Send Good Thoughts to a Little Pig
Linus is having surgery this morning for the bladder stone. It has been… a lot of stress. We needed to find a different surgeon to perform the surgery, which meant a miserable weekend of trying to coax Linus to eat a few leaves of spring mix while he whimpered. ChickieNob was particularly adept at getting him to accept food. The Wolvog was adept at getting Linus to show glimpses of his old self and stand on his hind legs, sniffing the air to see if the Wolvog was about to give him a treat. I cried a lot. I worried a lot. I second-guessed myself and ran through worst-case-scenarios and didn’t sleep.
But Monday morning, our top pick for surgeon returned my call and walked us through what would happen. He is going to do the post-op care, but the main surgeon will be a vet I saw many years ago with my high school guinea pig. He was kind and gentle then, so I’m hoping that the man is kind and gentle now with my boy. I am so grateful this hospital fit him in.
The vet spent 18 minutes on the phone walking us through facts about the surgery and preventing bladder stones in the future. He put Linus on a low-calcium diet, which meant the end to his alfalfa treats. Our local pet store let me exchange the unopened bags for orchard grass, which he loves. It felt good to take care of the things I could take care of.
Because this past weekend was so defeating. I didn’t know how to convey how much my pig meant to me. He’s the center of our family—of course, like any pet—but he is also my stand-in baby. He is my morning coffee companion and meditation interrupter. He is this small, hairy beast tethering me to sanity during COVID-19. But I sense that yesterday’s surgeon got it, and he’s in good hands today.
Hopefully, he will be home tonight. I cannot wait to have my happy boy back.
10 comments
Thinking of you and Linus. I’m so glad you have good, kind doctors.
We had a recent health scare with our 17 year old cat and while I was waiting in the parking lot of the emergency vet, I just kept thinking “We are not doing this. This is not happening.” Everything is so hard right now, we need our furry family members to be all right.
I’ll be looking forward to an update when Linus comes home and you can spoil him all weekend.
Hang in there.
I’m sending all my healing thoughts to Linus and hoping for a speedy recovery. He needs you, and you need him.❤️ I’m glad he’s in such kind and capable hands.
Lots and lots and lots of thoughts and hopes for a successful surgery and quick recovery.
Best wishes to Linus for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery. I’m glad you found a surgeon you trust that was able to fit him in. I had a guinea pig growing up so I understand the love. Her name was Kinnikinnick and she also had stones.
Sending good thoughts for Linus. I hope the surgery goes well and recovery is easy. I know how much he means to your family and how loved he is. Keeping all of you in my heart.
Our 15 year old cat had bladder stones when he was young and has been on a special diet to prevent them. He went in for his annual check up a few weeks ago and we found out his kidneys are failing and the urinary food is exactly the opposite of what he needs to keep the kidneys from deteriorating faster. We are trying new food but he is refusing to eat it. We’ve tried 5 different brands and flavors of renal diet prescription food and he hates them all. I wish he could understand that we aren’t taking away his old food to be mean. We are doing it to keep him alive longer. 🙁
Sending positive vibes, pets are family. Hoping all the best for sweet Linus.
I hope everything goes smoothly and he is back home snuggling with you soon.
Sending lots of positive vibes to Linus. You are in my thoughts.
Good thoughts for Linus.🍀
Still sending lots of love your way. And healing vibes to Linus. May he be back interrupting your meditations stat.