Dealing With Loss Of Guinea Pig

[amyeeclaire]

One of my guinea pigs passed away saturday evening, I'm absolutely devastated. I miss him so much and the house feels really empty without him (still have one guinea pig and a cat).
My family were great at first but they seem to have lost their patience with me now when I cry, this is my first time experiencing any type of loss and I'm not sure how to cope, any tips?

My other guinea pig was the more dominant one and he seems to be coping quite well, he's still eating and exploring round the cage/wheeking etc. i keep getting him out for cuddles.

 

[Critter]

Huge hugs to you.
Sometimes it's hard for others to understand the depth of your feelings if they don't feel the same way about the loss of pets, but there's many of us on here who are deeply attached to our piggies and have felt true grief, like yours, when one passes away.
We all experience grief differently, and many of us will have ups and downs through it. Sometimes we have feelings of guilt mixed in if feel we may have missed the signs of illness. We may have worries about the other pig/s left behind (though it's good to read that yours is doing well through this).
There's no right or wrong in how we feel, but we don't always get the support that we need from those around us.
I'm glad that you are focussing your love on to your other piggy, this will help both of you. Sometimes having something to focus on helps us to cope.
Take one day at a time. It's still all very fresh indeed, and it can take a while before you feel like you can think about him without crying. Some times it helps to place a tribute in the Rainbow Bridge section. Rainbow Bridge Pets
You will find that others there have very recently lost one of theirs too, and you will know you are not alone in feeling so deeply for yours. x

 

[Wiebke]

One of my guinea pigs passed away saturday evening, I'm absolutely devastated. I miss him so much and the house feels really empty without him (still have one guinea pig and a cat).
My family were great at first but they seem to have lost their patience with me now when I cry, this is my first time experiencing any type of loss and I'm not sure how to cope, any tips?

My other guinea pig was the more dominant one and he seems to be coping quite well, he's still eating and exploring round the cage/wheeking etc. i keep getting him out for cuddles.

HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss! A pet is something you can love freely and unconditionally. Sadly, the other side of the coin is that you have to grieve as much as you love, irrespective of the species. People who have never had pets often cannot understand that. However, our lives would be a lot poorer without either - the love and the inevitable sorrow. The latter makes us appreciate the first more and teaches us to understand other people's emotions on a deeper and and more mature level.

Unfortunately, today's society has pushed death very much to the margins, but that also means that the old rituals and coping mechanisms have disappeared that used to be around in society. The loss of a pet is often the first time you experience death - but without any readily available coping mechanisms anymore.

What you can do is to start a diary about your feelings, but also about snatches of memories of your beloved piggy. Writing things down can help you to release them. Recording all the little things and precious moments that are binding you together will also help you to realise in good time that while you have lost your piggy physically, it is still in your heart and it is always going to be part of your life.
If you find that your grieving is so bad that you cannot sleep properly and struggle with your daily life, then you may find it helpful to contact a free phoneline for pet bereavement with a specially trained person at the other end who will listen to you and who can help you develop constructive ways of dealing with your loss. Pet bereavement can happen to any pet owner at any time, so there is no shame. Using this has helped the odd member on here.
Here are the contacts for the UK, but they exist in many countries when you google: SupportLine - Problems: Pet Bereavement: Advice, support and information

In this link here, we have got tips on what you can do for your surviving companion: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

You are welcome to post a tribute to your little beloved one in our Rainbow Bridge section if and whenever it feels right for you. For some of us, it is too painful to go there while others find relief in being able to talk about their piggy (or other pet) with other people who have gone through similar experiences and understand what the loss means to you. It is there, in any case, for those that would like to make use of it.

 

[Teddybear22]

I'm sorry for your loss... It's indeed hard when those close to you don't understand what you're going through. But try not to think about that and focus on yourself, because what you're feeling is completely normal and it does take time, so you're not exaggerating or anything at all. It doesn't mind how much time it takes to you to feel better, because everyone deals with it in their own way, and they are all valid.

Critter and Wiebke already gave you really good advices, so I can't add much to it, but something that helped me when I felt really anxious was cooking. I don't like it at all, but having to concentrate on it made the weight on my chest dissapear! It's also difficult for me to sleep all the night in one go since the passing of Teddy, so if I feel anxious when I wake up in the middle of the night (because sometimes I just fall asleep soon after), I take my phone and browse instagram or just any humour website until my mind is at ease again. Basically distract yourself with something until you feel your eyes are about to close up!

