Guinea Pig Seizures

[Grace m m]

So just a few minutes ago I lost a Guinea pig, she was my brothers but he did not take care of her well, she was found on her side with her tiny paws in the air still breathing still with the will to live and keep going, she kept fighting, i was not able to go with her to the vet due to health issues of my own, but the doc said she was having seizures, she was pretty old around 5 to 6 years old she was very cute, her name is sofie, The doc also said her eyes would not respond, so her brain was not right, i was just wondering what could have caused it the vet says from old age, but could it be something else? She was in pain from every thing, so she went to sleep in peace, I will miss her greatly, but just confused about why?

 

[Julie M]

I’m so sorry for your loss. 5/6 years is a good age for a piggie so maybe it was old age.

 

[DM030819]

I temporarily had a pig years ago who died in a similar way. He'd had a stroke just before I took him in, and then he had a second which he didn't survive.

Unfortunately it just happens sometimes. No matter how well we look after them or what treatment we get from the vet, it's just simply their time.

I hope you're okay. RIP little Sofie!

 

[Wiebke]

So just a few minutes ago I lost a Guinea pig, she was my brothers but he did not take care of her well, she was found on her side with her tiny paws in the air still breathing still with the will to live and keep going, she kept fighting, i was not able to go with her to the vet due to health issues of my own, but the doc said she was having seizures, she was pretty old around 5 to 6 years old she was very cute, her name is sofie, The doc also said her eyes would not respond, so her brain was not right, i was just wondering what could have caused it the vet says from old age, but could it be something else? She was in pain from every thing, so she went to sleep in peace, I will miss her greatly, but just confused about why?

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss. It can be very traumatic when you have never dealt with a dying guinea pig or a dying person before because it is most often not the gentle drifting away in your sleep that we expect.

Your Sofie has lived to a good age. The average life span of guinea pigs is 5-7 years old.
At some point in the aging process when there is no apparent illness, something in the body goes wrong. Sofie could have suffered a stroke or a series of mini strokes; the seizures could have been epileptic and/or part of her body closing down in organ failure. If just one major organ goes, but the others are still strong, this can cause fitting and death may not come as easy as you'd wish. This is what your vet has been trying to tell. Of course, without examination and test we can always only guess what exactly has caused her death.

We usually call it 'it was the piggy's day' when an older piggy goes downhill very suddenly and for no obvious reason but old age; what symptoms come up depends on where the body starts folding down and in which order. Some deaths can be more dramatic like yours, in others a piggy just slips away more peacefully. All you can do is to keep your piggy as comfy as you can and to keep it warm, but not hot.

Take consolation that Sofie has not suffered for long, that you have done the right thing and that she is now free of it.

Sofie has been clearly loved and well cared for by you. You are welcome to post a tribute to her in our Rainbow Bridge section if at all or at whatever point it feels right for you. The section is there for those that would like to make use of it.

 

[Freela]

I'm very sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, there's probably no way to know for sure. She did live to an old age for a guinea pig, so age is probably the underlying contributor. Guinea pigs can have strokes and brain infarcts just like people, and seizing is unfortunately often a part of the body closing down as death grows closer. I know it's really hard to see, as I've seen it with some of my elderly piggies when they passed as well. ((HUGS)) and try to remember that she lived to old age and you gave her a happy home for those years. Sometimes it's just their time to go without showing many warning signs beforehand.

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss. I do know how distressing seizures can be if you’ve never seen it before.
However as others have said Sophie was a good age and she was loved. She will always have her place in your heart.
Please be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to grieve.

 

[Hoppity.K]

So sorry for your loss. Huge hugs
RIP Sofie x

 

[Grace m m]

I want to say a huge thank you to every one of you who commented, I really appreciate it so much, she is missed greatly, and I won’t ever forget her, she was just the sweetest, and just the kindest, I will forever remember her being happy and having fun squeaking. So thank you truly thank you for the comforting words and your kindness.