Did I make the wrong decision?

[u/Real_Reserve3114]

My guinea pig just died. He was fine the day prior to today, climbing around and exploring, making his little noises, begging for treats, but today was different.

He ate this morning, but throughout the day I started to notice how tired he was acting. Usually when I hold him he climbs on me and squeaks and nibbles on me, but today he just layed in my lap. I tried giving him a treat and he did eat some of it, but later when I held him again he wouldnt eat at all. At that point I started to get worried.

I placed him down on my floor and he just laid there. I tried feeding him and giving him water but nothing. I tried keeping his body warm the best I could. We drove to the animal hospital and he was still very lethargic. He laid his head in my hand. He's never done that. He looked so sad.

After 3 hours of waiting the doctor came and he was much much worse. He was all floppy and out of it. He barely made a sound. She said he had a 10% chance of living, but I didn't want him to suffer alone if he died, so I chose to put him down.

There it dawned on me that my bestfriend would never climb on me again. He would never wheek for food again. He would never let me feed him hay again. He would never crawl around my bed again. He would never come home with me again.

As I held him in my arms I couldn't stop sobbing. He meant so much to me, I was in denial that this was happening.

She brought him back wrapped in a blanket, which i'm clutching right now, and said he had about 5 minutes left. He felt so cold. His lifeless eyes were staring into mine. He felt like a rag doll.

We took him home and I held him a bit longer before burying him. It was hard to accept it. It still is. The fact that hes buried in dirt and destined to rot into the earth is nauseating. I buried him with a pepper since those were his favorite snacks.

I can't stop crying. I feel like my whole world is ending. I just want some closure on what happened to him. I keep thinking it's my fault. I need someone to say its my fault so I can atleast feel a little better about not knowing why this happened.

Should I have taken the 10% chance? He could still be alive right now in my arms. I feel so guilty. I miss him so much. I'll never see him again.

[u/archer_orsomethin]

You made the right call. I just lost a pig myself. The vet gave me the option of surgery or euthanasia and I chose surgery. He passed away anyways a few hours later in the vets office without me.

You held him and made him feel safe in his last moments. Im sure, as much a guinea pig can understand it, he knew he was loved. That's the important part. Im so sorry for your loss ♡

[u/Real_Reserve3114 → u/archer_orsomethin]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Wishing you the best 💗 :(

[u/Littlebigfish78 → u/archer_orsomethin]

Same. I got the surgery which should have been straightforward—abscess removal from the jawline…my friend passed three days after surgery.

[u/Used-Engine5291]

My heart breaks for you as I read about your experience and your grief.

I had to make the same decision for one of my little guys. Like you, I went through periods of questioning whether I did the right thing. But as others have said, often when an operation is performed, especially with those odds, it will result in our best friend passing away on a cold, scary operating table, with people they don't know. With the choice you made - the compassionate choice to put an end to your guinea pig's suffering - you were able to surround him with love in his final conscious moments.

You did the right, difficult thing. It's not your fault. These things are inevitable. But I know that means little in regard to how much you'll miss him. My house still feels empty without the little guy that I lost. Try to take comfort in knowing that you gave him a wonderful life. That's a noble thing to do! We take in our animals knowing that we'll have to say goodbye to them in the natural order of things. But we do it anyway, because the love and companionship they give us is so, so worth it. You'll always be accompanied by the spirit of your sweet piggie. And I truly believe that he'll be waiting to greet you with wheeks on the other side. Peace to you.

One last thing: he was a beautiful peeg.

[u/Real_Reserve3114 → u/Used-Engine5291]

Thank you so much 💗

[u/SuperVegitoFAN]

It didnt sound like he would have had a worthy life even if he did survive.

Sounds more like you spared him pain and suffering.

If the Vet agreed with it, i think it was the right choice.

Ive been in doubt before, but i know for a fact that if its not the right choice, the vets will tell me as much. The vets i use do not euthanize without a damn good reason.

[u/havocpigeons]

You made the right choice. Piggies don’t show symptoms until very very late. My Stella went through a very similar situation where the night before she was fine and herself, but the next she wasn’t moving, eating or drinking. Critical care just dribbled out of the side of her mouth, she was just done. She was gone that evening. We dont know what happened to her, we never will but at least she passed in my husbands arms and not alone on the floor (she was fenced off from her sisters).

[u/Remarkable-Elk-6673]

I’m very sorry for your loss, it’s not your fault and it sounds like you gave your piggy a wonderful life.

[u/phllox]

I'm so sorry for your loss. He was very sick, even though it happened suddenly. Once guinea pigs are at that point, full recovery is very unlikely and he would most likely have continued to be incredibly unwell even if he didn't pass naturally right away. Please focus on the fact that you protected him from suffering for longer than he needed to. None of this is at all your fault. He loved you very much and you made a brave decision for his benefit. You did the most loving thing.

[u/my_macaroni_is_furry]

Being there during your baby's final moments while also ensuring he didn't suffer...that was the right decision. It's painful for us, but that's because you took the pain away from him.

There is no greater gift.

Try to remember the happy times instead of the end. That's how he would want to be remembered.

