• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Hamish died

  • Thread starter Thread starter mia
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mia

Hi there, I don't know where to start really. We had a rescued guinea called Hamish who was getting on, but very healthy. We went on holiday last week and he was fine before we went. We got a phone call a day before we returned and Hamish had died. I asked them to leave him as they had found him so we could bury him. When I found him. he looked fast asleep, but also on closer inspection I noticed no poo at all and he hadn't eaten his food. I feel terrible as the people (who are very nice) looking after him knew nothing about guineas and I think he got ill while we were away and they never picked up on it. If I had been home I would have known and took him to the vets and he would still be here and now I feel terrible. I loved Hamish very much, but feel that I let him down in the end.
Mia x
 
So sorry to hear about your loss. What a horrid way to end your holiday and how horrid for his death to be so sudden.

You didn't let him down. You had people looking after him. And you can't be sure that he would have pulled through with you around. So don't blame yourself. It's one of those 'what if' situations that there will never be an answer to.

A friend of mine came back from her holiday recently to find out her cat had died. She's going through the same doubts as you. I know what you're going through isn't easy.:(
 
I am so sorry for your loss!

I lost my Dizzy last year after I returned from a long weekend away; her liver was packing up and her body closing down. It was not the boarder's fault - the short heat wave we've had at that time just speeded up what was happening anyway.

It is very difficult for strangers to pick up on the very subtle signs of illness that guinea pigs sent out - you often don't see much before it is too late. So do not blame yourself; it might have happened anyway and Hamish might not have made it even with you there. Holidays are always stressful for pets, as their usual routine is not same, and in some cases that can be just enough to trigger a latent problem.

However, it should not prevent you from ever going on holiday again!

RIP Hamish
 
Sorry to hear you've lost Hamish.:( Please don't blame yourself, as I am sure that the people you left Hamish with looked after him well. And as catslovelycats said he may not of pulled through even if you were there.
Small animals like guinea pigs hide their illnesses well and you may not of even noticed he was under the weather until it was too late, especially in an older piggy who will go down hill very quickly.:0
I'm sure Hamish had a wonderful life with you filled with lots of fun and love and when you are ready another rescue piggy will be more then willing to fill the void that Hamish has left. Sending you a big hug.
 
Am so sorry, RIP Hamish. I agree with what everyone else is saying.
 
Thanks. It made me cry reading your replies. I just can't stop thinking 'what-if's'. I need to ask the neighbours who looked after him if he seemed OK and i know they have been knocking on the door today, but I can't bring myself to speak to them because I know i'll just burst out crying. I keep wishing in the letter I had written 'please look out for these symptoms' but it didn't cross my mind that he would get ill. He was running around/poking head in fridge a day before we went. If anything I was worried about Oliver (who we put in a cattery) as he nearly died from a blocked ureatha a few months ago. I thought Polly (my other cat) and Hamish would be fine at home. The neighbours looked after him Mon-Fri and then my friends did the weekend ( I keep thinking I wish I had asked my friends to look after them all week and they know more about ginnys and might have picked up on something).
I just can't stop crying today, he lived in the house in the backroom, I've put off all day cleaning his cage and all his toys etc, it makes it so final. I've never had a ginny before and my friend asked me if I would take on this furry white rescue ginny that they thought wouldn't last long because he was old, we had him for 3 years. I have 2 cats (ex-strays) and Hamish would pull Oliver the cats tail when he was eating then run off. He squeaked and would come running if he heard the fridge door opening. I've always been more of a cat-woman, but Hamish brought so much laughter into our home, I fell in love with the little man. Once when I was getting ready for work he got into my bag and ate my banana. He was only ever locked up at night when we went to bed and let out to roam all day, even when we were at work and the cats were great with him.
I just keep thinking if only we were home he might still be here. I hope he didn't suffer and I hate the thought he was on his own.
We buried him in the garden yesterday and lit a candle for him.
 
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, he sounds as if he was full of character and charm. Try not to think what if as there was nothing else that anyone could do. Your neighbours will be worried and upset and are only trying to reach out to you. When you are calmer please try and speak to them as I am sure they did everything they could.

Think about all the joy both of you brought each other x
 
PS *Cats lovely*. Sorry to hear about your friends cat, that's awful too. We lost our beloved cat 4 years ago when we went away on a trip, I was devastated. it took me a long time to get over. Now losing Hamish whilst we were away has made me very nervous about going away again.
 
8... my heart goes out to you, it really does. you must be feeling so terrible right now. it is so true what everyone has said though, you must not blame yourself at all. try concentrate on the lifetime of love you gave to hamish and how privilidged you were to have each other. unfortunatley these things happen and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. my thoughts are with you, sending you much love - sam x
 
So sorry to hear about Hamish, its so sad when a big character like he obviously was leaves you. He obviously spent his time with you making you very happy, so try not to undo his good work by being sad for long remember those funny times with him. The greatest compliment you can pay him is, when you are ready and if the time is right, to help another of his kind like you did Hamish.

Run Free little man, in return for their kindness you made your humans very happy.
 
So sorry for your loss. Your post describing him made me laugh out loud so he must have been so much better in the flesh. Try to remember that and when you feel a bit better try and talk to your neighbours. They must be feeling terrible. Nobody wants something like this to happen when they are looking after someone elses beloved pet.

Remember your loveable rogue and I bet he absolutely loved the time and freedom he had with you. You must have gave him the best years.

xx
 
Thanks for replies, made me cry. I do feel so responsible though. Hamish hasn't been ill once since we had him. So many 'ifs and 'buts'. I was given the impression before we got home that Oliver had passed away in his sleep from old age. as I said before i knew something must have been wrong as he hadn't eaten and no poo was in his cage. I've spoken to the neighbours (who are lovely) but they did say he seemed quiet and wasn't eating as much, but thought he would be OK. I wish they had taken him to the vets, for a check-up. I'm sure I would have if I was looking after someones beloved pet. I still don't feel that we have clear answers from them. I told them I didn't blame them at all, then I asked if he was eating and they said a little but he was very quiet, but they put that down to his age. Why didn't they ring us to see what we thought? I feel like it's hard to have closure when i'm not clear when he got ill etc. I don't want them to think I'm grilling them, I just need to know. If only we had been home, he might have had a chance and even if he didn't, I'd have been relieved that I'd tried.
The neighbours brought him a lovely plant and I can clearly see that they feel bad, I don't blame them at all, I blame myslef. Why didn't I put in the letter 'if either of them (Polly our cat or Hamish) seem ill, don't hesitate to take them to the vets'
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top