Guilt & Confusion

BL0ndi33xo

BL0ndi33xo

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all, never posted on here before so hope I’m doing it right!

A few days ago my beautiful Caramel passed away. I got him from Pets@home and he was only around 18 months old. He had so much personality; he would run to me whenever he saw me around, loved cuddles and I could put him down anywhere and call his name and he’d come running to me.

His passing was totally random. He had been his normal greedy cheeky self until Tuesday, I noticed he hadn’t eaten as much as usual. I thought it was odd since he loved his food so I took him out and put him in a separate cage so I could keep an eye. He ate/drunk/&went to the toilet - just not as much as normal so I was on alert. On Wednesday morning I noticed he was breathing slightly funny (sides of his body moving) but he was still him normal self (lazy piggy by nature) and he was still eating/drinking/pooping.

Around 30mins later he just laid on his side and looked like he was having a little fit and he passed away.

I’m devastated. He meant so much to me and I felt I always tried my best, c&c cage, lots of different veggies and I loved picking him up toys and treats. I feel like I let him down. No one I know understands they just say ‘it was only a guinea pig’. He was so much more and I’m just really sad. Caramels cagemate Toffee is doing ok but he’s not like Caramel (doesn’t like being held, quite timid). I just don’t know what to do.... I feel like maybe I shouldn’t have guinea pigs because Caramel passed away so young. I keep thinking I must of done something wrong..

C69A86FD-0F81-4EDC-ADFA-5C0EBFAF7CF9.webp

Sorry for long post, just could do with some advice xx
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi and welcome to our friendly forum. Sorry it's on sad terms. You did nothing wrong. Guinea pigs are prey animals and hide illness well until it is often too late. It is all part of the grieving process to blame yourself. Caramel is out of pain now and making new friends at The Rainbow Bridge.
 
Your same feelings are quite normal here; especially with guinea pigs as they are a little more difficult to find signs of health problems and more open to different problems. I now have 3 guinea pigs whom are female and there are 2 more boars my daughter has upstairs but I was very new to owning guinea pigs and found this forum for the very hard loss of a young guinea pig I had only had for a bit over a month. To this day, neither I nor the vet really know what happened nor how it could have been fixed but there are many factors. The vet was also very new to guinea pig care but my options were limited at the time for how quickly the illness seemed to develop and my not being able to spot it early enough. I did get her to the vet as it began a typical uri (she came home with this from where I got her). I battled for close to 6 weeks back and forth, took her several times to the vet. She would seem to do well then seemed to have a bad day, I'd get her in to the vet, she would have the normal treatments again, etc. But one night, she couldn't fight anymore. She was only about 4 months old at the time. I still miss her very much and felt quite a lot like you do.

However, in time, maybe you could find it in yourself to give your little one a friend again. You did everything you could and your little one was very loved. Sadly, guinea pigs have a very short life but each day they live with us slaves is a lot longer to them then it is to us. Time isn't the same for guinea pigs. While you didn't have your little one as long as you could have in nature, to your little one it was a full life and each day was happy with you.

RIP Caramel. Hugs to you and thoughts to the difficult time you are going through.
 
I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful piggy.

Piggies hide illness very well unfortunately as they are prey animals it is often very hard to tell and they go downhill very quickly. There is nothinh you could have done. I am so sorry

Sleep well little one

RIP Caramel
x x
 
I am so sorry for your loss.
As said by others piggies don’t always show illness until it’s too late.
Of course you will feel guilty and devastated but remember that these are perfectly normal feelings following a bereavement.
You did nothing wrong.
You gave Caramel a loving home and that is a great gift.
Look after yourself and allow yourself to grieve.
Toffee is also grieving in his piggy way so caring for him will help you both.
 
I agree with all above.
You have done absolutely NOTHING wrong. I went through the same feelings when my 3 year old pig passed, I felt so guilty because she was quite young. But it’s never our fault when a pig dies. Pigs are known for hiding illnesses furthermore the pass away very unexpectedly.
Lots of hugs cxx
 
fanniephina said:
Your same feelings are quite normal here; especially with guinea pigs as they are a little more difficult to find signs of health problems and more open to different problems. I now have 3 guinea pigs whom are female and there are 2 more boars my daughter has upstairs but I was very new to owning guinea pigs and found this forum for the very hard loss of a young guinea pig I had only had for a bit over a month. To this day, neither I nor the vet really know what happened nor how it could have been fixed but there are many factors. The vet was also very new to guinea pig care but my options were limited at the time for how quickly the illness seemed to develop and my not being able to spot it early enough. I did get her to the vet as it began a typical uri (she came home with this from where I got her). I battled for close to 6 weeks back and forth, took her several times to the vet. She would seem to do well then seemed to have a bad day, I'd get her in to the vet, she would have the normal treatments again, etc. But one night, she couldn't fight anymore. She was only about 4 months old at the time. I still miss her very much and felt quite a lot like you do.

