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I killed my guinea pig

D

danuutka

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Messages
198
Reaction score
148
Points
330
Location
Leeds, United Kingdom
Hello I need advice on how to deal. This morning my beloved piggy died because as I took a step, he ran under my feet. He was dead within seconds, and I can’t get the image out of my head. I hate myself for it, I would never want to hurt him, but I know that’s a lame excuse because it was me that killed him. The scene keeps playing hover and over in my head.

I don’t know how to deal with this pain. I’ve never felt such sadness and anger. He was only 1.5 years old and was my soul mate - we did everything together, and he helped me with my mental health each day. He was the sweetest, most affectionate, cuddly guinea pig. I don’t know what to do. I’m distraught.

Can anyone help with how to deal with this grief, especially because it was my fault. What do I do with his cage mate, who is now a lone pig? Everything reminds me of him.
 
Oh gosh I am so sorry for your experience and your loss. You need to remember that this was a horrible freak accident and you would never intentionally hurt him. Guilt is a big part of the grieving process so it is normal to experience it regardless of the circumstances.

I think you will find our bereavement guide really useful and there is a link to the Blue Cross bereavement support helpline in there too. It would be really good for you to be able to call and talk through it with someone to try and start processing what's happened Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children
 
danuutka said:
Hello I need advice on how to deal. This morning my beloved piggy died because as I took a step, he ran under my feet. He was dead within seconds, and I can’t get the image out of my head. I hate myself for it, I would never want to hurt him, but I know that’s a lame excuse because it was me that killed him. The scene keeps playing hover and over in my head.

I don’t know how to deal with this pain. I’ve never felt such sadness and anger. He was only 1.5 years old and was my soul mate - we did everything together, and he helped me with my mental health each day. He was the sweetest, most affectionate, cuddly guinea pig. I don’t know what to do. I’m distraught.

Can anyone help with how to deal with this grief, especially because it was my fault. What do I do with his cage mate, who is now a lone pig? Everything reminds me of him.
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BIG HUGS

I am so, so sorry! It is one of those freak accidents that you can never anticipate and therefore never prevent.

Piggies have the bad habit of suddenly making a sprint in an unexpected direction. I have had the odd bad fall over the years (thankfully never broke anything, just some nasty bruising) when I overbalanced because of a piggy darting just where I was going to set my foot down.

Please take consolation in that you haven't killed your boy intentionally and that it was at least quick for him.

The best thing you can do is to talk it out of your body. Our grieving guide link has UK resources, including the contact number for the free pet bereavement helpline from the Blue Cross which is staffed by specially trained volunteers.
The bereavement guide also deals with how you can try to cope with the guilt angle in the long term.
 
I am so sorry for your loss.
It was an accident, just a horrible accident.
The advice from both @Wiebke and @Lady Kelly is excellent.
Use us to talk out as well.
Feeling guilty is a natural reaction to loss.
Holding you in my heart
 
I am so very sorry for your loss. Please don't be too hard on yourself, I know it's hard but give his cage-mate lots of cuddles, that will help you.
 
danuutka said:
Hello I need advice on how to deal. This morning my beloved piggy died because as I took a step, he ran under my feet. He was dead within seconds, and I can’t get the image out of my head. I hate myself for it, I would never want to hurt him, but I know that’s a lame excuse because it was me that killed him. The scene keeps playing hover and over in my head.

I don’t know how to deal with this pain. I’ve never felt such sadness and anger. He was only 1.5 years old and was my soul mate - we did everything together, and he helped me with my mental health each day. He was the sweetest, most affectionate, cuddly guinea pig. I don’t know what to do. I’m distraught.

Can anyone help with how to deal with this grief, especially because it was my fault. What do I do with his cage mate, who is now a lone pig? Everything reminds me of him.
Click to expand...

I am so sorry for your tragic loss :( but this is what it was, a tragic accident.

after going through the same thing myself (I fell unconscious down the stairs and landed on Emma killing her outright) :( all I can say is that the pain does eventually get easier. Please be kind to yourself. Your piggy wouldn’t have suffered xx
 
Take care of urself as u grieve and remind urself that it was an accident. U gave him the best life u could and sometimes accidents do happen
 
I agree, please be kind to yourself. You loved your piggie and in no way eould you have wanted to cause any harm to him, it was just a horrible accident x
 
Bless you. So sorry you are dealing with this terrible accident. It was an accident though so please be kind to yourself. Sending hugs x
 
I'm sorry this accident happened to you and your beloved piggy. The same thing happened to a workmate's friend. :(
 
PoptartShop said:
I am so very sorry for your loss. Please don't be too hard on yourself, I know it's hard but give his cage-mate lots of cuddles, that will help you.
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His cage mate hates cuddles. Benio was the only reason he tolerated us humans, now that he’s gone, he wants nothing to do with hs
 
Claire W said:
I am so sorry for your tragic loss :( but this is what it was, a tragic accident.

after going through the same thing myself (I fell unconscious down the stairs and landed on Emma killing her outright) :( all I can say is that the pain does eventually get easier. Please be kind to yourself. Your piggy wouldn’t have suffered xx
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I just don’t know how to cope. Within seconds he was gone. He was only a young pig - he was the sweetest, most loving baby that helped my mental health so much. I planned on spending every hour of the day with my piggies after my exams are over, but it hurts so much to know he’s not there
 
Ritika said:
Take care of urself as u grieve and remind urself that it was an accident. U gave him the best life u could and sometimes accidents do happen
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I know accidents happen, but I can’t get it out of my head that the person who was meant to love him and protect him was the one who killed him. I can’t even describe how much that piggy meant to me. I’m distraught. I haven’t stopped crying since it happened 10 hours ago
 
