Yesterday i noticed that one of my Guinea pigs Daisy seemed to be lying outside in her run. I watched for a while to see if she would move but unfortunately she didn't and when I went out she was very obviously dead she was lying on her side with her eyes open and there was some poo on her bottom. Her fur was wet so she must have been lying outside all night in the rain. She was floppy when I lifted her which I didn't expect. When I checked them the day before she was fine running around with her sister Maisy. She was her usual happy, busy and excited self with no signs that she was in pain etc. So her death came as a horrendous shock. I was wondering could anyone suggest what might of happened? I know I'll never know for sure what happened. I know she was a bit fatter than her sister and she's only three years old.
Hi! I am very sorry for your shock.
Please always close access to the hutch at night, especially as the nights are getting cooler to make sure that your piggies are safe.
A major stroke or a heart attack can unfortunately happen at any age out of the blue; shock can also kill if your girl has come face to face with a predator trying to break in, a rat or even a mouse (which can squeeze through anything you can push a pencil through).
The body can release bodily fluids (including blood) and poos just after death or expel them if gas from the guts is pushed out. If she was very limp, then she has either passed not all too long ago or yesterday shortly after your last visit as rigor mortis is setting in and passing failr quickly in guinea pigs, but it still has to run its due course.
I hope that this information is helping you answer some of your questions. Of course, without a proper post mortem examination at your vet's all we can do is just guess.
Guinea pigs grieve like humans, only shorter. Maisy's reaction also depends on what was the cause of Daisy's death; if it was a hostile encounter with another small animal or predator, then she may refuse to come out. Even Daisy's sudden death can be enough to spook her.
Good that you have brought her inside! Please keep an daily eye on her weight (kitchen scales are fine as long as you weigh at the same time in the feeding cycle like before you feed dinner) and if necessary supplement her with top up feed.
See a vet if she is looking off/lethargic.
Please take the time to read these two guide links here, which should answer many of your questions; the second one contains detailed advice for what you can do/need to look out for in a bereaved companion in the immediate, medium and longer term.
You will find them very helpful in the coming days and weeks:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
PS: I have merged your two threads because they deal with the same issue; our advice for Maisy depends on what has happened with Daisy.