However, in time, maybe you could find it in yourself to give your little one a friend again. You did everything you could and your little one was very loved. Sadly, guinea pigs have a very short life but each day they live with us slaves is a lot longer to them then it is to us. Time isn't the same for guinea pigs. While you didn't have your little one as long as you could have in nature, to your little one it was a full life and each day was happy with you.

RIP Caramel. Hugs to you and thoughts to the difficult time you are going through.
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Thank you for your sweet words, It means a lot to know people understand! I am looking around for a friend for Toffee, I know he is missing his partner in crime..

Sorry to hear about your little one<3 xx
 
sport_billy said:
I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful piggy.

Piggies hide illness very well unfortunately as they are prey animals it is often very hard to tell and they go downhill very quickly. There is nothinh you could have done. I am so sorry

Sleep well little one

RIP Caramel
x x
Click to expand...
Thank you<3 xx
 
Merab's Slave said:
I am so sorry for your loss.
As said by others piggies don’t always show illness until it’s too late.
Of course you will feel guilty and devastated but remember that these are perfectly normal feelings following a bereavement.
You did nothing wrong.
You gave Caramel a loving home and that is a great gift.
Look after yourself and allow yourself to grieve.
Toffee is also grieving in his piggy way so caring for him will help you both.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind words, means a lot at this time<3 xx
 
BellaBoo07 said:
I agree with all above.
You have done absolutely NOTHING wrong. I went through the same feelings when my 3 year old pig passed, I felt so guilty because she was quite young. But it’s never our fault when a pig dies. Pigs are known for hiding illnesses furthermore the pass away very unexpectedly.
Lots of hugs cxx
Click to expand...
Thank you<3 xx
 
Just caught up in this thread. So sorry for your loss. Losing a piggy old or young is always difficult and I find however mine pass I always question myself. It's only natural to want or think you could have done more. Please try not to feel bad.
Sleep tight little Caramel.xx
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. I know that feeling of guilt, I got 2 piggies from pets at home myself 2 years ago and after an initial few weeks of being unwell and behaving abnormally, they were ok for a few months. Then everything went downhill and in spite of becoming frequent visitors to the vet we lost Blackberry at 1 year old. Bramble who survived has been left with a fair few issues that will never get better.
Unfortunately Pets at Home are supplied by rodent mills so you're getting a genetic lottery when you buy their animals, you could get lucky and get a healthy one, or in our cases, you'll be unlucky. This is not your fault at all and there is nothing you can do to prevent it when it's their natural time to go, especially when they hide symptoms for as long as they can. The only ones at fault are the people breeding them with no care for health, well being and lifespan.

Sleep well little Caramel, I'm sure he is grateful for the lovely life you gave him. They dont count life in years like we do, they count it in quality and thats exactly what he got :)
 
I'm so sorry for your loss, guilt is just another phase of grieving. I'm glad your getting another piggy for Toffee. We have a quiet one in our cage but he's just as loved.
It might be an idea to go dating at a rescue, so you know they will be a good match. If you can't find a lad, how about having his plums removed then mix him with a wifey, that will perk him up.
If you go that way you need to keep them apart for 6 weeks before introducing them.
Put 2 cages together so they can see & chat in the mean while. Good luck.
 
rhymer said:
Just caught up in this thread. So sorry for your loss. Losing a piggy old or young is always difficult and I find however mine pass I always question myself. It's only natural to want or think you could have done more. Please try not to feel bad.
Sleep tight little Caramel.xx
Click to expand...
Thank you<3 xx
 
Tiamolly123 said:
I'm so sorry for your loss, guilt is just another phase of grieving. I'm glad your getting another piggy for Toffee. We have a quiet one in our cage but he's just as loved.
It might be an idea to go dating at a rescue, so you know they will be a good match. If you can't find a lad, how about having his plums removed then mix him with a wifey, that will perk him up.
If you go that way you need to keep them apart for 6 weeks before introducing them.
Put 2 cages together so they can see & chat in the mean while. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you<3
 
