Nuage, also one of our SCAMPS has left us...

Unfortunately another one of Debbie's SCAMPS has left us for the rainbow bridge.
Debbie we would like to let you know how upset we are another one of our SCAMPS has left us. Please except our condolences.

Please find below Debbie's memories of Nuage:

"You all know that Nuage had a huge swelling around her side/abdomen, and I thank those of you who wrote suggesting what it might be. Your consensus of opinion seemed to be that whatever it was, it was incurable, so I put her on "hospice" care. Gradually her mobility became reduced by the swelling, and her eating and drinking reduced, although she was always there wheeking with her cagemates at foodtimes and getting excited. She would just sniff round the greens but not actually eat them. The last couple of days, all she would eat was cucumber and banana, so I got her out and gave her as much as those as she could eat. She had been drinking and urinating a lot, and had a brown "tide mark" around her rear end, plus her butt area had become dried and scabby and uncomfortable looking. So Monday morning, my 52nd birthday, I asked someone to help me bath just that butt area. Nuage didn't like it, though we were as gentle as we could be and I have bathed many piggies before. When I started blow-drying her, she suddenly gasped 4 or 5 times, opening her mouth
incredibly wide, and I was very alarmed as I have never seen that. Then she went limp in my arms and my quickly sent for stethoscope confirmed the worst - she had gone to The Rainbow Bridge. I don't think I killed her. I think she was on her way out anyway, and I just hastened her departure. If anything, the lack of adequate vet care where I live killed her. But I am very sad that she went like that, as she was obviously frightened and uncomfortable. I would rather just have found her dead in
the hutch one morning. But I think she did realise that she was loved and that I was trying to help her and make her more comfortable. Nuage was one of the 5 piggies bought for me after 5 of my original rescues were killed by dogs on 6th May 2003 - so she was definitely a SCAMP, though I don't know her exact age - probably about 5 and a half. I have never got round to putting her on the SCAMPS website, but will do, in conjunction with her fellow SCAMPS Gisele, Ambree and Caramel. Her name means "Cloud" in French, and I named her that because she was white and grey, like a
cloud. She was always a "piggies' pig" rather than a slave's pig, although, as has been mentioned here before, when she became ill she was much more willing to accept contact with her slave and let me cuddle her. She had started making that puppy wimpering noise - am I the only slave to hear this, or do other people's piggies make that sound when they are really poorly? She had an extra toe on one of her back feet, and when I first got her this had a huge ball of pooh wrapped round it, which I had to gradually remove, which wasn't easy, but I think she felt better for
it afterwards. Like all the Dolly Mixtures, Nuage loved to be outside in the summer, and had her own special place in the run where she'd nibble grass and sunbathe. I am sure she has found herself a similar special place there in that Rainbow Meadow, where she has been reunited with previous hutch mates Cannelle, Poivre, Muscade, Pirouette, Scruff, Chestnut, Cherry and Scarecrow. She was the 3rd Dolly Mixture to leave for The Rainbow Bridge within the past month - Zebra went on 3rd October,
and of course poor Scrabble 21st October. I was always dreading the year the Dolly Mixtures turned 5, and it seems I was right to do so, as Fidget, Cherry and Scarecrow have also left this year. There are only 8 Dolly Mixtures left now. Luckily, Nuage had always lived with the other 3 "Young 'Uns", as we called those that were bought for me after the massacre, so she hasn't left anyone alone, although 3 piggies do rattle about a bit in their great big indoor hutch!

Debbie"