Broken Heart?

[Jess Jenkins]

my piggy was ill back in June in the space of a week nimrod lost a lot of weight yet he slowly put it back in by being syringe fed
2 weeks ago he suddenly lost a lot of weight although he was seemingly happy and he started to put some of this weight back on
However this last week I have been on holiday and I found out that he died a day before I was going to bring him home.
I'm worried that he thought I had forgotten about him as we had a very close bond. And cuddled for as many as 5 times a day.
Do you think he could have died of a broken heart that I caused by leaving him and his cavy brother for a week?

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss! It is always tough when you lose a piggy while you are away.

It is likely that the stress of unfamiliar surroundings or care can have contributed towards tipping the very fragile balance of his health, but as long as he has been with his piggy companion, he has not died unloved or alone, so please do not beat yourself up about it.

For any loving owner it is very normal to have strong feeling of guilt or failure at the onset of the grieving process; that is what you are going through. Nimrod knew that he was loved by you, and you have prolonged his life for quite some time - years in guinea pig terms. Give yourself time to grieve and to get used to no longer having him in your life.

It helps me to imagine my passed away guinea pigs being with me and helping look out for my living guinea pigs as little furry guardian angels; they are still alive in my heart and my thoughts anyway - and will always be!

You are welcome to post a tribute in our Rainbow Bridge section if or whenever it feels right for you. We grieve all differently, so it is there for you if at some point you would like to share his life and your love with us.

PS: Here is what you can do for his companion, who is missing Nimrod no less than you.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig