sick piggy
These are our Guinea pigs: on the left is "Mouse" and on the right is "Cat." Serejane got Mouse (hence the name - though we were sure it would be 'puppy') for her 2nd birthday, a rescued unscheduled baby piggy from the SPCA; the boys loved him so much that they wanted a second guinea pig so there was more cavy to go around, and so we got Cat.
We rescued Cat from the SPCA last August, where he had been owner surrendered with some pretty ugly problems as a result of neglect, including nails that had grown into the pads of his feet so badly they required surgery, and a condition called 'bumblefoot' where tags of hardened tissues not unlike the stuff antlers are made of grow from the pads of his feet. His feet always required special care, but otherwise he has been a perfectly healthy and happy piggy.
From the time we brought him home he was the 'preferred' guinea pig, as he has always been much more docile and wanting of love and affection than Mouse. Unfortunately, our beloved Cat has taken quite ill.
We first noticed a change about 3 weeks back with him just being not quite 'himself' by sleeping more than usual, though he was still eating and drinking. By last weekend it was apparent he was in need of some help. I started hand-feeding him, taking him in the shower wiht me (he LOVES this) and since it's been warm enough outside, letting him have lots of outside time in the spring sunshine. After he seemed to perk up and regain his appetite, I admit that after learning early last week that a trip to the vet was going to cost a minimum of $62, we decided we'd give it a few more days and see how he was doing.
Right up until Thursday, he was great, but on Thursday night I noticed his right eye was weeping again, and this weekend I've resorted to feeding him liquified pellets, vitamins, and apple sauce with a syringe, and praying that he makes it until our vet appointment tomorrow.
Wil's been taking it extremely hard, and has been on the brink of emotional ruin all week. This is him sitting in the backyard watching Cat snuffling through the grass. Let it be publicly known that I am a schmuck for not taking him in sooner, and that should he a) require euthanising or b) not live to see the appointment, he has been greatly loved, and will be sorely missed.
We rescued Cat from the SPCA last August, where he had been owner surrendered with some pretty ugly problems as a result of neglect, including nails that had grown into the pads of his feet so badly they required surgery, and a condition called 'bumblefoot' where tags of hardened tissues not unlike the stuff antlers are made of grow from the pads of his feet. His feet always required special care, but otherwise he has been a perfectly healthy and happy piggy.
From the time we brought him home he was the 'preferred' guinea pig, as he has always been much more docile and wanting of love and affection than Mouse. Unfortunately, our beloved Cat has taken quite ill.
We first noticed a change about 3 weeks back with him just being not quite 'himself' by sleeping more than usual, though he was still eating and drinking. By last weekend it was apparent he was in need of some help. I started hand-feeding him, taking him in the shower wiht me (he LOVES this) and since it's been warm enough outside, letting him have lots of outside time in the spring sunshine. After he seemed to perk up and regain his appetite, I admit that after learning early last week that a trip to the vet was going to cost a minimum of $62, we decided we'd give it a few more days and see how he was doing.
Right up until Thursday, he was great, but on Thursday night I noticed his right eye was weeping again, and this weekend I've resorted to feeding him liquified pellets, vitamins, and apple sauce with a syringe, and praying that he makes it until our vet appointment tomorrow.
Wil's been taking it extremely hard, and has been on the brink of emotional ruin all week. This is him sitting in the backyard watching Cat snuffling through the grass. Let it be publicly known that I am a schmuck for not taking him in sooner, and that should he a) require euthanising or b) not live to see the appointment, he has been greatly loved, and will be sorely missed.
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