We are done with 2018 for almost a month now. And we thought it would be nice to keep in mind the worst and the best moment of this year.
The worst was by far the losing Worf. This is the last photo Ms M took of him.
On the other hand, the best moment is connected to Archy, the new addition.
In December, after 8 months with us, he was finally so relaxed that he slept like this:
In between we had great moments, and not so great. Like a normal life. Piggy and human lives. 🙂
Kirk seems to be doing fine. Breathing normally, taking his meds. Some loss of appetite, but apparently normal due to the antibiotic and anti inflammatory meds. Nothing to panic, he still eats and poops.
Ms M is looking at the last photo she took of Worf few days before he died. And she is struggling not to cry. Somehow that Saturday end January when she took Worf to the animal clinic she had a feeling he would not come back.
He came back though. He wanted to fight, but he relapsed. And unfortunately the vet that should have taken care of him considered he is not worth fighting. She couldn’t even say if it was pneumonia or a tumor.
The humans still blame themselves for giving in to tiredness due to dealing with two small kids and accepting an easy solution for the vet. They believe they should have followed all their warning signs and find a second vet faster. It was not done, Worf died.
Actually, when it was done, after almost two months of struggle, he was to weak to keep fighting.
Of course the (not so) cavy savy vet that actually had no idea how to put a diagnostic, nor to treat pneumonia had it’s share in this tragic happening. But the main responsibility is on the humans’ shoulders. Or at least this is how they feel it.
After Worf’s death, Ms M searched on the cavy savy groups and web pages and found useful info about how a pneumonia should be addressed and what were the odds for a longer, heavy treatment to be needed. To bad she didn’t do it before…
Now Kirk got hospitalized for a similar issue. His (new) cavy savy vet was not there; she is on site only on Wednesdays. But he was consulted by a generalist that got in contact with the cavy savy vet, explained the situation, decided together the treatment and so on and so forth.
Two days after, he was discharged by the cavy savy vet and Ms M received an explanation about the course of treatment. The vet prescribed a longer period for the antibiotics, mentioned that there is a chance a second course should be needed etc. And, the most important, she said that if he would have again issues breathing, to go back asap.
For Worf it was just a shoulders raising, a condescend smile and “well, if he has issues again we should put him to sleep”.
Life is not fair. At all. But apparently Kirk is luckier than Worf. Or the humans had a wake up call. But still not fare. At all.
And Kirk refuses to stay still for a photo. 🙂
So, here we go again. This time with no resolution or promise to write more often.
What has been going on with us? Aside from Worf passing away… 😦
Data has teeth issues. Finally our new vet pointed out some lack of vitamine C. Now he is on a daily dose of vitamine C, some homeopathic pills for joints to help with his jaw and lot of cuddles.
He also had bumble foot, but Traumeel did the trick. No laser therapy needed this time. And he now spends his days on a VetBed.
Spock is his usual crazy self. Chasing Data around. His (presumably) seborrheic cyst grew larger and our new vet said she would like to take a look, but later as it is no emergency.
Both of them are so zen with the two toddlers in the house that even when Bubble jumps form the back of the couch right near them, they don’t even blink.
Kirk is on diet. Apparently he is a little bit too heavy. And, as he has too a lack of vitamine C, his joints should be spared of the burden of carrying 1.3 kg. So no more dried food for him because it has too much sweeteners.
He also has a lump on his belly. More exactly it is a breast tumor of an unknown nature, but the X-ray didn’t show any metastasis, so far so good. It will be removed on Wednesday.
Archy is the new boy in the gang. We brought him home on the 5th May and he comes from a family that thought a pet is a nice present for a kid. When the kid got bored, the family had an issue.
For the moment he is in quarantine in our hall way. This position allows him to participate to the family life and get used with the little biped brats. He is more at ease with us now, not running anymore for his life when we get close to him. And he is the loudest wheeker ever! First thing in the morning he wheeks for food.
Hopefully we will get our big fat assess back on this blog. 😀 If not, we are on Facebook.
The Tales of the Guinea Pigs Gang 