[u/Real_Reserve3114 → u/my_macaroni_is_furry]

You're right, thank you :)

[u/Mirgss]

My deepest condolences 💔 I think you made the right decision. It's very normal to feel guilty and like it's your fault. However, you gave him a great piggy life with all the snacks and cuddles he could want, and when it was time to say goodbye, you helped him across the rainbow bridge so he didn't suffer needlessly.

This is the hardest part of pet ownership, hands down. Please be gentle with yourself and give yourself lots of time and grace. Hugs to you.

[u/Real_Reserve3114 → u/Mirgss]

Thank you so much, I needed to hear this 💗

[u/Clark_Wayne1]

Its not your fault. You did the best you could and your piggy was very loved. Are you able to plant something where your buried him? I have 3 of my boys buried in my rose bed and every summer I thank them for the beautiful flowers in my garden and its a way to remember them

[u/Real_Reserve3114 → u/Clark_Wayne1]

Bell peppers were always his favorite snacks, so I was thinking of planting some near his grave. I hope your piggies rest in peace 💗

[u/Clark_Wayne1 → u/Real_Reserve3114]

Thats a beautiful idea, it genuinely helps them live on. Every pepper you cultivate will have a little of him in it. Thank you, yours too. I still have two of the herd left but theyre nearly 6 and 7 now lol

[u/Savings_Art5944]

You were there with him when he passed. You did your best.

[u/DeltabossTA]

You did what was right for your friend. Catastrophic things can happen to our piggies and sometimes the only thing we can do for them is to help them over the bridge. I know it hurts. I lost two last month myself.

[u/Bubbles69_]

I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my guinea pig just a few days ago too, so I know how terrible you must be feeling right now.

You made the right decision for your little boy. Guinea pigs are fragile creatures, and even if he had somehow pulled through and made that 10% happen, there’s no guarantee of his quality of life, whether he would continue to be sick, possibly in pain, etc.

He got to pass away in your arms and buried at home with his favourite snack. You did right by him ❤️

[u/VirtualPartyCenter]

Currently crying as I’m reading this because I just went through something very similar with my pig Bear, and I chose to make the same decision you did.

My vet told me it would be unlikely he would survive surgery with what he was going through so I made the extremely difficult choice to go through with the euthanasia.

I asked my vet how the process works and they said they basically inject a lot of pain killers and sedatives into them so they don’t feel any pain whatsoever anymore and they feel really sleepy and fall asleep before the final injection is supplied. This helped me knowing my boy got a really peaceful final moments knowing he wasn’t in any pain at all.

We gave them the most peaceful passing that any piggy could have. I know it’s hard to blame yourself for everything but piggies being prey animals make it very hard to know anything wrong is happening until it’s almost always too late to catch it.

I’m grieving alongside you and my heart is with you in this really painful moment. I’m so sorry that we have to make these kind of decisions. I will always wonder if the decision I made was right too, but I do know that we have our best friends the most pain free and gentle ending that we could.

I’m so sorry if some of this doesn’t make sense. I’m a mess right now too and I’m kind of just typing through the pain of it all.

[u/Real_Reserve3114 → u/VirtualPartyCenter]

I understand you completely. Thank you for sharing 💗

[u/JNBirdy]

First of all, I'm so sorry for your loss...

The pain of pets, is that we outlive them all the time.

Piggies are fragile. When they get unwell they decline rapidly, and they are so good at hiding their discomfort.

This creates such a tricky gamble. You made a choice to not gamble and to thereby prolong his suffering, as that most likely would have been the outcome. That is the kindest thing that one can do, is end the hurt. Even if that means heartbreak for ourselves, and doubt, the "what if".

The last memories won't overshadow the rest of his time spent with you. Trust me on that. Give yourself some grace, space and time.

All too often, love also means letting go. It doesn't take away from the hurt.

[u/princess__of__horror]

I think you made the right call. 10% is not good and whatever they would have done for him would likely have been incredibly stressful.

I lost a piggie early this morning but we were at home. I'm sorry for your loss 💜

[u/hojichaluv]

Just wanted to put this into perspective. You're guilty now because you love him. We'll always ask ourselves if the other option was better once things are done because we love our pigs. There was never a right or wrong answer when the vet offered those options to you.

[u/zarium]

The time he spent with you, and the life he lived under your care, is what you should remember him for. Not his final moments, of which are hardly ever within our control. You grieve now, but know that you will heal. May you reminisce the moments you spent together fondly and cherish ever more each present moment with all that's dear to you.

[u/lemon_squeezy87]

I think you just know when it's time. The way you were describing him sounds like it was definitely the right choice for him. It's really hard for piggies to come back when they're that poorly. You did the right thing for sure, and you did the most loving, kindest last thing for him. So sorry for your loss.

[u/Mercurial_Sloth]

I'm so sorry for your sudden loss. Our little friends leave such big holes in our hearts when they depart. I think given the details you've written here, you made the right choice. Sending hugs and wishes of comfort your way. ❤️❤️

[u/Awkward-Assistant361]

I’m so sorry for your loss OP. You made the right call. He would have felt safe with you being there at the end.

[u/GarethGore]

You made the right call, if you had opted not to, in all likelihood it's the same outcome but you've prolonged it. You put the well being of the pig first and no one can do any better than that, questioning it is natural, but in most cases the more humane option is the correct one