One of my girls, Winky, 4 years and 3 months old, went to the rainbow bridge early this morning at around 6 AM (I have a camera recording). She had been eating and drinking normally the day before and even that night. The only thing I noticed was that her reflexes seemed slower that evening, but she was still eating capsicum and drinking water around 8 PM. By around 2 AM, she was struggling to walk.
After she passed, I found a small hard lump, about the size of a 1 cm-ish diameter ball, on the right side of her body just above her front leg. I feel terrible for not noticing it sooner—I know I should have checked her more regularly. She disliked being touched, and as a rex with thick, curly fur, it was harder to notice anything unusual. Still, I know I only have myself to blame, even with the excuses.
I haven’t been able to find a clear answer online about what kind of lump this might have been, but I’d really appreciate it if anyone could share any knowledge or experience. Could a lump like this have been fatal? Were there signs I missed that could have helped me catch it earlier?
I’m also worried about my other girl, who’s now alone. Since guinea pigs are social animals, should I consider getting her a new companion? The fear of going through another loss is overwhelming right now.
Hi and welcome
I am very sorry that you have lost Winky so suddenly. Seemingly healthy guinea pigs can unfortunately die very suddenly without a warning when they have a stroke, heart attack or - what is in your case most likeliest from what you are reporting - from sudden acute heart failure or another major organ giving in.
If it is any consolation to you, it is nothing you have done wrong and that even had you raced her to the vets instantly, it would have likely already been too late and she would have more likely either passed away on the way there or on the examination table. Please try to take consolation in that as natural deaths (multiple organ failure) go, Winky had an easy journey to the Rainbow Bridge and she could pass away in her familiar surroundings.
Lumps often come up suddenly to quite a size but it is too small and too new (cancer doesn't kill as quickly as that) so you haven't missed anything crucial. It is too new but still far too small and highly unlikely to be the cause of her passing. We all experience strong feelings of guilt or intense soul-searching in the wake of any death, but even more so after a sudden and unexpected one because as humans we are wired to reflect everything back to ourselves. They are not an expression of you having failed but actually an expression of how deeply you care. However, at this stage, your mind is racing around, willing to latch onto anything, which not rarely leads to some rather strange connections.
It is not easy to live with never quite knowing what is the exact cause but please rest assured that it is nothing you have done wrong or have missed. It is just one of those things where the much faster metabolism that guinea pigs have is turning against them and no medication will have enough time to kick in.
Please be kind with yourself and try not to beat yourself up too much over what you don't have any control. You haven't failed Winky in any way, because you have quite obviously given her daily what guinea pigs measure a good life by: many happy todays in your loving care. Piggies do not have a concept for average life spans or expected longevity; these are entirely arbitrary human concepts. What counts for them is the quality of their normal daily life. As the owner, you can never choose when and in which way the end comes; that is not in your control. We are just normal people and not God or superwoman after all.
Be sad but please do not feel bad. It is OK to not be OK for a little while as you have to deal with both the shock and the loss all at once but rest assured that you haven't done anything wrong. Give yourself time and space to grieve. We are here for you at any time and for as long as you need to. For this purpose, we recommend to bookmark this thread so you can pick it up easily at any time. Unlike social media we can let an ongoing support thread run for as long as necessary but it helps both sides if we can keep all information together so we can refresh our memory after a break and you do not have to repeat the whole story umpteen times. We are not trained but we can provide understanding and moral community support.
You may find these links here helpful in understanding a bit better what you have observed in the case of a natural death and in your own grieving process, which is a lot more complex than you'd expect if you have never experienced it before.
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A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
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Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
As to what you can do for your companion: Please do not clean the cage and please leave Winky's favourite cosies in the cage so they can lie in them as the scent gradually fades and do their own grieving. Don't clean the cage until your companion is picking up their own life again and is no longer withdrawn (can be up to a week). Some stout souls will act like nothing has happened but please don't underestimate what is going on inside; it is by no means that they don't care. They just function, like some humans do after the loss of their mate.
Wait with looking for new company until the companion has come out of their own grieving and is picking up their normal life again, even if it is without their usual sparkle - it is usually around 4 days. As long as they are eating and drinking for themselves, you have about 1-4 weeks' grace to get over the very worst of your own grieving to look for a new companion; in the case of boar neutering even a bit longer.
Instant company is only needed in the case of (rare) acute pining when the companion is giving up on life and food. Often, just one syringe feeding session can actually stimulate the appetite again in a piggy that is shocked by a sudden, unexpected death themselves.
Here is our practical guide for what you can do for your companion and how to work around your own grieving with lots more practical advice:
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
PS: We can also provide guides and support for bonding etc.
My thoughts are with you on this most difficult day.
