the garden for his favourite plants. He would only eat the dried flat peas 
from his mix so I would pick them out for him. He also went off hay, which 
is a problem as they need the fibre but he developed a liking for wholemeal 
bread so he would have some of this each day. He loved melon, which is easy 
for an invalid to eat and still ate his carrot, apple and fresh grass. He 
passed away with a dandelion leaf in his mouth.

Sometimes I will give elderly piggies some syringe feed, especially if they 
have gone off their hay, to get the fibre into them. I have often found that 
they will take this when they are having a cuddle but never push them if 
they are not interested. I don't want to stress them. They just want to be 
left in peace.

As the elderly ones always sleep a lot, I have found that they often pass 
away in their sleep. One moment they are there and then they have left. I 
hope that this will happen with your Buffy. I always hope that this will 
happen to my "oldies", that they will pass away in the warmth and comfort of 
their own home, surrounded by their friends and avoid that last trip to the 
vets.

If, with Buffy, this should prove necessary, please ask your vet to use the 
gas rather than the needle. It only takes a little whiff of the anaesthetic 
gas to send them on their last journey and is so much more peaceful for them 
and for you.

You will know when Buffy's time has come and when you must make that final 
decision for her. I hope that it will be a peaceful passing for her.

Penny and the Piggyfriends.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Whimsy777 at aol.com>
To: <gpdd at gpdd.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 2:29 AM
Subject: [Gpdd] health concern


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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


> Hi everyone,
>
> I am wondering if anyone has suggestions to help me deal with what is 
> going
> to be the end of our piggie's life.  Buffy has a very large mass - the vet
> says it's a tumor on the kidney or ovary, probably cancer.  She has also
> started passing thick white stuff when she pees, so has an accumulation of 
> calcium
> and likely also bladder stones.  Due to her age (she'll be 8  years old in 
> a
> few weeks), the vet agrees with our decision not to do  anything intrusive 
> (and
> therefore risky itself) at this point.  So we  are concentrating on 
> keeping
> her as comfortable and happy as we can for whatever  time she has left.
>
> We changed her diet by eliminating any fruits and veggies with more  than 
> a
> small amount of calcium.  She has lost interest in pellets and hay  (just
> nibbles a little) but still enjoys her produce.  We are giving her  fresh 
> stuff
> more often since she isn't eating hay and pellets.  She  doesn't seem
> uncomfortable - just sleeps a lot.  Still enjoys being held  and scratched 
> on top of her
> head.
>
> Buffy has had a long and happy life and we want the end to be full of
> cuddling and favorite foods, not suffering.  I am worried about how we 
> will  know
> she is experiencing discomfort.  The vet says she will stop eating if 
> she's in
> pain.  We have agreed we will take her to be euthanized if she  stops 
> eating
> altogether or it becomes clear she is in pain.  I know it is  always a
> tremendously difficult decision to make, but am trying to consider  the 
> possibilities
> ahead of time - maybe that will make it easier when the  time comes.
>
> If anyone has advice about keeping Buffy happy and eating now, or  about
> knowing when the time has come, I would really appreciate it.
>
> Thanks!
> Debi
>
>
>
>


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