Foo - passing on to that great bikebasket in the sky

i think my little buddy, RoadKill, is seeing his last days. he's my little guine pig that when he was much younger used to ride in my bike bag on the handlebars and he'd go to school with me. i think he's finally seeing his last days though. he's stopped eatting and he's lying on his side. at 10 years old i can't expect much more out of him. he's had a tremendously blessed life for a guine pig. all the fruits and veggies he could eat, cuddles whenever he chirped. he even seemed to enjoy the bike rides and outtings when he was younger. i'd take him to a nice sunny spot w/ lots of grass at the local park and let him graze like a wild guine, and he'd romp around like a little bucking guine pig.

well he's not romping anymore. in fact he looks like he's in quite a bit of pain. his back legs don't seem to work anymore, nor the other parts in that general area. (i won't go into detail.) he's not moving much and he won't run into his "house" when i open the cadge door. i know that a guine pig that doesn't run from your hands is a very sick little piggy and i think we're all just waiting for him to pass on at this point.

the boys go in and check on him every half hour or so. we've discused having him put down. no one here wants him in pain but no one wants to take him in due to that being a stress out. we're kind of undecited. i'm probably the one who's going to have to take him in if it comes down to that. (him being my pig i think it's my responcabilty) i'd rather him pass at home in peace w/ family around him than to take him where there are barking dogs and meowing cats and strange smells. but on the other hand i don't want him in pain either, and he looks pained. on wednesday his little belly was rock hard and he was having such a distressed look. he does seem more at peace today but he's still on his side not moving much. thankfully his little belly isn't rock hard today but it doesn't seem that he's improved much beyond that point and he's still not eatting.

my poor little piggy.

kat

Sounds like he's a been a great little companion. It always hurts to lose a pet who's been more than 'just a pet' and also a great friend. I feel for ya'... out little cat has become such a part of our family that we'll never be able to imagine life without her.

Vixen

It is always hard to lose a friend especially after 10 years. I agree he should be at home. If it comes to that go to the vet and get something to help him, either pain medican or something to put him down painlessly.

Sorry

Joe

The hardest day of my life was the day I put my dog of 13 years down. I am glad I was with him up until the last breath it was important for me. Phred was my only true friend during my turbulent twenties and I could not bear to see him in pain anymore. Joe is right it is much more merciful if the it is not eating or is in pain.

I agree with your dilemma. They need a home kit for that. Sometimes it is difficult to decide which is harder on the animal, dying in a bit of pain at home or the extreme stress you put on the animal (especially in that state) by taking it to the vet.

Vixen

It is always hard to lose a friend especially after 10 years. I agree he should be at home. If it comes to that go to the vet and get something to help him, either pain medican or something to put him down painlessly.

Sorry

Joe

wonder if the vet will give someone something like that. i don't have issues giving shots as i've always been the one that does all the family pets vaccines (except rabbies, they don't let you do that one.) that's a thought. thanks for the tip. but i sereously don't think they'll let you do that one at home, and as far as i know you can't get a vet out to the house unless you own a horse... can't hurt to try though. i just hate seeing him hurting like he is. he's been the best little rodent one could ask for.

cheers
kat

I'll raise a drink to the little guy.

I'll raise a drink to the little guy.

Me too.

Aren't pets the most wonderful things? I'm getting a little verklempt just reading this thread.

well i just got off the phone w/ the vet. they'd like me to call back at two when the doc's in but looks like they don't have a "home kit", you have to take them in for that. i think i'm going to put things off until monday only because my parents are out of town and i promiced to wait until then. if he looks like he's going into more pain then i'll call the parents and let em know it just can't wait any longer. hate to drop bad news on dad on his birthday so keep little roadkill in your prayers he'll not suffer much longer; and that this can all wait until monday. or even better he goes to the little biking basket in the sky, in peace, at home. *sob* poor little guy.

and thanks for the support in all this guys/gals. i know this isn't the proper place for this, being a biking newsgroup and all but he was a little biking buddy for a few years and it's nice to see the salutes for him.

cheers
kat

Kat
Even if the vet can't give you a "home kit" he should be able to tell you what to use. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what would not cause pain. I've heard that an injectiopn of air will kill, but don't know.