Black piggies said:
I'm sorry this accident happened to you and your beloved piggy. The same thing happened to a workmate's friend. :(
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How did they cope with it? I can’t handle the guilt and the sadness. They say you find one animal which is your soulmate, and he was mine. And I’m the one that ended my time with him
 
danuutka said:
How did they cope with it? I can’t handle the guilt and the sadness. They say you find one animal which is your soulmate, and he was mine. And I’m the one that ended my time with him
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I'm not sure I'm afraid. Like you they were very distressed. So many pets live a life of misery and you loved and love your piggy. Nothing takes away all the happiness and care you gave.
 
danuutka said:
His cage mate hates cuddles. Benio was the only reason he tolerated us humans, now that he’s gone, he wants nothing to do with hs
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Don't worry, it is very normal to feel the way you do, you are grieving. Make sure you read the links provided on bereavement, it will help you and we have all lost piggies, some naturally and some tragically so you will find comfort here.

Also, not all piggies like to be picked up and cuddled and your piggie will be wondering where his cage mate is also so also needs you. It's early days but when you feel up to it, you could start to think about getting him a new friend, not as any form or replacement (none of my pigs have been replaced) but as much needed company....for you both.

It will feel awful now and I really feel for you but it will get easier over time x
 
The Blue Cross pet bereavement line as mentioned above would be good. Loss causes guilt anyway and you've had a very traumatic way to have a loss.
 
danuutka said:
I know accidents happen, but I can’t get it out of my head that the person who was meant to love him and protect him was the one who killed him. I can’t even describe how much that piggy meant to me. I’m distraught. I haven’t stopped crying since it happened 10 hours ago
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I totally feel u and understand how hard it must be for u and your family 😞 but remember we all are here for u and we all know that u were the best person in your piggy's life and u did your best and took care of him. Try taking help from a animal bereavement helpline and take care of urself❤ eat well and eat some chocolates too it might help u and remember don't blame urself for it it was just an accident❤
 
Have you done anything nice with your piggy? Some people do a nice burial putting favourite things in a box. We like having a little tub of ashes of our passed piggy beside his old cage and we talk to him sometimes. These things can be a comfort and help us feel we're keeping hold of what we love.
 
danuutka said:
I know accidents happen, but I can’t get it out of my head that the person who was meant to love him and protect him was the one who killed him. I can’t even describe how much that piggy meant to me. I’m distraught. I haven’t stopped crying since it happened 10 hours ago
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HUGS

It is not an easy process to eventually make peace with the fact that your large clumsy human body was the instrument of his death (in combination with your little boy making a wrong instinctive decision) - but crucially NEITHER your heart or mind have been involved in this action.

Please call the free Blue Cross pet bereavement helpline during daytime hours. Forum members that have struggled to cope with the loss of their piggy (not rarely after an accident) have all come back to us with a positive experience, including those who like you suffer from Mental Health problems. The more you can talk, the better you can
Here is the link: Pet Bereavement and Pet Loss

Here is what you can do for the companion now and in the coming days. He has to do his own grieving, but when he is over that by next week, you can contact Milhaven Guinea Pig Rescue in Keighley to find him a suitable companion of his own choice so you do not have to worry about getting a new piggy on spec and failed intros. ;)
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
danuutka said:
I just don’t know how to cope. Within seconds he was gone. He was only a young pig - he was the sweetest, most loving baby that helped my mental health so much. I planned on spending every hour of the day with my piggies after my exams are over, but it hurts so much to know he’s not there
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I know and I completely understand how you feel. Emma was older but she was my baby and I shall never forgive myself for killing her :( but you have to be strong for your remaining piggy and any future piggies you may have. Your piggy wouldn’t want you to beat yourself up. Believe me, I know but you have to be strong as hard as it is x
 
@danuutka
Reading this is very very sad.
What has happened is so tragic and i can't imagine how you are feeling and coping.
It was a very cruel accident and i send you lots tlc. Piggie would not have known much and pls try not to beat yourself up and some great advise given and pls use what you can as I can honestly say it helps. I've been subject to fantastic help of these people who don't judge but just want to help
Take Care. x
 
The Blue Cross helpline is great, I’ve spoken to them a couple of times and they really helped. This really wasn’t your fault, a big accident, so try not to feel too much guilt and you’ve got to be strong for your other piggy like others have said. I’m so sorry you lost him though xx
 
alpacasqueak said:
The Blue Cross helpline is great, I’ve spoken to them a couple of times and they really helped. This really wasn’t your fault, a big accident, so try not to feel too much guilt and you’ve got to be strong for your other piggy like others have said. I’m so sorry you lost him though xx
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The blue cross and @Wiebke was my lifeline after I killed Emma. Without them at the time, I don’t know where I would have been
 
Black piggies said:
Have you done anything nice with your piggy? Some people do a nice burial putting favourite things in a box. We like having a little tub of ashes of our passed piggy beside his old cage and we talk to him sometimes. These things can be a comfort and help us feel we're keeping hold of what we love.
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We’ve decided to get him cremated. Our vets also offered to get a little print of his paw, and let us keep a lock of his fur. I’m going to put these on a shelf beside his favourite pillow.
 
I'm so sorry for what sounds like a terribly unfortunate accident. Please don't beat yourself up. I'm glad others have been able to recommend some local support lines and such, and I hope that they help. ((HUGS)) and try to be kind to yourself.
 
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