Guinea pig death

[MKnight]

My guinea pig Beth died yesterday. What could have happened? She was only around two years old. She was healthy and popcorning, eating and drinking and then yesterday I woke up to find her laying on the floor of her cage dead. Did I do something wrong? I have two other pigs and they have a custom built cage. What could have happened? Could they be mourning her death? I’ve just so very upset and just in total shock of this. If anyone has any ideas that would be great.

 

[KayBalor]

I really sorry for your loss, it must've been such a shock. I'm sure you did nothing wrong, sometimes it's just one of those things. You just need to take the time to grieve and enjoy your other piggies. Hugs xx

 

[Lady Kelly]

Really sorry for your loss. There are a number of things including strokes and sudden heart failure which can happen at any age with piggies with no prior warning. Your other two piggies are likely to have taken themselves over to acknowledge the death which will help them. As you have more than one piggy remaining it's unlikely they will go into acute grieving

 

[Wiebke]

My guinea pig Beth died yesterday. What could have happened? She was only around two years old. She was healthy and popcorning, eating and drinking and then yesterday I woke up to find her laying on the floor of her cage dead. Did I do something wrong? I have two other pigs and they have a custom built cage. What could have happened? Could they be mourning her death? I’ve just so very upset and just in total shock of this. If anyone has any ideas that would be great.

Hi and welcome

I am so sorry for your unexpected loss!

Sadly, strokes, heart attacks or sudden acute heart failure can happen at any time of the life right out of the blue. Not your fault at all, but it is a very normal reaction at the onset of the grieving process to do some serious soul searching if you are a caring owner! We all experience the inevitable feelings of guilt or failure to some degree or other whenever we lose lose one of ours.
Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

Here is our advice for looking after bereaved companions. Yes, they will grieve, but as the death must have happened a while before you found your girl, they have already taken leave and are now ignoring the body.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

I hope that the two guides will help you with coping with your loss.

 

[Sophie B]

I’m so sorry x

 

[Abirose]

I am so sorry for your loss of Beth x

 

[Bill & Ted]

So very sorry that you have lost Beth so suddenly x Please don’t think it’s something you have caused, piggies can die suddenly from strokes and heart attacks just like humans.
Sleep tight little lady x

 

[Abbie Brooks]

I'm so sorry for your loss, I know how hard it can be when it is sudden. There are so many unpreventable causes it could have been. xx

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss xx

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry for your sudden loss.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum- so sorry it’s under such sad circumstances.
Unfortunately guinea pigs can die very suddenly for no apparent reason and it’s usually a stroke or heart attack.
Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself time to grieve.

 

[Lj1981]

Hi,
I’m so sorry to hear about Beth’s passing.
I lost Broly on 4/3/19, i’m still in shock and not sure how he passed. He was 3yrs old and had a very very very very minor surgery on 4/1/19, that night he was moving around, eating his hay and pellets, drinking water, he was moving slowly as the doctor said he would for the first few days after surgery. The next day he was walking around, eating his hay, drinking water, a few hours later, I see him dragging himself out of his house, unable to use his back legs and he was struggling to breathe, we rushed him to the vet, he was kept overnight and he passed away at 12:41pm. Still not sure how he was fine, then fighting for his life all within 3hrs.
I know Beth was deeply loved and will always be remembered.