Good luck to you and Roadkill

Joe

and thanks for the support in all this guys/gals. i know this isn't the proper place for this, being a biking newsgroup and all but he was a little biking buddy for a few years and it's nice to see the salutes for him.

Heh, other people have mentioned this, and I disagree... yes, its a bicycle forum, but its also a community forum for those interested in bicycling and bicycles -- therefor, we should not merely limit it JUST to bicycles... imho.

Heh, other people have mentioned this, and I disagree... yes, its a bicycle forum, but its also a community forum for those interested in bicycling and bicycles -- therefor, we should not merely limit it JUST to bicycles... imho.

well he did ride in the bike "basket" i made for him for a few years while i was in college. i'd sneek him into class w/ me under the disguise of my water bottle holder/hip bag i rigged up to hold him in. it even had fresh sawdust in the bottom for him. i'd leave it open so he could get fresh air and throw my coat or riding shirt over it so no one could see into the bag. he had a little water bottle set up and a nice little treat bag on the inside so he could contently munch during class. he never once tried to leave the little bag cause he was a happy and obedient little piggy.

i stopped taking him to class after i got hit out on the road from a guy traveling 70 mph. i didn't have roadkill w/ me that day thankfully as it was too hot to take him out. (was 115 out. i usually only took him for rides in the late afternoon so he wouldn't over heat.) felt it was too dangerous to his/our health for quite some time after that. (took me two years to get back on a bike and i'm still aprehensive riding in the states.)

anyway i felt that seeing as he was a little biking buddy for a year or two that he could be posted here for the other little pals that may make road trips w/ us. (i've seen a few dogs in either bike baskets or on leashes running w/ their human pals out there.) hopefully anyone feeling this isn't the right place for such a post will forgive me for it anyway. he's been a good friend.

cheers
kat

just got off the phone. he's got an appointment for 5 pm tonight... how am i ever going to get through this.

Kat, my heart goes out to you. Every time we loose a rattie kid, it's just like the first tiime and hurts just so bad. The slow passings are by far the most painful.

At the passing of my daughters rat, I was moved to to write a little something which I'll pass on to you with hopes that it eases the loss you feel. May peace soon find your heart.



The Thousand

They’ve gone for now
Yes, gone my friend
They’ve gone to run with the thousand.

You’re tired now
Yes, tired my friend
Stop now and run with the thousand.

They’re waiting now
Yes, waiting my friend
For you to run with the thousand.

It’s your turn now
Yes, your turn my friend
Your turn to run with the thousand.

So long for now
So long my friend
You’ve gone to run with the thousand.

Don’t worry now
Don’t worry my friend
We’ll meet when I run with the thousand.

Kat, my heart goes out to you.<snip>

thanks so much. that's sweet.

when i took him in the doc looked him over and said it was well past time to have the procedure done. she was very surprised to hear he was 10 years old. said that's two and a half life times for a little guy like him. so i agreed to let her take him back. heard the one final squeek from him and it was over.

and now he's gone. doc gave him a shot direct to the heart. said he was gone before she could check for a pulse. he died at 5:04 pm last night and we had a burial for him at 5:20. the boys did real well. very proud of em. they handled it better than i did as a matter of fact. my oldest had the hole dug before i got home and he did the burial and cadge clean up for storage. the boys say they aren't ready for another one yet. don't blame them one iota. we didn't get everything done before the sunset on sabbath but we'll finish up on sunday. at least the big issue is done and our little buddy isn't hurting anymore. i did ask if they wanted to go to the vets w/ me and neither of them did. can't blame them there, i didn't want to go either, but we're all glad it's over. he's w/ his little buddy splat now.

cheers
kat

Rest in peace, Roadkill.

:(

The passing of a pet is always difficult 2 have died in our family. Frank my fathers current dog must be 15 years old he loves me to death whenever i visit. My condolences.I never realized guineas were so affectionate .

The passing of a pet is always difficult 2 have died in our family. Frank my fathers current dog must be 15 years old he loves me to death whenever i visit. My condolences.I never realized guineas were so affectionate .

thanks for the well wishes.

guine's can be fairly affectionate, although they usually just get a glazed look in their eyes while eatting. it's cute.

cheers
kat

May he rest in peace. 10 years sounds like a pretty good innings.