[Gpdd] MISC: Peppermint, my precious little girl

[Cazza177]

Dear Corrine

I am very sorry to hear Peppermint passed away.  I have been where you are
now with other of our pets, and I really felt the need to email you.  I
understand why you feel as you do, but you did NOT kill Peppermint.  You
took her to several vets and even drove many miles for her to see others and
get a second opinion.  The problem wasn't YOU, but vets lack of experienc
and their understanding of the illnesses guinea pigs get.  They checked her
over but could find nothing wrong.  So they played it safe like they all do,
and gave you antibiotics.  They couldn't help you, so how on earth could you
have done more than you did?

If you read GPDD over a period of several months, you will know what I mean.
So many owners on there who have pigs that are unwell will say their vets
don't know what was wrong, and it's test after test, antibiotics, urine
samples, ultra sounds, and STILL the vets don't get to the bottom of it.  My
experience of our vets and theirpoor  knowledge of guinea pigs has left me
in no doubt that they just don't have the detailed knowledge required and
that rodentologists are the best bet -- IF you can find one near you.

When an animal gets sick you try and do all that you can.  At the very end,
all the options slowly run out and there is only one outcome.  Right now you
are hurting because you ran out of options.  That does NOT mean you killed
Peppermint.  It means there was nothing else anyone could have done,
including you.

You have been faithful to Peppermint and tried every avenue open to you to
try to help her.  If you hadn't done these things, then you could blame
yourself, but you DID and you may have even bought her some extra time by
doing so, but Peppermint was ill with something the vets could not treat and
that is NOT your fault.

You are a caring owner and loved Peppermint dearly.  Her death was indeed
sad, but her life was a very happy one full of love and care, and most
animals in life do not get this.  Remember always the happy times you had
with Peppermint and don't loose sight of the fact that even at the very end
you were with her and showed her love all the way to the end.

In time, you will realise what I am saying is true, but right now your
feelings are very raw, and it is hard to come to terms with losing your
loved one.  You are a good person and Peppermint was not failed by you.  She
had love every minute of everyday and that is down to just one person --
YOU.

I will say a prayer for you and Peppermint tonight.

Kind regards

Carole