Hello all, please forgive, but please no endless condolences, as my heart can't heal on this sensitive topic. As much as I have tried, and sought answers, I just can't get closure, so here I go... I would love it if anyone experienced has been present to their senior piggy passing and what the process is... the love of my life passed when I was not here, in their favorite spot, at the age of 7. I think maybe if I could know what his last hours were like maybe I would have some better feeling. He saw his vet every 2 weeks and I would say I'm knowledgeable about fuzzies, any information would be much appreciated.
Thanks soo much,
Lara and Romeo berthiaume aka chooch.
Hi and welcome
I am very sorry that you are struggling with the loss. Talking about it is the best healer; if you can, please google for pet bereavement services (some may even be free) in your area.
It is tough when you are left with questions you cannot answer and when you are dealing with the inevitable feelings of failure and guilt; in your case of not being there with your boy.
Roughly about half of the nearly 40 piggies I have said goodbye to have died at home or I was present for the euthanasia; especially in the early years where kinder procedures were not yet in use. I've also sat with dying family members.
It is a much more physical process than we expect with our sanitised view of 'drifting gently away in one's sleep' as the body breaks down. How quickly and in which order depends on how fit and healthy the various vital organs are and in which order they go after the first major one gives up. It can be rather upset if you witness it without being able to brace for it; especially if it is the first time you are confronted with it.
The process itself can be very quick, especially in a frail and/or older piggy like yours and be over in a less than an hour but it can last a day or even longer and not be as gentle; that is when I take mine to be put to sleep at the vet's to prevent any unnecessary suffering.
If your piggy was still in their hut and lying in a fairly normal pose, then it is most likely that their passing was pretty gentle and quick (as when you left him he was still behaving normally) and that he has basically more or less drifted away after a fairly short phase of feeling somewhat unwell.
You may find these links here helpful:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
The last chapter of the link below deals with advice on how you can spot whether your piggy is dying and what you can do for it during that time in case you think that it would help you to ease your mind. Guinea pigs tend to remove themselves from their group if they are feeling badly; it serves as a instinctive protection for the group to reduce the risk of passing on a transmittable illness or to attract predators.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
I have found that it is often easier on the guinea pigs that have removed themselves from company (not the ones whose companions are attending closely) to just make them as comfortable as possible and check on them regularly; I hold them only when they are in distress while arranging an emergency vet trip or while on the way to a vet.
It has now happened several times that a piggy has passed away the moment I set down the cosy to go the toilet for overdue business and in one case, the moment I set down the cosy on a chair in a vet's waiting room in order to get some more piggies out of the car for their scheduled appointments - Tesni had gone into organ failure the evening before her scheduled appointment at a specialist but the last hour was not quite easy on her so she had to travel with me on my on lap while my husband drove the car. I can't help feeling that holding a piggy can sometimes make it more difficult for it to depart and it is easier for it to let go when alone.
On the whole, death is no longer something I am afraid of. It is a natural process of change that can be uncomfortable for shorter periods but that in many cases is fairly straight forward. During the worst bit right at the end when oxygen deprivation hits, your consciousness is no longer closely attached to the body as the brain is equally affected. It is more upsetting to watch. I am glad for any piggy that can pass away here in their familiar home and surroundings, the way yours did.
I hope that that helps you?
With one of my pigs, two of my kids were present too, and although they were really upset that she passed away, as they both loved her, they both agreed that it was really peaceful and my son later told me that he was glad he was there to see that she didn't suffer at all. If this helps at all, I think a pig who passed at old age in their favorite spot likely went pretty peacefully. I've found my pigs seem to go pretty quickly when it's their time... they were all fine the pay prior, a bit lethargic the day of, and passed by nightfall without much of a struggle. Hope this helps a bit.
