Sam and Dean
Dean is still keeping on keeping on. He has his good days and bad days, but he is still eating those critical care balls and he's even eating his lettuce now. I've seen him eating little bits hay for the last two days and he still eats pellets. It is a challenge to feed him because he's very picky now. Still won't touch any other vegetables other than lettuce. I make up for it by grinding the cucumber and bell pepper into a liquid with the mortar and pestle to make his critical care mush. He's well worth the extra effort and I hope to keep him going like this for a long time.
Today was not Dean's best day. He's been down all day and didn't eat much. We'll see how he does, but I'm worried that his time will be up very soon. He was doing good yesterday, but took a turn for the worst last night. I know he's on borrowed time, so I've been trying to spend as much time with him as possible.
It's really difficult. He's on a rollercoaster. He was pretty lethargic most of the day on Sunday. He would respond when I pick him up or reach into his cage to pet him, but other than that, he just sits there. Then when the evening feeding time came, he chewed on the cage like he normally does. He did eat some lettuce and most of his CC mash ball from the morning. He's not totally starving himself and he's drinking some water. I don't have a hard time deciding to put him down if he's in pain, but he's not showing signs of that. Plus doing that when he's still eating and drinking, even if it isn't as much as he should doesn't sit well with me.
I guess the best way to put it is that he's eating just enough to keep himself from having an empty bowel. His poop has that cecal smell and it's a bit soft. He's not straining to pass it, but it's not totally coming out. I have to clean him up every few hours. I really admire his resilience and how he seems to want to live, although I know they don't really have that desire the same way we do. So, we're playing things by ear and at the first sign of suffering in pain, I'll get him to the vet and do what needs to be done for him. Just hope it's not over the weekend.
I guess the best way to put it is that he's eating just enough to keep himself from having an empty bowel. His poop has that cecal smell and it's a bit soft. He's not straining to pass it, but it's not totally coming out. I have to clean him up every few hours. I really admire his resilience and how he seems to want to live, although I know they don't really have that desire the same way we do. So, we're playing things by ear and at the first sign of suffering in pain, I'll get him to the vet and do what needs to be done for him. Just hope it's not over the weekend.
Still don't know what is keeping him going and I really don't care as long as he's not suffering, which he doesn't seem to be. This is making me question whether or not guinea pigs have the same desire to live that we do. He is putting up a good fight.
His diet now consists of critical care, cilantro leaves without the stems, a few pellets, occasional small bits of hay, a few bites of carrot and small bits of apple. The amounts are not what I would expect, but be is consuming food and water, plus I can hear and feel gurgling in his belly. Not abnormal gurgling either, so I believe his bowels are moving like they should. His droppings are still not completely forming and are not completely coming out, but they are not runny or dry. I still have to clean him up every few hours and when I do that, he has the strength to struggle. His weight is just one pound and you can feel his bone structure when you hold him.
The last 2 days haven't been as bad, but I don't expect that to last. One of two things are going to happen soon. Either he's going to start feeling pain and will need to have his suffering ended or he'll pass on his own. Either way, we're making the most of the time we have left together.
His diet now consists of critical care, cilantro leaves without the stems, a few pellets, occasional small bits of hay, a few bites of carrot and small bits of apple. The amounts are not what I would expect, but be is consuming food and water, plus I can hear and feel gurgling in his belly. Not abnormal gurgling either, so I believe his bowels are moving like they should. His droppings are still not completely forming and are not completely coming out, but they are not runny or dry. I still have to clean him up every few hours and when I do that, he has the strength to struggle. His weight is just one pound and you can feel his bone structure when you hold him.
The last 2 days haven't been as bad, but I don't expect that to last. One of two things are going to happen soon. Either he's going to start feeling pain and will need to have his suffering ended or he'll pass on his own. Either way, we're making the most of the time we have left together.
Dean has passed on to greener pastures this morning. He put up a great fight, but his time just ran out. I found him struggling to get up this morning and held him as he crossed over to be with Sammy and the others. As with all of the ones who have moved on, I'm thankful for the time we had and am glad I was able to hold them and comfort them as they crossed over the rainbow bridge.
Thanks everyone. Dropped Dean off to be cremated and then he's going into the urn with Sammy so they can be together again. Should be ready to pick up next Wednesday. I'll do his tribute when I get him all settled in his final resting place.
SHOP AMAZON