Death smell

[Lloyd]

One of mine are currently nearing the end of her life, which I've currently made peace with as she's 7, this post isn't really about that I just want to know if anyone else can recognise a smell they have the day or 2 before passing. I've noticed it with the past 5 deaths I've had over the years that have been from a range of causes but no one ever knows what I'm on about. She's yet to get it but it's like a strong smell that's just different to how they normally smell, like it fills the room. I get that it'll be from their body dying but its different to their rot/after death smell. Again I'm not worried as I've dealt with it before but anyone know what I'm on about.

 

[ScrufflesRules]

I'm so sorry you're in this situation.
I have also recognised a smell with my own piggies, mainly from their mouths. I have always thought this has had something to do with a mixture of critical care, medications, and their own lack of hygiene due to ill health. The smell is very different to that of human death.
Again, I'm sorry to hear your guinea pig is dying. I know your post isn't about this, but have you visited a vet to see if they can make her more comfortable?

 

[Wiebke]

One of mine are currently nearing the end of her life, which I've currently made peace with as she's 7, this post isn't really about that I just want to know if anyone else can recognise a smell they have the day or 2 before passing. I've noticed it with the past 5 deaths I've had over the years that have been from a range of causes but no one ever knows what I'm on about. She's yet to get it but it's like a strong smell that's just different to how they normally smell, like it fills the room. I get that it'll be from their body dying but its different to their rot/after death smell. Again I'm not worried as I've dealt with it before but anyone know what I'm on about.

Hi

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry about your impending loss.

A distinctive 'death smell' has so far never been mentioned on here and I have certainly never noticed but then my sense of smell is pretty limited between a decade of chronic sinusitis and Long Covid. Like with so many of our own senses, there are super-noses like there are super-tasters. I can distinguish colour tones (and remember them correctly for years) long after most other people can only see a single colour. My mum is even stronger than me.

There is however a smell, a bit like nail varnish remover (ketosis) from the mouth that in guinea pigs indicates that the digestive system is breaking down. It is generally associated with advanced stages of pregnancy toxaemia (a metabolic disorder that can be easily treated in the early stages but that is fatal in the advanced ones - if you can smell the ketone build-up is usually too late).
The smell of ketosis has also been mentioned several times on here in connection with a heat stroke as one the of the potential symptoms of sufferers that haven't died immediately but are struggling with GI stasis and failure to get the digestive system going again and that may not recover.
It may be that this is what you can smell that in a dying piggy whose digestive system has stopped working and who is no longer able to eat?

However, my thoughts are with you and your old lady. I wish her a gentle journey to the Rainbow Bridge.

 

[Lloyd]

I'm so sorry you're in this situation.
I have also recognised a smell with my own piggies, mainly from their mouths. I have always thought this has had something to do with a mixture of critical care, medications, and their own lack of hygiene due to ill health. The smell is very different to that of human death.
Again, I'm sorry to hear your guinea pig is dying. I know your post isn't about this, but have you visited a vet to see if they can make her more comfortable?

Thanks, she's on some painkillers. Tbh what I smell has never came from their mouth more just a general smell around them, with my past ones dying from different causes there have been different undertones but the main smell is the same, most of them weren't on medications when they passed so maybe it changes.

 

[Lloyd]

Hi

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry about your impending loss.

A distinctive 'death smell' has so far never been mentioned on here and I have certainly never noticed but then my sense of smell is pretty limited between a decade of chronic sinusitis and Long Covid. Like with so many of our own senses, there are super-noses like there are super-tasters. I can distinguish colour tones (and remember them correctly for years) long after most other people can only see a single colour. My mum is even stronger than me.

There is however a smell, a bit like nail varnish remover (ketosis) from the mouth that in guinea pigs indicates that the digestive system is breaking down. It is generally associated with advanced stages of pregnancy toxaemia (a metabolic disorder that can be easily treated in the early stages but that is fatal in the advanced ones - if you can smell the ketone build-up is usually too late).
The smell of ketosis has also been mentioned several times on here in connection with a heat stroke as one the of the potential symptoms of sufferers that haven't died immediately but are struggling with GI stasis and failure to get the digestive system going again and that may not recover.
It may be that this is what you can smell that in a dying piggy whose digestive system has stopped working and who is no longer able to eat?

However, my thoughts are with you and your old lady. I wish her a gentle journey to the Rainbow Bridge.

Very cool about your colour thing. I have been known to have a strong sense of smell like being able to smell when a teeth is going bad before others and recognising human illness smells. Luckily the smell I'm on about isn't a nail varnish remover smell, tbh I can never remember the smell until it appears but it's very distinct. It does usually come when they eat less and fully start shutting down so it may be the digestive system stopping like u said.
Thanks for the kind reply

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you are facing the loss of your girl.
She’s a wonderful age which is a tribute to your love and care.
I pray for a peaceful passing.
Hugs

 

[Engel]

I'm so sorry to hear about your piggy, 7 is a fantastic age, but I know we always want more time. I'm sure you'll fill what ever time she has left with love and happy today's.

I know the smell you're referring to. I've had it on the build up of all my small furries who've died at home. It's hard to explain it, but it's an odour that once you know what it is, it never leaves you, as soon as you smell it again you know exactly what it is. I've heard some people refer to it as a chemical or even a medical smell. I don't know what to class it as, I just call it the death smell. My mum knows the smell, other members of the family don't. As Wiebke says, it's probably a case of super-noses/super-tasters, not everyone can smell it. For example I can hear cat scarring devices that we're not supposed to be able to hear and even the northern lights, but I don't know anyone else who can (it's a horrible noise by the way).

 

[Spaniel]

Unfortunately I know exactly the smell you mean. Hard to describe but very distinctive

 

[Eriathwen]

I know exactly what smell you mean, it is caused by the change in metabolism as their body begins to shut down. I believe it's the kidneys struggling that causes it, but I'm not 100%, usually they pass within the week however one of my girls ended up living a year or so after the smell went away but was riddled with health issues and cancer, and another lived a month or so with the smell coming and going.

While unpleasant it is nice to be given an early warning sign to make the most of those last few days/hours.

 

[Annagrogan]

One of mine are currently nearing the end of her life, which I've currently made peace with as she's 7, this post isn't really about that I just want to know if anyone else can recognise a smell they have the day or 2 before passing. I've noticed it with the past 5 deaths I've had over the years that have been from a range of causes but no one ever knows what I'm on about. She's yet to get it but it's like a strong smell that's just different to how they normally smell, like it fills the room. I get that it'll be from their body dying but its different to their rot/after death smell. Again I'm not worried as I've dealt with it before but anyone know what I'm on about.

I lost my baby boy 2 days ago and know exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve lost 2 others over the years and noticed the same thing. I’m sorry you’re going through a loss of an elder pig