Eriathwen said:
I'm so sorry for your loss. I know that feeling of guilt, I got 2 piggies from pets at home myself 2 years ago and after an initial few weeks of being unwell and behaving abnormally, they were ok for a few months. Then everything went downhill and in spite of becoming frequent visitors to the vet we lost Blackberry at 1 year old. Bramble who survived has been left with a fair few issues that will never get better.
Unfortunately Pets at Home are supplied by rodent mills so you're getting a genetic lottery when you buy their animals, you could get lucky and get a healthy one, or in our cases, you'll be unlucky. This is not your fault at all and there is nothing you can do to prevent it when it's their natural time to go, especially when they hide symptoms for as long as they can. The only ones at fault are the people breeding them with no care for health, well being and lifespan.

Sleep well little Caramel, I'm sure he is grateful for the lovely life you gave him. They dont count life in years like we do, they count it in quality and thats exactly what he got :)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the sweet words<3

I've always loved Pets@Home for toys and food for my pets, but I will definitely not be getting anymore animals from them. When I first got Caramel I was naïve and listened to P@H about cages & food etc.. So I walked out with a tiny store cage! I soon did my own research and learnt about C&C cages and just about how much room piggies need.. I know it isn't the staffs fault they are probably told what to say and what to try and sell but it's a shame companies can't put the welfare of animals first :( xx
 
RIP Caramel 💕 what a sweet pair of piggies they look like. Many people say the ‘it’s only a guinea pig’ thing, but they don’t understand. One of my pigs died of heart failure suddenly at 2 years old, it was a shock but the guilt does subside, you sound like you did. All you could. Sometimes these things just happen, as awful as it is. Stay strong and I hope you continue to have piggies in your life, as they are the most loving and wonderful little pets. Xxxxx
 
Piggy mum said:
RIP Caramel 💕 what a sweet pair of piggies they look like. Many people say the ‘it’s only a guinea pig’ thing, but they don’t understand. One of my pigs died of heart failure suddenly at 2 years old, it was a shock but the guilt does subside, you sound like you did. All you could. Sometimes these things just happen, as awful as it is. Stay strong and I hope you continue to have piggies in your life, as they are the most loving and wonderful little pets. Xxxxx
Click to expand...
Thank you<3 xxxxx
 
BL0ndi33xo said:
Hi all, never posted on here before so hope I’m doing it right!

A few days ago my beautiful Caramel passed away. I got him from Pets@home and he was only around 18 months old. He had so much personality; he would run to me whenever he saw me around, loved cuddles and I could put him down anywhere and call his name and he’d come running to me.

His passing was totally random. He had been his normal greedy cheeky self until Tuesday, I noticed he hadn’t eaten as much as usual. I thought it was odd since he loved his food so I took him out and put him in a separate cage so I could keep an eye. He ate/drunk/&went to the toilet - just not as much as normal so I was on alert. On Wednesday morning I noticed he was breathing slightly funny (sides of his body moving) but he was still him normal self (lazy piggy by nature) and he was still eating/drinking/pooping.

Around 30mins later he just laid on his side and looked like he was having a little fit and he passed away.

I’m devastated. He meant so much to me and I felt I always tried my best, c&c cage, lots of different veggies and I loved picking him up toys and treats. I feel like I let him down. No one I know understands they just say ‘it was only a guinea pig’. He was so much more and I’m just really sad. Caramels cagemate Toffee is doing ok but he’s not like Caramel (doesn’t like being held, quite timid). I just don’t know what to do.... I feel like maybe I shouldn’t have guinea pigs because Caramel passed away so young. I keep thinking I must of done something wrong..

View attachment 87759

Sorry for long post, just could do with some advice xx
Click to expand...
Aw bless you you must be heartbroken, I'm so sorry. Please don't feel bad, and certainly dobt let it put you off having more, he was obviously a very happy piggie so you must be a great mummy, unfortunately it's just one of those things and as others on here jave said they hide their illnesses well, there's nothing you could jave done, or ahould have done differently, you gave him a very happy life and that's an amazing thing! Xx
 
EmmaW said:
Aw bless you you must be heartbroken, I'm so sorry. Please don't feel bad, and certainly dobt let it put you off having more, he was obviously a very happy piggie so you must be a great mummy, unfortunately it's just one of those things and as others on here jave said they hide their illnesses well, there's nothing you could jave done, or ahould have done differently, you gave him a very happy life and that's an amazing thing! Xx
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Thank you for your sweet words<3 xxxxx
 
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