Is my guinea pig dead or dying?

[Dreamlily27]

I found my 6 year old guinea pig stiff on her side in the cage tonight. I was sure she was dead. But when I picked her up, her body was floppy and even though it was cold, it wasn’t very cold. I listened to her chest and was sure I heard a very faint heartbeat. Her eyes are not glazed over like I’ve seen happen with guinea pigs I’ve lost before. For almost a year she has had a
Lump under her jaw. I had taken her to the vet about it and the vet said it was most likely cancer. She said a brain tumor could present itself like that. She said there was no telling how long she’d live but it would definitively take her. In the last 4 months or so, she lost a lot of weight and the lump became more pronounced and hard. But she was still active and ran around squealing for treats. As a matter of fact, she ate a carrot this morning, standing on her hind legs reaching for it. And now I find her like this, just hours later.

I’ve moved her to a container and wrapped her up warmly. But I don’t know what to think. I check on her every 15 mins or so and her body is still soft and pliable. I’m just at a loss here.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Do note that a body will start to stiffen a few hours after a death and will continue for several hours but after that it will begin soften and go floppy again.

 

[Wiebke]

I found my 6 year old guinea pig stiff on her side in the cage tonight. I was sure she was dead. But when I picked her up, her body was floppy and even though it was cold, it wasn’t very cold. I listened to her chest and was sure I heard a very faint heartbeat. Her eyes are not glazed over like I’ve seen happen with guinea pigs I’ve lost before. For almost a year she has had a
Lump under her jaw. I had taken her to the vet about it and the vet said it was most likely cancer. She said a brain tumor could present itself like that. She said there was no telling how long she’d live but it would definitively take her. In the last 4 months or so, she lost a lot of weight and the lump became more pronounced and hard. But she was still active and ran around squealing for treats. As a matter of fact, she ate a carrot this morning, standing on her hind legs reaching for it. And now I find her like this, just hours later.

I’ve moved her to a container and wrapped her up warmly. But I don’t know what to think. I check on her every 15 mins or so and her body is still soft and pliable. I’m just at a loss here.

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. If she is not dead yet, she is bound to pass away soon. You have been doing the right thing by keeping her warm and comfy as long as there is some trace of breathing. You can check by holding a little hand mirror in front of the nostrils but there is sadly nothing you can do to bring her back; only to wait until she's climbed the last steps to the Rainbow Bridge.

Newly dead piggies are still warm and soft. They cool only gradually; rigor mortis (stiffness of death) will only set in hours after a death and the cold body will go floppy again once that has passed; but that is at least a day after a death.

Piggies of all ages can die very suddenly without warning from a stroke or a heart attack; it is not rare in those cases to find them on their sides although it is by no means exclusive.
At this time of year, heat stroke is also a possiblity but those piggies are usually pancaked to the floor on their bellies.

There is nothing you can do as a prevention in the first cases. They always come as a horrible shock. Not your fault at all. There is generally a genetic disposition in play.

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days as you grieve. You have quite simply come up against one of the random short straws in the cosmic lottery of bad luck.

Here are practical tips and helpful information if you need them:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[Dreamlily27]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Do note that a body will start to stiffen a few hours after a death and will continue for several hours but after that it will begin soften and go floppy again.

She is gone. Thank you for your reply

 

[Dreamlily27]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. If she is not dead yet, she is bound to pass away soon. You have been doing the right thing by keeping her warm and comfy as long as there is some trace of breathing. You can check by holding a little hand mirror in front of the nostrils but there is sadly nothing you can do to bring her back; only to wait until she's climbed the last steps to the Rainbow Bridge.

Newly dead piggies are still warm and soft. They cool only gradually; rigor mortis (stiffness of death) will only set in hours after a death and the cold body will go floppy again once that has passed; but that is at least a day after a death.

Piggies of all ages can die very suddenly without warning from a stroke or a heart attack; it is not rare in those cases to find them on their sides although it is by no means exclusive.
At this time of year, heat stroke is also a possiblity but those piggies are usually pancaked to the floor on their bellies.

There is nothing you can do as a prevention in the first cases. They always come as a horrible shock. Not your fault at all. There is generally a genetic disposition in play.

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days as you grieve. You have quite simply come up against one of the random short straws in the cosmic lottery of bad luck.

Here are practical tips and helpful information if you need them:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

She is gone. There would have been no heatstroke. And no pneumonia. I’m sure it was the cancer that took her. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Dreamlily27]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. If she is not dead yet, she is bound to pass away soon. You have been doing the right thing by keeping her warm and comfy as long as there is some trace of breathing. You can check by holding a little hand mirror in front of the nostrils but there is sadly nothing you can do to bring her back; only to wait until she's climbed the last steps to the Rainbow Bridge.

Newly dead piggies are still warm and soft. They cool only gradually; rigor mortis (stiffness of death) will only set in hours after a death and the cold body will go floppy again once that has passed; but that is at least a day after a death.

Piggies of all ages can die very suddenly without warning from a stroke or a heart attack; it is not rare in those cases to find them on their sides although it is by no means exclusive.
At this time of year, heat stroke is also a possiblity but those piggies are usually pancaked to the floor on their bellies.

There is nothing you can do as a prevention in the first cases. They always come as a horrible shock. Not your fault at all. There is generally a genetic disposition in play.

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days as you grieve. You have quite simply come up against one of the random short straws in the cosmic lottery of bad luck.

Here are practical tips and helpful information if you need them:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

She is gone. There would have been no heatstroke. And no pneumonia. I’m sure it was the cancer that took her. Thank you for your reply.