I can’t stop crying over the fact my guinea pig has died!

[Prestonrobbo06]

In late November of 2017, my dad surprised me and my family with a guinea pig. We named him Sergio, as we are big Manchester City fans. He was so unique to the average guinea pig. He would love to cave in my dogs bed. He would chase the cat everywhere. He ate non-stop, he was huge. And he was so cute. He loved hugs and warm places.

Then, it all went wrong. My mum had gone to San Francisco with my dad and her two sisters, so me and my 3 siblings were left with my Nana. Well they were away, I noticed he didn’t have as big of an appetite; and trust me he loved to eat. 1 day before my mum came back we all went to my Grandads to stay for the night and we took Sergio as his brother lived with my Grandad. When I got there I realised that my Grandad had changed the location of his guinea pigs cage outside, and I knew Sergio didn’t like being outside. Anyway, after a few hours I checked in on him. He looked very uncomfortable, I thought it was due to the other guinea pig. So I fed him some lettuce, which he normally enjoyed, but he didn’t touch it so my curiosity grew larger to what was wrong with him. I had already gotten the idea this was not turning out in his favour. The next morning my mum had gotten back from San Francisco, I went to check on Sergio, but his bed was soaked and full of a poo-like consistency and he looked freezing so I brought him in for the remaining time at my grandads.

As I got home, I let him in my dogs cave, as he really seemed to like it as he enjoyed dark warm places. My mum began to clean out his cage and bed. Once it was cleaned we made him a little vege-bowl full off the vegetables he really enjoyed, but he refused to eat them. We gave him a blanket while he sat in his bed and he sat there for at least 8-9 hours. During the night my dad went downstairs to check on him. He was making very heavy breathing noises. He managed through the night but only until 9am.

I can’t stop crying or thinking this is my fault. I wish I could change the past but I can’t. He felt like a dog or a best friend to me. I loved him. In that 1 year we grew such a large connection that I didn’t want to end. I’m so sorry Sergio.
RIP

 

[Seven7]

Sorry to hear about Sergio's passing. It is very difficult losing a beloved pet. It takes time to heal and sometimes, you really can't get over it easily. I also love my boy Finn more than anything and he is a year and a half years old now. He has a friend named Lara living in another cage close by.

I really feel that with your parents gone and with you staying in another house that you didn't have much help in taking care of your Sergio. Maybe some of the essential things Sergio needed just weren't available for him in the other house. Also, for future reference, guinea pigs always need a company, a friend nearby. They do much better in two. Endless supply of hay, some veggies for vitamin and some pellets are also needed.

 

[Wiebke]

In late November of 2017, my dad surprised me and my family with a guinea pig. We named him Sergio, as we are big Manchester City fans. He was so unique to the average guinea pig. He would love to cave in my dogs bed. He would chase the cat everywhere. He ate non-stop, he was huge. And he was so cute. He loved hugs and warm places.

Then, it all went wrong. My mum had gone to San Francisco with my dad and her two sisters, so me and my 3 siblings were left with my Nana. Well they were away, I noticed he didn’t have as big of an appetite; and trust me he loved to eat. 1 day before my mum came back we all went to my Grandads to stay for the night and we took Sergio as his brother lived with my Grandad. When I got there I realised that my Grandad had changed the location of his guinea pigs cage outside, and I knew Sergio didn’t like being outside. Anyway, after a few hours I checked in on him. He looked very uncomfortable, I thought it was due to the other guinea pig. So I fed him some lettuce, which he normally enjoyed, but he didn’t touch it so my curiosity grew larger to what was wrong with him. I had already gotten the idea this was not turning out in his favour. The next morning my mum had gotten back from San Francisco, I went to check on Sergio, but his bed was soaked and full of a poo-like consistency and he looked freezing so I brought him in for the remaining time at my grandads.

As I got home, I let him in my dogs cave, as he really seemed to like it as he enjoyed dark warm places. My mum began to clean out his cage and bed. Once it was cleaned we made him a little vege-bowl full off the vegetables he really enjoyed, but he refused to eat them. We gave him a blanket while he sat in his bed and he sat there for at least 8-9 hours. During the night my dad went downstairs to check on him. He was making very heavy breathing noises. He managed through the night but only until 9am.

I can’t stop crying or thinking this is my fault. I wish I could change the past but I can’t. He felt like a dog or a best friend to me. I loved him. In that 1 year we grew such a large connection that I didn’t want to end. I’m so sorry Sergio.
RIP

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss!

Guinea pigs are sadly very small animals that need vet care and support feeding as soon as they are not right.

It is unfortunate that it has all happened at the very worst of times when accessing help promptly was not possible. Please feel sad, but not guilty about that. You can only ever take responsibility for what is in your control; and this situation wasn't!
It doesn't mean that you are a bad owner; in fact, that you have these strong feelings of guilt means that you a very loving one and that you have not failed Sergio on that score at all! Guinea pigs are only small animals with a very fast metabolism; they can go downhill terrifyingly quickly.

The symptoms you are reporting for the last evening and night (not being able to eat, heavy breathing and coldness etc.) mean that Sergio had already gone into multiple organ failure and that his body was closing down. The dying process is unfortunately a lot more physical than our vague concept of drifting gently away in our sleep.

Feelings of guilt and devastation are normal when you lose a beloved pet. Please take the time to read this link here to understand what you are going through right now and in the coming days and weeks: Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

If you think that it would help you, you are welcome to post a tribute to Sergio in our Rainbow Bridge section to set him a memorial: Rainbow Bridge Pets

If you want at some point to get more guinea pigs (please always make it two as they are group animals and happier with a companion) or another pet, then I would recommend that you research their needs on official welfare pages beforehand and save up for vet care as regular part of their living cost. You are welcome to do this on our forum in the case of more guinea pigs; we will certainly help you with that if you wish to!

Never mind how much time passes, you can always pay tribute to a past piggy/pet by paying forward. It won't bring Sergio back in the flesh, but his spirit will always be with you. I like to think of my past piggies as my little furry guardian angels looking out over my current piggies and helping me to implement the lessons I have learned from them to the benefit of my current crop. You never achieve perfection, but you can always do things a little better next time round.
You can use Sergio's love and legacy to better the lives of any future pets of yours more than you would have otherwise done. That is one of the best legacies we can make our past piggies and a great way to lay any feelings of guilt, which we all have to some degree or other, to rest.

 

[tabelmabel]

Guinea pigs are only small animals with a very fast metabolism; they can go downhill terrifyingly quickly.

Please don't feel guilty - i am sure most of us have missed things in our piggies at one time or another, particularly if it's a first piggy. I know i have. If you do go on to get more piggies, easy checks like weekly weighing, feeding a good diet, keeping your pigs indoors so that you can observe their behaviour throughout the day, really help. And an annual vet check is a good idea too.

Pigs really do go downhill very fast indeed. Another worthwhile thing to do is to find the name and address of your nearest cavy savvy vet and pay them a visit when your pig is well, then you know exactly how far it is to go in an emergency and your pigs are registered with the right vet.

Benefits of hindsight! As @Wiebke says, this will be Sergio's legacy and all your future pigs' lives will be ameliorated by what he has taught you. Take care x