• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Dying Guinea Pig?

jumpycookiepippy

jumpycookiepippy

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 9, 2019
Messages
56
Reaction score
22
Points
155
Location
New York, USA
I woke up this morning to find my guinea pig, Pippy, laying on his belly and kind of just staying still. I went over to see what was wrong and he started closing his eyes. I began to panic and took him out of his cage to pet him and got a piece of celery and orange to try to feed to him. He took both and began chewing, but he never swallowed. I stayed with him for about the next hour and he chewed the orange piece and ate some of it, and drank small amounts of water. He is pooping, not sure if he is peeing. The earliest vet appointment I could’ve booked him was Tuesday, all other days were unavailable. I feel like he is dying, and I’m not sure what to do. :/
 

Attachments

  • 18BED175-9CB3-4453-BDC2-C2FA883BD65A.webp
    18BED175-9CB3-4453-BDC2-C2FA883BD65A.webp
    101.1 KB · Views: 11
jumpycookiepippy said:
I woke up this morning to find my guinea pig, Pippy, laying on his belly and kind of just staying still. I went over to see what was wrong and he started closing his eyes. I began to panic and took him out of his cage to pet him and got a piece of celery and orange to try to feed to him. He took both and began chewing, but he never swallowed. I stayed with him for about the next hour and he chewed the orange piece and ate some of it, and drank small amounts of water. The earliest vet appointment I could’ve booked him was Tuesday, all other days were unavailable. I feel like he is dying, and I’m not sure what to do. :/
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

HUGS

I am ever so sorry; it sounds like your little one may no longer be able to process any food and may have suffered a sudden turn for the worst (heart attack, stroke, sudden acute heart failure etc.)

Keep your piggy warm but not hot and as comfortable as you can.
You can find more advice on what you can do if your piggy's body is closing down before you can see a vet in the last chapter of our emergency care guide. Click on this link here: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Sadly these things seem to always happen at times when getting to a vet quickly is even more difficult than usual.
it would help us if you please added your country. Here in the UK we do have round the clock and holiday emergency cover for vets, especially in urban areas, but it doesn't like this is the case for you. This will allow us to support you better.
 
I am so sorry to hear this.
Sadly guinea pigs can deteriorate very fast, before we have a chance to do anything.
Enfold him in your love, follow @Wiebke’s advice for care and be gentle with yourself
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

HUGS

I am ever so sorry; it sounds like your little one may no longer be able to process any food and may have suffered a sudden turn for the worst (heart attack, stroke, sudden acute heart failure etc.)

Keep your piggy warm but not hot and as comfortable as you can.
You can find more advice on what you can do if your piggy's body is closing down before you can see a vet in the last chapter of our emergency care guide. Click on this link here: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Sadly these things seem to always happen at times when getting to a vet quickly is even more difficult than usual.
it would help us if you please added your country. Here in the UK we do have round the clock and holiday emergency cover for vets, especially in urban areas, but it doesn't like this is the case for you. This will allow us to support you better.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I’ve put a towel over him and he’s laying down on his bed with a towel under him too. Since it’s New Year’s Day , all vets around me are closed, even the emergency ones. How do I add that I am in the US? I don’t see an option for it on my page.
 
If you click on your avatar a pop up menu will appear.
Click on ‘Account details’ and you will be able to add your location there.
 
After my post yesterday, I kept monitoring him and sadly, he passed away that night. It was very unexpected and I miss him dearly. It’s been pretty upsetting since yesterday and we’ve buried him today next to my other piggy, BunBun. Here are some pictures of him for you all to enjoy <3 R.I.P Pippy, my sweet boy.
 

Attachments

  • DC5D1F0C-F806-42E8-9C4A-D1010D7C8DE7.webp
    DC5D1F0C-F806-42E8-9C4A-D1010D7C8DE7.webp
    21.4 KB · Views: 9
  • 1FF8467C-3D62-4F8B-8264-103F23344E2C.webp
    1FF8467C-3D62-4F8B-8264-103F23344E2C.webp
    42.5 KB · Views: 8
  • 9CDFCF63-2340-4488-90ED-23A20EB2DEA3.webp
    9CDFCF63-2340-4488-90ED-23A20EB2DEA3.webp
    226.9 KB · Views: 8
I am ever so sorry for your loss.

If it is any consolation to you, piggies can go downhill terrifyingly quickly. It can really whack you and shake you to the core. :(

Please be kind to yourself. There is not anything you have done wrong or been lacking; these things can happen to anybody - including me, several times over the years!
Take the time to digest your shock and your loss. Grieving is not something you can hurry on but it is a process that we all have to go through to the degree we have loved.

Please take the time to read these guides here. You will hopefully find them very helpful right now and in the coming days to guide through your pain and all the conflicting emotions you are assailed by at first while you try to make sense of what has just happened.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
Wiebke said:
I am ever so sorry for your loss.

If it is any consolation to you, piggies can go downhill terrifyingly quickly. It can really whack you and shake you to the core. :(

Please be kind to yourself. There is not anything you have done wrong or been lacking; these things can happen to anybody - including me, several times over the years!
Take the time to digest your shock and your loss. Grieving is not something you can hurry on but it is a process that we all have to go through to the degree we have loved.

Please take the time to read these guides here. You will hopefully find them very helpful right now and in the coming days to guide through your pain and all the conflicting emotions you are assailed by at first while you try to make sense of what has just happened.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. I’ve been questioning what I could’ve done better to make him still be here with me today, but I’m beginning to accept that there’s nothing I could have done and that he’s resting up in piggy heaven eating all the veggies he wants.
 
jumpycookiepippy said:
Thank you so much. I’ve been questioning what I could’ve done better to make him still be here with me today, but I’m beginning to accept that there’s nothing I could have done and that he’s resting up in piggy heaven eating all the veggies he wants.
Click to expand...

Feelings off guilt or failure are very typical for the onset of the grieving process; that is why we always tell any caring members with a loss that there is nothing that they have done wrong. You will find that the grieving guide link is very helpful as it is based on our own experiences and can hopefully help you put your own into perspective and understand better what you are going through as you go through the various stages in the coming days and weeks. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top