Winkle - Rainbow Bridge March 25, 2009‏

Last night Winkle was huddled in the corner of his hutch and was all fluffed out so we knew something was wrong. He wouldn't eat not even blueberries one of his favourites. We checked to make sure he wasn't blocked or anything like that - he wasn't. We wrapped him up in a towel and cuddled him gently all night. He made noises occasionally like he was in discomfort but would settle if I gently touched or stroked him. I woke up shortly before the alarm went off and he was still with us. When I woke up at 5 am he was gone. He was not quite 6 yrs old. The last of the original Critter Crew. Bye Winks - I love you and I miss you. Make sure you say hello to everyone and I hope Widget, Licorice, Smokes and Squeeeks were there to meet you and are showing you where all the best treats and timothy hay can be found. Say hi to Bruno, Thistle, Tipple-Scritch and Snipset for us. As well as all the other furry friends that have touched our lives. Say hi to the two legged ones too please.Thanks for being a part of my life. You were and are cherished.

Smokes - Sept 9 2003 - Feb 20 2009‏

Smokes died Friday night. We had been at a friends place in Toronto for dinner and got home late. When p went upstairs he found him I think he waited until he heard us come home because we could tell it had happened recently. He was a smart little guy. His teeth kept growing too long and he would let us know when it was time to go to the vet to trim them by running towards one of us and chattering his teeth loudly at us. I will miss him a lot. Smokes, hope you are having fun across the bridge with all those who have gone before you.

Licorice

Licorice went to see Dr. P today to have his teeth trimmed. Yesterday when Dr. P saw him he said his teeth have pushed in further then before. He suspects it might be a bone infection - which is really hard to treat and clear up.

Or, even worse, it might be a bone tumour.

Why Licorice? He is the sweetest guinea pig - so full of personality. I helped Widget give birth to him - which p said astonished Dr. P as apparently he's never heard of any of his slaves with gp's witnessing a birth. Licorice is fearless - the bunnies and silly don't phase him at all and he will willingly explore anywhere in the house where the other gps huddle and make messes on the floor out of nerves. We call him Mr. Klicky-Toes because of the sound he makes running around on the hardwood floors and the kitchen laminate.

I named him Licorice because of his colours. He is black and orange - it reminded me of Tiger-tail ice cream, so Licorice it was.

The very first time Licorice went to the vet they were so charmed by him that they asked us where we got him from.

p is going to pick Licorice up in about an hour. He came through the surgery (they had to put him out to trim his molars) and is groggy at the moment. This morning after trying to get some Critical Care (CC) into him i held a handful of rolled oats (the porridge making kind - not instant but not the hour long boiling ones either) and he ate them from my hand. p seems to think that Licorice eats more when I am around. I've spent lots of time feeding him blades of grass one by one. Just to get some fibre into him.

I so love that little guy. It really burns me that he out of all of the gps is the one having the problems. I love them all, but he really holds a special place in my heart. Just like Widget who was my therapy piggie. She died early too. I just don't get it. It makes you want to rage and scream at the powers that be - animals are innocent. Why do they have to have illnesses and suffer.

And then there is Socrates. Which I can't bear to think about how much he is going through yet is still sweet natured and has never once bitten either of us despite the nasty antibiotics we've had to force down him. He does scream which makes both of us feel two inches tall. He's now on his fourth or fifth cyst/abcess. He smells bad all the time because of the necrolyzing junk in the cyst. This one is right on his right cheek. And on top of that he has had a nasty ear infection and is only just healing from the cyst on his belly.

I just can't stand it.