[Gpdd] RAINBOW BRIDGE

[Ricthecollector at aol.com]

From: _ricthecollector at aol.com_ (mailto:ricthecollector at aol.com) 
 
SUBJECT: RAINBOW BRIDGE
 
    It is with great sorrow that I report the untimely death  of Chester, our 
nearly 4 year old guinea pig.  He died Saturday  (7/19/08) due to 
complications involving dental surgery. His death  "destroyed" me and that is why it has 
taken so long for me to post this note. 
    Chester was one of 10 piggies we have and the  "refrigerator alarm".  His 
cage was closest to the fridge and be it 3 a.m.  when I opened it, he would 
alert the other piggies that it was open and time to  clatter and chirp for 
treats.  Our hearts are broken by his death since it  was totally unexpected. 
    Chester stopped eating about three weeks prior to his  death so we took 
him to our vets. The vet on duty, not our usual GP vet,  said his bottom teeth 
were long and she clipped them, saying this would probably  solve the problem. 
 But he wasn't eating the next day, so we returned to  see our regular GP 
vet.  She said she discovered he had spurs on his molars  and they had punctured 
his jaw.  She gave us beytril (sp?) to  administer to him for a week to clear 
and infection and told us we would have to  fee him using a syringe 4 times a 
day.  We gladly followed the regiment and  returned a week later to have the 
spurs filed.  We dropped him off the  morning of the filing thinking it was a 
minor procedure.  The vet whisked  him off into the surgery area. We left and 
went home, having been told it  would be a couple of hours for him to awaken 
and be ready to go home.  No  sooner than we arrived home, we received a call 
from our vet telling us that she  had found the problem -- Chester's jaw was 
fractured. She did not know when  or how it happened but said it was very serious 
and if we decided to pursue  treatment, it would have to be at the U of P 
Veterinary Hospital, probably at a  cost of $2,500 - $4,000. 
    We picked up Chester and returned home to ponder further  treatment.  She 
said we would probably have to hand feed him for the rest  of his life, which 
we would willingly do. 
    It was while feeding him Saturday night (7/19) that he  became weak and 
stopped eating. I held him with my wife at my side.  At  8:42, Chester took two 
little breaths and went off to the bridge, leaving us and  his five brothers, 
two sisters, his niece and cousin in mourning.  There  will NEVER be another 
Chester. 
    Does anyone know how Chester's jaw could have been  fractured?  
    If anyone knows of a similar instance, we  would really appreciate an 
answer. 
    Thank you all in  advance.   
               Ric, left broken-hearted by the loss of our Chester.  



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