Valedictions Furfur

[tcpip]

In April 2010 I encountered a angora guinea pig running along the side of the road after dark. Rescuing said critter, he was named Furfur, after the demonic Earl. In November however it was apparaent that he'd lost a great deal of weight and had developed a malocclusion. We arranged for his back teeth to be ground down and for the past two months we'd kept on a steady diet of things he would and could eat, along with quite a lot of critical care, most of which applied by caseopaya who did a champion job over the past two months keeping him fed and in company. The poor critter - already very thin - just didn't gain any weight however, and indeed, he started losing it further. He was happy, playful, and very social (and even with our cat), but you can tell that he was hungry and just not getting better.

On Sunday morning we took him to the vet, put him to sleep, and then he received a lethal injection. I feel absolutely terrible about this, but there really was nothing that could be done. Malocclusions are a genetic defect, and short of having Furfur getting his back teeth ground back every couple of months, the problem was going to keep on returning. At this point his quality of life was still very high - but was about to decline and continue to do so. So, valedictions Furfur, a surprisingly chatty, friendly, and playful little foundling guinea pig, which contributed much amusement and pleasure to our household.

Comments

[17catherines]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[sebastianne.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear of your loss, currently in the same boat with my eldest cat and still don't know what to do- such a hard decision to make! :(

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Really does depend so much on what their current state is and what it's likely to become. I think poor Fur had just crossed the border where he was really feeling his disease - he started to refuse critical care, although he would munch on nectarine, bread, and corn. But he just wasn't improving.

[sebastianne.livejournal.com]

Her state is never going to get better, needs permanent medication (cortisone) and even then she is still in some pain when she eats which is the only activity she has ever liked apart from sleeping, so it's hard to judge where her quality of life is at.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, that's a tricky one. Does she still sleep comfortably?

[sebastianne.livejournal.com]

Seems to, she's never been playful or active (traumatised rescue kitten) so spends most her time sleeping or lying on her bed :)

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

Poor Furfur. It's awful, watching them at the end. At least it was peaceful for him, if upsetting for you. Glad that he could be in your lives for a while.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Euthanasia was certainly the best thing to do under the circumstances. The universe just hasn't been particularly fair, applying such a cruel disease to a critter so young and with such personality.

*shakes fist at reality*

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry - it is a tough choice to make. For what it's worth, I think you made the right one - tooth-grindings every couple of months are a lot to put a critter through.

I'm glad he found you, and enjoyed your company and care for the time you had together.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the kind words. It was a difficult decision, indeed, strangely harder now after the fact than it seemed at the time. I still can't quite bring myself to regret the choice; just wish that it had never come to this.

[goatunit.livejournal.com]

Condolences.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Sorry for your loss, bru... He must've been like your little baby ;(

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Our house is full of animals (which are not quite substitute children). Eight rats, a guinea pig, two rabbits, a Manx cat, a mynah bird, and a turtle (not to mention several fish)..

They all contribute a great deal to the amusement of the place. :) The latest trick from the cat is to eat steak mince by lifting from the plate with his paw and putting it to his mouth. If this keeps up we'll have to have him at the table with a knife and fork!

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

You're gonna have to teach him some manners, or he's totally missing next dinner!

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

Hello, tcpip! I'm so glad to see you here on LJ. I am sorry for the loss of your beloved pet, Furfur; it sounds like he became a member of the family. (I know our family dog from my boyhood years behaved as if, quite correctly, he were part of the family, albeit a canine one.) I'm glad Furfur didn't have to suffer and am glad that he and your household were able to share amusement and delight! I hope his playful spirit has moved on to wherever guinea pigs go after shuffling off the mortal coil. Knowing you as I do I can scarcely imagine him having a better life. I'd like to extend my deep condolences to you & your household. You guys and Furfur will be in my thoughts and prayers this day. Peace and Namaste.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Hello old friend, lovely to hear from you and your kind words are much appreciated.

At times I do confess taking up a role like Francis of Assisi or, in a more contemporary style, Radagast The Brown.

[carlowe.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you gave him some good times.