 

[brillmini]

One of my guinea pigs passed away saturday evening, I'm absolutely devastated. I miss him so much and the house feels really empty without him (still have one guinea pig and a cat).
My family were great at first but they seem to have lost their patience with me now when I cry, this is my first time experiencing any type of loss and I'm not sure how to cope, any tips?

My other guinea pig was the more dominant one and he seems to be coping quite well, he's still eating and exploring round the cage/wheeking etc. i keep getting him out for cuddles.

Huge hugs to you.
Sometimes it's hard for others to understand the depth of your feelings if they don't feel the same way about the loss of pets, but there's many of us on here who are deeply attached to our piggies and have felt true grief, like yours, when one passes away.
We all experience grief differently, and many of us will have ups and downs through it. Sometimes we have feelings of guilt mixed in if feel we may have missed the signs of illness. We may have worries about the other pig/s left behind (though it's good to read that yours is doing well through this).
There's no right or wrong in how we feel, but we don't always get the support that we need from those around us.
I'm glad that you are focussing your love on to your other piggy, this will help both of you. Sometimes having something to focus on helps us to cope.
Take one day at a time. It's still all very fresh indeed, and it can take a while before you feel like you can think about him without crying. Some times it helps to place a tribute in the Rainbow Bridge section. Rainbow Bridge Pets
You will find that others there have very recently lost one of theirs too, and you will know you are not alone in feeling so deeply for yours. x

 

[brillmini]

Oh no I really feel for you. We lost our little one just over a week ago and me and my hubby were in bits. I cried so much too. We have one guinea pig left and like yours she's the dominant one and seems to be fine. I know it doesn't feel like it just now but it does get a little easier I still think of my baby truffle everyday and find it very hard only having one to feed and care for but try to think of all the happy times you had with your piggie. Sending you big big hugs x

 

[VickiA]

Big hugs to you xx

 

[Freela]

I'm really sorry for your loss. Sometimes it's hard to find people who understand the depth of grief that comes from losing a pet. Not everyone feels the same depth of loss or shows it in the same way. But pets can be such a big part of our lives- they give and receive unconditional love, and as much as we love them we are all eventually faced with loss. There's nothing wrong with being upset and grieving the loss. I lost one of my pigs a little over a year ago and it was really hard- she was a sweet girl, was a big part of my life, and I still miss her to this day. I've loved all my pets, but some of them take up a special place in our hearts and she was one of those. No one will ever take her place. But it does get easier with time, although there are still times when it feels fresh. Just know you aren't alone. If you feel up to it, you could post a tribute to your guinea pig on our Rainbow Bridge board... memorializing them is something that has always helped me to cope. ((HUGS)) to you.

 

[madguinealady]

The piggy in my avatar is no longer with us and I still miss her like crazy.She was a very special girl.I get upset about hamsters, gerbils, rats, birds.Doesn't matter how big or small the animal us, they are all special.If you don't feel grief when you lose an animal there is no point in having them.Huge hugs hun, we get it

 

[amyeeclaire]

Thank you everyone for taking the time with all your lovely replies, it's a massive comfort having people that understand. He definitely has a special place in my heart and I hope soon I can smile at happy memories of him instead of crying. My other guinea pig Fudge is still doing well, his appetite is still good and he's quite active in his cage and squeaking. I'm hoping I'll be enough for him and he won't need another cage mate as I don't think he will get along with another guinea pig.

 

[Critter]

I'm glad he's doing so well. You could be right in that you are all he needs, but it's hard to know for sure that he wouldn't prefer another piggy-buddy, they very often do. Sometimes they find another really good buddy by boar-dating. This is a process that good rescue centres will do on your behalf, to find a match that both boars are happy with (and indeed sows for that matter). There is a rescue locator at the top of the forum. No-one is going to try pushing you down that route, especially at a time like this when everything hurts so much. Sometimes getting another piggy is the last thing we want to do. BUT if in the future you would like to have a go at seeing if he takes to another piggy then we are all here to support you through the process.
We are all here for you anyway, what ever you decide is best for you and your piggy.

I do think you are right, one day you will think of your dear piggy and find yourself smiling warmly instead of that awful raw ache. It will quite probably be whistful, as in wishing he was still there, but it will be a warmer feeling than the grief you feel right now

 

[Squidgypigs]

Just wanted to say I am so sorry to hear of your loss and that it's perfectly ok to hurt, and cry over anything that upsets you. Sending huge hugs to you and your remaining piggy.